Suvechha Sarkar
In the midst of mind-bending puzzles and nail-biting escape plans on season 1 of Hulu’s ‘Got to Get Out,’ an unexpected twist captured the attention of viewers. As the contestants fought to outwit each other, an intriguing connection gradually bloomed between Nick Metzler, AKA Doodles, and Athena Thea Vas. Their effortless banter and trust in each other made it hard for even the competitors to miss their chemistry. The duo often discussed strategies and carried out their plans seamlessly, giving this competition as well as each other their best.
Nick Metzler and Athena Thea Vas’ Connection Started As an Alliance
Nick Metzler and Athena Thea Vas were two strangers who met amid the chaos of the game. As alliances began to form, he started noticing her in a new light. Beneath her calm exterior was a sharp mind that intrigued him even more. Their connection deepened slowly and it eventually sparked their first real one-on-one conversation. It further intensified when the players received a challenge wherein they had to team up to solve a puzzle and uncover a crucial escape clue – Nick and Athena were a team, alongside Omarosa. Nick’s feelings for Athena gradually grew to such a point that he ended up asking her on a date. She was more than excited about it, and soon, the duo shared a lovely dinner.
Nick and Athena’s trust in one another continued deeping as they opened up and even revealed some of their secrets. It all culminated in them kissing under the mistletoe. However, trouble soon started to brew as Nick tried to escape with other competitors, leaving Athena behind. This broke her trust, and she began hiding her own strategies and gameplay. Things then took a sharp turn when Nick discovered that she had received a clue but had no clear plan on how to move forward. In a moment of frustration, he snapped and ended up raising his voice at her. Ultimately, though, when it came down to their final shot at freedom, Nick and Athena’s willingness to win and escape the manor brought them back together.
Nick and Athena Have Chosen to Keep Their Personal Lives Out of the Spotlight
By the end of the show, emotions were running high for both Nick and Athena. He was trying to mend the broken trust and let his guard down in a vulnerable moment. He broke down before her, revealing the depth of his feelings. Both of them admitted that if it hadn’t been for the pressure of the game, their story might have unfolded differently. However, with Nick’s betrayal still fresh in her memory, Athena was not ready to take another risk yet. Although both of them reconciled and concluded their time on the show on good terms, they have kept details about their dating under wraps. From what we know, they have continued to share an amicable bond, which is quite visible from how they hype each other on social media. It is also evident from the fact that Nick and Athena still follow each other on Instagram.
Nick is Thriving as a Game Designer While Also Being a Travel Enthusiast
Nick pursued his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California and graduated in 2016. However, he stepped into the professional world long before all of this. In May 2008, he began working at Visibility Unlimited Inc., where he remained until August 2011. Then, in January 2012 he began carving out his niche as a game designer by becoming the President of Messy Desk Ideas INC, which was the role until April 2014. During this time, his board game, Squasheed, earned a license from PlaSmart. Nevertheless, while working in this position, his continued exploring his passion for adventure, leading him to join Survivor Entertainment Group as a Dream Team Member in May 2013. It was a four-month experience that offered Nick a glimpse into the world of entertainment and challenge. Eventually, from March 2014 to February 2018, he served them as a Challenge Design Consultant too.
Gradually, Nick’s passion for games directed him to his role at Spin Master in May 2015, where he joined as a Game Designer. Over the years, he rose through the ranks and became this organization’s Incubation and New Business Specialist for Games. He held this position until July 2021 before continuing to explore this avenue through freelance work, developing TV game shows, board games, and much more. Ultimately, he joined Framework Ventures in April 2022 as a Tokenomics and Governance Designer. Then came one of his most defining moves as he founded Win-Win in October 2022. This company is a full-service gaming advisory firm that aims to launch games successfully with the help of expert design and token strategy. Eventually, Nick also joined Shima Capital as a Venture Partner in March 2023.
Over the years, Nick has developed a range of popular puzzles and board games. Some of the notable ones include – Jumanji, Harry Potter Catch the Snitch, Squashed, and many more. Beyond this, the games and crypto games specialist has also appeared twice on the podcast ‘Answers to the Universe’ – in September 2023 and April 2024, respectively. In April 2025, he also featured in the podcast ‘Channeling Hallmark,’ where he spoke about how he approaches making board games. On his social media profile, the reality star often shares updates on the games he is developing and how they work. Beyond his professional life, Nick loves to travel to exotic locations. From his visit to the historic city of Rome in June 2023 to his trip to Tokyo, Japan, in November of the same year, he is truly living his best life.
Athena Vas is Flourishing in Her Multifaceted Career in Entertainment
Athena Vas began with a strong academic foundation, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Stony Brook University. She also attained a Master’s of Fine Arts degree from Saint Joseph’s College before returning to the aforementioned institution for 60 credits towards a Ph.D. Mathematics. However, upon stepping onto the vibrant stages of New York City, she knew she had found her calling. The once-competitive figure skater understandably loves to perform, so she ended up pursuing a career in theater acting and graced theatres like Davenport and ARS NOVA. The reality star effortlessly blended her performances with passion. However, since January 2020, Athena has also been working as a Social Media Consultant who crafts strategies to assist her clients in finding their voice to promote their brand online. She even signed up as a Model and Actress at Made Worldwide Agency Inc. during this time.
In 2021, Athena’s wit and comedic charm won everyone’s hearts on season 2 of ‘The Bachelor: Greece,’ wherein she ultimately emerged as a winner. In August 2023, she launched a podcast, ‘Athena Vas Show,’ which is devoted to empowering individuals to recognize their worth. Beyond this, she is also an author. She published her debut book, titled ‘F*CK IT: When You Want A Better Life But Don’t Know Where To Start, Start Here,’ on January 16, 2024. Thanks to all this, Athena has gained a large fan base across her social media profiles and currently has 332K followers in Instagram. Here, she shares glimpses of her achievements, along with sneak peeks into her personal life.
In March 2025, Athena participated in the Angel Competition Bikinis as a fitness model and won in every category she was placed in. Beyond her professional life, she continues to grieve her mother’s loss. After all, she was the closest to her mother and was ready to give away anything just to keep her happy. Expressing her pain, she once wrote, “I would give anything to hug her one last time and tell her I love her.” Nevertheless, apart from this private pain, Athena Vas continues to be unapologetically herself every day.
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