Warning: This page contains spoilers for the October 21, 2022 game of Jeopardy! — please do not scroll down if you wish to avoid being spoiled. Please note that the game airs as early as noon Eastern in some U.S. television markets.
Here’s today’s Final Jeopardy (in the category 19th Century Literary Characters) for Friday, October 21, 2022 (Season 39, Game 30):
This character from an 1859 novel symbolizes the fates, who in mythology spin the web of life, measure it & cut it off
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Molly Karol, a CPA from Austin, Texas (Yesterday’s total: $15,600)![]() |
Jessica Stephens, a statistical research specialist from Nashville, Tennessee (Yesterday’s total: $28,600)![]() |
James Fraser, a Naval aviator from Newport Beach, California (Yesterday’s total: $30,929)![]() |
Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
By the end of today’s episode of Jeopardy!, we’ll know the 20th of the 21 players in the upcoming Tournament of Champions. Representing the U.S. Navy well thus far, James Fraser holds a small lead over Nashville’s Jessica Stephens. Molly Karol put up a strong $15,600 yesterday, but only has just over half of James’ score; Molly definitely has her work cut out for her today if she wants to mount a comeback. James has had the best stats overall, so he’s still the favorite at this point, but absolutely anything can happen! Because this can be a confusing point: Yesterday’s scores are locked in and can not be bet in any way during today’s game—but, they do need to be taken into account when determining bet sizing today!
And, next week sees a new set of nine players playing for the last spot in the tournament!
On a more personal note, it is the time of year for the twice-yearly Gamers vs. MS 168-hour online fundraiser! 24 different Twitch streamers will be live between 8 AM Eastern on October 22 and 8 AM Eastern on October 29, raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. Canada has one of the world’s highest rates of multiple sclerosis (MS), with an estimated 1 in every 385 Canadians living with the disease. I’ll be streaming live on my Twitch channel, twitch.tv/thejeopardyfan/ from 2 AM Eastern–8 AM Eastern on October 25! You can find more information about this fall’s relay at gamersvsms.ca.
PSA: The best way to keep COVID-19 at bay (and keep Jeopardy! producing new episodes) is for everybody to get their vaccinations as soon as they can, including any boosters as recommended. When wearing a mask, please ensure that your mask covers both your nose and your mouth.
Are you going on the show and looking for information about how to bet in Final Jeopardy? Check out my new Betting Strategy 101 page!
(Content continues below)
If you appreciate the work I do here on The Jeopardy! Fan and would like to make a one-time contribution to the site, you may do so here!
Correct response: Who is Madame DeFarge?
You can find game-by-game stats here at The Jeopardy! Fan of all 14 players, including Matt Amodio, Jonathan Fisher, Amy Schneider, Mattea Roach, and Ryan Long, that have won 10 or more games on Jeopardy!?
More information about Final Jeopardy:
(The following write-up is original content and is copyright 2022 The Jeopardy! Fan. It may not be copied without linked attribution back to this page.)
In Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, Madame Defarge very famously knits by the guillotine during executions; in Greek mythology, the Moirai would use yarn to measure out the life of a human, and then cut it to end it.
The hilarious thing about this clue: I was listening to a Jeopardy! game this morning from December 1990 on TuneIn Radio—and the final Daily Double in that game was about Madame Defarge!
We have many new offerings at The Jeopardy! Fan Online Store! Proceeds from the sale of the “Doctor Oz’s Fast-Acting Snake Oil Elixir” T-shirt are being donated to The Trevor Project:
Game Recap:
Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: American History; Team Names Via Other Names; In The Bible Book; From C To D; Shave & A Haircut; 2 Bits)
James was definitely having the best time on the signaling device in the opening 30 clues, but he was also incorrect four times. All three players had a good amount of money at the second place.
Statistics at the first break (15 clues):
Jessica 6 correct 0 incorrect
Molly 3 correct 0 incorrect
James 5 correct 3 incorrect
Statistics after the Jeopardy round:
Jessica 8 correct 1 incorrect
James 12 correct 4 incorrect
Molly 7 correct 1 incorrect
Double Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: So You Blew It The First Time; Movie & Tv Directors; It’s All About Her; Marsupials; Why Are My Pants Wet?; Before & After)
James was rolling—and then he went for a True Daily Double, in an attempt to put the tournament away. Unfortunately, he missed, and his chances probably went with it. Jessica got the last Daily Double and went onto having a runaway position going into Final; she had $15,300 going into Final Jeopardy! today, to Molly’s $10,600 and James’s $2,000.
