“De Mol” Semi-Final Recap: Three Finalists Emerge as Ruben Gets Eliminated Before Grand Finale

In pure western style, ‘De mol’ rumbled towards the finale. It will have to be a very tight final on Sunday to surpass this semi-final in tension, structure, witty and exciting twists, humor and drama. And all that in an episode of a very high cinematic level with a thrilling ending that even Ennio Morricone would have given good marks for.

For the first time in the history of ‘De mol’ there was a chance that the final would be played with four. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. It was up to ‘youngsters’ Ruben and Toos to provide this unique opportunity. They only had to shoot ‘the bull’s eye’. In order to fill the group spot and write TV history. In the episode, both Ruben and Toos stated that they had aimed for the ‘bullseye’ in order to obtain money and four exemptions. However, the two cowboys hit the ground with money. Toos shot faster than Ruben. Whether or not that was wanted was not really made clear during the broadcast. During the elimination it became clear that pastry chef Ruben had overplayed his hand and was the last participant for the grand final to get a red thumb and had to leave the game.

Did we become much wiser overall from this episode? Yes and no. Lancelot made mistakes again, say mistakes, and pushed through weird decisions that only cost the group money. Ruben really was the man we portrayed him all these weeks. Since the start of ‘De Mol’ he has been enthusiastically involved in the game. The mistakes he made, like last week on the bus, were purely coincidental. Just like shooting stuff. Accidents can happen… It’s hard to say that Toos and Commy lied a lot or remarkably in this ‘semi-final’. They played their ‘postcard test’ very well and gave the correct results of their actions in the saloon game.

We looked at and studied, considered and weighed the candidates thoroughly.

Enigma. It is the perfect word to describe gynecologist Comfort. Also in this semifinal. The makers of ‘De mol’ have now made it clear to us that a mole can also get a red screen. We will take that knowledge with us towards the final. Yet we must again conclude that the literally smallest of the group effortlessly holds its own, but in the semi-final played rather unobtrusively for a place in the final. She did more than her best in the postcard test where a maximum was actually earned in a fraction of a second and went for her own place in the final in the salon test. We gladly forgive her for somewhat clumsily firing her weapon.

Just before the start of the final, we see Commy as a cool, fierce player rather than a sneaky mole. But if she’s the mole, she’s the toughest in TV history.

No episode of ‘De mol 2023’ or real estate agent Lancelot claims a leading role and effortlessly digs into the group pot. We dare to doubt whether these are the best characteristics of a mole. But Lancelot apparently gets away with it. Also in the semifinals. He expertly kills the stagecoach test and also earns few euros in the ultimate western challenge. If he’s going for the win, he’s clearly not worried about losing money and a meager group pot.

Attentive viewers saw how Lancelot effortlessly sewed buddy Ruben’s ear by throwing money away at the saw trial. And from handy and benevolent raccoon, his totem with the scouts, we expect a better result with the wordbreakers. This was mole work at its best. Or an annoying character trait of Lancelot. It seems like he always lets things go just too early. As a mole, that’s a handy trick.

If Lancelot is the mole, then we should give him a big thumbs up. Described as sympathetic, charming and helpful. But shouldn’t it rather be sneaky, genius and cunning? Come and see next week.

Just last week we described how Toos plays his own leading role in his ‘Toos in Mollenland’, but towards the finale the 27-year-old joiner suddenly turns into a trained ‘Mol’ player. With strategy, game insight, give and take, lies where necessary and possible.

Fair is fair, at the start of ‘De mol’ we were convinced that this carpenter would not last long. But look, he’s just in the final. Always with a smile on your lips. Played unobtrusively again. Until the saloon test. There he suddenly performed very strongly. But never lie.

Mole detectives will also have noticed that little, say nothing, of this Toos can be found on the worldwide web. Is that a coincidence or are we dealing with a smart, cunning candidate who had already gone underground before the start of ‘De mol’?

1. Comfort, the 32-year-old gynaecologist

2. Toos, the 27-year-old joiner

1. Lancelot, the 27-year-old real estate agent

Matteo ‘Steve’, 35 years old, actor

Samyra, 26 years old, lawyer, from Zaventem

Conny, 58 years old, lecturer in mathematics from Bonheiden

Leïla, 34 years old, anthropologist, from Bambrugge.

Lieselot, 32 years old, butcher’s wife, from Rollegem-Kapelle

Thomas, 42 years old, teacher, from Kortrijk

Ruben, 22 years old, pastry chef, from Nijlen

For the group: 22,320 euros (0 to 4,000 euros for stagecoach with bandits, 3,000 to 4,000 euros for postcards, 2,000 to 6,000 euros for shoot-out)

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