Suvechha Sarkar
Season 1 of NBC’s ‘Destination X‘ continues to unravel with mind-bending games, misdirection, and travel into one thrilling ride. In episode 7, titled ‘The Clues Were There All Along,’ the mystery deepens as the final six contestants, now over a month into their enigmatic journey, are en route to the next destination. The host, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, drops subtle hints that they are headed toward a powerful naval city. With Mack’s elimination still fresh in everyone’s mind and the stakes higher than ever, every step counts more than ever.
With Emotions Running High, the Players Participate in a Kayaking Challenge
With the dawning of a new morning, everyone is gathered around on the bus, discussing how they no longer want to face another tie in the game and how Mack’s exit was quite unexpected. When Rick notes that it was the only way to get her out of the game, Peter observes that he would not be on the bus without the former giving him the clue of Salzburg. Hence, he is going to do everything to pay him. Their focus shifts to Biggy, who is sitting alone because of the others, due to Mack’s departure. In his confessional, he expresses how the bond they had was special. He then tells Shayne and Ally that they must keep their mouth shut about the clues, to which they gladly agree. Although he is never going to forget how Rick saved him, he feels that Peter is the most dangerous player and needs to be eliminated.
Ally has decided not to share any information except with Biggy and Shayne. Meanwhile, the players put their goggles on as the instructions arrive. When their vision is turned on, they find themselves standing before a beautiful river with the backdrop of snowcapped mountains. Peter quickly notes that it looks like the Southern base of the Alps, and hence, they may be in Southern Italy. Jeffrey welcomes them through the speaker and cautions them that there is a reason it is known as the most untamed river in Europe. He then informs them that he has randomly paired the contestants to kayak down the river in strong currents to get a literal postcard of the next destination. This makes Rick excited since his roots make canoeing his favorite pastime. Jeffrey adds that there are three checkpoints along the way.
Each checkpoint has four bags of goods, but one doesn’t belong there. So, the players have to pick the odd one out. The team that gets the most correct answers in the fastest time will win. The team is divided as follows: Biggy and Peter, Shayne and Rick, and Ally and Jana. As they rush with their kayaks against the currents, everyone is giving their level best. Although Rick is happy to be paired with Shayne because of his muscles, he wishes the latter had a little more brain, and instantly apologizes in his confessional because it doesn’t sound right. When the teams, one by one, reach the first checkpoint, they find the options to be Madonna, Elton John, Simon & Garfunkel, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. While Biggy and Peter pick Red Chili Pepper, Ally and Jana select Elton John.
Rick and Shayne Win the Kayaking Challenge and Begin Piecing Together Clues
On the other hand, Rick suddenly notices the bridge nearby, and it strikes him that Madonna is the only artist among their options who does not have songs with the bridge in the title. It turns out that only their choice is the correct one. This prompts Jeffrey to note that their next destination is indeed a place with over 400 bridges. As each of them heads towards the second checkpoint, a predicament befalls Ally and Jana, whose hands are tired, and the currents take their kayak in the reverse direction. However, they salvage the situation gradually. As each team arrives at the second checkpoint, they find the bags reading Mykonos, Ljubljana, Sicily, and Bled Island. While Peter grabs Mykonos since it is not a capital, Rick knows that Ljubljana is the odd one since it is the only capital among the other options.
Since Jana and Ally have no idea about the options presented, Jana chooses Bled Island based on her guess. It turns out that Rick and Shayne are correct, with Jeffrey observing that Ljubljana is also the only place that isn’t an island. However, their next destination is made up of 100s of islands. In the third checkpoint, the options are Balloon, Cork, Ice Cubes, and Marbles. Both the guys’ teams pick Marbles since it is the only item that floats in the water, which is the accurate choice. However, Ally and Jana select Ice Cubes since they can turn into liquid, unlike the other items. As they rush to the finish line and place their respective bags into the crates, Jeffrey announces that the winning team, with all three correct answers in 19 minutes and 12 seconds, is Rick and Shayne.
While Peter and Biggy only got the Marbles’ answer correct, Jana and Ally answered none correctly. When everyone returns to the bus, Rick and Shayne specifically get the postcards, where they notice a landmark. However, they are initially unsure where the place is located when Shayne points out that it may match their earlier answers during the kayaking challenge. The landmark in the postcard is made of marble, like the Marbles answer, indicating the Madonna with one of its structures. Rick instantly tells his partner that it is Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Although he has never shared clues with Shayne before, he believes keeping him on his side is beneficial. Once everyone begins chatting together, Ally expresses how it feels like six friends are on a bus, making the competition harder.
