Fort Boyard 2019

Saturdays starting soon,
France 2 (and hopefully officially on Youtube)

Blow the party horns, Fort Boyard is celebrating its 30th series this year, and plenty of celebration and surprises are in store.

It sounds like the game won’t be changing too much on previous years, but added excitement this year includes the return of legendary and original Master of the Fort Patrice Laffont playing a new character where contestants will use a time machine to play a game of the past, and a new genie character. Vincent Lagaf is back with another watersports challenge as well.

11 epsiodes to be broadcast this year, we don’t know if that’s 11 straight or 10 and a special. However after eight of the episodes there is going to be a chat show, where Olivier, Willy and the night’s team discuss the episode and the show’s thirty years with special guests. If that’s not enough Fort Boyard for you, later in the year we have a spin-off show, Boyardland set in Pere Fouras’ old abandoned theme park.

Plenty to chew on.

230 thoughts on “Fort Boyard 2019

  1. Matt Clemson

    I note someone I’m actually somewhat familiar with is lined up for this week’s episode; Romain Grosjean is the team captain who I’m very aware of through Formula 1.

    It’s a crying shame Car Wars is no longer present. Given his occasional crashiness in the main sport…

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  2. TVs Michael Harmstone

    Has anyone else noticed that the Cage has been way later than in previous years this year? I don’t think we’ve had one so far that has been when there’s more than 20 minutes left on the clock…

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  3. Karen

    As an F1 fan, greatly enjoyed watching Romain Grosjean look slightly lost the entire episode.

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  4. Lee Turner

    Decent episode as usual. Was able to enjoy it more than last week (tho that due to the Dam in whaley bridge issue)

    I think this week one of the worst playing of Araignee ive seen. He is lucky his team thought about getting him out super early else he would been locked in
    When the show comes back next year i would like to see less repeats of the character story every week. It would save like 5-10 minutes of the show. They could use this time on showing more of the games to make them feel less edited or so we can go to bed earlier.

    Week off next week due to rugby. Tho i believe the 20th Season of Fort Boyard Sweden starts next week.

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  5. Brig Bother Post author

    One of the good things about watching on Youtube when I can’t watch on Saturday night is that I can just fast forward through the dull bits. It’s to the show’s credit that that generally boils down to The Cage and the Room of Adventures which doesn’t really save me more than about 15 minutes really. Anyway my notes from watching this week:

    * Nice to see the return of Ski in the usual run of games. I can’t help but think the games in the big rooms should be used more often to justify their use of space.
    * Amused/amazed Passe-Temps is officially canon again with not one but TWO mentions in Willymix.
    * Quite a hard set of Willymix questions all told, especially as few of them were multiple choice, you’d have to be a Proper Fan to have got some of them (which I did, obviously).
    * The in-game editing is usually pretty good, but he managed to blow all that flour away in Tete Chercheuse with the pigeons pretty quickly, didn’t he?
    * Quite liked Double Unstable Chair (especially in high winds, blimey) but was there any point to the second contestant jumping when the first one missed? I assumed they’d each have half the code.
    * The prices on the Aquatic Phone Box are illogical and stupid. 20, 50 and 300 Boyards for 1, 2 and 10 minutes. You’d just have to make one minute phone calls all the time. Not to mention that 20 Boyards is roughly €200.
    * Great to see the return of Noughts And Crosses Played Badly On Primetime TV again.

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  6. Jason

    Seems to be a bit of a theme with blank screens this year – the first part of Grand Hotel is missing (you can hear the audio, but there’s no picture) in the extra program.

    I recall one of the flashback games had a similar issue a few weeks back – they showed a multi-screen (with the 1990 and 2019 TVs) except one of the video feeds was missing!

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    1. Lee

      It aired fine when I watched live. Since the case opened and some of the luggage fell on the floor.

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  7. Lee Turner

    Sweden returns on Friday after having a bit of a year off. Looks like it has a new duel that happens in the Treasure room and a duel version of Araignee (With the clepsydre)

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  8. Lee Turner

    It seems international versions are actually using the back in time room with a standard clepsydre. Not sure if the game changes throughout tho.

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    1. Brig Bother Post author

      Just watched ep 1 of Fangarna pa Fortet 2019. It’s still probably the best of the duel based versions (although I maintain that the end game, although actually a good game and an interesting take on treasure collection (*), is not exciting enough to be a good endgame).

      Madame Fouras is excellent. There’s some backstory about pirates taking over the fort 200 years ago and she hid in the basement for two hundred years (or something), they’ve turned the tower all jungly and snake-y.

