Jeopardy! Season 41, Episode 115 Recap: “A Close Call for Mehal”

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Champions Wildcard week on Jeopardy! is supposed to be all about nail-biting finishes and unexpected upsets. But with Mehal Shah’s early dominance, Wednesday’s episode seemed destined for a predictable outcome. Turns out, I spoke too soon. While Shah maintained a comfortable lead throughout, a risky Final Jeopardy! wager nearly cost them the game, adding a much-needed dose of drama to the proceedings.

From the get-go, Shah displayed a sharp command of the categories, particularly in the first round’s “Literally Literature,” where a successful Daily Double wager boosted their score significantly. Paul Clauson and Marko Saric, while not entirely outmatched, struggled to keep pace. Saric found some footing in “Salty Bodies of Water,” but Clauson seemed perpetually one step behind, often landing on already-revealed clues.

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Double Jeopardy! continued in a similar vein. Shah’s strategic betting, combined with a strong knowledge base, allowed them to pull even further ahead. Clauson, seemingly rejuvenated, bounced back from an early True Daily Double misstep to conquer the “Insects in High & Low Culture” category. The “Flight of the Bumblebee” Daily Double provided a much-needed boost, propelling him back into contention, at least momentarily. Saric, meanwhile, quietly accumulated a respectable, albeit distant, second-place sum.

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Final Jeopardy!, however, proved to be the great equalizer. The clue, focusing on British authors adapting real-life spies into fictional characters, stumped both Shah and Clauson. Shah’s substantial wager, while understandable given their lead, backfired spectacularly, leaving the door open for a potential Saric comeback. Only Saric correctly identified Ian Fleming and John le Carré, doubling his score and adding a genuine element of surprise to the otherwise predictable match.

While Shah ultimately held on for the win, the near-miss served as a timely reminder that in the world of Jeopardy!, no lead is truly safe.

Jeopardy! airs weekdays in syndication. Check local listings.

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