New Developments in Season 4 of The Traitors

This episode of Season 4 really shines a light on two things about the contestants: first, they handle accusations of being a traitor with a lot of sensitivity; second, they definitely didn’t plan breakfast well—there’s not enough smoked salmon to go around. Episode 5 kicks off at breakfast, where only the early birds get to enjoy the views by the lake.

Aside from breakfast dramas, Eric Nam genuinely feels bad about how he called out Tiffany Mitchell for her laughter while wearing the traitor’s robes, which ultimately led to her elimination. Colton Underwood’s shocking reveal that he’s been “killed” stuns Dorinda Medley. “When I thought I was straight, I was competing for the hearts of 30 women,” Colton shares, to which Dorinda responds in disbelief, “I didn’t know you were straight!” Colton humorously adds, “Well, I am straight,” and Dorinda jokingly laments missing that chance.

“Congratulations, you dodged a bullet,” Colton quips back. Their banter is light-hearted, but it’s an interesting setup for the evening’s upcoming tension.

As the breakfast crowd settles in, the news of the latest “traitor” casualties—skaters Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski—hits. Monet x Change is quick to point out how tired she is of drag queens disappearing from the game so soon. The only reason Monet was kicked out, apparently, was that he hinted Lisa could be a traitor, which misguided someone into believing him, leading to his downfall. A bit frustrating, really.

Monet reflects, saying, “All my life, I’ve been a devout believer. Now, I’m just a faithful ghost haunting these halls.” It’s the dramatic speech I wish he’d saved for later episodes, maybe around episode 10 would have been better.

After breakfast, the team gears up for a new day filled with betrayal theories. Colton seems particularly ready to attack. Typically, during these circles, players propose names to vote off and often discover later that they were mistaken, resulting in backlash against those who initiated the vote. This pattern seems to be repeating with Colton.

Today’s mission involves hiding statues around a fountain—only with a twist. Alan Cumming informs them that if no one claims a shield, there won’t be a murder tonight. Since the group is eager for protection, it’ll be interesting to see if they can work together or if individuals will grab shields for themselves.

Searching through a muddy fountain for coins that reveal statue locations, not everyone seems thrilled. Candice particularly grimaces at the task, prompting Alan to cheerfully say, “I’ll never tire of being a soggy housewife.”

While hunting for the statues in groups, Colton admits he’s tempted to snag a shield for himself. “It only takes one person to ruin it for everyone. Trust is a big deal here,” he mentions. Initial teams find shields but decide against claiming them, but later groups discover multiple shields hidden away, allowing for some strategic plays.

Once back at the castle, the atmosphere turns fiery as opinions clash. Colton confronts Michael, asking what he was wearing during the traitor meeting, while Michael mistakenly loses sight of the game’s personal nature, shouting back that Colton is the true mastermind behind the traitors. It just spirals from there; emotions run high even before the first roundtable discussion.

During the actual roundtable, Michael accuses Colton of orchestrating Tiffany’s elimination, claiming he’s crafty with words—a sentiment Colton takes personally. “Do you think my life has been a walk in the park?” Colton rebuts, hinting at his own struggles with identity. While Michael insists his attack isn’t about sexuality, many interpret it that way, turning the tide against him, even among those who previously suspected Colton.

By this point, Michael has lost favor with the others, and they seem eager for a fresh start without him.

Votes roll in, some leaning towards Ron who defends himself passionately. Ultimately, Michael bears the brunt of the group’s frustration. There’s a moment of stunned silence—no one appears surprised or upset that one of their own has been voted out.

That night in the turret, the traitors gather, and Rob R., dressed comically, comments on how Colton has openly discussed his position as a traitor. While Colton seems like a devoted believer, the complexity of his role might be greater than it seems. Meanwhile, Candace is already plotting, declaring, “If I can take anyone out tonight, Colton’s at the top of my list.” The unanswered questions linger as they anticipate breakfast the next morning, eagerly awaiting—yes, more salmon.

As this episode wraps, I can’t help but wonder: Is Alan’s dazzling “MURRRDER” shirt available for purchase anywhere?