Stephen and Rachel have won the fourth season of The Traitors in a dazzling finale that saw the two traitors remain faithful to each other until the end. The victory marked a rare occasion where the audience rooted for traitors, after three seasons of public support for the faithfuls. Stephen's final board reveal brought the curtain down on what the review calls a genuinely impressive performance.
The finale captured the brutal psychological drama of the show, with emotional moments including PhD student Jade being 'blinded by trust' and Faraaz's whispered 'idiot' of self-admonishment after his banishment. Host Claudia Winkleman was brought to tears as she narrated the climactic moment: 'Two traitors, but totally faithful to each other.'
Despite the show's success, the review warns that The Traitors is clearly disposable entertainment, with little lasting memory beyond the big dramatic moments. The author notes that only 56 days separated the end of The Celebrity Traitors and the start of this season, and urges the BBC to avoid overexposing the winning formula. Reality TV shows like Strictly Come Dancing and The X-Factor have all faded after cycles of salience, and the same could happen to The Traitors if the BBC does not exercise restraint.
