Rachel Rosette became the third player eliminated from Destination X, and there were some questions for her about whether potential ally Tia had purposely sabotaged her. Looking back on the episode, it doesn’t look like that, and now Rachel has had a chance to see it as well.
She chatted with us at GeekSided to talk about the series, her strategy, and what she’s learned about herself since being in the game. Life has certainly changed for Rachel since leaving, but there’s an exciting future ahead for her, which includes her adorable pup, who was a very good boy on camera while chatting.
GeekSided: Let’s start with just the idea of Destination X and why you decided this new reality show was one for you.
Rachel Rosette: There was such a crazy explanation of what the show is. Because I’m not a world traveler, I haven’t been to that many places to consider myself well-traveled, and I’m not a camper. At first, I heard ‘You’re on a bus.’ Because of those things, I had to do it. I would never have done it except for $250,000.
GS: What was the experience on the bus like?
RR: Crazy, in the sense that you go psycho, because you only talk to the other people on the bus. Somebody else chose them, and you’re all together, different personalities, and you go stir crazy. There’s no music, and you can’t talk to anybody else. You’re just trying to make the most of it.
I think someone from production gave us a set of cards at some point, but you go a little bit crazy when you’re not doing challenges. We had so many places to drive to, and we spent all day just trying to pass the time, not be too loud in the bathroom, so it was different for sure.
GS: What was the VR goggle experience like?
RR: Oh my gosh, I hate those guys! They’re so heavy. What’s so funny is when everyone takes off the goggles, you can see the indentations on all of our faces, rubbing off all the makeup. I would have plucked my eyebrows better had I known how close up they were. Every time I see my brows on screen, I’m like ‘Whoa, those are bushy!’
But it’s insane, because you cannot see anything, you can’t hear anything, they’re taking us to all these destinations, and you’re just walking around, and they’re holding your arms, taking you to where you’ve got to be. So, the goggles were insane.
The moment they would turn on and the light comes in, you feel like you’ve been a hostage. It’s so bright! So, it was just a really crazy experience, but next time, I’d say make a lighter version, one that doesn’t weigh 50 lbs.
GS: Everyone hates the goggles so far. You all say they’re heavy.
RR: Do we? They gave me headaches.
GS: What was your strategy going into the game?
RR: My strategy was to be friendly with everybody and kind of lay low until I could figure out who I wanted to have alliances with. My biggest fear coming into it was being in an alliance with the wrong person, somebody who everybody turns against. I didn’t know these people, so I just wanted to float for a couple of days and get my bearings.
It was a mistake because from day one, people were making alliances, and I did not jump on that boat. Ultimately, I think that’s what led to me being eliminated as early as I was.
GS: You were just starting to form that alliance with Tia. As you were leaving, you seemed to think that Tia betrayed you, but looking back now on Destination X, do you think that?
RR: I really do think when she told me those clues that she believed it. In my heart, if she had been in the Map Room, she would have put Cannes, and I felt that in the moment, going back and watching it and watching her interviews when she said, ‘I like Rachel.’ It was nice to hear, so I really do feel like it wasn’t any kind of gameplay manipulation there. I really truly thought she was doing me a solid by telling me those clues, and they just happened to be the wrong location.
GS: I could see why she was getting Cannes from Can-Can.
RR: That’s the one right on the nose, Alex. The can-can dance, the Cannes film festival. Why Paris? Cannes is not a neighborhood; it’s a city in France!
GS: One thing that has got me watching it is that you’re never in “Destination X.” You stop in locations on the way. Did that throw you off?
RR: That’s what makes it really difficult too, right? There are a lot of clues that you’re seeing, and not all are about the X location. They’re about close locations.
If you look at the first episode, there was a clue that was Romeo & Juliet, so you’re thinking Verona. That was what Rick was talking so much about. Is Verona close to Milan? Maybe Florence? So you’re getting clues about places close to the destination, and you’re getting a lot of red herrings. You can never 100% know if it’s a valid clue or it’s BS.
GS: What have you learned about yourself while in the game?
RR: I actually learned that I’m a lot more independent than I think I am, and I am somebody who is okay being alone, because I felt left out on the bus sometimes, feeling like alliances were being made without me.
At the time, I was married, and I wasn’t able to talk to my then-husband every single day like I had [Rachel went on to share that they are friends and she’s happy for him]. It was a really isolating experience, but what I realized is that it didn’t affect me as I think it could have. I think that’s really helped me in this new chapter of my life.
I’ve gotten divorced now, and I’m living on my own for the first time ever. I’m making new friendships and realizing that having a social circle is important, but it’s also okay if I don’t. It was just a really nice thing to learn about myself. This is a new chapter of my life.
GS: Well, I really hope to see you on another reality show in the future.
RR: Me too! Put me on a dating show, like The Bachelorette. Dating sucks.
Destination X airs on Tuesdays at 10/9c on NBC.