For the second night in a row, a Traitor found themselves in hot water – and there really was nowhere to hide.
Episode five delivered plenty of suspicion, scheming and chaos, from Aoife remaining firmly in the firing line to a high-stakes gold hunt that put six contestants on “death row”.
***Warning: Spoilers for The Traitors Ireland episode five below***
Aoife still in the firing line
It’s the morning after the night before, and military police investigator Pete is “relieved” he wasn’t murdered and has made it safely to breakfast.
He notices Carla looks equally relieved – little does he know, she’s playing a stellar game.
Pete declares that “all eyes are on Aoife”, with Carla quickly chiming in that she “can’t come past it!”
Poor Donal’s name is still in the mix, too.
It all became too much for Aoife on tonight’s episode
The conversation swiftly moves on when Aoife enters, but she knows she’s still on everyone’s radar. “I think people’s eyes are still on me a little bit because of the Saoirse murder,” she admits in her VT.
She later gets emotional, saying it’s frustrating that people are wasting time looking at her – little did she know, things were about to get a whole heap more challenging (more on that below).
Gameplans are laid bare
Pete also reveals that when he suspects someone is a Traitor, he almost befriends them, a strategy he admits is “mentally draining”.
Seán C shares his gameplan too, saying he was determined to keep his head down at last night’s Round Table and only speak when necessary, although he had a feeling about Finoula.
Suspicions mount at the Round Table
Anna admits she has strong gut feelings about Páraic K, and Diego agrees, while also saying he’ll be keeping a close eye on Carla, saying he’s not buying her constant “confused” act.
With suspicions mounting, should the remaining Traitors be shaking in their cloaks?
Welcome to death row
Last night, the Traitors put six players – Sam, Janet, DJ, Donal, Denis and Ian – in purgatory.
Now they’re tied back-to-back in three pairs: Sam and Donal, DJ and Denis, and Ian and Janet. Welcome to death row!
Páraic K’s plan is simple: splinter the groups, turn them inwards and get them wondering whether there’s a Traitor hiding among the six.
He knows there’s a risk it could backfire and actually embolden them, but decides it’s a risk worth taking.
Three pairs. One death row….
And it works almost immediately. Sam starts to wonder whether Donal has an ulterior motive.
Nothing says teamwork quite like wondering whether your teammate is secretly plotting your murder.
Striking Gold – as Gaeilge
Next up, a quiz – as Gaeilge. Every correct answer adds money to the prize pot. But there’s a catch: every correct answer also buys the couples time to collect gold in the forest.
The couple whose barrel contains the most gold at the end of the mission will be saved. Everyone else remains at the mercy of the Traitors.
Páraic O has a plan of his own: save Ian and Janet, who he sees as the strongest Faithfuls.
Naturally, things immediately get complicated when the contestants start doing their own thing instead of sticking to the plan.
Who’s got the golden touch?
There’s tension, there’s confusion, there’s a brief return to the original plan. In other words: business as usual.
But Ian and Janet pull it off, collecting 43 bars of gold and securing their escape from death row.
For now, at least.
A fatal slip of the tongue
All eyes were on Mr Double Bluff himself, aka Páraic K, as he found himself under pressure to explain his increasingly anxious behaviour and tired appearance.
And, guys, it looks like the heat might finally be coming off Donal…
Events took a dramatic twist when Páraic K really put his foot in it.
He accidentally let the word “traitor” slip when he should have said “faithful” at the Round Table and there was no coming back from it. The castle was quick to pounce, and unfortunately for Páraic, his blunder proved to be his downfall.
Páraic really put his foot in it!
His fatal slip of the tongue saw him sent packing from the castle, leaving the Traitors one player down and the Faithfuls wondering who could be next…
The blackmail gambit
Left all alone as a Traitor, Carla was given a chance to change that – by blackmailing a Faithful.
Síobhan gave her a choice: name a Faithful to invite to be a Traitor. They could either accept… or be murdered.
Carla didn’t hesitate. Her target? Aoife.
With Aoife’s name constantly coming up at the Round Table, Carla saw an opportunity to take the heat off herself.
But will Aoife join the Traitors or face murder?
One thing’s for sure: the heat is officially on.
The Traitors Ireland continues on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Tuesday at 9.35pm.