User reviews

I saw the Guardian 1 star review and got curious. Watched the first test as it seemed the next contestants were about to repeat the same test I thought "are you serious?" Well their test was slightly different and was edited shorter.

This show has some of the best cinematography in a reality show. I think they're even using anamorphic lenses. Plus drone shots and slick editing. They're going for the 007 movie vibe, which is a little counterintuitive for a reality show. The USP of a reality show is it feels live and rough. This doesn't. It feels staged like an unrehearsed movie.

Its a mashup of various successful shows. So we have teams of pairs travelling across the world. But they're introduced slowly, like the Alone series (not all in the first episode). Brian Cox plays a kind of Bond villain Alan Sugar.

Except he comes across as a friendly uncle who thinks he's being evil. Except he's helping the contestants. Is he against them or not? That bit seems confused.

The tasks are right out of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? And ABC multiple choice without any friends to call. Every single task... so yeah it does get very repetitive. Once they find the case which contains the question it generally feels like an anti climax. And many of the questions are very easy.

The main problem is a basic lack of tension or intrigue. The contestants are not competing against each other. Instead each team is running their own quest to win the £1m. Therefore cutting between them has no meaning other than a way to stop the audience getting bored.

Cox is completely detached from the game and just supplies his robotic instructions and clues. Probably recorded completely separately. Unlike say Sugar in the Apprentice or the guy who used to present The Crystal Maze. They're part of the game and that adds to the fun, the intrigue and the tension.

They surely missed an opportunity to introduce some 007 intrigue between teams, by having them compete for the big prize conducting some Bond style espionage against each other.

As it is, it's just about entertaining enough to keep one's interest in an undemanding way, for a few hours casual viewing.

I just wonder how contrived the whole thing is. What if all the contestants got the questions wrong early? End of show. Maybe that's why the questions are so easy.

A lot of the stunts are far too dangerous for ordinary folks to take on without professional supervision. But that stuff gets edited out to give you them impression a couple ordinary blokes are suddenly expert rock climbers. In one task involving a cable car they don't show the contestant getting a safety cable attached to him, but you can see it in the wide shot. The editing implies they're left to complete the tasks alone.

Then there's convenient boatmen and taxi drivers who happen to be up for helping them out. There's time challenges which nobody ever fails.

It does have potential but they should rework the format.

I was skeptical but made it through the first episode and now onto the second. So far so good. I'm liking it better than the Amazing Race. It's a bit more serious and even dangerous. Brian Cox does an excellent job with his Borne Supremacy persona and lije a Bond villain watches the mystery unfold in a dark room full of monitors. I'll keep watching it the hope that it will get even better. The challenges definitely remind you of what Bond might have to deal with and the music adds to the suspense while the tension of the participants provides a few moments of levity. They must also have sone knowledge of history.

I've seen a lot of people across the internet going on about the show, saying they were expecting a proper serialised Bond show and that they were disappointed it was a reality show which I get but as somebody who knew exactly what to expect going in? I had quite a bit of fun with this. It's a vaguely Bond themed reality show with very cinematic camera work and the delightful Brian Cox hamming it up as the would be Bond Villain. The intro sequence is fantastic and the challenges are very much in line with what you would expect from an espionage based reality show. I think as long as you enjoy a bit of reality television here and there and know what you're getting yourself into, you might just have a good time.

Thank you for reading my review and have a lovely day.

There is an abundance of tv shows taking uk contestants around the world and/or the world for their chance at winning a cash prize.

This one is different, you can tell it has a big budget and the cinematography is really next level because of this. It's definitely got class.

As you will see by some reviews, people quit after 10 minutes, making their review reflecting nothing but the genre of the show. It's fun, the contestants all brought something different. You really do hope they get past each challenge.

It's really well edited, apart from a 2 second shot from a helicopter, there is no evidence of a film crew being there, you start to feel like you are the third person there.

Of course there is a bit of cheese, any fan of James Bond can look back and see a bit of cheese here and there.

Brian Cox was of course brilliant also.

