Million Dollar Secret is now streaming on Netflix.
Netflix has become a reliable hub for addictive reality competition series, from the high drama of The Circle to the cutthroat scheming of The Mole. Sadly, Million Dollar Secret is not joining those ranks anytime soon.
The concept sounds promising enough: twelve contestants are brought to a picturesque lakeside estate, but only one is secretly handed $1 million at the start of the game. The twist? That person has to keep their newfound wealth a secret while the others try to figure out who’s suddenly rich. Each round, the players vote on who they think the Millionaire is, and if they guess correctly, the money is gone. If not, the secret stays safe and the tension ramps up. Or, at least, it’s supposed to.
In execution, the show barely registers a pulse. The weekly “clue challenges,” designed to provide hints about the Millionaire’s identity, feel like filler content rather than actual strategic gameplay. The same goes for the “Secret Agendas,” which are supposed to give the Millionaire private tasks to complete under the radar. These moments rarely generate the suspense they aim for, and often come off as silly or inconsequential.
The hosting duties fall to Peter Serafinowicz, whose dry British wit could have been an asset if the tone of the show had leaned into irony or absurdity. Instead, his role feels strangely disconnected from the players, as if he’s floating above the game rather than actively involved in it. It’s hard to tell if he’s underused or simply not given enough material to work with.
There’s also a confusing twist late in the game that allows the Millionaire to transfer their prize to another contestant, which undercuts any consistent sense of stakes or tension. And while the cast has its fair share of colorful personalities, few emerge as particularly compelling or strategic. Most seem to be guessing at random, and without strong relationships or betrayals to latch onto, the interpersonal drama fizzles.
At a time when reality competition shows thrive on intensity, clever editing, and real psychological pressure, Million Dollar Secret feels strangely toothless. It’s a glossy, low-effort entry that hopes its premise is enough to keep viewers engaged. Unfortunately, the show offers neither the emotional investment of a good social game nor the suspense of a classic whodunit.
Despite its eye-catching location and decent production values, Million Dollar Secret just never clicks. By the time the finale rolls around, it’s hard to care who wins — or even remember how the game was supposed to work. A disappointment for fans of the genre, and an easy skip for everyone else.
I give Million Dollar Secret a D+.
TV and City 