“I just don’t know what I could have done differently,” the first person murdered on The Traitors US season four says in the start of the second episode. Their exit is a shock and they are exactly right.
Peacock’s The Traitors again dishes decadent production design and inside a game that’s consistently dramatic while also frustrating around its rough edges. It’s a game that’s tough, sometimes impossible to play, but always a delight to watch.
(Spoilers follow for episode one only.)
Despite this season’s addition of the Secret Traitor—which allows us to play along while complicating the traitors’ decisions—they still have disproportionate power in the game, even if it is delightful to see them want to be naughty.
Several players’ desire to be aggressive as faithful has potential, yet they still have almost no way to protect themselves, making it a tough game to actually play.
I desperately want the producers to incorporate more of Mafia/Werewolf’s roles into The Traitors. (The Seer was a bust last season, with a traitor winning the power.)
While season four’s first mission gives the faithful the ability to select who’s up for murder, it doesn’t give individual players any agency. But it also gives us Alan Cumming wearing a literal coffin outfit, so I guess who cares!
Alan is in fine form, earning his Emmy with even greater confidence in his ostentatious castle-dwelling persona. The gusto with which he takes care of business, like smashing the photos of the murdered players, is magnified by his wardrobe, some of which would be just too much for the Met Gala.
And then there’s just his genuine reactions to the chaos. “I’ve missed this,” Alan laughs after Johnny Weir falls off the pier into the loch.
The Traitors US host Alan Cumming in “Let the Cards Fall as they Will,” episode 401 (Photo by Euan Cherry/Peacock)
The 23-person cast is so big some fade to the background: Top Chef host Kristen Kish, Olympian Tara Lipinski, and Laguna Beach’s Stephen Colletti are among those who fade, overshadowed by Michael Rapaport shouting at everyone and Dorinda Medley screaming about not wanting to be murdered on day one again.
Assembling reality TV stars known for their personalities and/or competition resumes means they’re judged more for their reputations than their behavior. And, as usual, some are more interested in their reputations—screen time; not pissing off the Swifties, thanks to producers casting Donna Kelce—than the competition.
The fun for me is in how they interact (“You could do that the whole time? Hot,” Monét X Change says to Colton Underwood when he picks up a coffin), defy expectations, and deal with each other as the game unfolds.
The Traitors US season 4’s players: Rob Rausch, Mark Ballas, Colton Underwood, Eric Nam, Stephen Colletti, Lisa Rinna, Donna Kelce, Dorinda Medley, Porsha Williams, Natalie Anderson, Candiace Dillard Bassett, Tara Lipinski, Michael Rapaport, Rob Cesternino, Kristen Kish, Monét X Change, Ian Terry, Caroline Stanbury, Ron Funches, and Johnny Weir (Photo by Euan Cherry/Peacock)
Rob Cesternino, coming out of reality TV retirement and his RHAP empire, is immediately frustrated that, during the challenge, his fellow players don’t want to play the larger game. “We should talk through how is this going to help us most strategically,” he said. Big Brother winner Ian Terry agrees: “There’s no game play here.” How will they convince others to play?
When Alan squeezed Love Island’s Rob Rausch’s shoulder and made him a traitor, I thought it a waste. But he’s already more interesting than I expected, and may not be just turret cannon fodder. Lisa Rinna, of course, is exactly what we’d expect from her: telling us she’s excited to tell Harry Hamlin about her selection.
The producers making fellow Housewives star Candiace Dillard Bassett the third traitor is inspired: no gamers in the turret, but two Housewives, who are inclined to stick together but now have their role to protect.
And then, of course, is the Secret Traitor. Putting elimination nominations in one player’s hand makes The Traitors more Big Brother than I’d like, but it remains to be seen how that’ll play out—and for how long.
The highlight of episode one is a post-mission conversation. “When we were in our boat, Michael was like, Who we gonna put the caskets in? Let’s do the Housewives!” Candiace tells Porsha during the car ride. But she is lying to put heat on him.
Back at the castle, Porsha tells Michael, and leads a line of players to the kitchen to confront Candiace directly! “It’s about to get really good,” Monet says to Lisa in the kitchen, and the crowd gathered for this confrontation know it, too.
“You misheard me. I did not say he said it today,” Candiace says, lying again. “I was referring to him saying something about Housewives yesterday.” Incredibly, Maura—who heard and reacted to that in the car—backs up Candiace: “I don’t remember her saying that, what you just said.”
Candiace, though, isn’t done with her scorched-earth traitor game, saying Michael was indeed targeting Housewives. “I would be a real piece of shit at this point in the game,” Michael says, and Cadiace hits back: “Yes, you would be.”
Candiace openly guessing Lisa is a traitor before actually meeting her fellow traitors was quite stunning. I agree with her that being a convincing, aggressive faithful might be the better play versus fading to the background, the strategy Rob argues for.
All of this was even more stunning than learning there actually is a time limit on challenges, and it’s not just faked for our benefit!
The players didn’t get credit for their final coffin. “Wasn’t in on time,” Alan Cumming declared. “Based on what?” Michael demanded (ugh, murder/banish him please!) “Based on the clock,” Alan said.
As the first episode ends, nine are in danger: Donna, Dorinda, Eric, Ian, Mark, Michael, and Rob C., Rob R., Ron, and Mark. But only those the Secret Traitor selects will actually be eligible. Will that tell us something about their identity? Or affect what the faithful can divine from the actual murder?
Despite the shortcomings of this iteration’s casting and format, I am fully back in, and can’t wait to see where The Traitors goes.
Traitors US season 4 recaps
All of reality blurred’s content is independently selected, including links to products or services. However, if you buy something after clicking an affiliate link, we may earn a commission. Learn more.