Yes someone moaned about the bone brothers. They are not asking you to be friend with them, they were a class act. Really authentic characters, and deserved to get as far as they did, if not even further.

I have only watched 2 episodes of this show but I am already thinking this 'could' of been so much better, as have most of the contestants shown at a later stage and how they got there, which obviously meant they had done the challenge and got the question right so absolutely no drama.

There are parts that show the challenges as they happen and this works so much better.

I hope the later shows don't have so many spoilers as it really makes a potentially good show really rubbish.

It really is a lost opportunity that a big budget show like this has no idea on how to do drama and should take some notes from some of the more superior shows such as the traitors etc.

I usually don't watch shows like this but the 007 got me.

I love the Bond franchise but I'm not an avid fan. I watched the show with the Xray on and I learnt a lot of things about the locations and all the Bond references that are scattered along.

The participants casting was really good. I loved the Bone brothers and the nurses as well. Average people like us with very general knowledge, a knack for solving mysteries and stay chilled in all circumstances !

I loved this show and I really hope the second season will as well curated as this one. The Barbara Brocolli producing credit is definitely a quality warranty !

A good reality TV show, but you really need to know your Bond to find the links with the movies. For example, Drax is mentioned in one episode, and the iconic cable cars are shown from Moonraker. Also referenced is Live and Let Die, Octopussy, Dr No, and On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

The contestants are interesting and in no way appear shallow or spolit. They're ordinary people trying to make money on a very difficult game show.

Brain Cox does a great job at playing the 'villian,' and he keeps the show going. However, the challenges often appear harsh for some, and a little easier for others.

I enjoyed this show, but you've got to know your Bond. The contestants don't really know there Bond so as viewers you're almost left to infer the links.

Great first episode, interesting and funny contestants, fun challenges and gorgeous scenery. Looking forward to rest of the series to see what other locations they go to and try to guess the answers to the trickier than expected questions.

Not sure why people have a problem with this being part of the Bond franchise, and definitely think those that thought it was going to be a Bond serialised show have just done a very basic lack of reading up on the show! It's good fun, get over it folks!

Makes me want to go and visit the Highlands and Venice so it's definitely inspiring my future holiday plans.

As a huge James Bond fan, I loved the little subtleties in the show (going to Jamaica and staying at Goldeneye, for instance), as well as a lot of good trivia questions. The global travel is shot amazingly well. Brian Cox does a great job as the host/puppet master.

The contestants all have their own human interest angles. There are the brothers, coworkers, father/son, husband/wife pairs. The puzzles aren't terribly challenging but it's edited pretty tightly. It's a fun, lighthearted challenge reality show.

They do try to bring some Bond locations and such in but it could be heavier in that category. Great score flourishes musically as well.

A bunch of teams go on a series of missions, which each culminating in a quiz and/or transportation to a new exotic destination.

The quizzes are bad. Very bad. Either woefully simple, or something no one would know and has to guess about, with or without an obvious clue in the question itself. Each team has different challenges and questions, so some get a far easier time of it than others. Regardless, each team spends 5-10 minutes of camera time tediously and repetitively debating the answer, which is only going to happen if they are being intensively coached by the producers.

Most teams get quickly eliminated, often after very little screen time. Then new teams pop up in the midst of the show, apparently already having completed the preliminary challenges. The general impression is that most teams didn't provide good content for the show, and/or got tripped up early on by the pick-a-random-answer quiz questions.

It appears that the producers then recruited some additional teams to get more footage for the series. Except those super-teams are massively scripted and guided through the challenges, and obviously not the normal every-day Brits they work very hard to portray themselves as. Eg, a team in the medical profession also has a variety of the same uncommon adventuring skills. Extra "duh" points for the convenient rock climber who tries to downplay their skills by proclaiming a discomfort with heights.

