Suvechha Sarkar
Season 1 of NBC’s ‘Destination X‘ is drawing to a thrilling close, and the mind games are reaching an all-time high. In episode 9, titled ‘How’s Your Poker Face?,’ only four contestants remain, and every mile forward can be their last. Fresh off their disorienting challenge in Venice with no goggles or protection, these semifinalists prove their resilience. However, with the finish line in sight and tensions running high, host Jeffrey Dean Morgan offers no more breaks—only psychological warfare at its finest. As the bus moves forward into unknown territory, the battle takes its most cutthroat turn yet.
The Final Four Saddle Up in a Canyon Where Each Receives a Cryptic Solo Clue
The game begins with the players already wearing their goggles. As their vision turns on, they find themselves standing at the bottom of a canyon with horses standing before them. Although they all note that it feels like they are in their home country, it’s undoubtedly not in Europe. Jeffrey finally announces through the speakers that the area they are in is a popular filming location. They have to take a horse ride through these hills, and on their ride, they each get an individual clue that they are going to see alone. Although the clues are all connected, as always, each has to play their own game. While Biggy and Shayne head in one direction on their horses, Peter and Rick move in the other direction. Peter states before Rick that the topography of the region seems like Monaco.
In his confessional, Peter notes that there have been several moments when his Pilot career has helped him in the game. Right now, he recognizes a lot of the peaks, and with the direction they are headed, he assumes it may be somewhere in the south of France. Each player gets a box with a clue inside it, and Rick is the first to reach his. The box contains three red ring boxes with “M.M” written on one of them. As he wonders what the clue indicates, Peter reaches his box and finds four spades and sand. The latter initially thinks that the sand may have hidden the clue, but he finds nothing else upon searching. However, he remarks that the four spades may point to four letters. While Shayne discovers a vegetable in his box, Biggy finds golf balls in his. After much thinking, Shayne realizes that the vegetables in his box are Artichokes.
Shayne mulls over the clue and notes that it could be a country’s biggest export or import. On the other hand, Biggy feels that having no clue can be trouble because he is clueless right now. As Peter and Rick meet again, the latter reveals in his confessional that he is at an advantage because he and Peter are in an alliance. As they review their clues, Peter states that the four spades/shovels can point towards somewhere near the beach. The spotlight moves to Biggy and Shayne, where the former expresses that he doesn’t think either Rick or Peter will share anything with one another. However, if Biggy and Shayne do, it gives them an advantage because they can come together and figure it out. As they go over both clues, the former figures that artichokes can point to hearts, but he is still quite confused about what they mean.
As Deception Takes Center Stage, Each Player Plays Their Own Game
Rick says to Peter that the bright red ring boxes can be the color of the Monaco flag, and although they know that these clues are intertwined, he doesn’t know how they all go together. However, he adds that strategically speaking, they shouldn’t share the clue with anyone. In his confessional, Rick remarks that the only person he shares the clue with is Peter because it’s time to lose friends and get dirty for the Finals. As everyone returns to the bus, Peter tells Rick they are near the ocean, which is why they received the clue of an “Anchor” in Venice. On the other hand, Shayne and Biggy discuss how the horse can mean John Wayne and the Cowboys. However, since the latter has no clue, he states how his dad raised him to be a competitor and to give it his all, and he has this in his mind.
So, Biggy tries to play strategically, just as he has throughout the entire competition.. When Peter also points out John Wayne films and the quote, “There is no place like home,” which they saw in the canyon, Rick quickly picks up that the quote was said by Dorothy. Dorothy said that when she wanted to go back home to Kansas, but he is skeptical about whether Jeffrey really meant that as a clue. As the next day rolls in, Shayne observes that although losing Ally means missing a piece, he is laser-focused because the $250,000 is within his reach. He can help many people with the money, especially his mother. She made $35,000 raising him and his brother, and has done everything to help him reach where he is today. Hence, he can help her move forward with the prize.
Biggy notes that he has had a good relationship with Rick since the first day, and they have been sharing information for most of the competition. So, he hopes whatever Rick has, he can share it with him and help piece the puzzle together. Although Biggy approaches Rick and shares his golf ball clue, the latter feels he must consider his family and the prize. Rick feels Biggy has studied a lot and put the pieces together for the entire game. He believes that since Biggy is smart enough to figure it out and his biggest threat, he needs to mislead him. So, Rick lies about having two pine cones painted white as his clue. However, the twist comes when Jeffrey boards the bus to announce that, for the first time in the game, everyone is going to drop their X right now. The good news is that three of them are moving to the Finals.
