Destination X season 1 episode 2 included some new types of clues that weren't directly related to the location of Switzerland, and they ruined the show for me. Destination X features host Jeffrey Dean Morgan, along with contestants Biggy Bailey, Ally Bross, Kim Conner, Shayne Cureton, Jonah Evarts, Mack Fitzgerald, Tai Lowry, Rachel Rossette, Rick Szabo, and Josh Martinez, who was eliminated in the first episode when he incorrectly guessed Destination X as Milan instead of Rome.

In Destination X season 1 episode 1, the contestants put together the clues that pointed in the direction of the first location: Rome. The clues were all about Italian geography, history, and culture. However, in episode 2, in which the location was Switzerland, some new types of clues were introduced that had nothing to do with the country, which I really didn't like. Here's why I hope that Destination X doesn't continue to do this.

Destination X Season 1 Episode 2 Included Pop Culture-Related Clues

These Clues Are Ruining The Idea Of The Show

During Destination X season 1 episode 2, the location was Geneva, Switzerland. Ally, Rachel, and Rick were able to figure this out right away when they saw the Swiss flag during the helicopter ride that they won after the first challenge, but they didn't know the city. Other clues in the episode followed the same pattern as those in the first, referencing food, literature, and animals from the country. However, a new kind of clue introduced in the episode ruined the game for me.

In the cabin where the Destination X contestants completed the main challenge, there were pictures of actresses Jennifer Aniston and Eva Longoria. In addition, there was a framed Lakers jersey hanging on the wall. Throughout the episode, I was racking my brain trying to figure out what Jennifer and Eva had to do with Switzerland. I was shocked and actually gasped out loud when Ally and Tai revealed that they figured out that they were in Geneva because when they put together their first names, Jen and Eva, it sounded like Geneva. Also, the Lakers jersey had nothing to do with basketball, but instead represented Lake Geneva.

I really didn't like these new kinds of clues because now I feel like it'll be hard to distinguish between clues that directly relate to the location, and those that simply have to be sounded out. This ruined the game for me because I felt like the idea of the game changed after episode 1. Now that I know that clues can be deciphered in this way, I don't know what to expect from episode 3, and it's frustrating me.

I originally thought that Destination X was more of a highbrow show requiring deep knowledge of European countries, much like my favorite game show, Jeopardy!. However, in episode 2, I feel like it was reduced to a puzzle game, which didn't require people to know anything about Switzerland other than the names of its cities. I felt duped by the show because I thought it was going to be one way, and then it changed the next week.

The Clues About Switzerland's Geography & Culture Were So Much Better

These Clues Preserved The Integrity Of The Game

The Destination X clues about Switzerland included Swiss chocolate, the St. Bernard rescue dog, tennis player Roger Federer, cuckoo clocks, fondue, a Swiss Army knife, mountains, a picture of Victor Frankenstein because Frankenstein takes place in Geneva, and a Rolex watch because the Swiss watch manufacturer is located in Geneva. These clues were just like the ones about Italy in the first episode, which I really liked.

I think that Ally and Tai are great players, but I'll always wonder if they would've been able to guess Geneva without the Jennifer and Eva clue. Although it was clever that they were able to figure this clue out, I was more impressed by Mack's ability to recognize the fountain at Lake Geneva on the bell during the main challenge. I felt that she knew more about Switzerland, while they were better at noticing details and figuring out puzzles. I almost thought that the producers were worried that the Destination X contestants didn't have enough prior knowledge about Europe, so they added in some new types of clues in order to help them.

Destination X Season 1 Episode 1 Included Clues About Italy's Culture

The Game Was Much More Challenging In Episode 1

I thought that Destination X season 1 episode 1 had much better clues than episode 2. Every clue was related to the location of Italy, with more specific clues leading the contestants to realize that they were in Rome. During the episode, Mack and Ally saw the Roman ruins at Volterra after winning the first challenge, while the riddles in the second challenge referenced Pinocchio, olives, and Roman numerals. They all clearly pointed to Italy, and then led some of the contestants to figure out that they were in Rome.

The coins in the second Destination X episode 1 challenge had references to Romeo & Juliet and wine. There were also coins that depicted Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle weapons (the turtles are named after Italian artists), Christopher Columbus, Thumbs Up & Thumbs Down (referencing gladiators' fates in the Colosseum), swords with Swiss cheese (representing the Swiss Guard, which protects the Pope in Vatican City in Rome), and ballet slippers (ballet originated in Italy).

I really enjoyed trying to piece together these clues to figure out the exact location in Italy, but episode 2's shift made some of the clues feel like red herrings. I didn't understand what Jennifer Aniston and Eva Longoria could possibly have to do with Switzerland, which led me down a rabbit hole of trying to figure out how their heritage or screen roles could relate to the country. I even began to think that they were only put there as distractions and they meant nothing. I never would've thought of simply putting their two names together because the clues didn't follow the pattern of the first episode. The same was true of the framed Lakers jersey.

Destination X season 1 episode 2 took the game in a new direction that I'm not happy with. Simply sounding out the name of the city simplified the game, and made me feel like I didn't need to have prior knowledge of the country's geography, history, or culture in order to play along with the contestants. I hope that, in future episodes, Destination X has more clues like the Italian ones because they made the show more challenging, and therefore more enjoyable, to watch.

Destination X airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. EDT on NBC.

Source: NBC/Instagram