Episodes that had difficult layouts but aren't recognized for them

[The Red Jaguars]

Yeah, Johnny Appleseed had a difficult layout too. Angela and Chris didn't do much wrong in the temple, and they had to take the slow Mine Shaft elevator just like Tara had to take the Well bucket. But I think Johnny Appleseed had a chance of being a solo victory though. Assuming the Ledges didn't detour into the Crypt for Chris. Other than that, there was not much that this team could've done better to win.

I want to add Kamehameha to the list too. The shortest route to the artifact required Robbie and Tina to enter 9 rooms. And that is assuming a Season 1 contestant knows not to take a direct path either. This is the type of layout where Robbie and Tina would've needed two Pendants to actually win. And they handled it very well despite entering every room. But the triple capture is entirely their fault.

[Purple Parrots Fan]

@ Bifocal Monocle: It may have been a strange layout, but it was Veronica's own fault for taking all those detours. I think if anything, the producers were being a little generous. It was like they giving them a solo win, but both Veronica and Thomas blew it.

And here's another potential hard layout: Lucky Pig. We all know Kristen was both too slow and clueless, but both the temple guard placement and layout was brutal. She didn't even have any access to shortcuts, like most teams do. It doesn't detract from what a horrible run it was, but that layout was bordering on impossible too.

[The Red Jaguars]

I would definitely add Lucky Pig to the list. Kristen and Scott were literally required to enter every room of the temple enroute to the artifact (except the Heart Room). But I definitely think this run was winnable though. As bad as Kristen was, she still managed to make it one room away. If the team started in the Cave of Sighs and followed Kristen's path, then it would've been a solo victory. Of course, Kristen had no business inside the temple. -_-

[The Red Jaguars]

Here is a comprehensive list of the toughest layouts on the show. These are the layouts where the team would need some special strategy or a set of really good players in order to win in the temple. This list is not in any order:

- Golden Cup
- Golden Ship
- Dead Man's Hand
- Lucky Pig
- Lost Fountain of Youth
- Kamehameha
- Leonardo Da Vinci
- Stone Marker
- Sir Edmund Hillary
- Golden Stallion
- Attila the Hun
- Missing Eye
- Lion-Slashed Jacket
- Thornwood Gavel
- Marble Armrest
- Henry Hudson
- Imperial Wizard
- Mummified Hand
- Red Sash
- Queen Boadicea
- Pirate Captain (Jessica and Jarrid won though!)
- Robert the Bruce
- Missing Portrait
- Discarded Seal
- Taj Mahal Turban
- William Tell
- Belle Boyd

[Purple Parrots Fan]

I was gonna bring up Golden Spider Web next. Just like Lucky Pig, Christine and Jeremy didn't get any access to either shortcut in the Shrine. And they had to traverse counterclockwise through the temple to get it. Same with Hans Holbein. Of course, neither team in either of these runs were fast, but both layouts were pretty impossible.