Summer is here for the 2025 TV schedule, which means NBC brought out new shows like Destination X. This competition series, hosted by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, takes contestants all over Europe with a prize of $250,000. I have to be honest, I was not really into the premiere for most of the first hour. But strangely enough, my completely wrong final guess made me want to tune in again. This show is a wild ride, and I am ready for more.
The premise of Destination X is pretty wild. Ten contestants get on a bus that has blacked-out windows. This sounds like a nightmare for anyone who gets claustrophobic. They are driven all over a mystery country. Along the way they gather clues about where "Destination X" actually is. At the end of each episode some contestants have to go to the Map Room. There they place a pin closest to where they think they are. The person farthest from the real spot gets sent home.
There are fancy goggles that act like blindfolds, coins with symbols, and a chase through village streets. It all felt very similar to a show like The Amazing Race. My main issue was that the places they used as clues were all far away from Rome. Rome was supposed to be Destination X. The contestants saw parts of Italy, but they were never actually taken to Rome before they had to lock in their guesses. It felt a bit confusing. And frankly, for a good chunk of the premiere, I hoped the little figurine shop they ran through was staged. The two contestants basically destroyed it looking for the right Pinocchio doll.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Unexpected Role As Host Of The Mystery Competition ShowThe Walking Dead Star Had Doubts But Now Enjoys His New Hosting Job
Fans know Jeffrey Dean Morgan best as Negan from The Walking Dead. So him hosting Destination X might have seemed out of place, even to him. This very busy actor spoke to People about NBC asking him to host the show. He admitted he thought the network "had the wrong person." But he has shown he is leading the charge on this strange journey. He is the one in charge of the blacked-out bus. A group of players are taken to unknown places hoping to win a cash prize. It almost did not happen.
"I’m still not completely sure how the hell this happened,” he told People. “I am not like a typical host. I’m not Ryan Seacrest — who I love, and I think he’s excellent at his job — but that’s not me. I’m a bit on the crass side, and I’ve got a very sarcastic sense of humor, and I didn’t picture it.” Morgan also said he lives on a farm, kills zombies in shows, is a dad, and is "kind of a pain in the a--." This gives you a good idea of why he felt he was not the right person. He really is a family man who owns a candy store and lives on a farm in upstate New York.
Morgan shared that he was struggling to balance his work as Negan and his father's declining health when he was contacted about hosting Destination X. He said "There was a bunch of stuff going on in my life. My dad was passing away in the middle of shooting, and I was a bit of a mess. I wasn’t sure how I was negotiating doing anything well at the time.” It was his wife, actress Hilarie Burton Morgan, who helped him decide. She used to host MTV’s Total Request Live. She knew best because “she came from the world of hosting.” She told him in a nice way that "You’re not getting any younger.” This advice seemed to make sense to him.
Morgan took some inspiration from The Traitors, a show he watched because he worked with its host Alan Cumming before. Both shows also have the same creative team. Morgan thought Alan was amazing but said he was not a showman like him. He knows the Belgian original version of Destination X had a very smooth, James Bond-like host. Morgan kept saying “That’s not me, either.” He felt NBC wanted someone a bit edgy, someone "maybe people want to have a beer with.” So far, Morgan is making his own mark on the map. He said he had "so much fun being the ringmaster of the circus" while filming in Europe. He is clearly enjoying the experience.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan hosts Destination X, a new reality show with a twist, and he reveals his frustration with contestants playing too nice while traveling blind across Europe.
Contestants Face Challenges And Reveal Their True Colors In The Season Premiere
From A Big Brother Veteran To A Love Island Star, New Faces Bring Excitement To The Bus
The first person sent home was Josh Martinez, a familiar face from Big Brother. He said goodbye at the end of the first episode. Martinez has been on many reality shows. He even won Big Brother 19. He told NBC Insider that "the bus was way harder." He explained "You have nowhere to run. You can't go get some fresh air. You can't escape. You're in there, trapped." It sounds like the blacked-out bus can be a real test of patience and mental strength. I can see why he felt trapped.
More reality TV personalities will join the game later in the season. Peter Weber from The Bachelor and JaNa Craig from Love Island will hop on the bus. These additions are said to "change the course of the game." JaNa Craig spent the summer of 2024 filming Love Island USA season 6 in Fiji. She finished in third place with Kenny Rodriguez. They are still together today, which is sweet. JaNa lives in Las Vegas but grew up all over the world as a "military brat." She lived in places like Hawaii and Japan. She is a day trader and content creator. Her social media often features her travels and brand partnerships. She was born in 1996, making her 28 years old as of June 2025.
In a preview for Destination X, JaNa said she is "actually a sore loser" and "needs to win" the show to "help [her] ego." She also mentioned she "likes the idea of mind games" and that she is "usually really good at winging it." This hints that she might be a strong competitor and not afraid to stir things up on the bus. When Josh Martinez was leaving, he dropped a big bombshell. He told the other contestants that "Rick is a snake" and that everyone should watch out for him. Josh was the first one eliminated so this was a great way for him to exit the show. It certainly caused some drama.
I am not usually great at guessing in competition shows. I am terrible at The Masked Singer. Jeopardy? Sure. Destination X? I was not feeling it. My grade school geography bee win was a very long time ago. One would think my failures would mean I would be frustrated by how wrong I was in my guess for Destination X. But that was not the case. I was sure the first Destination X would not be as simple as Rome. A coin with a "J" surrounded by a heart was identified as a clue about William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. I thought this meant the answer was Verona. "In fair Verona where we lay our scene" from Shakespeare’s play. I was so sure. I ignored other clues pointing to the actual capital of Italy. I went hard on assuming the show was being trickier than it was.
And you know what? I had fun being wrong. I was so wrong that I laughed at myself. I watched the promo for the next episode eagerly. Whether Rick is truly a snake or not, it was great to see a former Big Brother winner cause some chaos before leaving the bus. So I will be watching another episode of Destination X. I want to get a riddle right and not twist one single clue into some kind of Shakespearean plot. I am almost certain that was not what Destination X was going for in the premiere. I am guessing most of the audience correctly named Rome as the answer instead of thinking about high school English class.
NBC's new series Destination X keeps viewers on the edge of their seats as contestants try to guess their location while traveling in Europe.
What To Expect As Destination X Continues To Take Viewers On A Thrilling Ride
Looking Ahead To More Twists, Turns, And Geographical Mysteries In This Unique Series
New episodes of Destination X premiere on Tuesdays at 10 PM ET on NBC, right after America's Got Talent. You can also stream them the next day on Peacock. This is a show that is proving to be much more than just a simple competition. It mixes travel, mystery, and personal drama. It has a surprising appeal. The blacked-out bus concept keeps everyone, including the host, on their toes. It also forces contestants to rely on their wits and teamwork.
The blend of reality TV drama with a real-world puzzle makes for interesting viewing. It is not just about who wins. It is about how the contestants handle the pressure. It is also about how they figure out the clues. We will see how the new arrivals like JaNa Craig change the dynamics on the bus. Will she live up to her "sore loser" and "mind games" claims? Only time will tell. I am excited to see how this season plays out. I am especially looking forward to trying to guess the locations from my couch. Hopefully I will be more successful next time. This show definitely has my attention for the summer.