      That duel you might have saw opened the show: Two each team are locked in freestanding cages in the Treasure Room, the cages are also bound by chains. The third member of each team uses an axe to cut through the chains to release the players. First team out can get the key waiting outside (this also starts the treasure room door closing, no idea if there’s actually a penalty if they haven’t escaped the TR by then, although I think the idea of Duel games with two levels of failure – losing, and then losing by a lot – is something that might be worth playing about with).

      Two player Spider was interesting. It looks like both players can be locked in as well.

      (*) For the uninitiated: Each team needs seven keys to unlock the panel on their side of the treasure fountain. If they don’t have the keys, they race to make up the numbers by using some sort of archimedes screw machine (it normally takes 10-15 seconds solid winding to release a key). Panel unlocked, they then race to fill up a treasure chest locked down in a mechanism on a table. Once it weighs enough it frees up the clue-unscrewer and they can start solving the codeword by unscrewing their cartridges and guessing by putting lettered punchcards into a machine. This involves a lot of standing around looking puzzled. If they find the correct word it releases the chest, and the first team to leave with the chest are the winners. A bit like this: https://youtu.be/bKvRJiNnPBc?t=412

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      1. Mika

        That is a really interesting end game, but I totally see how it’s… somehow a great game but not so much an ENDgame. Like it’s missing that… something bigger as a final beat. Feels like there should be some way to add in some risk/reward element, and still make it be about “Do the things, but also escape with the most gold”…

        Maybe something like “You can still collect gold during the whole process, but as soon as one team solves the clue and triggers their chest to drop, the gate starts to shut, so the other team has that last 30 seconds to solve the word and get out,” so you could risk getting more gold and still winning, but there’s a chance you don’t actually have the right word.

        Or something. I dunno.

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        1. Brig Bother Post author

          Duel Boyard has always had the problem in that it’s usually pretty obvious who is going to win by who has the most time. This rather neatly sidesteps that, but adds standing around looking gormless. From a game perspective it’s difficult to fault – everything feeds into each other neatly, everything has a point. Upsets can happen. Thumbs up. But somewhere it’s lost endgame spectacle. Not sure how to fix it really.

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          1. Lee Turner

            Must admit that i actually prefer when Sweden used to eliminate the team who didn’t get 7 keys and it become a 1 team format from then on. But i agree with the above that international duel versions became very easy to tell who was going to win by there sheer number of keys they got (Unless they somehow messed up and couldn’t unlock their side of the gate. You also knew there was no risk of being locked in because at the halfway mark the shoots for the gold actually closes.

            2006 Russia let the team with the most keys attempt the TR first. although they had to start from the balcony with a 4 minute clock and run down. while ie didn’t solve the problems of knowing who was going to win they did have at least 1 team who got an incorrect password and the other team got to go in (On a lower gate setting) and attempt (With the remaining time). It also did produce the second TR prisoner in history.

          2. Alex

            2003 Sweden did it by putting the code BEFORE the treasure room, and the winning team having to nominate someone to do the Flooded House to free the keys that opened the treasure room door from the other side.

    1. Lee Turner

      Looks to be Hotel. Be interesting if it even gets mentioned since like you said it didn’t affect filming. The guy injured himself on ski in 2017 too.

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    1. Mika

      Not the worst I’ve seen, though. XD

      Another alright team, shame they didn’t win much time, and ended up losing a lot slowly opening the canisters, figuring out the clue, and spelling it. (Plus the shade of the captions XD) Usually I’d bring my occasional question of “Is it better if a team doesn’t win as many clues so they don’t feel obligated to open them all”, but seems like they actually did need them all.

      And hey, Passe Muraille finally got his well-earned smacks in the face.

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      1. Mika

        Also, was the after-Fort gonna be this year’s only playing of Fosse…? Always feels weird that one of the Fort’s most iconic games almost never gets played.

        And Mange-fil was the “classic” game? Really…? That one…?

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  9. Karen

    Big fan of this week’s team nearly failing Velo due to celebrating too much and nearly forgetting to actually read the code.

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  10. Lee Turner

    Agree that the team was alright. did also agree that there a point of getting too many clues where they would spend too much time having to open all 5. I think they had like 1:40 left to actually get gold.

    The velo sabotage was pretty funny. Although shows how edited the padlock bit is.

    Isn’t mange-fil the one game they have in that museum somewhere in France?

    Agree that iconic games such as Fosse and Musuem aren’t played as often as they could be. There wasn’t any key game prisoner games played this episode.

    I believe that was the last after show as well. We got to hear Passe Partout sing his famous song. Je suis Passe Partout.

