September 12, 2022 (S40 Premiere!) recap

What a start to the season!! Adriana really “XL-ed” to win.

However, I expect Twitter to blow up; both with Adriana’s Same Letter mistake fix and the puzzle board.

And how refreshing it is to see “Executive Producer” in the credits once again!

So here’s the main thing I wonder. All the special stuff, is it going to stick around, or is it just for this week? And even if most of it is just this week, do you think any of it could stick around for the rest of the season? I wonder if the XL wedge could. It would be terrible if it were never landed on and we would never know how it worked. I remember the week of the 6000th episode, the $5000 wedge was changed to a $6000 wedge, but it was never landed on (just like the $5000 wedge).

The news articles and the info on Wheel's website indicate the XL wedge and other special things this week are just for this week and October 24 (the 6th show for this week).

I liked Pat and Vanna's intro and it was a nice thank you to the fans, but I thought it was odd they were in front of an unlit monitor. The intro graphics were cool.

Well that was very nearly an embarrassing non-solve on TU1 to start the season. Social media would've had a frenzy with that. Pat's reaction to it was funny.

Croatia is an odd trip choice. Adriana nearly blew the solve on the first puzzle, but she nicely caught herself and solved correctly. 

Hold the phone, they used a 21st century song in a puzzle! And 2010 at that! Very cool transition going from the puzzle to the XL prize giveaway promotion also.

Where did Adriana think the C was in R3? Interesting Robin solved twice without spinning, though the second time was with the Prize Puzzle of course. She made it close thanks to it being $12,000 including the $5,000 cash.

I no-lettered the Speed Up puzzle. Nice to see Pat going up to the contestants at the end of the Speed Up again.

Easy bonus round puzzle, I RSTLNEd it. Very interesting letter choices, but it turned out the Gs were all she needed. Nice to also see Pat stand next to the contestant again during the bonus round. Wins will be even better when the audience is back and contestants have families and friends with them to come on stage after a win.

Well, the new puzzleboard has a few bugs to work out still but it has potential. Hopefully they utilize it a little more for transitions and graphics, things like flashing the amount the contestant hits on the wheel (especially if it's the big money wedge or the MDW), and showing the prize they won if they solve the bonus puzzle. 

Hey guys. Sorry yall haven't heard much out of me lately except for classic recaps. Last season wasn't a great season gameplaywise in my opinion. I didn't really like last season because of that and I just couldn't talk on recaps anymore. Now that we are in a new season hopefully it will be a better one gameplaywise and I will enjoy it better

So that's how the season starts? A weird missolve on a puzzle about the show hitting a milestone and nobody gets it till there's one letter left?

Incredible Round 1 by Adriana

Got Round 2 when Adriana bought E

That first word of Round 3 stumped me also like Adriana

Got the speed up puzzle when Adriana called H

I see that was an easy bonus puzzle for some of you. Not for me. I have never heard of that phrase before. When she solved it, I literally said "How did she do that?" I thought the first two words were MAKING AN which wouldn't have worked because I couldn't think of a fitting word there that follows AN

Pat is now coming to the contestants again, only at the end of the game. He is also standing next to the contestant in the bonus round again. I'm glad to see he is doing that again. Glad to see the white things are gone too. So far I like all these changes they have made

This wasn't a bad episode to start the season

This was indeed a fine start to a milestone season. Everyone won something (despite Rasheim being given not so XL opportunities to play; I'm pleased to see he managed to get a puzzle under his belt), and the Bonus Round was won. I'm for certain that's always a pleasant sight for all of us here to see. With that being said, I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of this celebratory week plays out.

(Quoting above post)

Except for the LiDAR activation error on Toss-Up 2.

All right, now for my comments!

Graphics: Yeah, they were vastly different to what we've seen before. Didn't like the Lose a Turn, but the BANKRUPT was pretty spiffy. Love the intro for this week.

Puzzles: Honestly, not the best in terms of that category. TU1 was extremely blatant (that missolve didn't help matters) and R1 was random enormous G words. The Prize Puzzle wasn't very good as well (never heard of a Pod of Whales being IMMENSE...Adriana probably had that same thought as well). It was nice seeing a song lyric from 2010, though.

Gameplay: Aside from Round 1...it was kinda XS (get it?). Glad to see that the $45K wasn't retired (I overthought on what the first word in the BR was). I thought the streak of seasons starting out with a win would be over, but that thankfully wasn't the case.

Yes, the PP trips are a bit of a game breaker this week, but the featured trips I believe almost combat that (though it makes the Mystery Prize puny in comparison).

Here's hoping for the best season ever!

7/10