Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS are forward for the Season 1 finale of Destination X on NBC, accessible streaming subsequent day with a Peacock subscription.
The first season of Destination X has come to an finish, with the finale revealing alliances and betrayals that decided who amongst Rick Szabo, Biggy Bailey, and Peter Weber would win the $250,000 grand prize. I’ve had enjoyable watching the sequence because it aired after new episodes of America’s Acquired Expertise, however no episode actually hooked me as a lot as when the sequence premiere hoodwinked me earlier within the 2025 TV schedule.
I was nonetheless comfortable to have fun Rick getting the win by figuring out Large Ben in London, and there is some actual appeal in an expert birdwatcher popping out on prime. However it wasn’t till I learn some feedback from host Jeffrey Dean Morgan that I realized that a part of my happiness for Rick was probably as a result of I was rooting towards one other competitor greater than I knew. Sorry, Pilot Pete, however I simply actually did not need you to win!
Now, to be clear – I wasn’t rooting towards Peter Weber due to his expertise on The Bachelor or The Traitors. In spite of everything, gaining fame in Bachelor Nation (whether or not or not you are there for the proper causes) does not make one a geography professional, being banished from The Traitors Season 2 forged does not remodel a competitor right into a grasp cartographer, and dealing as a pilot does not assure the flexibility to crack clues. No, I did not actually care that a lot that Peter got here in with actuality TV expertise.
Peter Weber was simply my #3 pick of the three finalists due to one large benefit that had nothing to do along with his time on ABC or Peacock actuality reveals: he acquired to hitch Destination X a couple of episodes into the season, skipping out on some early eliminations. I got here to my realization not when the ultimate credit rolled on Rick’s pleasure or after Peter’s emotional ultimate speech, however after I learn some feedback from Jeffrey Dean Morgan to Parade. He mentioned:
I give large props to the casting division. Now, going ahead, say we do a Season 2. I sort of like the combo of getting some newbies in addition to some veterans. And perhaps additionally it will behoove us to do sort of what Traitors does, and have an ‘all-star’ kind of factor of actuality present vets come on and do the present. However I just like the newbies. I like the fellows [who] have by no means accomplished this earlier than. And you understand, somebody like Rick, who will get to stroll away with the massive prize, who we’d by no means seen earlier than, a chook watcher from Canada, I assume that’s sort of cool. I marvel what the viewers would assume if Peter had come on Episode 3 after which received it, if individuals assume that that’s honest.
Peter Weber was one among two actuality stars who acquired to make late arrivals to Destination X, as he was joined by Love Island USA vet JaNa Craig to maneuver into the bus in Episode 3. JaNa did not final lengthy in competitors, however Peter clearly made it to the very finish. Jeffrey Dean Morgan raised the query of whether or not “individuals assume that that is honest” if he’d been the champion; I cannot communicate for everyone, however I positive would not have seen it as 100% honest.
That mentioned, I cannot disagree with Morgan’s extra level that it “makes for good TV if the viewers is aware of some individuals,” and Deal or No Deal Island did one thing comparable by casting Survivor legend Boston Rob Mariano for Season 1. And the format of Destination X signifies that what Morgan described as Peter and JaNa being “very savvy” and “very good” about actuality TV dynamics will not be sufficient to win. Savviness is not sufficient while you additionally have to determine areas in Europe! The taking part in subject would have been fairly even when everyone began on the similar time.
On the entire, I’m on board if Destination X is renewed and brings in actuality TV celebs on the identical degree as The Bachelor and Love Island vets, however would discover it an entire lot simpler to root for them if additionally they have to start out in the beginning like everyone else. Was Peter Weber an entertaining a part of the ultimate levels of Season 1 because of his secret alliance? Certain, however I do not assume I’ll change my thoughts that it will have been unfair for him to beat Rick or Biggy.
If you wish to relive the wild experience of Destination X Season 1, you could find the episodes streaming on Peacock. Jeffrey Dean Morgan appears open to returning for a second season, particularly after he revealed why he lastly took the internet hosting job. The rankings as America’s Acquired Expertise‘s primetime associate had been additionally stable, so I would not be stunned to see NBC carry the present again as a brand new summer season staple.
