13 life-changing prizes, eight teams, and one crucial question: What’s in the Box?
In Netflix’s newest game show, streaming now, host Neil Patrick Harris leads pairs of contestants through rounds of trivia to reveal what’s inside giant gold boxes concealing jaw-dropping reveals. But winning prizes is just the start of this high-stakes quiz show; keeping them is the real challenge. With wildcards and unexpected setbacks, competitors can quickly go from friends to enemies and must strategize to avoid getting a target on their back. At the end of the season, the team with the most prizes will play for the Super Box, a chance to earn a prize worth over $250,000.
Clearly, it’s going to get competitive. But don’t worry, the teams consist of powerful pairings — like best friends of 20 years, a mother-son duo, former NFL cheerleaders inseparable since their last Super Bowl, a newlywed couple, identical twins, and more — who use their partnership as both a source of strength and strategy.
Keep reading to learn more about the teams competing on What’s in the Box? and what they hope to find in their box this season.
Hair and makeup beauty professionals, Mary-Ashanti and Djennane have worked together for the past 12 years. The “spiritual sisters” met in a cosmetology teacher training. A few months after the course, when Mary-Ashanti launched her beauty business, Djennane became her first artist. “We’re not just best friends, we’re chosen sisters who build dreams and make money together.”
Both vocal instructors from Atlanta, Georgia, Keira and Car’dell had their eyes on any music-themed boxes. Friends since college, the two have spent the last six years honing their communication skills. “Some will say we act identical, like twins,” they tell Tudum. “We have integrated ourselves into each other’s lives musically, personally, and even spiritually.” With outgoing personalities and loose lips, the two only have one concern: “Let’s just say, we hope our mics aren’t on the whole time.”
These twins can communicate with just one look. “We live in a bubble and it’s just us,” Erin tells Tudum. The “wombmates” are both bartenders in Clairmont, California, and do everything together. “We even share a car because there is literally no point in having two when we are always side by side.” They grew up in a trivia-loving family so they feel pretty confident about their chances this season. “We have been competitive since day one. Sports, grades, boys, you name it,” they add. “But this time it was such a blast actually being on the same team for once.”
Laith and Danielle are newlyweds who met online. “I wear the pants but she brings the spice,” Laith says. Laith is a former NFL football player (he was briefly with the Cardinals) and now he coaches. Danielle is a certified hair extension specialist, boasting clients like LeAnn Rimes. The two are finally ready to welcome a baby into their small family and joined the game show for an “amazing last experience” before becoming parents. “Can you put a baby seat in a Ferrari?” Laith says.
Married for over 20 years, Joey and Scott have spent only two weeks apart cumulatively throughout their whole relationship. The two live in North Carolina with their dog, Charlotte Dorothy Peppercorn. “We are best friends, business partners, we do everything together all the time,” Joey tells Tudum. Both work in renovation and construction, with Joey focusing on design and Scott as the real estate broker, and the two have collaborated on many projects. “Our strength is working together. We are used to working closely together, listening to each other, and working to find solutions.”
Macy and Jasmine met as rookie cheerleaders for the Atlanta Falcons — yes, they cheered at the Super Bowl — and have been inseparable ever since. As teammates for five seasons already, they weren’t afraid to tackle this next challenge together. Their only weakness? Jasmine’s poker face isn’t so good. “My face says exactly how I feel,” she tells Tudum. The two plan to crush the competition with “Spinergy,” which is a combination of a “positive spirit and energy.” But don’t let their smiles fool you, because these two mean business. “We will do anything (within rules) to dominate in this game,” they say. “We are extremely competitive and want to make it all the way to the end.”
The mother and son duo from Texas have always had a very close relationship but they really came together after Leona’s husband, Luke’s father, died. “We work very well as a team having known each other, literally, for our entire lives,” Leona tells Tudum. “This experience is a chance to spend time and try to accomplish something together.” When they’re not playing trivia, Leona is a university professor and Luke is a stay-at-home dad of twins. Being “extremely competitive” runs in the family, so the two don’t plan on leaving empty handed. “We definitely do not like losing, but we also play fair, so we’ll use strategy and our wits to get the box of our dreams.”
The best friends met running night clubs in Miami over 22 years ago. Now, they live on opposite coasts, but are still as close as ever. “We’ve handled high-pressure situations for decades and have the ability to communicate without saying a word,” Binh tells Tudum. Andrew agrees that their strategy comes down to trust and communication. “We may not always agree, but we’ll always defer to the one who feels more strongly about an answer,” he says. First on the board this season, how far will these two go?