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    1. TVs Michael Harmstone

      Yep, last aftershow of the year. Museum has had one playing this year (and I believe that was the first episode aired). We’ve had 24 different games played as clue ones this year in nine episodes, and at least two of them had repeats of the weeks beforehand (including this week).

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    2. Mika

      “Agree that iconic games such as Fosse and Musuem aren’t played as often as they could be. There wasn’t any key game prisoner games played this episode.”

      This actually goes into a point I was kind of saving for the season-end posts:
      I haven’t Done the Stats (though I’m sure someone has somewhere), but it feels like progressively the show, and this season in particular, is losing the feel of the whole “prisoner” concept. There’s only one auto-lock-in game left (that’s barely played), and one that’s just (somehow) hard to get out from. Just feels like there’s barely any lock-ins anymore.

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      1. TVs Michael Harmstone

        We’ve had three episodes this year I believe where no-one has been locked in post-Blanche, and only one of those had a lock-in during the clue games. They went through a run of trying to force it wherever possible.

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        1. Mika

          I mean, yeah, some of us complained about seemingly unfair lock-ins back in the days of Mr Tchan, and the “Why is this even a lock-in?” of Jungle and Balles des coton, it just feels off that one of the biggest things about the show seems like a rarity and an afterthought now.

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          1. Lee Turner

            I think every show should have 1 game that has a higher chance to generate a prisoner. (although i hope the red clepsydre games go next year). But i do remember shows that had like Dalphin, T-chan and Museum.

            On another note. I would much prefer if they cut down most of the story bit, Hall of adventures/Willy Mix and that and let us see the key/clue games in there full.

    3. Brig Bother Post author

      I don’t think having too many clues was their problem – clearly they were a bit unlucky with the order, but it looks like they needed that fifth one. They did, however, take forever to organise themselves in the treasure room, which didn’t help. Was it me or did they acknowledge that the grab and go/pile it into the arms technique is superior to the Human Trolley in the caption? Great stuff.

      Re: prisoners – doesn’t bother me if they take them or not take them provided the threat is there and the punishment is correctly and consistently carried out. That is the format, that is the jeopardy. I still want to see a shot of the clepsydre in the foreground with the contestant coming out – reckon Thierry was probably meant to be locked in in Lutte but oh! they’ve cropped the clock out. Handy. I appreciate them adding close-ups in post to tell the story, but as purists you want everything to come across as above board. As I’ve said, if the fear is that having someone locked away is detrimental then find a way to suspend the sentence until the escape. Also means they don’t get out of the adventures.

      Other things of note:

      * The challenge music for Voyage Through Time is this year’s big musical triumph, running around the fort not withstanding.

      * Next year Patrice Laffont will be 80, if he’s still capable, and I think he probably will be, then he needs to be given Les Chiffres et Des Lettraaaaghs. Or Pyraaaarrghmide. Certainly I thought, as a presenting legend, they’d use him a bit more, even if only in between game skits.

      * Cold Room’s a decent game, but I can’t remember the last time it was lost. Is it time to use the space for something else?

      * Really hope we get more evening/night filming next year. Probably a nightmare to get levels right at dusk, but it consistently looks great.

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      1. Lee Turner

        The too many clues statement was more of a general overall statement. They did need them all and looked like they were about to sacrifice someone else.

        I agree with you on the clepsydre comment. There usually a point they start to crop it out. I remember a lot of tourniquets always having a tad bit of water left usually as they got out.

        Cold room was actually lost this year in episode 1. But I think the game has ran its course.

        More night boyard is welcome. The clue games done at night we’re amazing.

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      2. Mika

        “Was it me or did they acknowledge that the grab and go/pile it into the arms technique is superior to the Human Trolley in the caption? Great stuff.”

        Nope – It was that they were sticking their arms through the bottom ring, which has the bars spaced closer together, therefore making it more difficult to scoop the coins out. It’s easier if your arms are through the wider spaces, since you’ll have a much bigger range of movement.

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        1. Brig Bother Post author

          Ah ha ha, thankyou. That’s what picking out odd words does.

          The cage was designed like that to stop people sliding coins out, you’re forced to grab.

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  11. TVs Michael Harmstone

    I think we might have a bit of an overall game-wise next year. There’s a lot of games that have run their course – just off the top of my head: Rodeo Dino, Ski, Fakir (although that’s another hopefully one-season stinker), Spa and Araignee are all games where I wouldn’t be sad to see them go. Even Ketchuperie has probably run its course.

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    1. Lee Turner

      I think Araignee will stay just because of the pure comedy value. Plus i don’t think its actually been won this year surprisingly. Lets add chamber froid to that list as well.

      I hope the Back in time games do stay just in that cell (Without the watchtower bit) next year. They could rotate games throughout the series. We already know international versions use that cell for an oldschool game too.

