Suvechha Sarkar
Season 1 of NBC’s ‘Destination X‘ unfolds as every mile traveled tightens the web of deception and strategy. In episode 6, titled ‘The Most Haunted Castle in Europe,’ the seven remaining contestants are ready for yet another step of their journey. As always, host Jeffrey Dean Morgan sets the course with precision. He reveals that they are heading toward a destination nestled in a land of towering alpine peaks and baroque streets, where a single brushstroke or symphonic note once changed the course of European history. With just 100 miles left before their next stop, the pressure inside the bus is more palpable than ever.
The Castle Challenge Splits the Players Between the Dungeon and the Room With a View
The episode commences with Peter noting that he has accepted the strained relationship between him and Shayne. He only has the explicit goal of winning in his mind. Similarly, Shayne thinks getting Peter eliminated is the best possible outcome. While Biggy feels that having solid relationships with others is advantageous, Rick observes that he is right in the middle with his secret alliance with Peter and Jana, and others feeding him information. The latter is proud because no one suspects him of playing on both sides. With the next day rolling in, the players receive the instruction to put their goggles on. They are awestruck to find themselves in the middle of a castle. Ally notices the red and white cross on the walls and tries to figure out the country they are in.
Ally notes that it can be Denmark, Austria, or even Poland. Jeffrey announces before the contestants that they are in Moosham Castle, where everything from bloody castles to witch trials and werewolf hunts makes it one of the most haunted places in Europe. Although there are seven players, only six keys are hidden in the courtyard. They are going to have 2 minutes to find them. The one who cannot find a key is going to head to the dungeon. The winner of the day’s challenge is going to sleep in a room with a view and safe from the map room. As the clock begins ticking, Ally discovers a key within just 15 seconds. Biggy notices a flag indicating a wheelbarrow and spade, which leads him next to the key. Right after, a flag pointing to a “needle in a haystack” successfully leads Rick to find a key in the haystack.
While Peter and Jana discover the keys soon after, Biggy notices a flag indicating “down below water.” It prompts the latter to inform Shayne to search in the well, which turns out to be correct. This sends Mack to the dungeon. She regrets not noticing the signs on the flags and hopes it is not going to send her home in the long run. Jeffrey then informs the players that while Rick, Peter, and Shayne have the key to the library, Ally, Jana, and Biggy have found the ones to the chapel. When Ally, Jana, and Biggy arrive at the chapel, they notice sheet music lying before them. Moreover, Biggy notices a Mozart picture nearby, noting that it may be a clue. When Rick, Peter, and Shayne enter the library, they find multiple books on the table.
A Race For the Royal Suite Pushes the Contestants Deeper Into the Game’s Riddles
Jeffrey then informs all the contestants that each room has a different riddle. They have to solve it and place the object that matches the answer on the chest to get the key to the final round. The rest of the two players from each room are going to the dungeon. The riddle in the library reads, “A Bloom in the light, where peaks touch the sky, search for the cover and give me a try, a symbol of freedom and title of song, find me and place me, just don’t be wrong. Although Peter observes that none of them know what the riddle indicates, Rick wastes no time looking for a book with a hint of flowers. He identifies that it has to be Edelweiss, which is a flower of the highlands that bloom in the daytime and is also a symbol of peace. He picks up the book ‘All About Edelweiss’ and places it on the chest, successfully obtaining the key.
Rick observes that they may be somewhere northeast of Switzerland. Meanwhile, Biggy reads their clue in the chapel from the scroll provided: “The thing that you seek is music divine. I’m one among many; my name is canine. Compose yourself well, and success will be yours when placing a copy of my symphonic scores.” Since the riddle mentions a canine, Ally immediately thinks of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and starts searching for sheet music with his name. Although Biggy’s mind leads him to the same answer, Ally discovers the sheet music first, successfully getting the key. When Shayne and Peter arrive at the dungeon, the latter asks Mack if she knows anything about Edelweiss. Although she denies it, in her confessional, she reveals that it only makes her think about the movie ‘The Sound of Music.”
Mack notes that the movie was either based on or shot in Austria. When Biggy and Jana arrive at the dungeon, the former discloses the clue about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart before Mack, prompting her to remark that everyone revealing the clues has helped her catch up. In the meantime, Rick and Ally reach the royal suite to find the riddle: “A floral container to help reminisce, reflect on the past to decipher the clue, and the victor will head to a room with a view.” Both players begin looking for floral items. Ally notes that the others underestimate her because she has diversified knowledge, and riddles are one of her strong suits. Rick finds a vase with a labyrinth on it, which he immediately connects with the ones they were in during Paris as their destination. However, the chest doesn’t open when he places it on top of it.
