The Traitors has swapped its celebrity cast for regular civilians, and the first episode of The Traitors: New Blood proves the change was for the better. After four seasons of reality veterans, Olympians, and retired royalty, the show is now populated by everyday people — and the game is sharper for it.
The premise is simple: a group of strangers competes for a $250,000 prize, with a handful of hidden traitors trying to sabotage the others. The twist this season is that every eliminated Traitor adds $15,000 to the winner’s pot. That means every decision carries real weight, and the stakes feel genuine.
From Celebrities to Civilians
For years, the show leaned on its celebrity roster to create drama. Season four saw Love Island castoff Rob Rausch glide to victory with minimal friction. The game needed a shake-up, and the all-civilian format delivers it.
The first episode opens with a vintage train ride, a nod to the U.K. version of the show. Funeral director Joe Vanella arrives with a Hogwarts reference, setting the tone for a lighter, more playful start. The relative anonymity of the new cast means there are no preconceived alliances or stale reputations to hang assumptions on.
That anonymity is not total. Two contestants, Michael Foote and Morgan Cook, are popular content creators, so they still carry some recognition. But for the most part, the players are unknown quantities — and that is a gift.
Kim’s Lie Sets the Tone
The first major moment comes when Kim Daily, a lawyer from Houston, introduces herself as a college basketball coach. She notes that people think lawyers are dishonest, manipulative, and deceitful — and then she immediately earns that reputation by lying.
Her strategy is simple: fake a background that makes her seem harmless. Michael, also a lawyer, faces the same prejudgment but cannot lie because of his publicized internet persona. The contrast is sharp. The only thing harder than maintaining a fabricated personal history is having an extremely Google-able one.
Kim’s deception sets the tone for the entire episode. The game is about immediate deception, and she delivers it with confidence.
The Phelps Twins Take Over
One of the biggest changes is the replacement of groundskeeper Fergus. Previously played by John Ritchie, Fergus was cut from the series. In June, Ritchie confirmed that production made the decision.
Now the role is filled by James and Oliver Phelps, the Harry Potter alumni who played castle keepers. Their presence is a familiar touch for longtime fans, though the jury is still out on whether they will offer more than the occasional mischievous glance.
The switch is not entirely unexpected. Ritchie’s confirmation gave fans a heads-up, and the twins bring a recognizable face to the show.
Alan’s Dramatic Entrance
Alan Cumming returns as host, emerging from billowing jade smoke in a plaid cape and denim Highland regalia. The look is a nod to Sgt Pepper, and it is a return to form for a franchise that has always loved its theatricality.
Cumming greets the crowd with a standard overview, but he drops a surprise: the prize pot is up to $250,000, and every eliminated Traitor adds $15,000 to the winner’s coffer. The crowd’s reaction registers the distance between this and previous runs. The idea of a privileged Housewife with Bravo backing duking it out with a literal Lord over a modest prize was always laughable. Among everyday people, this prize is a life-changing amount of money.
Every decision now holds real weight, and the players are people you can genuinely root for.
The First Traitors Are Chosen
Cumming conducts fireside chats with Lala, the fan-favorite canine companion, supervising the process. The chats offer glimpses into the players’ psyches, including Arisa Thomas, a dog groomer from L.A. She is equipped with more than enough dog metaphors to jog your memory.
Her pitch for why she’d make a good Traitor: “People see me as a Golden Retriever but really, I’m a naughty Chihuahua.” How can Alan refuse such a proposal?
He does, apparently. The roundtable selection produces two new Traitors: Amped Joe and Tomica Adams, a charismatic pilot from Boston. That is it — just two Traitors.
Fear not, Alan has another twist up his cape. The Traitors selection is not done.
The Mission Begins
The first mission is a traditionally showy production, complete with a body of water, a wrecked ship, pyro, and a Captain’s chest as the ultimate target. The mission itself hardly matters outside of the $50,000 in prize money fueling it.
What matters are the three shields. These save vulnerable players from murder, and they are up for grabs on a first come, first served basis. Business exec Victor Vollbrechthausen wastes zero time and dives for the first shield within seconds of the starting horn blowing.
Astrophysicist Abby Lee and construction manager Madeline Kostopulos claim the other two shields after at least feigning team unity for a little while. Victor barely cares that he has positioned himself as the first target for banishment. He is just thrilled to get at least one night of easy sleep.
The First Meet-Up
The episode ends with the first Traitor meet-up in the turret. The players devolve into incredulous squeals, and Joe and Tomica deliver. We also get more information about their late-arriving colleague, who will have 24 hours to prove they are the most qualified for the final Traitor role.
The setup is classic The Traitors — a group of traitors working together while constantly doubting each other. The tension is palpable.
Key Facts Box
- Season: The Traitors: New Blood, the first all-civilian run of the American franchise
- Prize pot: Up to $250,000
- Traitor bonus: Each eliminated Traitor adds $15,000 to the winner’s coffer
- First episode mission prize: $50,000
- New Traitors: Amped Joe and Tomica Adams
The Bottom Line
The first episode of The Traitors: New Blood is a success. The civilian format brings fresh energy to the franchise, and the changes to the rules make the game more compelling. Kim’s lie, the shield grab, and the first Traitor meet-up all land with impact.
The swap feels like a breath of fresh air.
See the video the story is built around at The A.V. Club.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.