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      1. Mika

        I was kinda thinking/hoping that too. Drop the time machine, and just have it be something like “La cellule classique”, complete with classic old-school blue door. Would be great as a one-per episode game.

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        1. TVs Michael Harmstone

          Apparently the mange-fil this week was the actual original one. I know Araignee is likely to stay because of the comedy value, but they’ve also had the same version for three(?) years now and it’s very difficult to win.

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          1. Alex

            I do miss the giant robotic spider. That was the best bit about the cell to be honest. The cell’s only tangentially named without it.

    2. ianfrontier

      I think Tri Selectif (Trash Compactor one) is one that is almost certainwill go next year. We’ve only seen it played once in the after-show.

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  12. Lee Turner

    Sweden update. If someone is locked in the TR opening game then they can trade 1 key to felinda (By a tube) for there release.
    They also made Lutte into some weird monkey bar swinging and unlocking a chest game.
    Next week Sweden episode features an injury in Boyardodrome.

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  13. TVs Michael Harmstone

    Interesting that they pointed out Ketchuperie hasn’t been won in years this year. I wonder whether they monitor that and it affects whether games stay or not.

    I’m surprised they didn’t give them an extra game to make up for the four(!) minutes that Megagaf being broken took up, but they did play 12+cage this week, so that would explain it. Jeremy’s hand also looked like it was knackered post-Megagaf when he went into Blanche’s room.

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    1. Lee Turner

      Most teams get 11 Games and 3 Cages so having 12 Key games is pretty rare (Only happend twice this year). I wonder what gives them the extra game. The team were really quick to clear Lutte and Bank.

      I thought Megagaf was supposed to have a second game. We only have 1 more chance to possibly see it.

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      1. Brig Bother Post author

        I liked Ju-Jitsu guy’s bravura performance during the Bank.

        Boyard Hotel feels like it’s been played not in the way it was probably envisioned to be played more than it has. I wonder if they’ll change it next year?

        I reckon Bank disappears next year, I like the game nut I’m not sure there’s much that can be done with it. Can take or leave Ketchuperie, and I wouldn’t cry if Tri-Selectif left either, never really filled its promise.

        MegaGaf was alleged to have a second game on a different sort of board (you can see him riding it in some skits). There’s also meant to be a new swing adventure where they do Saut d’Ange, but that seems to have gone AWOL.

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  14. Mika

    Bit of a shame, this team. Aside from the bit of a collapse right at the end, they didn’t do too bad. But what a collapse. And they had a great technique for getting the gold even, so if they’d just won another duel or two, didn’t lose time in the escape, found the word quicker, and didn’t take so long spelling it, they really could’ve had a good total.

    Funny seeing Morpion go so long, and the Maitre pretty much going “Eff it, just take the win”.

    Fun fact: There’s gonna as many playings of Tete Chercheuse this year as the previous three combined.

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  15. Jason

    * It was a very mixed performance this week – some very strong performances (Double Lutte, Bank and Cerce) and some very weak ones – has anyone ended Casino MegaJackpot with zero coins before?
    * I did enjoy Yoann Riou getting involved with Passe Muraille in the skits between games.
    * At this point I really hope Magik doesn’t come back as a game – the segment is too drawn out for such a basic challenge. The extended Megagaf segment (because of technical difficulties) came in at five and a half minutes – and was *still* shorter than Magik (at six minutes)
    * The Willymix was really tough, some of those questions are based on events that haven’t happened in a decade or more (e.g. Jack from Fort Boyard UK)

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      1. Jason

        I recall the Channel 5 credits being pretty short, so very few of the French cast get a credit. Given the way Leslie Grantham said it, and being on the Fort, I assumed it was Jacques (as it seems, did everyone else).

        However, the broadcast last week said…
        What is the name of “passe-partout” in the English version? “James” or “Jack”

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  16. Ryan

    Apparently Touche Pas a Mon Poste in France (on C8) has announced that Olivier Minne is presenting “Boyard Land” (BoyardLand?) although the twitterverse doesn’t know what to think of this (with one tweet wondering if it’s just a joke). Details to follow, I’m sure.

    Ryan.

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    1. Lee Turner

      The aftershow was also confirmed to be renewed for next year as well.

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        1. Brig Bother Post author

          Three hours for the price of two will be the thinking. Also that it’s held up pretty well, around half the people who watch the main show have stuck with it. What they fill it with I don’t know.

          I can’t say I’ve bothered to watch more than two or three, but there we are.

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          1. Mika

            If I spoke the language better I’d probably watch it. As it is, I still watch the games, and the behind-the-scenes clips.