But that's the theme with the super couples: they ham it up as bumbling ordinary blokes who persevere by virtue of luck, cleverness, and hard work. It's probably meant to appeal to the average viewer: "If they can do it, so can I!" But with the heavy-handed scripting, coincidences, and editing blunders, it all just comes across as deceptive. And for good measure, some vanity shots of the guys emerging from frolicking in the ocean at the various luxurious villas they stay at while being dutifully waited upon by Black locals - while the lodgings of the other teams are mysteriously never shown at all.

I can't count the number of times teams conveniently knew exactly what to do, and enthusiastically did it ... even when it involves apparent trespassing that the supposedly random locals nearby would likely view as an attempt at breaking and entering. Or the cuts away from an especially arduous part of the challenge to show the team members suddenly emerge victorious on the other side. And one scene of the same team discovering and investigating a location was blatantly filmed at least twice, with some heavy filtering thrown in to make full daylight look like dusk. Plus a slip-up in the editing showing a "dangerous" animal a team had to work near was actually tied in place. And loose items in a suitcase being neatly arranged when opened, after supposedly being lugged around rough terrain. Etc, etc.

But the scenery was nice, and the filming was excellent. Good music, and 007 fans will like the movie references. The series is watchable, though I probably wouldn't have bothered if I knew how scripted it was earlier on. The main detraction is the fundamental dishonesty in presenting this as a reality-based competition.

Great locations, a big budget and some engaging contestants but something missing from the way the show is out together.

Some of the individual challenges were spectacular..sugar loaf mountain for example...but others just seemed to be a case of wandering about until they stumbled over the case or the clue.

Also the way the 9 pairs of contestants were introduced meant that it was very disjointed with some only appearing in the briefest of flashbacks.

Unlike Race Across the world (say) there was often no challenge in getting from one place to another as taxis, boats or whatever magically appeared at the right moment. Whereas other feats of what should have been endurance challenges (walking 17km over snowy mountains) appeared to be a complete breeze.

Overall an interesting idea, with some spectacular set pieces /iconic locations but undermined by a lack of cohesion and strange way if editing the various contestants journeys .

It should have been good, but it was hopelessly contrived from start to finish. I feel sorry for the contestants, because - even though they won some dosh - they were made to look like idiots for the most part.

The episode editors cut so much of the storyline(s) that I was often left wondering: How did they get there? Where did that item/prop come from? How? What? Where? Why? It just got more and more ludicrous, that in the end, I felt that for all the money spent on the show it was a complete waste - apart from the scenery that was shown.

Such a terrible waste of effort - why didn't they just give them the money and call it quits?

Really enjoyed the document track and Brian Cox and the trivia and the action and the contests .

A epic reality spanning the globe . Following in Bonds footsteps location wise and technology wise . Some gadgets , alligators, snakes , spiders , cliff scaling , rope climbing .

Lots of trivia questions but to get the answer correct leads to more tests of courage and or strength agility .

I would recommend this show it can only get better . I feel the producers will see any mistake and or area to improve upon.

Epic show with epic payouts . People need to watch this if they like reality shows like the amazing race and or survivor.

Doesn't take itself too seriously, great twist on the format, little bit of Bond thrown in, amazing locations. I want more!

The characters are all very different and not at all Bond-esque which is nice. The challenges get more and more difficult as the show goes on, and the questions are fun enough to play along with at home. Feel like there's something in there for everyone. It definitely gets even better and more Bond towards the end, so hold out if you want to see casinos, Aston Martins, the alps etc.

Nice Easter eggs thrown in there as well, and cool to see places like GoldenEye in a different way.

A joyful masterpiece of 007 music, 007 sound fx and 007locations. Sit back and enjoy the ride. This is real people trying to win real money in rather unreal 007 places. Don't over think it, just let the genuine humour of the contestants amuse and warm your heart. EP 1 is great but things heat up as the show goes on, so it is really worth watching more. New contestants join the show in each episode. Brian Cox delivers all the wonderful "hammy" bond villain one liners you could need. But to be honest, the natural humour and occasional sadness and disappointment of the contestants is beautifully presented. Take the time to be entertained, you won't be let down.

