The Prime Video reality game show 007: Road to a Million is based on the James Bond franchise, and proved to be a tough nut to crack as the eighteen participants taking part were all eliminated, failing to win the million-pound prize. As it turns out, following in the footsteps of 007 was more difficult than the players realized, and the lack of a winner proved the point. A reality game show with no winner may sound anti-climatic, and it is hard to argue that it isn’t, so let’s take a look at the series and explain why there wasn’t ultimately a winner and why that may be exactly the point of the concept.
Why Was There No Winner in 007: Road to a Million?
There wasn’t a winner in 007: Road to a Million for a very simple reason — nobody could pass all of the challenges. However, there might also be another reason, which is that people will be more willing to tune in for a second season if nobody was successful the first time.
After the rest of the pairs of players were eliminated, the finale boiled itself down to three teams of two, desperately trying to win the last game.
Kamara and Josh, James and Joey, and Beth and Jen were the last of the contestants in the challenge-based game who were vying to win the million-pound prize. However, it appeared that the last question that had to be answered was very difficult to unveil.
James and Joey had already done well in the show, amassing a healthy pot of a hundred and fifty thousand pounds, and making a play for the million. However, after traversing the frozen lake, they would procure the laser rifle and aim for five targets to make it to the big question, but disaster struck when they destroyed the briefcase that held the clue that would take them to the next level of the game.
RELATED: Will there be a 007: Road to a Million Season 2?
Kamara and Josh also suffered a similar fate, blowing up the case with the clue in the middle of the frozen lake. In an epilogue to their journey, they did open a locker with a stash of cash, so not all was lost.
Beth and Jen, on the other hand, managed to get through to the next round, acquiring the briefcase that contained the keys to an Aston Martin DB5. Bond fans will instantly recognize the car as the one driven by Bond in Skyfall. GPS on the vehicle would lead the pair to a tiny secluded hamlet where The Controller would instruct them to finish the mission by climbing a mountain, however, the task was too much for the couple and they both failed the task.
That left the million-pound prize unclaimed. They did get a bag full of money for their trouble though, and of course the Aston Martin, but ultimately, the game ended with no million-pound winners.
What was the format for 007: Road to a Million?
The show features nine pairs of contestants all taking part in the reality game show that is based on the James Bond 007 franchise, featuring mental and physical tasks that are inspired by the popular films taking place in locations used in the movies. The game is overseen by a mysterious Controller, played by actor Brian Cox, and supplies the players with instructions and challenges, ultimately reveling in their failure as they strive to answer ten hidden questions to win the grand prize.
The official synopsis on IMDb reads: “Nine pairs of everyday people are unleashed on an epic global adventure through a series of Bond-inspired challenges, for a shot at winning a life-changing £1,000,000 prize.”
How did 007: Road to a Million perform?
Reviews have been mixed for the show, though of course, this genre appeals to a certain audience and is not for everyone. Decider surmises that you should stream it, but The Times of India found it “predominantly dull and uninteresting”. The Telegraph gives it 4 out of 5 saying it was “surprisingly fun”, but The Times and The Sunday Times were not so impressed, saying the show makes no sense.
Fans have taken to the show much more, though. It’s currently the most-streamed title in the UK on Prime Video, and while the lack of most traditional Bond-isms have been disconcerting for some, a few discerning viewers have figured out that this might be the point:
Okay! Okay! I get it now!
With #007RoadToAMillion the contestants are not meant to know Bond, but we do, so they don’t know what’s coming!
Just finished Episode 3 and loving it now! pic.twitter.com/Q491vnMXzw
— Antony ?????????(He/They) (@RemyLeBeau) November 12, 2023
Just finished ‘007: Road to a Million’ on @PrimeVideo. I really enjoyed it. No spoilers.#007RoadToAMillion @007 pic.twitter.com/veSUuGAQKu
— Joe McCartney (@joemccjoe) November 12, 2023
What did you think of 007: Road to a Million? Let us know in the comments below.
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