            But yeah, at least for historical stuff, seems like there’s been so many specials that what else is there.

  17. Lee Turner

    Last show of the year tonight. Boyard Land later on in the year.

    Sweden featured an injury in Boyardodrome. The game had to be stopped and doctors were called. The guy left the fort on a stretcher. They also brought back Everest which is a game i haven’t seen in a long time. (Because they couldn’t play anymore 3 player duels) And at the TR they made it fair that only 2 people could collect gold. (Although all 3 of the other team could help solve the code).

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  18. Mika

    Gonna do a season write-up in a bit, but just for this week’s show…

    Another team that feels like they could’ve gotten a fair chunk more gold if not for a couple missteps right at the end. And a bit of the shame that the calmest person ever in Spa was the only person to lose it this year.

    (Partially because I feel the same way, but…) It’s always nice seeing the height games really get to someone. Nice that you don’t really need that many gimmicks or pratfalls, just the right person having to play the very wrong game can itself bring out some great moments.

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    1. Jason

      I was surprised with Spa as well – normally the animal interactions are the difficult part, they breezed through that but couldn’t answer the questions!

      The Circe last week was really wholesome for that reason – you knew it was breaking them mentally, but they fought and they won.

      Also, a rare sight (for Fort Boyard France anyway) with Passe-Muraille reprising his guide role at the end and helping Passe-Partout with the treasure count.

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  19. Mika

    30th season is done, and it was… nice. The overall production is very slick, and aside from minor quibbles with being fairly loose with editing, it’s still a good watch.

    Overall though, does feel like the theme of this season was “Safe”. And this comes after a couple “Safe” seasons. Yeah, there’s something to be said for “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, but feels like this is the longest the show’s gone without some real, substantial changes in the format. And there’s a LOT of fluff, and stuff that feels skippable. Actually timed it for this week’s episode, and I got through the 2:10 episode in about 1:35 by skipping character intros, skits, and, well, pretty much the entire Cage, Judgement, Grand Escape and Council segments outside of the actual games.

    Also feels like they’re playing it safe with the games – I mentioned either here or on Twitter that it feels like the main idea behind the key games and the risk of prison doesn’t feel there anymore. Yeah, it’s edited to look like every game is seconds away from a lock-in, but outside of a couple rough playings of Croco World and Banque, the only real “lock-in” game was a single playing of Museum. Yeah, maybe we don’t need to go back to the years of Mr Tchan, or games where the door inexplicably locks for no reason, but just feels off where there’s never really that fear of someone being locked in.

    The new games and changes to old games were by and large pretty good. Only real meh one was Fakir, which was a good idea for a game but with a bad guest and bad execution.

    Felt again like there was a bit of a disproportion with some games this year. I mean, I totally get Chez Willy being a good ‘every episode’ game, but then there’s stuff like a Lutte variation being almost every episode, or Spa, or Hotel, or Croco World, or Roi du Silence, or Temple Maudit… Meanwhile there’s great games that are barely being touched. Museum, Fosse, Chaise Instable, Vertige et Dependance… Would be more interesting to see more variety in the games.

    Still enjoy Megagaf as a personality and a game. Patrice… eh, I get it as an anniversary thing, but it didn’t do much for me. Magik was just annoying.

    Wonder whatever happened to that second Megagaf game, or that rumoured trapeze that was installed by Saut de l’ange.

    But still, a lot of those complaints really are more “minor scuffs on a gem” rather than anything really breaking. The cinematography this year was amazing. The direction was amazing. It’s still a very fun show to watch. Looking forward to seeing what Boyard Land will bring to the concept.

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    1. Mika

      New games:

      Cabin aquatique – It’s a nice variation on the original game. Would certainly like to see this one coming back.

      Cotons-tiges aeriens – Kind of surprised this one wasn’t used more. Another really good variation on an older game. Feel like it’d would make a good regular key game more than a clue game.

      Course poursuite – I like the course itself, it just kind of feels like it either doesn’t need the pursuit part, or should drop the timer. Having both just sort of defeats the purpose of the other. (I’d rather see it drop the pursuit and be a clue game, but that’s just me)

      Fakir – A game that on paper, should work, but it’s like they did everything they could to mess it up. Even worse, they take so many concepts that are inherently “clue game” things (walking on glass, walking on nails, walking among scorpions, searching through snakes…), and throw them in a way-too-fast-paced key game with bad comedy. I’d almost love to see it come back next year, but drop Magik, make it a clue game, and maybe somehow structure it more like Tete Chercheuse somehow, if that makes sense. So many good concepts in one bad, bad game.