Moments of Vulnerability Give Way to a High-Stakes Game of Human Battleship
Jana opens up before everyone about how, during her time on ‘Love Island,’ she was stressed about finding a partner and hoped to get married by 25. However, she expresses that at 27, she feels everything comes to a person at the right time. Rick chimes in, disclosing how he met his wife as a teenager, and they instantly knew they would get married. When he reassures them they can find their person, Jana notes that Rick is a great person with good morals. She adds that he feels like an uncle to her. Peter also divulges that being on ‘The Bachelor’ was one of his life’s most exciting and challenging moments. Rick observes that although bonds are being made, he cannot forget that he is ultimately here to play the game. As the next day approaches, Jeffrey informs the contestants through the screen that they are going to war.
When they finally put down their goggles, the players are shocked to find themselves before a big abandoned building. Jana notices a faded flag on its door, which she deduces to have “Croatian Vibes.” It also catches Rick’s eye, who feels it can be Croatia or Slovenia because of its blue and red colors. Eventually, the door opens, and Jeffrey enters with soldiers and men playing drums around him. Peter notices that the drums have a painting of a lion with wings, but he doesn’t know the location it indicates. Jeffrey explains to them how they are standing in a fortress city designed in the 16th century to protect citizens and prevent misinformation transmission. He finally announces that they are going to battle in a game of strategy, memory, and teamwork, and asks for volunteers to be generals.
Since Peter and Shayne raised their hands first, they are chosen as the ones. Jeffrey then asks them to pick their respective teams. While Peter chooses Rick and Jana, Shayne selects Biggy and Ally. Peter feels he took a chance by putting his allies in his team because it can give him the opportunity to keep all the information. Jeffrey then explains that their challenge is like the popular game Battleship, but here they are going to play with their respective armies. They must strategize by placing their soldiers on the grid to block the opposing team’s path. The player is out if they stand at the square where the other team has put their soldier. The first team to cross the grid and get to the center of the chest is going to win. They have to place six soldiers in a grid of 24.
As Strategy Collides With Luck, Biggy Secures Victory For His Team
When Rick learns that the winning team will be safe from the map room, putting the losing team at risk, he becomes worried because someone from his team has to go home if they lose. As both teams begin strategizing where to place their soldiers, Biggy observes that he has always been calculating odds due to his profession and feels positive about it. The game finally begins as Shayne and Jane step onto the grid. In the first three steps, both of them remain safe. When Shayne expresses his wish to jump the square, Biggy becomes nervous because he is deviating from the plan. However, Jana gets captured in the next step. In her place, Peter steps onto the grid. As he begins hoping Shayne takes the trap, his wish is fulfilled as the latter gets captured right after.
Biggy steps onto the grid in Shayne’s place, but Peter is praying to survive the next move. However, Peter is captured by the time they take their second step together. Rick quickly takes his place, only prompting Biggy to observe that he has to get it right since he, Shayne, and Ally are sharing information. Hence, if they lose, it can be problematic. To his delight, he reaches the front of the grid first, winning the challenge and making his team safe. Meanwhile, Biggy, Ally, and Shayne head to the city to see the winning flag, which was stored in the chest. Jana, on the other hand, feels awful about going against their allies, Peter feels horrible that he has let down his alliance, and one of them is going home. As the losing team returns to the bus, the question remains if their alliance will sink or if they are going to stay loyal.
A Costly Misdirection Sends Jana Home, Unveiling Venice as Their Destination
When Biggy, Shayne, and Ally arrive at the bus, Rick notes that he needs to talk to Biggy because he has studied. Furthermore, it is the first time Rick is in the Map Room without actually knowing where he is. When he approaches them, asking for a clue, Biggy remarks that he trusts him and doesn’t want to see him go home. Hence, he tells him how all the clues they found only pointed to Ljubljana, Slovenia. Rick is quite sad about having to misdirect Jana and Peter and ends up telling them that they are in Croatia. While Jana believes he is smart and believes in him wholeheartedly, Peter is unconvinced despite trusting Rick.
Jeffrey finally boards the bus since it is time for the three of them to face the map room. As the two minutes end, Rick places his X on Ljubljana, Jana places her X on Southern Croatia, and Peter goes with Italy. However, the players are left shocked when Jeffrey announces that neither Rick, Peter, nor Jana put their X on their actual destination. To much dismay, Jana gets eliminated since she placed her X farthest away from the destination. While Rick feels guilty and is sad because he is going to miss Jana, Peter is also upset because she is such a pure soul. Before leaving, she expresses how she would choose Rick to win because he deserves it to make his family proud.
This leaves Rick feeling horrible because he did this for his family, and winning the prize is going to be worth it. When Jana steps off the bus, wishing everyone the best of luck, she is shocked to see they are in the middle of the river in Venice, Italy. To let the others know, Jeffrey knocks on the bus, turning on the vision of the glass and revealing their location. The players on the bus are equally awestruck that they never expected to be in Venice. In the end, Jeffrey reveals how the board game had a Venice flag underneath it, the postcard had Venice’s Bridge of Sighs, and the drums also had their Lion symbol.
Read More: Destination X Episode 6 Recap: The Most Haunted Castle in Europe
