007 Road to a Million - Bonding over Games

007 - Road to a Million

English - Reality / Drama
8 episodes ~ 40 mins
Prime Video

I am not a fan of reality shows or game shows. Back in my school days, when Cable TV/STAR had just set foot in India, there was this wonderful show called Crystal Maze—that was a couple of decades ago, and apart from that (and no, not Squid Game), I’ve never really been into the format.

007 – Road to a Million premiered in 2023 and is now in its second season. The main allure for me was the exotic locations and the overall James Bond theme (huge fan of 007). Eight different pairs of contestants, must complete some fairly intense tasks in the pursuit of 1 million pounds.

Brian Cox anchors the show - He is in the Logan Roy (Succession) zone, perilously close to saying the famous "f*** of*". Cool and unemotive as he has to be, Cox is upto the task as the "Controller". The challenges range across physical and mental tests. While serious in tone, they are generally fun and engaging to watch.

Of course, this is a TV game show, so there is the scripted drama. The diversity of contestant choices feels very deliberate. Nonetheless, putting that aside—if you are a 007 fan or simply looking for some light, family-friendly dinner-time viewing, this one is engaging and more than decent fun.