      Hotel – Probably the best new game this year. Great classic game concept. One that’s funny to watch if the player fails, but several players “figured out” immediately but was still fun to watch. A shame about the injury, so I hope that doesn’t make them drop this game, or change it up too much.

      Roi du silence – A game I’m pretty torn on. A good concept, and I like the tasks, just something feels off about it. Like, it doesn’t feel like it fits in with the rest of the show somehow?

      Temple maudit – I like the idea of it, but wish it was played a little more straight. Clearly a very difficult game on its own, so doesn’t really need the added difficulty of a producer pressing buttons.

      Voyage dans le temps – Definitely want to see this come back next year, just drop the time machine, the video, Patrice. Make it a regular cell just with different games inside, and it’d be a perfect “once per episode” game.

      V 2.0 Games:

      Banque – Nice to see they went to the work of changing up the game, just wonder how much more they can do this before it becomes too contrived.

      Cabine ejectable – Nothing new, but nice to see they dropped the idea of it being a surprise. Gives the game more longevity.

      Croco World – Really nice change to the game, though does make this and Bibliotheque abandonnee a bit too similar. Surprised so many more people this year abandoned the game. Though it does have that added bit of making it harder to keep your face above water, which would freak me out more than the crocs.

      Double chaise Instable – I can see why they installed this since it would make a great for their duel versions, but it doesn’t really make sense for the one-team shows. Like someone pointed out in the weekly comments, if one person fails, there’s no point for the second person to jump.

      Double saut de l’ange – Seeing it in previews made it look really intense. Seeing it in practice… eh. I prefer the single version since it’s more about that one person fighting their fear alone.

      Laverie Automatique – Went from one of the hardest games to one of the easiest, but I like the change. Makes it a bit more fun to watch.

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      1. Brig Bother Post author

        Agree with pretty much all these comments, although I’m more positive on Roi de Silence I think, provided they can come up with enough new stuff to keep it interesting – I really quite like the set-up.

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          1. Alex

            If they could stop doing the ‘letting the air out of the band’ thing every ten seconds it’d be great. To be honest they should probably stop it in general.

  20. TVs Michael Harmstone

    I ran the numbers (because of course I did):

    Hotel was the most played game of the series, with nine appearances.
    Araignee was the game with the most losses, which was seven (out of a possible seven). Only twelve of the key/clue games – Araignee, Cabine Aquatique, Poutre-jets d’eau, Safari, Cage immergée, Deux Cages, Double-Chaise Instable, Fosse, Museum, Saut de l’ange and Vértige et Dépendénce – didn’t have a win this year (of a possible fifty-six). We also had twelve one-time games (four of which – Gagarine, Momie, Prison sous-marine and TNT – were won, the other eight form part of the completely lost list).
    On the blanche/rouge/council side, we only had one game – Double-Faucheuse – which was played in more than half the episodes, and no Blanche game appeared in more than three, with only Feu d’artifice appearing in four on the council side. For Rouge, Double-trapeze, Endurance and Impact are the three that also appeared four times.
    We only had five judgement games be failed all series, and not a single one caused more than one prisoner. That’s an 81% success rate. The ones that caused prisoners were Chemin, Essuie-glaces, Looping, Platines and Volcan. Looping and Volcan are the only two on the list that were only played once.

    Reply
  21. Lee Turner

    Overall i agree with the comments everyone has said about the show. Magik is the worst of the games this year and takes too long to actually get into. Course poursuite has actually been used as a clue game in international versions so glad they have already considered that. I actually like the room of silence. And i think they should just have a “back in time” cell with a random game each week. Its going to be interesting to see what games go next year considering there actually a few that i wouldn’t mind seeing go.

    I don’t mind the characters having some backstory but i think they should just play it the first time it appears. They can either use that saved time to shorten the show or just play the games as a whole like they used to.

    As much as i like the format i do believe its time for a change. I would prefer not knowing what adventures are coming up and them just happening naturally. If there going to keep using a joker system they should have some reward for actually not using it. (A small bag of 1000 boyards). I have enjoyed the night Treasure room and on the few episodes of clue games at night really looked stunning. Hope to see more of this in the future.

    Overall good safe season. Hopefully they make some changes to spice things up next year.

    Reply
  22. Mika

    The game is on sale for 50% off this week on Steam.

    Still not quite sure it’s worth it at that price, but hey.

    Reply
  23. Brig Bother Post author

    Right, Season 31 next year, games to get rid of/remix:

    * Fosse – Difficult as it’s a Classique, but if you’re not playing it then you might as well use the space for something else. Abandoned Library is a decent alternative anyway.

    * Prison – Bit lazy this year, chaps.

