Suvechha Sarkar
As season 1 of NBC’s ‘Destination X’ continues to unravel, each chapter is becoming more deceptive than the last. Episode 4, titled ‘Let the Deceit Begin,’ marks a dramatic point in the competition. With 300 miles left to cover before they reach the next secretive Destination X, paranoia is creeping in for each contestant. Host Jeffrey Dean Morgan sets the tone early, revealing that their next stop is a city built on a swamp. He is now ready to test just how far players are willing to go to stay in the game. As if that isn’t enough, new contestants are already stirring the pot. All eyes are now on Tai, who has denied meeting Jana during the Maze challenge.
Secrets and Strategy Collide as Players Brace For a Clue-Revealing Challenge
As the contestants head for their next destination, the atmosphere on the bus is tense. Tai is panicked about the truth regarding meeting Jana coming to the surface, prompting her to decide to stick to her lie. The focus then shifts to Shayne, Biggy, and Mack, huddled in one corner, with Rick and Kim sitting by them. Shayne reveals to the group how he heard Tai yelling at another lady, saying, “Stop it.” In his confessional, Biggy wonders why Tai would hold this information and what kind of mind game she is trying to play. While Jana tells the girls about how she grew up as a “military brat” and has been all over the world, Ally reveals she has been to all seven continents. Meanwhile, Peter discloses to the guys that he is an airline pilot who has been flying since he was 19.
Since Peter’s travels have been mainly in Europe, he is hoping his knowledge of the cities and navigation skills can help him in the game. Rick quickly observes that it may be a chance to tap into a pilot’s brain and build an alliance with him. Biggy and Shayne honestly state before Peter that they can’t trust him. So, when he asks what the most beneficial clue is to figure out a particular place, Biggy bluntly replies that they are not going to tell him about it because they don’t know him yet. As Peter and Jana go upstairs to check the sleeping quarters, Kim notes that the former is smart. Meanwhile, the new contestants agree that since the others are sticking together, they should team up. In his confessional, Peter remarks they have a target on their back. Hence, he wants to see whom he can trust and build an alliance with.
With the morning rolling in, the contestants finally receive instructions to wear their goggles. As Ally, Mack, and Tai’s vision is turned on, they find themselves sitting at a table with multiple dishes before them. When they begin wondering where the other contestants are, Jeffrey reveals they are currently being lifted 150 feet into the air. He then informs everyone that the six contestants in the air are going to be treated to a delightful meal. Their goggle vision is going to be turned off, and only the challenge’s winners are going to see the huge clue to Destination X. He then explains that he has selected three teams randomly. The six contestants are going to get food before them and describe it. While Ally will guess what Shayyne and Jana are eating, Mack has to guess what Kim and Peter are eating. Similarly, Tai has to guess the ones Rich and Biggy eat.
Bizarre Dishes and Bold Guesses Fuel a Tense Food-Focused Challenge
This makes Rick feel confident since he reveals that he used to own a restaurant, and his wife cooks amazing international dishes. In the meantime, Jeffrey explains to Ally, Tai, and Mack that each team is going to get two courses, and if they finish their dish, only then will they receive a point. The first turn is for Ally’s team. While Jana describes it to be rubbery, Shayne finds it to be some type of testicle. Both of them point it out to be a sausage, with the former stating the sauce is good. Ally has three options: Ox tongue (Austria), Andouillette Sausage (France), and Crubeens (Ireland). When she chooses the second option, the host reveals that they are actually eating the Ox tongue. The next turn is for Mack’s team, who are disgusted by the smell of the dish served.
Peter remarks that no visual cue this high in the sky is disorienting. While Kim points out that it has a tail, the former describes it as a fish with a bad smell. However, both of them point out that it may be frog legs. Among Mack’s three options of Octopus (Spain), Fermented Herring (Sweden), and Frog Legs (France), she chooses the third one. However, it turns out that they were actually eating Fermented Herring. As soon as Biggy and Rick are served with their dish, the former notes that it’s saucy, flat, and triangular. They further add that the dish is quite spicy. From the three options: Crubeens (Ireland), Spicy Tripe (Italy), and Bull Testicles (Turkey), Tai selects the second option. Fortunately, it is correct and helps her team earn a point. It is now the turn for the final round, where a correct response is worth double.
