The fourth season of The Traitors premiered on January 12, 2023, on Peacock, bringing viewers back to the Scottish Highlands with a fresh cast and the return of host Alan Cumming. This reality competition series challenges contestants to identify who among them is a Traitor while working together to complete various missions. The series retains its high-stakes allure, with the ultimate prize of $250,000 awaiting the winner.
Secret Identities and Immediate Tensions
The season kicked off with 23 cast members arriving at the castle, setting the stage for a thrilling game of deception. In a surprising twist, Cumming revealed that he had already selected one secret Traitor prior to the contestants’ arrival. This Traitor’s identity remains hidden even from the other Traitors and will influence their strategies throughout the game.
During the initial roundtable voting, Cumming announced that the other two Traitors would be chosen from the cast members, ultimately selecting Candiace Dillard Bassett, Lisa Rinna, and Rob Rausch. Following their selection, the three Traitors convened privately to discover each other’s identities, while the secret Traitor continued to operate without revealing themselves. The episode culminated in the cast’s first challenge, where nine members of the losing team found themselves on the chopping block, leading to high tensions and strategic discussions.
Eliminations and New Strategies
The second episode, titled “The Death Conga,” began with the Traitors deciding whom to eliminate based on the secret Traitor’s shortlist. They ultimately targeted Ian Terry, known for his strategic gameplay, which left the remaining cast members shaken. After the elimination, the group participated in a mission to collect “shield tokens,” which would protect them from being voted off. The winners, Colton Underwood, Yam Yam Arocho, and Caroline Stanbury, earned safety, but the roundtable proved challenging.
Despite suspicions surrounding various contestants, the group opted to vote Porsha Williams off the show, a decision that backfired when they later discovered she was a Faithful. This misstep highlighted the difficulties of discerning alliances and Traitor identities early in the season.
The episode concluded with the Traitors receiving a new mission that required them to execute their plans in plain sight, a strategy designed to reveal the secret Traitor if they succeeded.
High Stakes in Episode Three
The third episode opened with the cast grappling with the aftermath of the previous night’s eliminations, including the shocking exit of Rob Cesternino, who was eliminated in plain sight. His departure underscored the growing tensions and uncertainties among the cast. Cumming set the tone for the next roundtable, which quickly escalated into a verbal clash between Michael Rapaport and Yam Yam, highlighting the pressure cooker environment.
Ultimately, the group decided to banish Donna Kelce, who revealed herself as a Traitor, confirming the identity of the secret Traitor from episode one. With one Traitor gone, the dynamics shifted as the remaining contestants prepared for their next challenge, which involved pairing up for a mission where one member would be locked in a cage while the other searched for animal skulls to unlock it.
These early episodes of The Traitors season four set a dramatic tone, promising an engaging battle of wits and strategy. As the competition continues, viewers will see how alliances shift and betrayals unfold, leading to an exciting finale on January 15, 2026, when new episodes will be available weekly on Peacock.
