Upon wrapping up the season opener, a tantalizing hint was dropped about the arrival of two fresh enigmatic characters onto the playing field. Luckily for us viewers, Peacock graciously made available the first three episodes all at once, eliminating the need for impatient anticipation. Entering the game as Faithfuls are none other than Wes Bergmann, a familiar face from “The Challenge”, and Derrick Levasseur, who hails from “Big Brother”. Frankly, these individuals are new to me, so following the wise words of Keke Palmer, I must humbly express my ignorance towards these gentlemen.

As I watched the latest episode of this gripping series, it seemed that our cunning traitors were gathering to plot their next move. With a shocking six individuals in their sights, it was no surprise that they found themselves zeroing in on the household wives. However, an intriguing discussion between Carolyn, Danielle, and Bob revealed a potential rift within this dangerous group. While Carolyn advocated for cautious progress, one step at a time, Danielle insisted on always staying two steps ahead. Meanwhile, Bob seemed to be reveling in the suspense. Eventually, they decided upon either Dorinda, Dolores, or Robyn as their next target – a decision that filled me with dread.

At breakfast, three things particularly stood out for me.

a) Ciara Miller’s resemblance to Parvati last season with her iconic headband left me with mixed feelings. While I feel that Parvati has a unique connection with headbands, they almost serve as signature items like jersey numbers, it was also a respectful tribute.
b) Tom Sandoval made me chuckle when someone knocked on the door forcefully and announced, “It’s Dorinda.” It reminded me of a well-timed joke.
c) Bob the Drag Queen’s overdramatic reaction upon entering the room was quite entertaining. He seemed to be performing for the back row, but it looked rather absurd given the situation. I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly surprised him so much, as he wouldn’t have known about any potential drama or disturbances yet.
d) The overall chaos and hilarious performances were a delight, but then came the unfortunate news.

This version maintains the original structure and meaning while aiming for a more conversational and easy-to-read style.

As soon as Dolores and Robyn entered that room, I let out an unexpected, gut-wrenching scream. It was so intense that the neighbors might have dialed 911. I was completely shocked to learn that Dorinda had been the first to be written off this season – or, in her words, put on hold. Of all the characters, I feel most sympathetic towards Dorinda, but I must admit I also pity ourselves because we’ve missed out on witnessing her unleashing her wild side during a roundtable discussion.

We rewind to the moment when the decision was being made, with Carolyn persuasively advocating for keeping her due to her outspoken and flamboyant nature to divert attention from them. However, she eventually relents. “I tried to make it gentle,” Dorinda says in her confessional as she learns of her impending exit. Her last words.

Alan Cumming turns up in an outfit reminiscent of Cher Horowitz, starkly contrasting with Tom Sandoval’s soiled T-shirt, as he announces a sad news. Dolores expresses her grief, stating “We’ve lost a good one,” before retrieving Dorinda’s portrait that Cumming had flung to the floor, following an established custom. This loss might spark a change in Dolores, which I eagerly anticipate.

After making their first move, how are our traitors faring? Not so great, it seems. From the very beginning, there’s been strife and disagreement among them. Danielle is growing increasingly hostile towards Carolyn, who, despite being right, struggles with clear communication. Meanwhile, Bob and Danielle are causing quite a scene at breakfast over Dorinda, even drawing disapproval from Carolyn for their excessive behavior. Their decision to kill off Dorinda was meant to create doubt among them, either suggesting one of the housewives is a traitor or it was Lord Ivan who targeted Dorinda following yesterday’s incident. However, they should have allowed everyone to draw their own conclusions. Instead, we see Danielle explaining everything to the group, which isn’t an effective tactic. It’s like trying to explain a joke that should have been funny on its own.

In the wake of the initial murder, Robyn Dixon truly makes her presence known. For those unfamiliar with The Real Housewives of Potomac, let me introduce you to Robyn. She’s quite a divisive character among fans – some think she’s dull and uninteresting, leading to her recent dismissal. However, Christina Applegate adores her. I find Robyn captivating due to her apparent disregard for trying to be intriguing; she simply is. She may doze off during certain scenes or miss a flight for a cast trip she’s organizing, but when she’s awake and engaged, she’s lively – like the time she brought a portable speaker to dinner to call out another Housewife for gossiping on Instagram Live. This week, we see Robyn joining in on the drama surrounding her, even getting into an argument with Wells about whether or not killing Dorinda was a wise or foolish decision. We’ll delve deeper into that at the roundtable discussion.

