The Traitors UK: Series 3 Episode 2 Breakdown

(BBC / Studio Lambert)

General Observations

One of the best things about series 2 was how Harry used one of the tasks to help him with his game strategy, centred around obtaining the shields that protects you from murder. I’m glad it seems that series 3 is leaning into this sort of gameplay by making the tasks more relevant to the actual core game, at least if this first task is anything to go by. Giving the Traitors an alternative mission at odds with the rest of the group or tying the outcome of the tasks to the round table and murders is exactly the sort of thing that’s needed to keep them interesting.

As the game progresses, this should give the Faithfuls more actual evidence to go off in order to root out Traitors, but in these early days it’s still open season on any little thing that differentiates people from the wider group. Whether it’s Kasim standing up to give a toast or Elen not being able to carry as much as Freddie, anything and everything is open for suspicion. I was surprised by how quickly the round table seemed to turn on Elen and Charlotte; its possible people saw their tears an inauthentic or just a sign of them being unable to handle the pressure of being a Traitor. Funnily enough, the Traitors have tended to have some of the best emotional regulation so far; whether it’s Wilf being able to use his emotions to his advantage or Paul putting on multiple acting masterclasses. Despite that it seems that having bad emotional regulation is still going to be used against you, especially so early on. One thing that does frustrate me about the Faithfuls, although it makes for better TV and I’m sure it’s a lot easier to comment when you’re not actually in there, is that they seem to have the memories of goldfish. It was between Linda and Nathan at the first banishment (which I’m amazed Linda managed to wiggle her way out of) and they chose Nathan; surely after he was revealed as Faithful the safest option would be to go back to the original suspicions of Linda.

Good to see the return of terrible spelling (BBC / Studio Lambert)

Best Moment

Minah’s disgust in the Traitor’s Turret at the end of the episode, as №1 suspect Armani tried to tell her and Linda they weren’t doing enough was great. I love how Minah has really embraced the evil side of being a Traitor, complaining of her disappointment at not being able to kill and describing it as a reward for a long day of hard work. It’s very Paul-esque, who’s my favourite Traitor so far in the entire show. My close second-best moment has to be Charlotte having a breakdown over being accused of lying, pleading that ‘I’m just being my authentic self’ in her fake Welsh accent. It’s moments like this that The Traitors is made for!

Dark Horse

Well, my previous dark horse prediction didn’t last long. Poor Elen, who I’m sure would’ve been a great Traitor-hunting Faithful considering her aftershow interview where she was the only one who suspected Minah and Armani. Combine that with her two votes for Linda and she had an 100% Traitor hit rate in only two round tables. Justice for Elen!

I’m not entirely sure about my new dark horse, except for the obvious tip of Minah doing a Harry/Wilf and riding the wave of dumping her fellow Traitors all the way to the final. However, in terms of the Faithfuls, I was impressed by Tyler who kept quiet until he cracked the case on Armani (which to be fair it seems so has everyone) based on actual evidence and is setting a trap for her alongside Kas. Maia could possibly go far if she chooses the right moment to dump her sister, although if she leads the charge that should lead to the remaining Traitors murdering her as it’s unlikely anybody would suspect her as a Traitor.

Tyler: Hopefully a better dark horse than Elen (BBC / Studio Lambert)

If I was a Traitor

Based on the reaction to his death, I think getting rid of Keith was probably the right move. Early on in the game is exactly when you want to murder either the people who could be a threat or the people who would never get banished and are seen as ‘100% Faithful’, as it seems Keith was. When it comes to the sabotage of the challenge, I’d just let it go. It’s far too early in the game to be pulling risks like that, as shown by Armani being too obvious in trying to sabotage and getting clocked by the Faithfuls. The Traitors can afford to have a night off without murder this early in the game. Finally, I’d be trying to act a lot more like Minah than Armani; with this many players best to fade slightly into the background for the first few weeks, perhaps planting little suggestions here and there but certainly not drawing all the attention to yourself. If I was Minah specifically, I’d be looking to ditch Armani and probably Linda as soon as possible and recruit some new Traitors.

If I was a Faithful

After two failed banishments, I’d be going back to the actual only evidence we’ve seen them have; namely Linda turning her head on Claudia saying Traitors and Armani being too obvious in trying to sabotage the challenge. Voting on personality and general trustworthiness or emotional reactions has failed the Faithfuls so far and as they said they need to take it as a lesson that people can react differently to suspicion. Even if I myself didn’t believe this evidence against Linda to be conclusive it seems like that’s the general mood of the group and best to go along with it; you don’t want to be one of the few who didn’t vote for a Traitor if the majority of the group is swinging that way. Also, both Linda and Armani fit Elen’s theory of strong female traitor which is still the best theory that’s been proposed.

Predictions

Linda has had a lucky escape with the heat seeming to pass from her to Armani. I wouldn’t be surprised if Armani gets caught now, possibly as soon as the next episode. However, I still think Linda won’t be far behind and the group should look to vote her off within at least the second block of episodes. By episode 7 we’ll have Minah leading a brand-new team of traitors. I think Kasim and Anna are in the most danger of being banished out of the Faithfuls, but the suspicion on Charlotte will cool due to how wrong they got it with Elen.