As the desserts are brought out, Tai’s team points out that the dish has something fluffy on top, like icing. From her options of Blood Pancakes (Finland), Spotted Dick (England), and Salmon Roe Cake (England), she selects the third one. Right after, Shayne describes the dish to be sour, while Jana describes gooey ball-like boba in the dessert’s middle. Ally chooses the third option among Salmon Roe Cake, Blood Pancakes, and Recurrent Tart (Denmark). When it’s Peter and Kim’s turn, the former notes that their dessert is like a churned milkshake with something fishy blended up. Meanwhile, Kim is worried that they have to finish the entire dish without puking, but it is hard for her since she can do so easily. Mack picks the first option from Sea Buckthorn Soup (Norway), Fish Crème Brûlée (France), and Melon Soup (Italy).
Behind a Well-Earned Victory, Hidden Agendas Quietly Begin Taking Root
Jeffrey informs Ally that although she has chosen the correct option, Jana has spit out the dessert and failed to finish it. Hence, her team is not going to receive any points. Mack has also given the correct response, but since Kim has not finished hers, they are not going to receive any points either. This naturally means that Tai has won the challenge, and to her delight, Jeffrey discloses that she has also gotten the correct answer for the final round. He then informs the six contestants that two of their goggles are going to go clear. Biggy and Rick are elated to find their vision on. Biggy observes the village surrounded by water and a flag, none other than the Netherlands. He notes that the houses are completely native to the country. It turns out that they are in Volendam, Netherlands, to be exact.
As everyone begins asking Rick and Biggy about the view they experienced, they excuse themselves for a conversation. The latter tells the former that Tai cannot be trusted since she lied about meeting Jana. Hence, it is an opportunity for them to check if they can trust her. When Rick inquires if he wants to give her the wrong clue, Biggy states that they should tell her it’s Germany or Belgium. If she proves herself trustworthy, then they are going to reveal the Netherlands to her to ensure she is safe. When she finally arrives on the bus, they mislead her by telling her that there were black, red, and yellow cards before them, indicating Germany or Belgium. Tai observes that this is an outstanding clue, unbeknownst to the truth. Biggy further cautions her to keep it between the three of them.
By the next day, Peter notes that since he has no real relationships except for Jana, he is focusing on building bonds and finding someone trustworthy. So, when he approaches Tai to ask about the clue from the previous day. Although she initially denies it, she asks for assurance of complete trust and reveals to him the false clue that Biggy gave her. In her confessional, she divulges that she is trying to build trust with him because she feels he is smart and has experience in playing such games. As the others discuss the foods they tried the previous day, Rick discloses before others how he and his wife had a restaurant they started in 2019, but COVID-19 forced them to shut it down. He gets emotional and teary-eyed as he adds how they had to sell their home to repay the debt, and is in the show to win and buy a house.
Formation of Secret Alliance Begins the Reign of Strategy
In his confessional, Rick further reveals that he has been married for 25 years and has three kids. He is willing to win for his family because it is their chance to get back on their feet. While his backstory prompts Jana to remark that a whole family depending on him can be challenging, Peter observes that Rick is a person he admires. So, he approaches Rick to propose an alliance to work with him and Jana, to which he gladly agrees because of the former’s intelligence and traveling experience. However, when Peter reveals to him that Tai has told him about the clue, he remarks that she cannot be trusted. With that aside, Rick opens up about the real clue being the Netherlands, which prompts Peter to feel good about his team-up with the former. The former quickly decides to keep his alliance with Peter under wraps.
