Alan Cumming has returned to his Scottish Castle where 23 celebrities are ready to be sneaky and savage as they face off in Season 4 of “The Traitors.”
The Emmy-winning Peacock competition series is back with the same murderous game mechanics and a new twist that will keep even the viewers second guessing who they can trust. The first four episodes of Season 4 arrived on Peacock Thursday, Jan. 8 with a supersized premiere that quickly introduced fans to the 23 cast members — featuring multiple “Real Housewives” alums, Olympians, Survivor winners and more celebrities — who learned if they have to play the game as a Faithful or a Traitor.
But before they stepped foot into the castle, Cumming announced a new element: he would select a “Secret Traitor” in plain sight in front of everyone. That player’s identity would remain hidden from everyone, including the audience, until later on in the game. He later selected his group of Traitors, and the Faithfuls set off to unmask them.
By the end of Episode 3, multiple players were banished, some were murdered and one Traitor was discovered. Read on for a recap of all the plotting and drama that went down.
Episode 1
‘Secret Traitor’ Twist
The premiere begins with all of the players arriving at the darkened castle. After briefly meeting each other and seeing some familiar faces, they are informed about Cumming’s “Secret Traitor” twist. Each player has a box with their name on it. One by one, they approach Cumming and he shows if their box contains a grim reaper card, confirming them as the Secret Traitor. Their identity is withheld from the audience. Everyone then moves into the castle and gathers around the Round Table for Cumming to choose the other Traitors.
After covertly circling the room multiple times, he selects three Traitors to join his turret: “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum Lisa Rinna, former “The Real Housewives of Potomac” star Candiace Dillard Bassett and Rob Rausch from “Love Island USA” Season 6. Later in the turret that night, the three learn about the Secret Traitor (who wears a special red cloak) and their power. Every week, the Secret Traitor creates a shortlist of players to be murdered until all the Traitors have the chance to team up.
Lisa RinnaPeacock / Sam McElwee/PeacockCandiace Dillard BassettPeacock / Sam McElwee/PeacockRob RauschSam McElwee / Peacock
First Mission
The first mission requires the cast to divide into groups of three and find coffins marked with dollar signs in a loch. The coffins are then placed in one of the player’s graves, meaning they are at risk for murder. At the end, nine players are on the chopping block.
Tension Brews
Back at the mansion, “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Porsha Williams confronts actor Michael Rapaport after hearing from Dillard Bassett that he wanted to target all the housewives. But Dillard Bassett says that Williams misheard her, leading to more confusion. Cumming announces at the end of the episode to the audience that the Secret Traitor chose four out of the nine at risk players to be on the shortlist for murder. The three Traitors receive a letter from the Secret Traitor with the four names: Rausch, Ian Terry from “Big Brother,” Mark Ballas from “Dancing With the Stars” and singer-songwriter Eric Nam.
Episode 2
First Murder of Season 4
The episode opens with “The Traitors” tradition of having each player arrive for breakfast except one. Viewers discover that the Traitors chose to murder Ian Terry. In his final confessional, a disappointed Terry says, “I had a feeling that was going to be the case. I just don’t know what I could’ve done differently. But, you know what, this is the biggest backhanded compliment in this game.”
Ian TerryPeacock / Sam McElwee/Peacock
Second Mission
Before the players depart for the second mission, Williams slips up again by accidentally saying that she “killed” Terry, causing comedian Ron Funches’ ears to perk up. At the mission, more drama unfolds, this time between “Survivor” winner Yamil “Yam Yam” Arocho and “Love Island” UK star Maura Higgins. The players have to transport three players on a throne back to the castle. Along the way, they have to make multiple stops and collect gold or shields. The last players on the throne when they reach the castle will be safe from murder. Arocho takes Higgins’ spot on the throne, securing his safety for the night, and Rapaport inserts himself in the conversation by claiming that he also needed a shield. He continues to call out Arocho in front of everyone when they return to the mansion. Meanwhile, Williams errs again by mentioning that there are four Traitors, adding to the list of evidence Funches is compiling.
