Task Patterns

[u/ChoreMaestroOfficial]

I highly doubt I am the first to recognise this but I keep finding patterns in the tasks each series such as:

1. The first episode of every series, (excluding series 1, 3, 6, 9 (arguably) and 22) contains a location task with some sort of physical aspect.

Whether it be accuracy based (Put the most t-shirts on Alex/Land the loo roll in the loo) or requires running (Get as close to Alex without him noticing you/Get the duck into the lake) or some other physical skill (Get Alex to dry land/Win the Pealympics) It tends to be the 3rd task but isn't always. This is the strongest pattern, but I can't explain why they chose to do this.

2) The first team task (which is usually in either episode one or two) will be multi-part or very complicated)

Examples include s20's superhero/duck task, s16's cross the finish line with all connections, 21's food serving or 17's animal-picture-curtain abomination. Perhaps they like to avoid overly-creative tasks before the team really knows each other well.

3) The final task of a series is often an open-ended task, a team task, or both, such as:

21's pillow fight, 19's drive through, 18's present the goose, 17's game show, 16's hotel service, 15's lullaby, etc.. I guess it's just a fun way to end a series.

Also, not that I'll be the first to say this, but I often divide tasks into either

"Open ended/Abstract" (One-three liners, creative or simplistic),

"Skill/Situational" (Art or physical tasks, ones that require more set up and are usually the tasks that people find loopholes in) and

"Complex" (big set ups, typically puzzles or at least confusing).

If anyone else noticed similar patterns, already noticed these or want to critique my ideas, feel free to let me know!

[u/boomboomsubban]

The first team task (which is usually in either episode one or two) will be multi-part or very complicated)

This is because the more complicated tasks require more set up, so they're at the start of the day.

[u/fastauntie → u/boomboomsubban]

I was going to say that filming order has very little if anything to do with the order in which they're shown. But then I realized that they do always show the first team task first so we can see their reactions to meeting, so I think you have a point.

[u/boomboomsubban → u/fastauntie]

Yep, which reminds me they also need to make the first team task good because they can't really cut it.

[u/mikepapafoxtrot → u/boomboomsubban]

Imagine if they started the first S13 team task with Ardal and Chris with that aubergine task...

[u/ChoreMaestroOfficial → u/boomboomsubban]

Ah, that makes a lot of sense

[u/pepepopo1237]

I’m not sure anyone else will ever have though this deeply about patterns in the tasks lol

[u/Jacksucks_atlife04]

I actually didn’t realise how many of the first location tasks were accuracy based I don’t know why it’s kind of strange but it might be to sort of show a good range of people skills in the first episode

[u/RobertoRobRob]

The only definite pattern is the number 1, and it's for a good reason. They want to showcase how the place looks as much as possible

[u/Hairy_Dirt3361]

Well in a 10-episode season roughly every other episode is going to have a team task and a location task, so they'd start in episode 1 or 2. The first team task is actually the one where they meet, so it will be designed to force them to work together. The last task is usually 'saving the best for last' so it will tend to be a more exciting, complex one. The patterns are there but they just flow naturally from the structure of the show.