Hold onto your seats, because this week’s episode of The Traitors is a rollercoaster of betrayal, suspense, and jaw-dropping moments that will leave you questioning everything. Tara and Johnny are skating on thin ice, and the tension is thicker than a winter frost. But here’s where it gets controversial: could their seemingly unbreakable bond actually be their downfall? Let’s dive in.
The episode kicks off with Eric Nam’s unforgettable reaction to the revelation that Rob Rausch, the castle’s golden boy, has been playing a dangerously duplicitous game for the past six weeks. Eric’s words? ‘I need a helmet and an adult diaper because I am about to shit my pants and my head is gonna explode.’ And just like that, his journey into Traitor-dom begins. Rob’s response? A cool, calculated ‘Sup, player?’ that sets the tone for the chaos to come.
Facing certain elimination, Eric reluctantly joins forces with Rob, though he’s rightfully paranoid about Rob’s snake-like ability to charm his way to victory—potentially at Eric’s expense. But the real shocker? The moment Eric becomes a Traitor, he and Rob must climb the turret and eliminate one of the remaining players. Talk about a baptism by fire.
With only three roundtables left and two opportunities to use his dagger advantage, Rob strategizes ruthlessly. The target? Either Natalie Anderson, a formidable threat; Stephen Colletti, a well-liked decoy; or Dorinda Medley, Rob’s biggest fan. In a move to shift suspicion, they choose Dorinda. Her reaction to her murder missive—delivered in full-length gloves and a questionable Scottish brogue—is nothing short of iconic. ‘The queen’s gotta get back to Bluestone Manor!’ she declares. We’ll miss you, Dorinda. You made it nice.
The fallout from Dorinda’s elimination shakes the castle, especially Stephen, who was convinced his time was up. His packed bags raise Natalie’s suspicions, prompting her to dig deeper. Meanwhile, Eric tries to calm his post-murder jitters by stress-eating croissants. Relatable, right?
Johnny Weir isn’t buying Stephen’s act either, especially after catching him in a secret meeting with Candiace Dillard Bassett last week. But here’s the twist: Tara Lipinski, Johnny’s BFF, steps in to defend him, revealing their tight bond for the first time. ‘I will do anything for Johnny,’ she declares, though her efforts backfire when Kristen Kish starts suspecting Tara herself. And this is the part most people miss: Tara and Johnny’s friendship might be their greatest strength—or their fatal flaw.
This week’s mission adds another layer of complexity. Players are locked in life-sized boxes, answering questions about the Traitors’ opinions of them. The catch? The Traitors haven’t answered the questions yet and must do so on the spot, without the others hearing. Rob and Eric simplify things by answering ‘Tara’ for every question, sacrificing the mission’s cash to sow confusion. ‘It’s far more important to confuse them than get more money,’ Rob reasons. Bold move, but will it pay off?
The Faithfuls eventually catch on, unanimously answering ‘Tara’ to boost the prize pot—except for Johnny and Tara, whose silence only fuels suspicions. Unsurprisingly, the Traitors shortlist the ice-skating duo for elimination, along with Kristen and Natalie. But before we find out who gets the axe, there’s another banishment to navigate. Natalie redirects the group’s target from Johnny to Stephen, but Kristen remains steadfast in her suspicion of Tara.
Tara and Johnny finally come clean about their real-life friendship, presenting a united front at the roundtable. Their strategy works, and Stephen is voted out, revealing himself as a Faithful. ‘You blew it,’ he gripes on his way out. Rob later calls Tara and Johnny’s reveal a mistake, arguing it only highlights their skill at keeping secrets. Meanwhile, Kristen’s growing distrust of Eric could spell trouble for the Traitors.
As the episode closes, the Traitors are on edge, with four potential victims: Natalie, Kristen, Tara, and Johnny. Each receives a mysterious note inviting them to the dungeon, where a jack-in-the-box will reveal their fate—but not until next Thursday. The suspense is killing us.
Stray observations: After watching this episode, I’m desperate for a few things: Alan Cumming’s fur-lined navy cape, a Traitors reunion at Bluestone Manor, a GIF of Mark’s door-slamming spin, and—controversially—for Johnny and Tara to win it all. Yes, they’ve been playing chaotically all season, but imagine the poetic justice of them outsmarting Rob’s master plan. It would be chef’s kiss TV gold.
What do you think? Are Tara and Johnny geniuses or just lucky? And who do you think will be eliminated next? Let’s debate in the comments—I’m all ears!