After an Early Map Room Visit, the Contestants’ Fate Rides on the Spin of a Roulette Wheel
While Biggy notes that the clues they’ve had were the hardest in the competition, Peter remarks that the prize money could be life-changing, and it’s time for him to head back to his family in Los Angeles from New York. He continues that his brother is having a baby, and he wants to use the money for a house. Shayne admits that Ally has been everything he hoped for in his partner, and he is ready to settle down. He divulges in his confessional that he has kids on his mind, and since Ally is one in a trillion, it is a good starter for him. However, the fact that they have to drop the X right now makes him nervous because he has no idea where they are. As they arrive in the map room and the countdown begins, both Rick and Peter put their X on Cannes. While Shaynes places his on Milan, Biggy puts it near Toulon.
However, when the time finally ends, Jeffrey shocks everyone with a little surprise: the contestants have the chance to change their fate. He instructs them to put on their goggles and meet him outside. This is when the host reveals that the golf balls clue refers to clubs, artichokes to hearts, shovels to spades, and the M.M. in the ring boxes symbolize Marilyn Monroe’s three marriages, but more importantly, diamonds. He continues that these four collectively refer to a deck of cards, which is commonly found in casinos, and that is where the players are headed. It is none other than Monaco, located just 10 miles from Cannes and home to unrivaled luxury despite being smaller than New York Central Park. It is the playground for the world’s elites, has 6000 super yachts in the sea, and the legendary Casino de Monte-Carlo.
When the contestants’ vision is turned on, they are shocked to find themselves on a yacht. As the host beckons them to the upper deck, he announces that they have to gamble the $250,000 with the ticket to their Finale at stake. He explains that a Roulette wheel lies before them, divided into red and black sections. They have to choose either color, and if the ball lands on their desired color, he is going to let them choose from two sets of cards. It will give them a chance to either move their X on the map or another player’s X. At the end of the game, the one farthest away from the actual location is going to head home. Jeffrey further adds that the game consists of two rounds, and the order is decided by picking the poke chips with each of their names.
The Ruthless Game of Luck Shifts the Leaderboard With Every Move
When Jeffrey picks the first chip with Rick’s name on it, he decides to go with the black color. Luckily, the ball lands on the black portion after turning the Roulette wheel. He selects the card to move his own X, which states that he can swap it with another player’s. He notes that he knows where he and Peter have placed theirs, but is oblivious about Shayne and Biggy. When he asks them for their answers, Biggy refuses to tell him. However, Shayne honestly mentions that it is better if Rick doesn’t choose his destination. However, this brings Rick to a hard spot because he doesn’t want others to know that he knows precisely where Peter’s X is. So, he declares that he is going to swap his X with Peter’s and lies that it is because the latter always finds the correct destination. This decision places Rick in the lead, pushing Peter into second place.
The next two chips reveal Shayne and Biggy’s names, respectively, but they lose their turns because their choice of color doesn’t match where the ball eventually lands. Right after is Peter’s turn, who luckily gets the chance to select the card to move another player’s X. It reads that he can swap the X of two other players. After much contemplation, he decides to swap Shayne and Biggy’s X. It puts Biggy 142 miles away from the actual location, which puts Shayne over 100 miles closer. For the second and final round, it is once again Rick’s turn. This time, he gets to pick to move another player’s X, and his card reads that he has to move the X of another player by 50 miles. When he picks Biggy, the latter remarks in his confessional that the competition has gone up a notch. However, he understands Rick is genuine and his opponent has no ill will.
Shayne’s Emotional Exit Leads to the Revelation of Monaco as the Destination
Rick’s decision has put Biggy around 200 miles from the actual destination. This time, Shayne gets fortunate and picks the card to move someone else’s X, stating that he can move one of their Xs in its original position. As expected, he resets Biggy’s to where he originally put it, bringing him to the same position as Shayne, which is 41 miles from Monaco. When it’s Peter’s turn, he gets the choice to move another player’s X closer by 5o miles, and without any hesitation, he picks Rick. Hence, the latter ends up moving directly to Destination X. Since the last spin comes down to Biggy, he observes that it is going to be devastating if he loses after this far.
Thankfully, the Roulette wheel allows Biggy to pick his card, and he can now move his X closer by 50 miles. Finally, Jeffrey announces that the person who is going home is Shayne. After he bids an emotional goodbye to everyone and gets off the yacht on a boat, he discloses that the game has been the adventure of his life, and he wouldn’t trade it for anything. He also adds that his meeting with Ally makes it more memorable. When the hosts ask Peter, Biggy, and Rick about the clues they receive, Rick grows nervous because he lied to Biggy. He remarks that this is the first time in the game that Biggy finds out that he was untruthful with him.
When Rick eventually states that he received three ring boxes, Biggy quickly notes that Rick has been the biggest threat all along. After explaining the deck of cards’ clues, the host reveals that they can be found in Monaco’s casino. While Peter now feels the pressure to win, Rick honestly admits that he wants to do this not only for his family but also to show the young generation that he can also do this. Similarly, Biggy opens up that although his family is going to be happy that he is in the finals, if he cannot win, it is still a job that is not finished.
Read More: Destination X Episode 8 Recap: The Knives Are Out