In response to their challenge, our players have now realized that Boston Rob, Wes, and Derrick are arriving to join the competition, finding them suspended in cages within the woods. Few are ecstatic about the appearance of these renowned game participants, but it’s worth noting they could potentially aid them in winning a shield. In this challenge, the players gather gold coins that they subsequently deposit to lower another player; if fully lowered, the player can give the shield as a gift to anyone they choose. As all three newcomers were successfully lowered within the designated timeframe, all three shields are now available for claim.

Upon their arrival at the mansion, Tom Sandoval, much like an excited child displaying his treasures to friends, gives the novices a tour. However, Robyn appears uninterested and declares, “I’m not sucking up.” Robyn would rather forgo a tour than use it as a shield, and I admire her stance. And to address Sandoval’s cringe-worthy moments, as whispers of names pass among the group before the roundtable, we witness an amusing scene where Tom boldly claims that Carolyn and Bob the Drag Queen are undoubtedly loyal. I’ve watched this man display ignorance on screen for over a decade, and it never ceases to entertain me.

To kick off this season’s initial roundtable gathering, Rob, Derrick, and Wes – our novice members – will be present for observation without voting rights. The conversation initiates as Bob the Drag Queen brings up Wells due to his peculiar actions.

While Tom continues to ponder the strange behavior displayed by people following Alan’s shoulder tap, he suspects Chrishell and Jeremy. Without missing a beat, Chrishell, known for her dramatic flair, swiftly points fingers at Ariana, accusing their friendship of swaying Tom against her. She expresses discomfort when masks were removed, stating that Tom gave her the “Spock eyebrow” under the spotlight, making her feel uneasy. She astutely notes that a Traitor’s role is to stir up confusion, and Tom has been doing just that by carelessly mentioning various names. In the end, when she casts her vote for him, she delivers a sharp remark, saying, “Traitors must be able to lie, cheat, and deceive effortlessly, and since I know you possess all of those skills…

Simultaneously, Dolores and Ciara believe that Lord Ivar could have murdered Dorinda out of revenge following their argument prior to her death. However, Danielle contends that she thinks it was one of the Housewives. She explains that a Traitor might eliminate someone close to them to divert suspicion, which is a plausible theory, but it seems odd given how hard Danielle has been working on her project. She even suggests Robyn’s name, providing an opportunity for Wells to bring up their earlier conversation. He finds it strange that she defended the Traitors’ move, while Robyn thinks it’s suspicious that Wells called it foolish. In this disagreement, Robyn appears to be correct. A Traitor wouldn’t brag about themselves as much as Wells believes Robyn was doing; instead, a Traitor would feign confusion or criticize the move to distance themselves from it, which is what Wells seemed to be doing.

In the end, Robyn, Ivar, and Wells all receive an equal number of four votes each. Carolyn holds the decisive vote. My pulse quickens as if I’ve consumed a Panera Lemonade. She eventually casts her vote for Wells, bringing me a sense of relief. It appears that Robyn Dixon will continue to be part of our viewing experience. It’s worth mentioning that during this show, some viewers favor the Traitors while others back the Faithfuls. As for myself, I unwaveringly support those personalities who keep me most engaged.

Following the vote, it’s revealed who will receive the shields from the competition. Rob passes his to fellow Survivor player Tony, who expresses feeling connected to him, Derrick gives his to Dylan Efron, and Wes hands his over to Jeremy. However, I find this a bit dull… The Traitors benefits from an equilibrium of contestants with competitive prowess and intriguing personalities, and while it’s tricky to maintain this balance, I’m concerned that we might be favoring too many game players at the moment, and they could potentially dominate the game.

It’s worth noting that even the Traitors themselves recognize during their meeting that these newcomers appear ready to seize control. Particularly troubling for Bob is the suspicion that they have him in their sights. Unfortunately, if only they had an ally instead. Just as predicted, a knock on the door signals the arrival of our latest Traitor, Boston Rob. This is precisely what the Traitors were hoping for: another individual to debate with.

Read More

2025-01-10 08:54