Season 4 of *Traitors* Is Here

Can you believe it’s been a year since the chaotic third season of *Traitors*? You probably recall how the traitors turned against one another, Daniel Reyes’s memorable overacting, and how Dylan Efron and Gabby Windy won all our hearts. If you’re not caught up, maybe… pause for a moment and dive in. I’ll wait.

This season had its ups and downs for me. I found it entertaining yet frustrating. The Traitors just seemed to turn every moment into a personal game. Not long ago, I watched *Celebrity Traitor UK*, which was a refreshing alternative to the chaos of season three. Now, with season four upon us, it seems like the new traitors understand that teamwork is key. They quickly form smaller alliances, which could hint at a shift from last season’s chaos (or maybe I just hope that’s the case). I’m definitely ready for a little less disorder this time around.

So, we’ve got 23 celebrities gathered in what we’re calling Alan Cumming’s house (*trust me, it’s not his actual house*). This cast is quite the mix, ranging from reality stars to athletes and performers: Rob Roush, Mark Ballas, Colton Underwood, and many more. As they settle into Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, Alan reveals one contestant will be immediately dubbed a traitor. It’s a bold move — why not offer the group a drink first, right?

Alan presents a set of 23 boxes, one of which holds a traitor card. As contestants peek inside, they attempt their best poker faces. Well, except for Michael Rapaport, who seems almost dizzy from what he finds inside. He’s had two prior wild reactions on the show, either overly cheerful or downright furious.

For the first time, the identity of the traitor isn’t disclosed to us or even to those chosen to be traitors. Ron Funches admits he was “so nervous and excited that I had to poop a little,” and honestly, that might be the most relatable reaction ever. Watching this season feels thrilling because we’re not privy to everything — we can experience suspense along with the contestants. Alan notes that eventually, the true identity will be revealed, but for now, the traitors blend in with the faithful, and no one is smarter than us.

Some contestants are already coupled up, like Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir, who are friends but keeping things on the down-low for strategy. The Real Housewives are friendly with each other but they’re not necessarily working together. Michael Rapaport is always on high alert around his superfans. And then there’s Donna Kelce, who seems to be here for a unique life experience — her reasons are rather unclear. It’s a pretty diverse group.

Later that night, after some mingling and guessing about the identity of the secret traitor, Alan gathers everyone for a roundtable to pick the remaining traitors. Blindfolded, he taps three contestants and selects them, including Lisa Rinna, Candace Dillard Bassett, and Rob Roush.

Before she’s even designated a traitor, Lisa whispers she wants to be the most iconic one ever, a goal she’s inching closer to achieving. However, in a surprising twist, Candace, while pretending to be loyal, spills to a room of people that she suspects Lisa might be a traitor. How this affects people’s views on Lisa is still up in the air, but it’s clear this misstep might cost Candace later.

When the newly chosen traitors gather, they quickly forge a bond. But wait — none of them are the secret traitor. Alan stirs the pot with a plot twist, explaining they will receive a list of names from the true traitor each evening, and they must choose whom to eliminate. Though being a traitor sounds exciting, it clearly has its drawbacks — no time to bond, just secrets and plotting.

For the first challenge, they head to a Scottish loch where 100 hollow wooden coffins are bobbing in the water. Dressed in an amusing coffin costume, Alan reveals each coffin carries a reward of $2,500. Contestants need to bring these coffins ashore and place them in graves labeled with their names.

Participants split into three groups, each led by a self-appointed captain: Rob R., Rob C., and Stephen. The objective isn’t merely to haul in the coffins but to come up with a plan that keeps some from getting charged with “murder” later that evening. The strategy here… well, it’s still in development.

As the challenges expand and participants see their graves gradually filling, alliances begin to form and dissolve as everyone scrambles to save themselves. “I’m dizzy, but I love this chaos,” Lisa says. Even though a coffin might land on my grave, I feel secure—at least for now. Players like Rob C. and Ian get frustrated watching others toss coffins into graves without a game plan. But honestly, with fresh faces, who really knows what they’re doing yet?

Rob R. eventually places his coffin in a grave, and he and others now face suspicions of murder while being forced to fill their own graves with dirt until others return. So far, Donna Kelce, Michael Rapaport, Eric Nam, Ian Terry, Ron Funches, and a few more are under scrutiny. Candace boldly justifies her actions by claiming, “America’s mom might have to die,” when discussing why she targeted Donna.

On the ride back to the castle, Candace’s manipulative streak shows again as she tells Porsha that Michael suggested coffin placements targeting the housewives. Definitely a risky move. But surprise! Porsha quickly confronts Michael when they return, leading to a tense scene as nearly everyone questions Candace. With her back against the wall, she flounders, saying she misunderstood, adding to the suspicion surrounding both her and Michael.

And though her fellow traitors are getting nervous about how “in-your-face” Candace is being, it turns out she’s not the one we need to keep our eyes on. When the three known traitors meet up in the turret, they receive a shortlist from the secret traitor — which includes Rob R. along with Ian, Mark, and Eric. However, they still have no clue who the secret traitor is. The revelation that whoever is behind the scenes has different objectives from the visible traitors — that could definitely shake things up.

Who’s the Secret Traitor?

As we recap these episodes, we’ll keep track of who gets added to the secret traitor shortlist to narrow down the possibilities. Rob R. is confirmed as a traitor, and this week’s shortlist includes Ian, Eric, and Mark, which usually means they might be out of the running for the traitor title. I mean, choosing a victim seems too risky for anyone hiding in the shadows. Any thoughts on who it could be? My gut’s telling me that something feels off about Monet X Change from our first meeting at the castle. I’m going to keep an eye on her, at least until I have reason to think otherwise.