Warning: This page contains spoilers for the May 22, 2026, 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 Literary Terminology) for Friday, May 22, 2026 (Season 42, Game 185):
17th century critic Thomas Rymer coined this 2-word term, instructing that a work should uphold moral principles & see vice punished
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Jeff Weyhmiller, a nuclear power instructor from Holland, Michigan
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Mary Morris, a law school administrator from Indianapolis, Indiana
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Chris D’Angelo, a content manager from Washington, D.C. (2-day total: $28,600)
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Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
After a wagering error in yesterday’s game that fortuitously worked out for him after opponent Liz Guinn followed proper strategy, Chris D’Angelo is a 2-game Jeopardy! champion, taking on Mary Morris of Indiana and Jeff Weyhmiller of Michigan. I think Chris was also fortunate that Mary wasn’t in yesterday’s game, as I don’t think anyone from Indianapolis would have missed “The Brickyard”.
I am sure there are some of you out there who might have thought I reacted too harshly to yesterday’s outcome—both from a response and a gameplay perspective. As much as I give recaps, this website is still titled The Jeopardy! Fan—and thus I still believe I am entitled to tell people how I thought of a situation as a fan watching the show. (And, there’s not quite a wrath like the one of a diehard Jeopardy! fan when the contestants flub a clue about one of that fan’s special interests.)
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Correct response: What is poetic justice?
More information about Final Jeopardy:
(The following write-up is original content and is copyright 2026 The Jeopardy! Fan. It may not be copied without linked attribution back to this page.)
Thomas Rymer coined the phrase “poetic justice” in 1678’s The Tragedies of the Last Age Consider’d to refer to how fiction should always portray good triumphing over evil, in an attempt to instill proper moral behavior in its audience.
I think today’s Final Jeopardy clue is actually ironic, considering the events of yesterday’s game, because I was left feeling yesterday that the good wager was not portrayed as victorious.
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Game Recap:
Chris D’Angelo picked up at least 3 correct responses in eight different categories, while Jeff Weyhmiller’s score was reset to $0 twice thanks to a pair of missed True Daily Doubles.
Chris will impress a lot of people, I’m sure, by finishing this game with a correct response in Final Jeopardy. He’ll be back Monday to go for win #4!
Scores going into Final:
Chris $20,400
Jeff $3,200
Mary $1,800
Tonight’s results:
Mary $1,800 – $1,399 = $401 (What is virtuous text?)
Jeff $3,200 – $500 = $2,700 (What is Morality Play?)
Chris $20,400 + $4,600 = $25,000 (What is Poetic Justice?) (3-day total: $53,600)
Game Stats:
Chris $20,400 Coryat, 29 correct, 4 incorrect, 52.63% in first on buzzer (30/57), 3/3 on rebound attempts (on 5 rebound opportunities)
Jeff $11,200 Coryat, 15 correct, 4 incorrect, 22.81% in first on buzzer (13/57), 3/3 on rebound attempts (on 7 rebound opportunities)
Mary $1,800 Coryat, 6 correct, 3 incorrect, 14.04% in first on buzzer (8/57), 1/1 on rebound attempts (on 6 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $33,400
Chris D’Angelo, to win:
4 games: 61.401%
5: 37.701%
6: 23.149%
7: 14.214%
8: 8.727%
Avg. streak: 4.591 games.
Andy’s Thoughts:
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Chris $20,400 Jeff $3,200 Mary $1,800)
Chris: Bet no more than $13,999 ane enjoy your win. (Actual bet: $4,600)
Mary: Bet at least $1,001 for the best chance of second place. (Actual bet: $1,399)
Jeff: Standard cover bet over Mary is $401. (Actual bet: $500)
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