    * 101 – TriSelectif – I don’t think this ever lived up to its idea. Especially disappointing that when someone got locked in the jaws didn’t shut.

    * 112 – Ketchuperie – Is this actually fun? The central idea is fine but feels too hard, and nobody falls in anyway.

    * 119 – Spa – They must be running out of questions on crabs, frogs and snakes now, surely.

    * 203 – The Cage, although I don’t think they will.

    * 209 – Chambre Froide – This is a decent game but it feels played out.

    * 214 – Banque – Ditto, but with more space.

    * 217 – Willymix – I don’t have issues with the comedy gunging element, I don’t think they’re going to find an additional 80 Fort Boyard themed trivia questions.

    * 218 – Perculator – Hotel is funnier as a turntable-based game. And the room actually looks a bit dull by modern FB standards.

    * 219 – Fakir – I don’t think this is quite as bad as people made out, the idea of a rubbish genie is quite amusing. I think this is more down to the editing around it than anything.

    * 220 – Araignee – If it’s a viewer favourite then fair enough, but it’s a lousy game and has never lived up to expectations in any version.

    Reply
    1. TVs Michael Harmstone

      I only disagree with percolateur, chambre froids and banque there I think – banque is a maybe, purely because everyone should immediately look to the right hand wall when they enter the cell now.

      I’d also get rid of Ski, which isn’t nearly as funny as it used to be and Rodeo Dino (ditto).

      Willymix has run its course surely – they can’t keep tricking people into playing it.

      Reply
  24. Jason

    It has been a fun season. Others have already mentioned they’ve played it safe this year (as they have for a few seasons now). We’ve got Boyardland coming up so hopefully that shows their passion for taking risks again.

    As for the new games:
    * Roi Du Silence and Grand Boyard Hotel were both great – something completely new, and a twist on a classic. Grand Boyard Hotel will need changes for next year though given how people have worked their way around it (perhaps a mechanism to release the cases one or two at a time?)
    * Fakir was far too slow for such a basic game – it might work if they get rid of Magik, add a bit more to the challenge and stick to the faster edits (think Lutte).
    * Temple Maudit looked great, but the game itself was lacking somewhat.
    * The “double up” games were interesting, some worked better than others.
    * I’m torn with Voyage dans le temps – it was a great idea, but they didn’t use it enough and thus when Patrice was on, it was a much longer segment than perhaps it needed to be. I wouldn’t mind seeing a rotating “classics” room next year.

    After three safe seasons, a number of games are starting to show their age:
    * Ski, Tri Selectif and Rodeo Dino seem to have reached the end of their lifespan, as has Willymix (although having more Chef Willy in the show is still a positive).
    * Ketchuperie and Araignee are still boom-or-bust games – you win the key, or you barely get started.
    * Perculator (with the addition of Grand Boyard Hotel) and the changes to Croco World make them feel too similar to other games – possibly surplus at this point.

    Other things I’d like to see next year:
    * A financial reward for not playing your joker (as others have mentioned)
    * Faster cuts of the character videos beyond the first viewing – especially at the expense of gameplay
    * A revamp of the Grand Evasion – it feels a bit too forced this year, particularly when you are at the mercy of whether you get the conveyor belt or the sand trap.

    Reply
    1. Matt Clemson

      I can’t help but feel that there’s scope for a Chef Willy key game set in his kitchen where everything’s unreliable and you have to complete some task to be awarded the key. You could tie it in to his later appearance, too, suggesting that he’s working on his dish for later.

      Reply
  25. Lee Turner

    In international news. Russia and Africa have started airing there versions.

    Russia use a new graphics package. They also use the the pre judgement area if the team doesn’t have 6 keys/prisoner. However rather than playing a judgement game they play a council game for their freedom.

    Africa is produced by the same company that makes the Moroccan version and follows the same format they have for years. Pretty solid single team format in my opinion.

    There was also a new duel game on Finland this week where the a player had to climb a pole and navigate a tool though a huge maze. (Abit like bobine but not moving). Room of silence doesn’t use a clepsydre. While it hasn’t appeared anywhere yet magic is also seen with a clepsydre still outside. Not sure if any country will use it.

    Reply
  26. Mika

    Some stuff about Boyard Land is coming out:

    https://romainlactutele.wordpress.com/2019/10/02/boyard-land-decouvrez-les-premieres-informations-sur-le-prequel-de-boyard-land/

    Of course, Olivier is hosting. Willy Rovelli will be there, apparently playing a new character as an on-site replacement for Pere Fouras. Passe-Muraille is also there as a new character, along with a new female little person. Also a comedienne will be playing some fairy character, and some strong man guy. (Didn’t say whether it was Mr Boo in a new role, or a new actor)

    Passe-Temps, Felindra, and Delphine are not appearing.

    https://twitter.com/arthur_mlv/status/1177297180195004417

    Looks like a rather fancy set, so here’s hoping for their sakes it’s another Boyard, and not a Forges du Desert. Looks like there’s a hotel set built that I imagine will be done like the cell games?

