The Traitors Recap: Bugging Out

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In their relentless pursuit of conflict, these traitors are so focused on each other’s destruction that they often overlook why they gather at the turrets – to select a loyal one for elimination. After enduring Carolyn’s fury, Danielle, in a state of distraction, expresses indifference about whom they should kill. However, her words betray her actions as she swiftly rejects every suggested name. The situation becomes so dire that it appears there might not be a unanimous decision, leaving Rob puzzled and questioning in his confession what the outcome could be if the traitors simply can’t agree on someone to eliminate.

As a die-hard film enthusiast, I must admit, it’s unimaginable for the producers to allow such a turn of events. So, when morning rolls around, one less confidant is part of our group, and unfortunately, not Ivar, despite Gabby engaging in a conversation about him without even noticing his presence at the table with her. To be fair, I too tend to overlook Ivar occasionally. Perhaps this incident will serve as a wake-up call for him and make him more captivating from now on.

The table gradually fills up, leaving us with Derrick or Dylan, and in the end, it’s Derrick who falls victim to the Traitors. This startling revelation leaves Danielle in tears at the table. In a flashback to their decision-making process, we see that Danielle was reluctant to take Derrick’s life and agreed only as a means of reconciliation with her fellow traitors. They pledged a fresh start, which they’ve done countless times this season. Yet, who knows? Maybe this time, things will be different! (Spoiler alert: they won’t).

Making the decision to eliminate Derrick was a daring act for the Traitors, given their current unstable state. Rob had long wanted him gone because he suspected him, but since everyone is aware of this, it’s only natural for people to suspect Rob as well. Being the cunning player that he is, Rob immediately sets out to counter this suspicion and, right at the breakfast table, starts asserting that he’s being framed. However, if even Tom Sandoval, who is known for his lack of intelligence, doesn’t believe it, then you’re in a tough spot.

Alan walks in, donning the same suit I wore for my first communion, and informs everyone that they’ll be teaming up for today’s task. Yet, before pairs are formed, there’s much hushed conversation echoing through the castle. Dylan confides in Rob about Derrick suggesting his and Britney’s names, which might imply he wants to work with Rob – a shrewd move. Interestingly, only a select few seem to understand that having a Traitor on your side can be incredibly advantageous. After all, they hold the power of life and death, making it crucial to have as much certainty as possible about who the Traitor is at the end of the game. This association with Dylan proves beneficial for Rob, as he’s unsure if Carolyn and Danielle (his supposed allies) will be on his side.

In this discussion, they involve Sandoval, yet he remains unconvinced. For the first instance in the entire game, he turns out to be correct – Rob indeed proves to be a traitor.

For the task at hand, Alan asks participants to change their attire to wedding dresses and informs them that pairs will compete against each other, resulting in only some winning a shield. The only requirement is for them to hold hands for eight uninterrupted minutes. However, this would be a test if it were Chrishell and Tom paired up, so there’s more to it than just hand-holding. Their hands will be placed inside a container, which will initially house large insects like giant millipedes.

In just 15 seconds, Chrishell swiftly removes her hand from the container. Although I’ve always believed that Chrishell could never make a mistake in my opinion, this action seemed to put her partner Dolores in danger. Fortunately, she quickly makes amends by saying, “This is worse than my first wedding,” which was a well-aimed jab at Justin Hartley.

Over time, the situation deteriorates as creatures like cockroaches, crickets, and mealworms are showered upon them. Yet, amidst this chaos, Tom Sandoval’s top hat still manages to be the most revolting sight on the screen. Rob skillfully guides Ciara through the ordeal. On the other hand, Sam and Ivar appear indifferent. Even Tom Sandoval, known for his adventurous past such as kissing in a pool at the Golden Nugget, seems unfazed. The climax of this bizarre spectacle arrives when snakes are coiled around their necks, possibly triggering memories of “I’m a Slave 4 U” for Sam Asghari.

Nevertheless, everyone (excluding Chrishell and an exasperated Dolores) managed to endure the full eight minutes, leading them into a sudden-death scenario: rummaging through a box of insects for a ring. Danielle, Britney, Sam, and Ivar emerged successful, implying that tonight’s players in danger are Dolores, Chrishell, Gabby, Tom, and Dylan.