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Jessica 16 correct 2 incorrect
Molly 16 correct 1 incorrect
James 18 correct 7 incorrect
Total number of unplayed clues this season: 8 (0 today).
Final Jeopardy! was a Triple Stumper—Jessica managed to make it with enough money and is going to the Tournament of Champions!
Tonight’s Game Stats:
Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Here’s the Friday, October 21, 2022 Jeopardy! by the numbers:
Scores going into Final:
Jessica $15,300
Molly $10,600
James $2,000
Tonight’s results:
James $2,000 – $2,000 = $0 + $30,929 = $30,929 ($20,000) (Who is Urah Heep)
Molly $10,600 – $10,600 = $0 + $15,600 = $15,600 ($10,000) (Who is ? ? ? )
Jessica $15,300 – $10,000 = $5,300 + $28,600 = $33,900 (Who is Penelope?) (Winner, $35,000)
Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Jessica $4,600
James $3,600
Molly $2,600
Opening break taken after: 15 clues
Daily Double locations:
1) AMERICAN HISTORY $800 (clue #8)
James 1200 +1200 (Jessica 1800 Molly 2000)
2) SO YOU BLEW IT THE FIRST TIME $1200 (clue #4)
James 6800 -6800 (Jessica 6200 Molly 2600)
3) IT’S ALL ABOUT HER $1600 (clue #15, $16000 left on board)
Jessica 8600 +3500 (James 1600 Molly 4600)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: 41
Unplayed clues:
J! Round: None!
DJ! Round: None!
Total Left On Board: $0
Number of clues left unrevealed this season: 8 (0.27 per episode average), 0 Daily Doubles
Game Stats:
Jessica $13,400 Coryat, 16 correct, 2 incorrect, 22.81% in first on buzzer (13/57), 3/4 on rebound attempts (on 7 rebound opportunities)
Molly $10,600 Coryat, 16 correct, 1 incorrect, 29.82% in first on buzzer (17/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 7 rebound opportunities)
James $8,400 Coryat, 18 correct, 7 incorrect, 40.35% in first on buzzer (23/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 2 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $32,400
Lach Trash: $10,000 (on 9 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $11,600
James Fraser, career statistics:
83 correct, 15 incorrect
1/2 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
43.88% in first on buzzer (86/196)
4/6 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $1,229)
2/4 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $16,000
Jessica Stephens, career statistics:
73 correct, 5 incorrect
7/8 on rebound attempts (on 19 rebound opportunities)
27.63% in first on buzzer (63/228)
3/3 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $7,000)
3/4 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $14,800
Molly Karol, career statistics:
68 correct, 13 incorrect
6/8 on rebound attempts (on 21 rebound opportunities)
28.95% in first on buzzer (66/228)
3/3 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $13,000)
2/4 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $9,750
Today’s interviews:
Molly would love to be a fly on the wall in the Tournament of Champions.
Jessica would love to see Matt and Jonathan again, and meet Amy and Mattea.
James finds it hard to imagine a ToC berth.
Andy’s Thoughts:
- If today’s wagering result was a result of the recent time limits on Final Jeopardy! betting instituted by the show, then Jeopardy! needs to remove said time limits with immediate effect. It was a solution in search of a problem, only serves to potentially make contestants look worse and is, quite frankly, a bad look for the show.
- Today’s box score: October 21, 2022 Box Score.
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Jessica $15,300 ($28,600) Molly $10,600 ($15,600) James $2,000 ($30,929))
James: You might as well go all-in. (Actual bet: $2,000)
Jessica: You are guaranteed a spot in the Tournament of Champions as long as you bet no more than $7,099, as you currently have a combined total of $43,900, Molly’s best possible total is $36,800, and James’ best possible total is $34,929. (Actual bet: $10,000)
Molly: You can only surpass James for second if you are correct; you might as well go all-in. (Actual bet: $10,600)
Contestant photo credit: jeopardy.com
When commenting, please note that all comments on The Jeopardy! Fan must be in compliance with the Site Comment Policy.
If you are going to quote any information from this page or this website, attribution is required.