Ally’s Sharp Eye Brings Her Victory Alongside the Room With a View
Ally picks up the same vase and notices the word salt written on it through the mirror. Hence, she begins searching for a salt shaker when she notices the one shaped like a castle tower. Rick also notices the word salt immediately but cannot figure out its meaning. Meanwhile, Ally successfully places the salt shaker on the chest and attains the key, making her the round’s winner. When Rick arrives at the dungeon and tells everyone about the clue, Mack promptly identifies the location as Salzburg. She reveals that she is confident that she is the only one who thought of it. As Ally enters the room with a view, from where she can see an incredible view from the window the following morning, Jeffrey announces that she can now choose a person from the dungeon to share the view with her.
As expected, Ally chooses Shayne, who is excited to get the view and spend a night with Ally. The rest of the contestants go back to sleep right in the dungeons. When the morning finally dawns, Rick divulges in his confessional that he went over the clues during the night. He has recalled that “Edelweiss” is a famous song from the movie ‘The Sound of Music’, and the salt written on the vase indicates Salzburg. Meanwhile, Ally and Shayne are surprised to see Julie Andrews, who is from the same movie, indicating toward Austria. Ally points out that the destination may be Vienna, which is the only city she knows in Austria. With everyone back on the bus, Mack strategically decides to share her discovery about Salzburg with Biggy and asks him not to share it with anyone.
This prompts Biggy to remark that he is happy to be the person Mack has trusted consistently from the beginning. Rick shares the same information with Peter. Although the clues picked up by the latter do not lead him to Salzburg, he chooses to trust his alliance. With 32 minutes left on the clock, the competitors finally get the chance to get off the bus once again. They are impressed to find themselves amid green pastures with the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Jeffrey welcomes them with his friend, Constance, who has come with her Yodeler group, Breitling Berthas. Jeffrey informs Ally that since she has won the Castle Challenge, she is not going to play this round. However, it is a chance for the rest of the players who are facing the map room to save themselves.
A Yodelling Challenge Provides Rick With an Unexpected Power
Jeffrey explains that Constance is going to yodel for the contestants, and they have to run to the field to find the yodler yodeling the same tune. Each of the yodelers holds a horseshoe. The players must take the one from the correct person to gain a special privilege and save themselves from the map room. Once Constance finishes her tune, the contestants rush to the group of yoddlers to find the one with the exact same tune. While the others struggle to identify the one, everyone is shocked to see Rick pick a horseshoe and rush to Jeffrey. To his delight, it is the correct one, making him safe. However, Jeffrey announces he also has the power to choose one of the players in the map room to be safe. After much contemplation, he selects Biggy, stating that the latter has been his friend since the beginning and a bunkmate.
In his confessional, Rick opens up about how he has not chosen Peter or Jana because it may expose their alliance. In the end, only Jana, Peter, Mack, and Shayne are facing the map room for the day. While Peter acknowledges that he understands Rick’s choice to keep their alliance under wraps, he remarks that the stress levels are high, and he is putting his trust in Rick. Meanwhile, Mack feels good about being sure of their location. With just 21 miles to go, Peter reveals to Jana that the destination is Salzburg. On the other hand, Shayne tells Mack and Biggy that he and Ally have chosen Vienna since they have been visiting many capitals. Since Biggy had given Shayne his word the first day to let him know about the location, he begins tallying the pros and cons of holding back the information regarding Salzburg from him.
Shocking Tiebreaker Question Leads to Mack’s Emotional Exit
Biggy tells Shayne about Destination X and asks him not to disclose it before Mack. It is finally time for Shayne, Mack, Peter, and Jana to face the map room. As the countdown begins, all four place their X on Salzburg. Jeffrey announces that since it is a tie, the players must answer the question: “What year is widely accepted as the year that the Moosham Castle was founded?” While Shayne answers 1556, Jana and Mack select 1850 and 1576 as their responses, respectively. However, Peter chooses 1450 as his answer. As the round ends, Jeffrey boards the bus to announce that the person who has answered closest to the correct answer will have the power to eliminate someone from the other competitors. It turns out that Peter has the closest response, with the correct answer being 1191.
Although Shayne feels sure that Peter is going to eliminate him, considering their relationship, the latter shocks everyone by choosing Mack. He discloses that he feels that Mack has had the best chance of anyone on the bus to win the game. Since it is a competition, he has made a logical and smart decision. In her exit interview, Mack reveals that it hurts to be eliminated at a point when she is getting better in the game. After wishing everyone the best of luck, she leaves the bus with an emotional goodbye. However, this makes Biggy regret sharing about Salzburg with Shayne. He feels that it is his fault that Mack is eliminated. When Jeffrey reveals to Mack that the location is indeed Salzburg and Biggy had shared Destination X with Shayne, she expresses how she feels blindsided. The episode comes to an end with Rick remarking how impressed he is with Peter’s strategic choice to get Mack eliminated.
Read More: Destination X Episode 5 Recap: Moral Compass