Following what I presumptively picture as multiple “Silkwood”-like scrubbings at the castle, Rob attempts to mitigate further turmoil by redirecting everyone’s focus towards Britney. He emphatically denies any involvement in Derrick’s death, stating that such an act would incriminate him, which unfortunately seems accurate. He also points out that Britney has been conspicuously absent, hinting at her potential deception. However, his efforts to sow this suspicion among the Traitors are proving challenging due to their disarray and inability to cooperate effectively, making the game progressively difficult. Despite this supposedly being the simplest aspect of the game, it’s as if he’s trying to extract teeth from a stubborn mule.

At last, when the discussion circle begins, Dylan initiates by revealing Derrick’s final statements to everyone – implicating Boston Rob and Britney as Traitors, but particularly focusing on Britney due to her attempts to signal him not to vote for Rob during the previous roundtable meeting. As expected, Britney defends herself, asserting that her confrontation with Derrick was sufficient in damaging his pride, leading to this current situation. However, her strongest argument arises when she analogizes their predicament as akin to the movie “Groundhog Day,” where every roundtable discussion revolves around Boston Rob being a Traitor, and he consistently manages to evade these accusations. She cautions them that if Boston Rob remains another day, they’ll simply be repeating the same unproductive conversation tomorrow.

It appears that the group has received a clarion call regarding Boston Rob, as they must now decisively make their move or step aside. While many have chosen to support Rob, including significant strikes from Carolyn and Danielle, there are some intriguing surprises as well. Chrishell seems to struggle with making correct votes, so she opts for Tom since she’s uncertain about Rob or Britney and doesn’t want to inadvertently send an innocent person home again. However, the most fascinating twist is that Dylan, who initially proposed Britney’s name, voted for Gabby instead. It seems that if he believes Britney is not only a traitor but also likely to survive this vote, he doesn’t want to provide her with a reason to target him later on. He continues to demonstrate exceptional gameplay in these circumstances.

Despite the apparent inevitability, it was almost shocking to see Rob expelled from the group, given his past record of escaping certain doom on multiple occasions. With him confessing as a Traitor, the room explodes with excitement and Tom Sandoval is particularly elated by this victory, which might unfortunately make him even more unbearable if he manages to survive. I fear that viewers may struggle to endure his arrogance, should he live through this ordeal. Meanwhile, Alan informs them that the six (in essence, five) players potentially facing elimination will gather at the castle church at midnight, where the Traitors will confront each other and carry out tonight’s murder.

I’m particularly intrigued by the turn of events as this decision unfolds and how former adversaries Carolyn and Danielle will collaborate from now on. Despite their animosity towards each other, they both shared a common enemy in Boston Rob. The moment their hoods are removed during their tower meeting, they gleefully acknowledge his absence with an audible cackle. I couldn’t help but chuckle when Danielle proposed this as a fresh start and assured Carolyn of her support. The number of times these ‘Traitors’ have had to make truces, often within the same episode, is quite amusing. Skeptical, Carolyn feigns acceptance but remains cautious, taking things one day at a time. With only two Traitors left, I wonder if they’ll manage to recruit or be assigned another Traitor. However, for now, their immediate focus seems to be on deciding who they will confront and eliminate face-to-face.

In a strikingly dramatic setting within the castle’s chapel, each elegantly attired character makes their solemn march down the aisle, seemingly uttering what might be their last words. Chrishell expresses her reluctance to die on this particular day, echoing sentiments I often have when my flight encounters turbulence. As for dramatic performances, Dolores deserves an Emmy nod for her chilling growl: “Traitors, you’d better kill me, because I’m coming after you. Care to play this game with me? Because I’ve only just begun.

At the conclusion of the episode, they all seem to turn, possibly indicating their upcoming destiny. Out of them all, it’s only Sandoval who shows any reaction. It’s unclear what exactly he’s responding to, and it seems unlikely that they would reveal the murder victim at this stage. So, we can’t be sure about who might meet an untimely end. However, one of these five characters won’t have the chance to complete their outfits, and for that, there is a sense of loss.

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2025-02-07 07:58