It’s probably hiding in your Prime Video profile, but I promise that 007: Road to a Million season 2 is now available to stream. The premise is simple: contestants are coupled up (mother and son, spouses, childhood friends, you know the drill) and are set a series of James Bond-like challenges across the world in order to win up to £1 million. Like classic game shows such as Jeopardy! you can secure lower amounts of money each time you pass a task. The only difference is, however, you’re probably dangling off a cable car up a mountain while you’re doing it.
Season 1 came out around the same time as Netflix’s Squid Game: The Challenge (which is also coming back for a second season soon), but the two couldn’t have had more different trajectories. While the Squid Game competition received global promotion and acclaim – once people got over the idea that cashing in on a concept that killed people for money was ironic – 007: Road to a Million vanished into thin air. Frankly, I’m surprised it was commissioned for another season, and I didn’t even know it was coming back.
However, I will proudly stand on my soapbox and say more people should be watching this, and they’re fool if they don’t. While we wait for news on Amazon’s upcoming James Bond movie, we can live vicariously through all the glamour and thrills thanks to everyday people. It doesn’t sound it, but that’s even more exciting that you’d think.
Why I recommend streaming Prime Video’s 007: Road to a Million this weekend
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As you can see from the above trailer, we’ve got grown men sobbing in cars, terrified husbands bungee jumping head first off giant dams, trembling divers swimming with sharks and a queasy-looking woman having a panic attack at the top of a steel tower. Haven’t you missed the thrill of people being put through their paces like this? Even better, everyone competing is at the mercy of Brian Cox, aka ‘The Controller’. If Logan Roy had less corporate drive and was able to take himself less seriously, he’d probably be something like this.
Our contestants really are traipsed all over the world, and the budget behind 007: Road to a Million season 2 is clearly astronomical. We’re kept in the dark about what happens next as they are, never sure if the next mission is one street over or 2,000 miles away in South America. The down time allows us to subtly explore the bond between the couples competing, and before we can draw breath, we’re whole-heartedly invested.
Season 1 was one of the only shows to have my entire family nestled in front of the television, like the good old days. It’s clichéd to say, but 007: Road to a Million certainly has something for everyone – I mean, who isn’t going to be bowled over by 56-year-old Trevor from Bolton being left to his own devices in the Amazon rainforest for the night? Sadistically, the best part is watching contestants bend over backwards to get their hands on a briefcase giving them access to money, only to fail answering the question that lets them to the next level.
We’re certainly in both a game show and James Bond slump at the moment, so please, please give 007: Road to a Million season 2 a try. If nothing else, it’s cheaper than going on holiday again this year.
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