When I first heard that Jeffrey Dean Morgan was going to be the host of Destination X, I was excited, but, after watching episode 2, I've changed my mind and I think that he was wrong for the role. On each episode of Destination X, the competitors must use clues in order to guess their secret locations in Europe. Each week, a few contestants are chosen by their peers to guess their destination in the Map Room. The person whose guess is farthest from the actual location is eliminated. This means that there's a complicated social game being played in addition to the guessing game.
In the first two episodes of Destination X season 1, Jeffrey has proven himself to be a competent host, but I still don't think that he was the best person for the job. As an actor who's best known for playing Negan in AMC's The Walking Dead and its spin-off The Walking Dead: Dead City, he's new to reality TV hosting. Here's why I think Jeffrey was the wrong choice to host Destination X, and who could've been better.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Tough-Guy Image Doesn't Fit The Tone Of Destination X
Destination X Could've Been A More Highbrow Show
As a Jeopardy! fan, I was really excited and intrigued when I heard about Destination X. While most reality competition shows don't require any deep knowledge of geography, history, or culture, I thought that this show would be something new and different. After all, it would be impossible for the contestants to guess their locations if they had no idea about Europe. I looked forward to watching a reality show that was a bit more highbrow, and that would challenge me intellectually. I thought that it would be a rare find in the world of reality competition shows.
Although Destination X did partially deliver on that promise, I felt that Jeffrey seemed out-of-place on the show. His tough-guy image seemed over-the-top as he challenged the contestants in the games. He reminded me a lot of The Challenge
The competitions on The Challenge are incredibly outrageous and physically demanding, so TJ's attitude is warranted. I thought that Jeffrey looked almost silly when he rode in on a motorcycle during the show's first-ever challenge. I think he'd be better suited for a show like The Challenge, which would allow him to be tough on the contestants in games that push them to their limits. I'd rather if the focus of Destination X were more educational. That would be ground-breaking for a reality competition series.
In an NBC Instagram post, Jeffrey played up his bad boy image even more, riding a motorcycle and sticking up his middle fingers. In a clip, he asks the contestants, "Are you happy to see me?," and, in another, he's shown saying, "The more trouble I can cause, the happier I get." Then Jeffrey is seen saying, "Who can you trust? Well, not me. That's for sure." I don't know who this is supposed to appeal to, but I'd much rather have a Destination X host who I could trust, and who'd elevate the show to a higher level.
Jeffrey's Focus On Social Manipulation Instead Of Knowledge Is Off-Putting
The Show Should Be More About Book Smarts Than Street Smarts
Jeffrey seems especially focused on this aspect of the game. I was really disappointed during episode 2 when Destination X contestant Jonah Evarts was upset when he had to choose someone to possibly go into the Map Room in order to save himself. While I agreed with Jeffrey when he reminded Jonah that he was playing for $250,000, I didn't like it when he said, "We gotta toughen that kid up," after Jonah left the room.
Jeffrey's comment bothered me because Jonah is a gentle soul, and, if the game were truly only about answering the simple question of where the contestants were located, as Jeffrey has said in both episodes so far, then he wouldn't have to be someone he's not in order to do that. I want more focus on the clues and the challenge of surviving being on a blacked-out bus, and less on the social game. I don't like how Jeffrey plays up and values the cutthroat part of the game so much.
I'd rather have a Destination X host who revels in the intellectual aspect of the challenges than the typical manipulation and betrayal of other reality competition shows. I want to learn new things while watching the show, rather than watch the same tired game of social chess that we've seen on competition show after competition show.
Other Celebrities Who Would've Made Better Destination X Hosts
There Were More Suitable People For The Role
Although Jeffrey is doing a good job as host if Destination X is supposed to be a show about being socially savvy, I think that there were more suitable people for the role if the series focused more on knowledge like I hoped it would. I'd love to see Mayim Bialik or LeVar Burton, both of whom were considered as permanent Jeopardy! hosts, be the host of Destination X. I also think that Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings would do a wonderful job with the show because he truly loves trivia, the arts, and culture.
I know that Jeffrey is playing a role as host, much like Alan Cumming in The Traitors, but I wish that it was different. Alan's persona as the deceptive mastermind host fits the theme of The Traitors, but Jeffrey's doesn't. I'd much prefer it if the Destination X host were someone who valued intellectualism over toughness, and who didn't put pressure on the contestants to betray each other. After all, Jeffrey is one of the executive producers of Destination X, so he could make that change if he wanted to.
I feel like Destination X doesn't know exactly what it wants to be yet, but I hope that it chooses the high road, and reduces the amount of social manipulation necessary to play it if it comes back for season 2. Part of that would require Jeffrey to tone down his tough-guy persona, and allow the Destination X locations to be the stars of the show instead.
