The endgame of this year's Traitors was undeniably nail-biting, but the series as a whole showed cracks in the format. Mid-episode challenges were filler that killed intrigue, and new tweaks like the Secret Traitor reveal came too early, while secret connections fizzled out without resolution.
The biggest criticism is that the show rewards dull contestants. Spectacular participants like James, Harriet, and Fiona were banished as soon as they showed personality, leaving a final five of two traitors and three near-silent players. The final five were Jade, Faraaz, Jack, and traitors Stephen and Rachel.
Rachel emerged as the terrifyingly ruthless saviour of the series, bending the show's gravity around her. She worked overtime to convince others that Jade was a bad egg, and despite promising Stephen they would operate as a team, her innate untrustworthiness kept viewers on edge. She was murderously effective, dispatching Jade, Faraaz, and Jack in turn.
The traitors won and split the £95,750 prize. Tellingly, the other finalists did not join them at the end, feeling too betrayed. The moral: it's easy to cheat your way to the top. For all the flaws, the final 15 minutes were effectively stressful, making for a properly sweaty watch.
Hopefully we will see other contestants again. James seemed to treat the show as an audition for a bizarre unmade CBeebies show, and it will be interesting to see Jade without ennui. This year's Traitors made me nostalgic for the more innocent celebrity version, where reputations prevented such bloodthirstiness. An uneven series saved by an excellent finale.