I did not think this was a 007 film because I read the write-up beforehand. So I can safely say my review won't pitch & moan about what this was not, in that sense. I was intrigued by the intro with the iconic Bond theme music and the breif intro. But for me, E1 went down hill from there. Bond films are world renown and Amazon is an American company, yet the players here are all from European countries with 2 sets of muslims. No disrespect to Muslims but certainly millions of people around the globe would have like this opportunity and most would have been better equipped than the Charlie Browns in E1. For Christians, be warned there are endles omg exclamations from some of the players - an oddly common phrase among foreigners. No rules are explained, so we don't know if they keep whatever they've made up to the point they fail; as well, with each level, we aren't told if the amount is progressive or cumulative. Clearly there's a camera crew following each couple so perhaps provisions aren't needed. But no one took notes during the phone clue nor did their partner chant the instructions in order to memorize them - are they not allowed to take notes? They get off the call and now can't remember the instructions! Is it designed to make them look inept or are they doing that on their own? This just feels too simpleton. Some of the questions were intriguing and thetasks can be interesting. I like the voice on thephone, similar to Bond films. I like the idea of the show but judging by the all-important pilot episode, it just wasn't interesting enough. I moved on to E2 which was much more interesting if only because it moved faster. I'm giving 6 stars for the production and venues as well as the underlying idea. Over all, the premise has a lot of value. It just wasn't what I would expect for a reality show based on the iconic James Bond. I'd prefer to see players who are more capable and this is set up to make everyday blokes look silly. But of you felt some interest in E1, do check E2 before you call it quits. I nearly didn't then somehow in E2 they got the pacing much better established. I'm honestly not sure I'll keep watching, though, with the venues and accents so limited to Europe.

007: Road to a Million is a thrilling and fun reality show that puts contestants to the test in a series of spy-themed challenges around the world. Hosted by Brian Cox as the villainous Controller, the show combines elements of adventure, game-show, and reality-TV in a unique way. The contestants have to race against time, solve puzzles, perform stunts, and answer questions to win a £1 million prize. The show is inspired by the James Bond franchise and features locations and references from the films. The show is well-produced, fast-paced, and entertaining, with Cox adding a touch of humour and menace to the proceedings. If you are a fan of Bond or just enjoy a good competition, you will love 007: Road to a Million1234.

This is so enjoyable. Just watching the scene with the crocodile. That took some guts. The further the contestants get into this the more frightening are the tasks. I love that they are having to do tasks relating to the Bond films - walking on the roof of a train- dealing with a huge snake and with a tarantula. Definitely tougher then Amazing Race!

The contestants are an interesting lot and it's good they retain the money after each task. Some of the questions are quite tough and I wonder if any pair will get through to win the million.

Brian Cox is excellent as the controller. The scenery in the various locations are beautiful especially Venice and as a Bond fan it was fun trying to remember which films were associated with places and tasks.

I'm looking forward to see how this ends!

Thoroughly disappointing. Great travel show but it's incredibly boring and slow.

You'll probably enjoy this if you love reality television and want to get to know the contestants.

Other than some attaché cases with electronics inside, there's very little James Bond action, other than some 'stunt' challenges with safety harnesses.

Embarrassing to have the 007 brand on this show and what a waste of Brian Cox. Massively expensive production value for nothing much more than 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'.

Easy watching if you want something on in the background while you're online shopping or sorting laundry!

Loved it. Fun, exciting and thrilling! Great series for the whole family (does include unpleasant language).

Beautiful and picturesque scenery. Has given me ideas for future travel destinations.

Genuine people, watching them interact with each other is refreshing and very touching.

Includes engaging trivia questions which are fun to answer among the family.

Includes challenging problem solving techniques and skills.

Similar to the series, The Amazing Race, with a twist of James Bond. Lots of joyful, meaningful, exciting, frightening and nail biting moments.

Highly recommend this series: "007: Road To A Million", we loved it and are eagerly waiting for series 2.

Thank you, hope my review was helpful and hope you enjoy it as much as we did!