First Banishment
At the first Round Table, “Survivor” winner Natalie Anderson kicks things off by explaining why she thinks Donna “Mama” Kelce is a Traitor. But Funches’ theory about Williams is more compelling. It is a close vote, but Williams receives one more vote than Kelce and is banished. While standing on the Circle of Truth, Williams says, “I came in and I tried to fight for the housewives and it almost started to feel like I’m going to be the one who is going to help to lead us to find a Traitor the first time. I am a Faithful.” The group is stunned and Funches says in his confessional that he feels like he put a target on his back.
Porsha WilliamsPeacock / Sam McElwee/Peacock
A Murder in Plain Sight
Toward the end of Episode 2, the Traitors are tasked with completing a covert murder in plain sight. The Traitors must find a set of tarot cards hidden in the kitchen that reveal the second shortlist from the Secret Traitor. Next, they have to take the card of the person they want to murder and burn it in the fireplace in the breakfast room. If successful, they can meet the Secret Traitor and unite. If unsuccessful, there will not be a murder that night and they will not have any control over the next murder.
Rausch spots the red reaper painting in the kitchen and instantly knows that is where the tarot cards are hidden. Meanwhile, Dillard Bassett starts a Conga line to distract the rest of the players. But “Survivor” star Rob Cesternino isn’t fooled. He tells “Big Brother” alum Tiffany Mitchell that he suspects a murder is happening in plain sight and she needs to stay alert. He also shares this theory with Dillard Bassett and Ballas.
Rausch takes the tarot cards to Rinna and they discuss the shortlist: “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Monét X Change, Olympic figure skater Tara Lipinski, “Top Chef” host Kristen Kish and Cesternino. The two Traitors slip away to the breakfast room, without having time to consult with Dillard Bassett, and burn one card, murdering a player.
Episode 3
Second Murder
All the players safely arrive to breakfast the next morning except one: Cesternino. We see a flashback where he learned his fate. “I don’t know how they got me. I leave with no regrets. Traitors, I’ll get you next time,” he says.
Rob Cesternino Peacock / Sam McElwee/Peacock
Second Banishment…a Traitor Is Revealed
Rapaport abruptly starts targeting Arocho again about the shield from the last mission, rubbing multiple players the wrong way. Cumming arrives and shocks the players by sharing that there will be a morning Round Table meeting and banishment. Many of the players meet and agree that they will vote for Kelce to be banished. Kelce attempts to defend herself and suggests that Rapaport is a Traitor.
But the players stand firm on their decision to banish her. They all vote to remove her from the game except Rapaport, who voted for Arocho, and Kelce, who voted for Rapaport.
While standing on the Circle of Truth, Kelce says, “I know I’m the sacrificial lamb and I know that I had a blast meeting every single one of you. On that note, I think I’m going to go … but you got yourself a Traitor!”
Donna KelcePeacock / Sam McElwee/Peacock
Kelce is then revealed as the Secret Traitor who was chosen by Cumming when they first arrived. The episode “rewinds” to show the moments she met in secret with Cumming and planned her shortlists. Kelce says in her confessional that her strategy was to be a lovable mom figure during the day and a “devious Traitor at night.” She says that she targeted players with her shortlists who were laying low and not speaking up.
Reflecting on her game, she says, “Playing a Traitor was tough but I gave it my best shot. This has been a dream come true.” Getting emotional, she adds, “These are happy tears that I get to do this at this point in my life. It’s just the joy of being in the game.”
Third Mission
Cumming asks each player to pair up with the person they trust most. Funches is the odd person out, so he will be automatically shortlisted for murder. The duos select one person to be put in a cage and another to hunt for skulls and stack them in a tower. Kish, “The Real Housewives of Dubai” star Caroline Stanbury, Rinna and Nam’s partners are all unsuccessful which means they are at risk.
The at-risk players are left behind and tied to trees where they wait to find out if they will be murdered by the Traitors face to face. After making their decision in the turret, the Traitors go to the woods and meet with each player. Nam pleads for his life in the game. Kish says she won’t beg. Stanbury says she isn’t ready to go and Funches threatens the Traitors.
He says if they don’t kill him now they will regret it later. “Show me your faces!” he shouts as the episode ends.
Episodes 4 and 5 of “The Traitors” Season 4 will stream on Peacock Thursday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. ET.
