Final Jeopardy: Medieval Asia (2-15-18)
Today’s Final Jeopardy question (2/15/2018) in the category “Medieval Asia” was:
Though it means “one who serves”, in medieval Japan it was a property holder who received rent from serfs.
New champ Rob Worman won $15,900 yesterday. In his second game, his opponents are Shawn Ralston, from Hanover, NH; and Matt Stikker, from Portland, OR.
Round 1 Categories: The Phantom of the Opera – Holidays & Observances – On Their Live Aid Setlist – The 1930s – What’s for Breakfast? – Synonym Roll
Rob found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Holidays & Observances” under the $800 clue, with 9 clues to go after it. He was in the lead with $4,800, $1,600 more than Shawn in second place. He bet it all and he was RIGHT.
An aerobatic team performs during a parade celebrating this July holiday in Europe. show
Rob finished in the lead with $10,000. Shawn was second with $3,200 and Matt was last, $200 in the red.
Round 2 Categories: American Books & Authors – Charitable Organizations – Country Name Origins – “I” Catching – The Clinton Cabinet – Medications
Shawn found the first Daily Double in “Country Name Origins” under the $2,000 clue on the 10th pick. She was in second place with $5,600 at this point, $6,800 less than Rob’s lead. She made it a true Daily Double and she was RIGHT.
The first Spanish explorers in the region noticed silver ornaments worn by natives & this country’s name was born. show
Shawn found the last Daily Double in “The Clinton Cabinet” under the $1,600 clue, with 7 clues left after it. In second place with $12,400, she had $3,600 less than Rob’s lead. She bet $4,000 but didn’t have a guess so she was WRONG.
During Clinton’s second term, former U.S. Army Lieutenant Togo West headed this cabinet department. show
Rob finished in the lead with $16,800. Shawn was next with $14,000 and Matt was in third place with $4,200.
NONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
In medieval Japan’s feudal system, the shogun was de factor ruler and at the top of the heap, along with the emperor (little more than a figurehead). The daimyo came next, the equivalent of European lords. They were given fiefdoms and had to kick back up to the shogun. The daimyo, in turn, had the same arrangements with samurai. So, the samurai were indeed men (and occasionally women) who serve, and were also landlords. There’s a truly nifty infographic on an Angelfire interactive learning site showing the hierarchy in feudal Japan, along with more info.
Matt wrote down “daimyo.” He lost his $2,000 bet, dropping him down to $2,200.
Shawn came up with “shogun.” That cost her $9,500. She finished with $4,500.
Rob was going for the geisha. He lost $11,201 and had $5,599 left, so it was sayonara to Matt and Shawn. Rob remained the Jeopardy! champ with a 2-day total of $21,499.
A triple stumper from each round:
THE 1930s ($1000) Orson Welles & John Houseman formed this theatre in 1937
AMERICAN BOOKS & AUTHORS ($2000) The title character of this Edith Wharton novel is in love with Mattie Silver, his wife’s cousin
2 years ago: NONE of the players got this FJ in “Pen Names”
This children’s author considered using the anagrams Edgar Cuthwellis & Edgar W.C. Westhill for his pen name. show
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When I first saw Matt, I could have swore I was looking at Gregory Rasputin reincarnated. Not intended as a insult to him. I recently watched part of Nicholas and Alexandra with Tom Baker as Rasputin so it was fresh in my mind. I first thought of Samurai for the final Jeopardy answer but then talked myself out of it by going to Shogun.
LOL! That’s funny, Dale.
I realized after I posted that I had spelled Grigori wrong, when I saw Matt, I told my wife..”Look Rasputin is on Jeopardy’.
Thanks for correcting me on confusing Macarena with Lambada. A good example of memory switch and conflation, I think.
The FJ was easy, but a little misleading. Medieval Japan gives the impression that it was contemporaneous with Medieval England or France, which really is not case. In the 1960s when I studied Japanese and history, the term used was Feudal Japan, which lasted right up to the Meiji Restoration in the 1860s. The Satsuma Rebellion of 1877 was the last chance for the Samurai to regain their lost privileges. The rest is history.
None of these guys knew about samurai in medieval japan? I guess they are not a big fan of ancient japanese history VJ. I thought this would have been an easy solve for all the contestants as they should know that red alert 3 had japanese forces and in the anime cartoon Nintama Rantaro there are ninja samurai kids that goes to school and learn ninjutsu arts. Would you agree on that, vj? And also, you would know this one in a heartbeat right? Daimyo wasn;’t a bad guess but that is a great lord in japan. My brother is nearly graduating college soon as he is learning japanese.
Nell, Sweetie,We’re not allowed to strike ladies, even those younger than we are 🙂
Well, at least it was cool how Shawn caught up to Rob in the second round.
Wasn’t expecting 2 of those FJ responses. I don’t think the cluewriters would expect even most J! players to know Matt’s answer. heh.
LINK: 9 more clues from the match
@VJ, I agree about Matt’s response & even Shawn’s response. Both were close but too high on the hierarchy. The players did display imo familiarity with Medieval Asia. The winnings may not show it but they were within the right range. Kudos to Shawn for giving the champ a good challenge.
Dang it all! Would one of you fine friendly fikklefamers kindly give me swift kick in my (oh-so-feminine) posterior?
For the last two days I’ve ignored my gut and hedged my bets. Yesterday, my instincts told me all three would get FJ right. Today I was sure all three would be wrong. But did I go with my instincts? No!
No more! From now on I’m throwing caution to the wind and following my inner muse.
Shawn’s overwagering from second place gives Rob his second game and gives Matt a chance to win with a correct response.