The Amazing Race season 37 may have just come to an end, but there’s a brand-new show to fill the void that viewers may have after losing the long-running travel show to its summer hiatus with Destination X hitting the airwaves. While many fans of The Amazing Race also indulge in other reality TV competitions, there are few that are like Destination X, and even fewer that have a travel theme baked in. The new show’s exciting draw comes in the mix of competition, social strategy, and travel knowledge, which fans of the long-running Amazing Race will love to see.
Although Destination X season 1 is only in its infancy, the series is already looking like a show that could run for years. With an exciting host in The Walking Dead star Jeffrey Dean Morgan, an exciting premise that brings several different elements of gameplay together, and an exciting cast with some fun veteran reality TV stars, the series brings a whole new competition to life. While there are definitely moments where Destination X is reminiscent of The Amazing Race, it ultimately proves to be its own unique concept throughout the premiere episode, and will continue to build its identity.
Destination X Leans Into Travel Like The Amazing Race
The Show Brings Its Cast Members All Over Europe
While the majority of The Amazing Race focuses on teams of competitors moving through different legs of a race around the world, the essence of the long-running competition is in how the contestants travel. Moving along a pre-determined route, the competitors have more of an understanding of where they’re headed on each leg of their trip on The Amazing Race, but on Destination X, the location is part of the fun of the series. Competitors on Destination X are tasked with figuring out where in Europe they are on each leg of the trip without technology or any modern clues.
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Instead, Destination X’s contestants have to try to figure out where in the world they are using their own general knowledge, context clues of their surroundings, and things they’re able to gain from the show’s competitions. While it’s similar to the energy of The Amazing Race, Destination X uses its locations as parts of the fun of the game. With competitors looking to understand where they are and stay in a close range, using their general knowledge of geography and culture is a difference that stands out on Destination X, rather than expanding said knowledge like The Amazing Race would.
Destination X’s Competitions Are Based On Its Unique Locations
The Challenges Help Competitors Figure Out Where They Are
Although Destination X hinges on the contestants figuring out where they are in the world, the show’s most exciting moments feature them figuring out the clues in real time. Watching the contestants work through challenges that could give them clues about where they are in short-range and long-range is fascinating, and the show leans into the idea that if the contestants haven’t started figuring out where they are, neither have the viewers. With the information slowly rolled out throughout the episode, it’s a test for both viewers and competitors to figure out what’s happening as the high-stakes competition rolls on.
Destination X Has The Charm Of An Old School Reality TV Competition
The Series Could Last For A Long Time
Although it’s part of the new wave of wonderful NBC Universal reality TV competition content that works alongside The Traitors and Love Island USA, Destination X has the charm of an old school reality TV competition. This is a good thing, as the show brings out pieces of reality TV competition shows that can be lost with the new era of streaming in the mix. While there are obviously modern pieces to the show, like the luxury bus, the core of the competition isolates the competitors. Destination X does a great job toeing the line between classic and new wave.
Destination X airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. EDT on NBC & is available to stream now on Peacock.
Source: NBC/Instagram