    Reply
    1. David

      They didn’t build it entirely-it’s a former leisure park which is used now for weddings and private events, and the restaurant is open to the public on weekends with no events scheduled (based on their booking website, looks like they’re filming for the next 2 weeks)

      https://www.laplagedelyschantilly.com/histoire

      Reply
    1. David

      the format sounds good, at least on paper….Head-to-Head between 2 4-person teams, a betting aspect (and I was sorta thinking they were going to do this in a way- I had thought they were going to do it where a team was given a certain amount of tickets for the “rides and attractions”, and spent them to make games easier or more lucrative for success), and a a finale involving climbing a Ferris Wheel…

      Reply
      1. Brig Bother Post author

        Other takeaways:

        20 events.

        Pere Fouras fell in love with a fairy who couldn’t love him back so he exiled himself to Fort Boyard. The fairy is one of the characters.

        Reply
  27. Richard

    I’m interested in watching the French version of Fort Boyard dose anyone know where I can watch it with English Subtitles?

    Reply
  28. Lee Turner

    Finland has just shown off the international version of magic. One player is strapped where the genie is and the other enter’s as normal. They both hold 2 ropes and have to guide a ball to the end (Like baguettes). There still the glass and the nails and they still need to get the key from the pot of snakes. Actually feels like a better game than the original

    Reply
  29. Mika

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q4DKFYIn2g – Ep 3 of the Russian Fort Boyard.

    Some interesting changes or notes:
    – Lots of clue games as key games
    – No Blanche, but there’s still Judgement. Instead it’s council games played against the Maitres, in a set I don’t recognize.
    – A fair bit of fourth-wall breaking (they did it last week with someone when they found out they were picked for Saut de l’ange, and in another game this week that’s… quite interesting)
    – A lot of games we haven’t seen in the (broadcast) France version for a while. Eolienne, Entrainment sous-marin, Fosse, Equilibre a deux, Precipice Exterieur, next week even looks to use Gouttiere from the “unlock the fort” segment a few years back.

    Reply
    1. Lee Turner

      The council set been used alot in international versions. Gouttiere is also played alot internationally as well. Im glad they actually use some of the old games on the fort still.

      Reply
    2. Brig Bother Post author

      The Council is just the normal council with Pere Fouras’ throne removed, no?

      Have to say, really like the titles and graphics package here and quite enjoying the host shouting at the team for no discernable reason, looking like a pissed-off Michael Palin. The musical choices aren’t great, and there’s too much build up for each game. Still though.

      Reply
      1. Brig Bother Post author

        Urgh, largely dislike just letting the prisoners go without any sort of penalty at the end – makes Judgement completely pointless.

        Otherwise that was good fun.

        Reply
        1. Lee Turner

          I guess the penalty in this case is the others have to play more games. Or something was cut out because it does feel like it was quickly done.

          And i think the council is the normal room with the throne removed. It just looks slightly brigher

          Reply
        2. Lee Turner

          From Episode 4. It seems like a game is setup in the cage. It looks like it was the balloon game. But it seems like its just edited out and they are allowed out.

          Reply
      2. Alex Richards

        The Russians tend to be a bit ahead of the curve with their graphics these days. They did the “storybook graphics in the Nightmare Before Christmas font” thing before even the French did.

        Reply
  30. Mika

    Is the Russian version celebs or civilians…?
    Just seems… I dunno, could just be the language barrier, but some of the reactions seem kind of put-on. Like, every episode there’s someone having a huge meltdown over a game. I mean, could be genuine, but I’ve never seen anything really on THAT level of freak out in any other country’s version. And that it’s been in every episode…

    Reply
  31. Lee Turner

    Russia was very close to get its second Treasure Room Prisoner this week.

    Reply
    1. Lee Turner

      I think the Snake pit game has also been used alot internationally this year. (Considering it lack of use in France).

      Still haven’t discovered why some episodes of Africa have a 3 minute Treasure room and some have a 4 minute Treasure Room.

      Interestingly (and slightly deja vu) in Finland Cabstan game (In the cage) suffered an injury. The game was declared a draw because both players were 1-1. He was seen limping around the fort throughout the rest of the show.

      Reply
      1. Brig Bother Post author

        They used to say that Fort Boyard is the safest place in the world, but there seem to have been quite a few injuries lately.

        Reply

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