REVIEW: The Traitors US (Season 1)

 RATINGS UK REVIEW: THE TRAITORS US

With the runaway success of the UK version just a few weeks ago, fans were eager to get their fill on the new hit show as it takes off overseas. With pressure to perform, and the knowledge that the series shared many, many similarities, did it succeed or was it a traitor to its loyal fanbase?

DISCLAIMER: Although I will try to keep major spoilers out of this review, there may be snippets throughout that give away key facts about the show and the playthrough, so be aware for minor spoilers. Any sources mentioned will be linked throughout the post. All views expressed are my own, and this post is not endorsed by the BBC or anyone involved with the show. 

With the announcement of the BBC's bid to air the US version of this gloomy, Scottish highland murder mystery, many of us were elated to know we'd be able to watch another series, and another group of people battle it out in the latest psychological reality series. However, with a mix of reality stars involved, and a brand new host, would it be as successful to a British viewer? Short answer = YES. Although there were some faults to be had, it became evident quite quickly that the missions and the plot of the show did not make it the success it became, it was the people who took part. There may not have been MI5 Maddy or Welsh Dragon Amanda, but there were some fantastic characters mixed in and they made for some very entertaining TV.

In this version, only 20 contestants took part, a slightly reduced figure from the 22 for the UK version, and although it meant the shock eliminations in the UK edition weren't possible here, the first episode was still an enjoyable romp. As the first mission began, the cameras swoop down over those signature Jeeps as they race towards the giant beasts they must set alight. Although it was the exact same opening mission as the UK, it still felt very fresh. With that in mind, I don't believe the show could do wrong as long as they prioritise an interesting cast and thoroughly planned missions to keep us glued to the screen. Any mission could be entertaining with the right tone, right people and right music. 

Image of the full cast of The Traitors US
Source: Cheat Sheet

As the earlier episodes played on, there was a sense of bias towards the celebrity contestants, with one or two (Kate & Brandi) getting more airtime than every regular contestant combined. Although the two mentioned made for some great moments, and some very iconic TV, it did mean normal people didn't have the chance to shine where other editions would allow them to. The inclusion of celebrities is an interesting idea, and I can see the format working to some extent here in the UK, but the selection process must be thorough enough to scrape away anyone who is there for the wrong reasons. As the series progressed, it was striking just how little the likes of Kate thought about the smaller amounts of money. It may have been entertaining television, but did inject an element of pointlessness to it on the odd occasion. Having said that, her arc as a whole was very entertaining, and losing a character like her from the show may have slashed a huge wedge of juiciness out of it. 

Personally, I warmed the most to Cirie & Shelbe, both feeling the most similar to the UK contestants I had grown to love, and both seemingly there for the right reasons and to play the game how it should be done. A lot of their interactions felt very genuine and their personalities made me that little bit more passionate about how I wanted the game to play out. Of course, the interactions between the cast and the banishments are the most interesting part of the show, and there were some corkers in there to keep us on our toes! I won't name them for viewers yet to watch, but episode 8... That was something! 

Promotional Poster of the show's host, Alan Cumming
Source: TV Insider

Sadly we don't get to see the heavily involved charm of Claudia Winkleman, but we do get the very suave and feisty Alan Cumming to carry us through the show. His Scottish accent, and sublime sense of style made him an instant hit, and his no-nonsense approach made him stand out all the more as a very fitting host. His moments of personality, his eyebrow arches and his low tones made him a perfect fit. All I need now is Winkleman to team up with him, and we really are all on to a winner! If there's something we can all agree on, it's that he was a pretty special pick to host. 

Despite the show's similarities to the UK version (likely because they were filmed back-to back), I still didn't crave anything more of the challenges. If anything, I'm just excited to see what other twists and turns they may come up with if a Season 2 of either version does wind up being commissioned. Just watching along sends the cogs in my mind spinning with potential ideas. If I can figure out some interesting storylines, then I'm sure the producers can come up with some that make every series just as intense as that first watch. The missions do usually wind up being the part I am most passive in viewing because they sometimes break up the drama we're happy to watch, but I didn't sense that too much in this version. I believe the people and the drama (usually displayed by Kate) made them even more fascinating to endure. She truly was TV gold, and even if the overall celebrity cast wasn't a huge payoff, there were some glimmering moments that made them a required staple, and that goes for everyone. 

Now we reach the real point of this review... Would I want to be a traitor or a faithful? Well... I would 100% crack under the pressure. I don't think I could handle someone asking me directly and glaring me in the eye. The panic would be off the scale. I would perhaps last a few days, but like Cory... The emotional drain of it would eventually cloud my judgement on every situation. However, the anxiety of not knowing if I would make it through each night wouldn't exactly be ideal either, so I guess I just wouldn't apply! HA!

Although I may have been quite critical throughout this on occasion, the overall opinion is that this show is just a masterpiece in television. It truly deserved all the attention it got as the UK version played on, and I'm desperately hopeful that we get our hands on at least the Australian version, and a greenlit second series! The US one may not have been on par with the perfection that is The Traitors UK, but it was still some fascinatingly brilliant TV to binge! If you haven't already, get on over to iPlayer and check out The Traitors US for some iconic outfits from Cumming, some non-stop bickering, a lot of laughs and plenty of shocks throughout! You're in for a treat, I promise!

RANKING:

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