Rick remarks that this alliance is his secret weapon. Furthermore, he tells Biggy how Tai told Peter about their false clue. This prompts the latter to state that their plan has worked, and she is untrustworthy. With 45 miles left for the next destination, Jeffrey now wants to test the players by putting on the illusion of trust. They put on their googles as soon as the instruction appears on the screen, but are shocked to find themselves standing amid a desert in the middle of Europe. At a distance, they notice vases, portraits, and clocks. Both Peter and Ally are reminded of Salvador Dalí looking at the melting clock, but the latter is confused because she thinks the artist is from Spain. Meanwhile, the portrait reminds Mack of Van Gogh, and she recollects that there is a big museum of the artist in Amsterdam.
Jeffrey announces that the winner of this round is going to avoid the map room and receive the clue as to the exact Destination X. He adds that it is going to be up to that person if he/she wants to share it with anyone. This is a social game where they are going to take turns to smash the vase of the contestant they trust the least. The player with their vase intact is going to be deemed the most trustworthy and receive the clue. Ally volunteers to go first and chooses to smash Jana’s vase since she doesn’t know her as the new player. The host informs them that once a competitor’s vase is smashed, they are going to be next in turn. When Jana picks Kim, the latter notes that she is good at reading people and knows her opponent is trouble. She adds that she wants the new contestants to be eliminated.
The Vase-Smashing Challenge Reveals Amsterdam to be the Destination Before the Winner
Consequently, Kim selects Peter, who in turn chooses Mack, honestly stating that she is competent enough not to need the clue. Mack picks Tai, noting that she is sharp and had lied about not seeing Jana during the Maze challenge. The latter chooses to smash Rick’s vase, who, in turn, selects Shayne, declaring that he is the most athletic person in the game. In his confessional, he remarks that although the latter doesn’t have geographical skills, he possesses social skills to collect answers from others. Ultimately, Shayne’s choice has come down to his girl, Ally, and his “bro” Biggy. He states that he is in a challenging position, and after much contemplation, he chooses to smash Ally’s vase since he has had an alliance with the other since the beginning. Hence, everyone except Biggy is going to face the map room.
Right after, Jeffry welcomes Biggy into the VIP room on the bus and instructs him to turn over the vase before him for the clue. The contestant is in utter shock as he finds the phrase “Made in Amsterdam” written under it. However, the host next informs him about the biggest twist: To survive elimination, he has to use this power to convince at least one player to drop their X in the wrong country. When he goes outside, he reveals to Shayne that he has to send someone home. Biggy contemplates that it has to be one of Tai, Jana, or Peter, but decides on the first person since she revealed the clue to Peter. Meanwhile, Kim overhears Peter and Jana speaking about their alliance with Rick and how he has revealed they are in the Netherlands. Kim remarks that she doesn’t trust Rick at all.
A Web of Deception Leads to Tai’s Unexpected Departure From the Bus
On the other hand, Biggy has gathered Shayne, Ally, and Tai together mainly to mislead Tai into elimination. He explains how he saw a vase with Brussels written under it and a plate with chocolate and diamonds, pointing to Brussels, Belgium. However, Tai is skeptical of this information since her study revealed that Antwerp, Belgium, is the diamond capital of Europe. As she and Biggy leave the area after the latter has set his plan into motion, Ally asks Shayne if any of it is true. The latter reveals it is false and asks her to go with it. Ally observes that although Tai has been her “girl” from the beginning, she lied about meeting Jana. Hence, she chooses to put her trust in Shayne and Biggy. By the next day, all eight contestants except Biggy enter the map room and place their X on the map.
As Tai deliberates whether to trust her alliance or herself, the time gradually comes to an end. Ultimately, Jeffrey reveals that Tai is the one who is eliminated. She expresses how trusting her alliance was her mistake, and she is upset about it. When Biggy reveals the condition that he was given by the host to stay in the game, she bids everyone goodbye, wishing them all luck. As she steps outside with Jeffrey, she is surprised to find herself in Amsterdam. The host informs her that every player except her had placed their X on this location. Tai immediately remarks that Biggy had set her up, and she was betrayed by people whom she had trusted from the beginning. However, Jeffrey consoles her, noting that she is truly a tough game player.
Read More: Destination X Episode 3 Recap: Catching Feelings Changes Everything
