The Traitors Is the Best Show on TV Right Now
Tom Sandoval, Britney Spears' ex-husband, and Bob the Drag Queen walk into a Scottish castle…
When it comes to reality TV, I’m resistant to change. I’m a reboot skeptic who romanticizes the classics (early RHONY and RHOBH) and don’t waste my time on the mediocre new shows streamers churn out. Love is Blind? It’s proven time and time again it is not. Special Forces? In absolutely no world do I need to see JoJo Siwa and Tom Sandoval on the same show. Even a series as ubiquitous and beloved as Love Island hasn’t wormed its way into my favorites. After watching flop after flop, I’ve learned not to expect much from new reality series. That is, until the absolute masterpiece that is The Traitors waltzed into my life.
My The Traitors love affair began last year with Season 2, and having to wait for Season 3 to come out quite literally felt like cruel and unusual punishment. If you’re not familiar, first of all, how?? Second of all, congratulations—your life is about to change for the better.
The premise of The Traitors
The Traitors is basically a game of Mafia mixed with the Disney Channel Games, but instead of Disney Channel stars like the Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana, and Zack and Cody competing against each other on a football field, it’s Real Housewives stars, Bachelorette icons, and Survivor legends facing off in a Scottish castle. It’s the crossover series to end all crossover series and simply reality TV gold.
The season starts with three Traitors getting chosen and tasked with staying undetected while “murdering” the Faithfuls, who are trying to oust the Traitors from the castle. In each episode, they compete in challenges to add to the prize pot, and every night at a roundtable, someone suspected of being a Traitor is voted off. Then, the Traitors don their cloaks and convene in the castle’s turrets to kill again.
What makes The Traitors unique?
You can probably tell I’m completely j’obssesed by now, but I understand if you’re not yet convinced of The Traitors superiority. I mean, what could make it so different from every other reality competition show? Dear reader, so so much. But since I’ve already rambled enough, I’ll try to keep it just to the highlights. Here is exactly what makes The Traitors so special:
Spoilers for Season 2 and Season 3 Episodes 1, 2, and 3 ahead
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The cast has someone for everyone
No matter your reality show of choice, there’s a cast member for you. Players like Bob the Drag Queen, Dorinda Medley, Dolores Catania, Gabby Windey, and Ciara Miller (um dream blunt rotation) immediately draw in my corner of the internet, but all sorts of reality stars are featured. Survivor stans can’t wait to see Boston Rob, Jeremy, and Tony. And perhaps there’s even someone out there excited about the random British lord they always include. The series brings together a motley crew of stars who would otherwise never interact and forces them to collaborate.
As a viewer, you will form the strongest opinions on even the randos you could not care less about in episode one. Before this season, I couldn’t tell Dylan Efron from a random guy on the street. Now? Why do I kind of have a crush on him?? Then there are the people you expect to blend in that you foster a vehement hatred for, such as the aforementioned British bloke, Ivar. I’m not a royal girlie, but based on this man alone, consider me firmly Team Meghan. Thirty minutes into episode one, he became my enemy after trying to sacrifice the women in the challenge for immunity because they “weren’t strong enough.” Sir, you’re in your 60s. You’re not the muscle of this operation.
Within the castle, we also see beautiful alliances emerge. Last year, we had Bergie and Phaedra, and now we have the “Bambis,” AKA Gabby, Crishelle, and Nikki, as well as plenty of other groupings that have yet to materialize. (Side note: I really hope Ciara becomes a member of that group because I would just love to watch them all kiki together.)
It combines the best parts of competition shows and lifestyle shows
I’ve already made it clear that my style of reality TV skews towards just being a fly on the wall to the dramatic and fabulous lives of wealthy women, but The Traitors one-ups that format by bringing in the high stakes from competition shows. Instead of relying solely on competition or lifestyle reality structures, the show beautifully combines both. We see Tom Sandoval genuinely thinking he’s a modern-day Nancy Drew, whipping off his blindfold the second the Traitors were chosen, awkwardly staring at everyone in the room, and immediately announcing his completely incorrect suspicion. Then, there’s Dylan Efron sleuthing out the Traitors impressively early on in the show. Where else can you get this gorgeous balance of scheming and hilarious moments on TV?
Where the gamers have strategy, the other stars have personality. You may think there’s no way to beat established gameplayers who legitimately act like they would murder someone IRL to win the game, but just wait until you see a housewife argue with them at a roundtable. They have no clue what to say or do in the face of a housewife who feels they’ve been wronged. While rooting for a winner, you also get a front-row seat to some of the best reality TV moments between competitions.
The production value is top-tier
The Traitors isn’t some scrapped-together, low-budge production. It’s set in a 19th-century Scottish castle, the challenges don’t cut any corners for cost, and Alan Cumming’s outfits alone probably are as expensive as some of the housewives cast trips we’ve seen. The production value is shockingly high, making it that much more entertaining. It pulls players and viewers deeper into the game’s universe, from the castle’s grandeur to the Traitors’ ominous cloaks. The entire show is a masterclass in committing to the bit, and because the cast is so entrenched in the world, so are the viewers.
The twists are never-ending
The players have so much power in this game that the twists are never-ending. No matter how excited you are to see someone on the show, they could be gone in a second. In the first murder of season 3, we were cruelly robbed of the endless entertainment that is Dorinda Medley. No one is safe, making the twists unpredictable—misled Faithfuls vote off allies, Traitors’ rules change in an instant, and new players join at random. You never know where the season is going. Speaking of adding players, in episode 3, when Boston Rob, Wes, and Derrick joined the game, it was majorly underwhelming. I wish they had thrown in one player to add for the girls. Like if Trisha Paytas entered the castle, that’s a reveal I can get behind.
If I haven’t convinced you to watch The Traitors yet, you’re probably a lost cause, and honestly, I pity you. But if even one person starts watching, I’ll feel like I’ve fulfilled my life’s purpose. If you’ve been craving a reality TV show that combines high stakes, outrageous drama, and top-tier entertainment, you simply must watch. Open up that Peacock app and prepare to fangirl.
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