Only five episodes in, and The Traitors has already delivered two major twists. The first was the long-hyped Secret Traitor, a mysterious red-cloaked figure whose identity was hidden even from viewers. That changed when Hugo was banished, forcing the Secret Traitor to reveal themselves as Welsh contestant Fiona.
The second twist unfolded by the end of last night's episode, as Fiona and Rachel exchanged heated words in the kitchen while the Faithfuls watched. Later, in the turret, the pair glared at each other, with Stephen standing baffled and relieved that attention had shifted away from him.
The true genius of the Secret Traitor twist, it seems, lies not in the secret itself but in the divisions it has sown among the Traitors. From the start, when Hugo, Stephen, and Rachel became Traitors, they were dismayed to learn a mystery boss would dictate their murder shortlist. Hugo snapped, 'I do not require middle management,' and the Traitors resolved to identify and eliminate their secret leader.
When Hugo was banished, Fiona joined the turret with fanfare, but she proved an acquired taste for Stephen and Rachel. Stephen muttered, 'What are you like, Fiona,' after she spoke gleefully about murder. The three never truly gelled, partly because Fiona had been their secret boss and clearly enjoyed the power, and partly because her strategy clashed with Rachel's.
Fiona claimed to be a team player but accused Rachel of playing her own game and never defending Stephen. Rachel's disclosure of Amanda's true identity as a police detective was the breaking point. Fiona, coming from a 'family of coppers,' refused to believe Amanda wouldn't reveal her secret, and told Faithfuls she suspected Rachel of being a Traitor. Ironically, Rachel's move was a team strategy to draw heat away from the real Traitors.
