On February 22, two pairs of contestants on the popular Spanish quiz show 'Atrapa un Millón' faced the thrill and agony of game show competition, leading to dramatic losses and narrowly missed dreams.
Father-daughter duo Alberto and Amaia began their venture on the show optimistic about winning enough money to renovate their family home. Host Manel Fuentes engaged them enthusiastically, noting the unique motivation behind their desire to win: helping to rebuild spaces for their grandmother's stables. Despite their earnest intentions, their aspirations quickly crumbled.
The trouble began with the third question: "What does the red kangaroo do to combat the heat?" The options were bizarre: shedding all its fur, rolling around in mud, drinking a mojito, and coating itself with saliva. Alberto initially seemed convinced to go for rolling around in mud, arguing it seemed sensible because it would create a protective layer. But Amaia advised him to hedge their bets, leading them to allocate their substantial potential win of 650,000 euros across the options.
To their dismay, the correct answer turned out to be the one they dismissed—saliva—which cools them down through evaporation, as explained by Fuentes. The segment visually captured their shock as their money disappeared through the show's trapdoors, leaving them with just 50,000 euros to face the remaining rounds.
Despite holding onto some funds, the duo struggled to regain their footing, eventually losing the scant amount they retained when they mistakenly answered what achievement was attained by a Swedish individual aged 72. Faced with options such as swimming across the Atlantic and climbing Mount Everest without oxygen, they erroneously split their remaining stakes, leading to their exit without any winnings—far from achieving their renovation goals.
Meanwhile, friends Toñi and Ana from Mérida entered 'Atrapa un Millón' with visions of using their potential winnings for purchasing one of their dream cars. But their dreams shattered quickly, as they faced the first question, "Which is a type of rodent?" with humor-laden choices including “gatito de la calzada” and “ratoncito de gromenauer.” Mistakenly, they placed 725,000 euros on the improbable “ratoncito” based on what they believed was the only valid rodent option, discarding the more viable “perrito de la pradera.”
Upon realizing the magnitude of their initial loss, they were understandably devastated, their hopes dashed within moments of beginning the game. Fuentes offered them some consolation, noting they still had, at least, some money left to play with.
Though they faced challenges initially, Toñi and Ana found their rhythm as they answered subsequent questions correctly. They eventually reached the last round, battling through hurdles and clinging to the last vestiges of hope with 50,000 euros left at stake. The final question presented them with the options of “meona” and “cagona” as types of fog, which they adeptly navigated, giving them the opportunity to leave the stage triumphant.
Reflecting on the tumultuous experience, both pairs of contestants faced the brutal realities of their quiz show ambitions. What began as hopeful dreams for renovations and car upgrades turned rapidly to lessons learned on the pressures of competition, quirky questions, and unexpected twists of fate within the confines of the game show arena. The allure of winning is undeniable, yet the path paved with uncertainty remains ever so challenging for contestants on 'Atrapa un Millón.'