In 2023, the reality television series “The Traitors” made its way across the pond to the United States. Season 1 was a massive success, having assembled a cast of half-reality television stars and half-reality newcomers. Not to mention, the inaugural installment crowned a fantastic winner in “Survivor” legend, Cirie Fields.
For Season 2, it was announced that the entire cast would be made up of noteworthy reality stars and public figures. Immediately after the cast was leaked, online spaces were buzzing over the star-studded and remarkable casting job that included legends of “Survivor,” “Big Brother” and “The Real Housewives.”
This season started with three traitors, two chosen by the host, Alan Cumming. The two selected were former “Big Brother” winner Dan Gheesling and “Real Housewives” star Phaedra Parks. They then recruited a member of the “faithful” to join their traitorous circle. This recruited traitor was Parvati Shallow, a former “Survivor” winner.
Despite coming into the game with a “mastermind” persona, Gheesling struggled greatly. He was outplayed by the non-gamers and was eaten alive in his final roundtable, where he became the first traitor banished from the season.
Gheesling’s gameplay was a disappointment, to say the least. His biggest downfall was underestimating the Housewives clique as well as thinking too far in advance to make any real-time decisions. Gheesling’s ego certainly got the best of him.
One of the surprisingly on-point players was Peter Weber from “The Bachelor.” Weber manipulated his fellow players and easily found two of the traitors in Gheesling and Shallow, leading the faithful back into voting his way and sending both reality titans home.
Weber was by far the most dedicated faithful of the season. Midway, he was invited to join traitors but turned it down, citing that he had a better grasp of the game as a faithful and that it would be a betrayal to his alliance.
In one noteable return, Kate Chastain, a player from Season 1, entered the game midway and immediately began stirring the pot. Although Chastain is known less for her strategic skills and more for her comedic persona, she got the opportunity to show a different side of her, as she was recruited alongside Parks to be a traitor.
Disappointingly, Chastain struggled as a traitor. Many expected her to learn from her mistakes from the first season and ultimately figure out how to reach the end in a comfortable spot. Although she did reach the end, she once again fell short and a lot of it was of her own doing. ‘
The biggest highlight of the season was Parks. She was hilarious, strategic and, in simpler words, iconic. Even though she did not win, she laid out a blueprint of how future traitors should hope to play.
Besides the characters, there were also compelling storylines throughout, such as the friendship between former “Real World” and “The Challenge” stars Chris “C.T.” Tamburello and Trishelle Cannatella, the in-fighting between the traitors, and the “reconciliation” of “Survivor” legends Shallow and Sandra Diaz-Twine.
Despite the plethora of positives, some downsides hopefully can be improved upon in Season 3. The challenges, while difficult and somewhat interesting, dragged on for far too long in the episodes. Some that had time limits also lost believability. Less time on competitions and more time on the social component of the game would make this show even better.
Some changes should also be addressed regarding the endgame, as the show gives the traitors too much of an advantage by allowing them to repeatedly recruit more people. That, plus potentially a more unpredictable final roundtable setup, would create even better television.
Overall, Season 2 of “The Traitors” was a tremendous success that ended with Tamburello and Cannatella winning the grand prize of over $200,000. Season 3 has its work cut out for it, but seeing the success and popularity of this campy and whimsical show continue to rise, there is no doubt that great things are in store.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TV TIME
