The Traitors
Intrigue-filled reality game has drinking, lying, language.
Parents say
Based on 2 reviews
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The Traitors
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Traitors is a reality competition series where audiences know who's sabotaging the game and can watch them in action as it's played. There's lots of lying and sneaky behavior, as well as angry and hurt feelings expressed among losing contestants. Despite some dramatic challenges, and references to "murdering" contestants, there's nothing especially violent, but there's some strong language (curses are bleeped) and occasional rude gestures. Drinking is also visible. References are made to popular reality shows, as well as networks like Bravo.
Community Reviews
My 12 year old and I love this show
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Fun to watch together!
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What's the Story?
THE TRAITORS is a reality competition where folks live and compete in the Scottish Highlands for a shared cash prize. Hosted by Alan Cumming, it features 20 contestants, 10 of whom are notable reality-TV personalities, housed in a castle and participate in team challenges to bank up to $250K. The catch? Three of the players are chosen to be "traitors," and have the power to sabotage the other contestants (aka "faithfuls") and make them disappear in the middle of the night. Contestants must also face each other at roundtable sessions and vote to banish who they believe are the traitors in the group to avoid being eliminated. Faithfuls who make it to the end of the game may get to split $250K, or will lose it all to any traitors who made it to the end with them.
Is It Any Good?
The U.S. version of the British hit show combines all the drama that comes from unscripted television with murder mystery tropes suitable for a Scottish castle. In Traitors, former cast members from popular reality series like Big Brother, Below Deck, Survivor, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills play up the fact that their experiences with strategic backstabbings, over-the-top challenges, alliance building, and dramatic eliminations will help them sniff out liars and help them win. Nonetheless, many of the contestants who lack the same background are just as perceptive. Watching faithful players navigate the game without knowing which of their fellow contestants are lying and manipulating them can be entertaining, but The Traitors takes an uncomfortable turn as paranoid contestants begin taking accusations of disloyalty, and subsequent eliminations, very personally. The traitors also wrestle with their own guilt for betraying those with whom they've built bonds throughout the journey. It's a solid reality game show, but one that may not leave you feeling as good as you'd like to when it's done.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the behavior of the traitors. Why were they happy to be selected? How hard was it for them to behave as if they were as vulnerable as the other contestants?
Who has the advantage among those competing on The Traitors? Are you surprised by how upset players get when they're murdered or accused of being unfaithful? Do they take it personally because they lose the cash prize? Or is there something else?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 12, 2023
- Cast: Alan Cumming
- Network: Peacock
- Genre: Game Shows
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: March 20, 2023
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