Why The Traitors is still the best British reality TV show on air Compared to tired old franchises like ‘Love Island’ and ‘I’m a Celeb’, ‘The Traitors’ continued to shine this January.
The genius of The Traitors is that it channels the manic spirit of the parlour games that inspired it – such as Mafia or Wink, Murder – which are exactly the sort of “games” (see: life or death activities that only end in hot tears and someone storming to their bedroom) you play with your extended family at Christmas.
The goal for everyone involved is clear, highly boundaried and constantly reminded to them and us: contestants picked as Traitors must survive and kill, Faithfuls must catch and banish.
But how many ways can people lie, manipulate, scheme, form alliances and unfortunately display their prejudices for the public to see?
Across a brilliantly devious third season of the show, it’s the Faithfuls who have been the true villains for their incompetence, argues Hannah Ewens.
