In the world of reality TV, there are (basically) two types of shows: competitive reality shows where everyone’s after a cash prize, with the hope of being asked back for future seasons, and candid reality shows full of personal drama (and probably outfits), where being asked back for future seasons is the prize. The ultimate distinction might be the democratic process: Unlike Big Brother contestants, Vanderpump Rules and even Bachelorette co-stars aren’t technically allowed to vote one another out of the show.

On the Peacock streaming service, there’s a show where the two meet. It’s called The Traitors.

Situated in a Scottish castle and hosted by Alan Cumming in full razzle-dazzle regalia, The Traitors pits Real Housewives against Survivors; Bachelor himbos against aggro Challenge veterans; and extremely beautiful real estate agents like Chrishell Stause from Selling Sunset against somewhat less beautiful royals like British Lord Ivar Mountbatten.

Like competitive reality TV, the goal at the end of Traitors is a cash prize. But like candid reality shows, the secret goal of everyone in the game is to get a little bit more famous, parlaying their Traitors stint into more projects, and maybe even future appearances on this or other shows!

For reality TV fans, The Traitors is essentially an all-star game, the best of both worlds of reality TV. But as with so many of the reality shows, from Love Is Blind to The Bachelor, the more the players know about the show, the less organic and more alien it becomes. Now in its third season, The Traitors is still as entertaining as ever, but in an unexpected, crash out kind of way.

The worst part of The Traitors are gamers figuring out the game

Despite all of Alan Cumming’s outfits, The Traitors is ultimately a game about elimination, where players vote one another out. There are 23 players this season, and from those their host has selected a few to play as Traitors. The traitors’ job is to eliminate their fellow contestants, known as Faithfuls. Each night, there’s a roundtable vote where Faithfuls try to vote out Traitors. And after each vote (called a banishment), the Traitors secretly meet and vote out a Faithful (called a murder). Faithfuls hope that they can vote out all the Traitors by the end of the season and split a cash prize, and Traitors hope to sow enough discord and doubt to make it to the end and keep the money for themselves.

What’s made The Traitors a breakout hit through its first three seasons are the........

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