I Didn’t Expect to Love The Traitors, But Now I Can’t Stop Watching!

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Regarding the 2025 TV lineup, the American adaptation of “The Traitors” is the show that’s captivated me since the beginning of this year. I understand that it has been a popular discussion among Peacock subscribers ever since the U.S. version debuted in 2023, but I only recently started watching it this month. I’d like to discuss why I delayed watching and why I’ve barely taken breaks from binge-watching.

If you’re also jumping on the bandwagon, “The Traitors” is a reality game show where a group of individuals travel to a Scottish Highlands castle to participate in a social deception game. A handful of them are secretly chosen by host Alan Cumming as “traitors”, while the rest are “faithfuls”. There’s a $250,000 prize at stake. The traitors must anonymously eliminate another contestant each week, but it is the faithfuls who have to identify the traitors. If any traitors remain in the game at the end, they will be the only ones to pocket the money, meaning that the faithfuls will depart Scotland with no winnings. Here’s my take on the show as a fresh viewer.

I Waited To Start The Traitors Because I Don’t Know Most Of The Contestants

To be honest, I wouldn’t categorize myself as a regular watcher of reality TV. However, in the past few years, I’ve found myself drawn to dating shows within Bachelor Nation and series like Love Is Blind on Netflix. Every now and then, I also tune into competition shows such as Dancing With The Stars or The Voice. But when I started watching the first season of The Traitors, I must admit that I was not familiar with most of the contestants from shows like Survivor, Big Brother, or Real Housewives. The only exception for me was Arie from The Bachelorette and The Bachelor.

As a film enthusiast, I’d been cautious about diving into “The Traitors”. The trailers for the series emphasized the personalities of the cast members, individuals I wasn’t familiar with in my television-watching journey. Initially, I found myself playing catch-up, trying to figure out who was who during the first couple of episodes. But once I got past that initial hump, I could fully immerse myself in the game without feeling like I was missing out on much due to not having seen the shows some of the players were known from.

But, As Soon As I Started I Had To Be Pulled Away From My TV

I’m not typically a binge-watcher myself, but once I grasped the idea of The Traitors and saw it unfold, it felt like I couldn’t do anything else but sit on my couch and keep hitting play until the final episode. In just a few days, I managed to watch the entire first season, and was genuinely amazed by how much I became engrossed in it. Goodness, these participants are relentless for money!

What is it about this series that has me hooked? To begin with, I find it exceptionally well-crafted. As someone who would squirm at the thought of participating in a social deception game due to my poor lying skills, watching these high-stakes games unfold where fortunes are at play feels like observing a massive social experiment. Plus, the players manage to be both engaging and enjoyable, making it an exciting spectacle.

I find it captivating when shows feature people competing for large amounts of money, and Alan Cumming stands out as one of the best series hosts due to his flamboyant attire and exceptional hosting skills. He fully embraces a theatrical persona, which makes the show even more engaging. Additionally, the sets are stunningly beautiful, making it feel like a movie unfolding in front of your eyes, with every aspect of the game meticulously planned out.

Initially, I found the “game show” aspect of having missions and figuring out the traitors’ strategies intriguing. However, as time went on, my curiosity intensified because it’s captivating to observe a group of people dealing with the knowledge that several individuals are deceiving them for personal gain. This deception creates a toxic environment that influences their actions and decisions. So, what factors contribute to success in The Traitors? What unexpected turns would follow next? I couldn’t help but stay glued to my seat, eagerly waiting for the next development.

Why Not Knowing The Contestants Actually Makes It A Lot Of Fun

Initially, I assumed “The Traitors” wouldn’t appeal to me given its link to numerous reality shows. However, upon reflection, I believe it can be enjoyed by anyone. In fact, I encourage those who typically avoid reality TV to give it a try with me. Despite my initial bias about the show, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the experience. The players’ strategies and reactions in various situations kept me engaged, especially since I had underestimated what each player would bring to the table. For instance, a viewer familiar with “Survivor” might already recognize Cirie as a reality TV gameplay expert. However, because all players seemed equal at the start, I enjoyed observing how they presented themselves and their strategies in different situations.

If you decide to follow me into the dark side, I strongly advise beginning at the start. I’m glad I didn’t jump straight into watching Season 3 of The Traitors, as only the first season of the U.S. version offers a blend of civilians and celebrities. It was also enjoyable to watch how veterans of reality TV interacted with fans of the genre, as it added an extra element of deceit for the players as well.

After Finishing The First Season I Totally Understand Why It Needs All The Reality Stars

After Season 3 introduced Alan Cumming selecting his character from a castle teeming with well-known figures, it’s clear why the show opted to populate the entire castle with reality TV personalities in future seasons. They tend to be larger-than-life characters who create drama, and the original cast members seemed to lack the same sharpness since they weren’t playing as cunningly as the reality stars.

I have a certain interest in observing ordinary individuals engage in this social guessing game. However, after watching the initial season and delving deeper into the current one, it’s become clear that the celebrities involved bring an extra layer of glamour and risk to the gameplay.

In essence, I’ll catch the new season episode by episode as they air, and subsequently watch any episodes I might have missed. I’ve become a dedicated fan of “The Traitors“.

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2025-01-21 02:07