Page 31 | Everybody Wants to Rule the World | Traitors 2026 | Thread 8 | Spoiler Free!

CaveMum · 2026-01-15T16:49:26+00:00

Link to previous thread: [[https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/5475802-tell-me-lies-tell-me-sweet-little-lies-traitors-2026-thread-7-spoiler-free?page=1 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/5475802-tell-me-lies-tell-me-sweet-little-lies-traitors-2026-thread-7-spoiler-free?page=1]] Welcome to Thread 8 of Traitors 2026. *^This thread runs at TV pace so do not read any further if you are not up to date with the live broadcast. Whilst most discussion will be on the current series, inevitably people will refer to previous series/players/winners so reader beware if you’ve not seen the 3 previous editions, or the celebrity version.^* While we welcome posters discussing their theories and speculating on relationships/connections between players, please don’t post spoilers from elsewhere that may ruin things for those of us who like to see things unfold over the course of the series. The story so far (as at end of Ep 6): *Traitors* --Hugo-- Rachel Stephen --Fiona (Secret Traitor)-- *Murdered* Netty Ben Maz Reece *Banished* Judy (Faithful) Hugo (Traitor) Ross (Faithful) Amanda (Faithful) Fiona (Traitor) Harriet (Faithful) Jessie, James and Adam are the potential murder candidates, but both Jessie and James have shields. The floor is yours…

MrsLeonFarrell · 16/01/2026 16:22

CarminaBiryani · 16/01/2026 15:30

I wonder what would happen if we have a final 4 of Rachel, Stephen + 2 others. If one of the 4 was likely to turn on Rachel or Stephen, would Rachel or Stephen turn on each other for the money? They said they couldn't get to the final without each other, did they say they'd go all the way and split the money though?

I feel like Stephen is thinking about the final already, how far does he trust Rachel?

Would Rachel stick to her word and be happy with half the money, given she's quite motivated to win it?

My gut says she would split it, as its still a lot and would be a good example to her kids.

I don't think the money would outweigh the possible negative reaction to either Rachel or Stephen throwing the other under the bus.

WhatAreYouDoingSundayBaby · 16/01/2026 16:46

I actually don't mind Rachel, I think she's playing really well. I do think when it comes to it though she will put herself ahead of Stephen, I am not sure he can make it to the final with the amount of suspicion on him currently and she will need to go with the flow.

At the moment I think she can make it there herself as everyone who's cast suspicion on her has just been ignored - probably because of their absolutely mental delivery of those suspicions!

CuteCritter · 16/01/2026 16:57

LetitSnowball · 16/01/2026 14:52

I feel the series started so well but now it’s getting a bit dull.

I enjoyed watching Fiona, Amanda and Harriet.

Now, other than the 2 traitors, the people left are forgettable - they seem like the kind of crowd to have HR on speed dial because they’ve been “othered/misgendered” etc. It’s just not terribly exciting.

I would have said Steven fits that description more than anyone else

CuteCritter · 16/01/2026 16:59

PotteryChuck · 16/01/2026 15:14

I see Rachel as warm, very likable and would love her to win. She deserves it!

She's playing a great game so far.

Youre being seduced by the Irish accent, she doesn’t come across as warm beyond that!

threesocksmorgan · 16/01/2026 17:01

When i said about Rachel being a mean girl, school bully. That is what I think about the character she is playing.
irl she is probably lovely.

i really want Matt and Roxy gone

butimamonstersaidthemonster · 16/01/2026 17:16

as it gets more popular I wonder if fame hungry people will start acting up to get more screen time. Like Harriet will have had a massive boost to her book sales. Her actions and screen time will definitely have helped.

KittyHigham · 16/01/2026 17:17

CuteCritter · 16/01/2026 16:59

Youre being seduced by the Irish accent, she doesn’t come across as warm beyond that!

Show quote history

Or could it be that you're being seduced by the editing of her playing a game of deception?
Players who spent days with her in the castle have said really positive things about her.
If she was devoid of warmth, the broadest of Irish accents wouldn't be enough to make them like her.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 16/01/2026 17:19

Every time Roxy talks I just think "what a tit". She is wrong about absolutely everything. Definitely sucking up to Rachel. But then maybe that's her game plan and it's working. She won't even be on Rachel and Stephens mind!

NewAgeNewMe · 16/01/2026 17:24

ThatCyanCat · 16/01/2026 14:58

The split or steal thing was only done in the Aussie Traitors. I don't think they'll do it in the UK version. I hope not, it's a terrible way to end the game. Obviously everyone will pick steal, and actually from a gameplay perspective you should. Because you cannot control whether or not you get anything; that's entirely in the other person's hands. All you can control is whether you get half or all should they choose to split, so of course you should choose steal.

My favourite ever!!!

ilovebrie8 · 16/01/2026 17:24

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 16/01/2026 17:19

Every time Roxy talks I just think "what a tit". She is wrong about absolutely everything. Definitely sucking up to Rachel. But then maybe that's her game plan and it's working. She won't even be on Rachel and Stephens mind!

Agree ! She’s a numpty, I hope she goes soon. She’s a total twat and was nasty about James. He owned up to his team none on her business she’s grating !

CuteCritter · 16/01/2026 17:26

KittyHigham · 16/01/2026 17:17

Or could it be that you're being seduced by the editing of her playing a game of deception?
Players who spent days with her in the castle have said really positive things about her.
If she was devoid of warmth, the broadest of Irish accents wouldn't be enough to make them like her.

Show quote history

Maybe she is in person, I know the show is heavily edited. But I disagree she comes across as warm to us on camera.

I also get the feeling that faithfuls are a bit… passive, just go along with the herd. She’s put herself there as a leader which probably makes her popular.

awaynboilyurheid · 16/01/2026 17:26

MrsLeonFarrell · 16/01/2026 16:22

I don't think the money would outweigh the possible negative reaction to either Rachel or Stephen throwing the other under the bus.

Show quote history

Oh I think Rachel would shrug it off in an instant as “it’s a game Stephen “ as the wheels on the bus run right over him!
Stephen on the other hand would risk defending her, bless him
But I’m annoyed with all the faithfuls now so as much as I don’t want Rachel to win they are so hopeless that if she does so be it!
All this even after Harriet impaled herself in front of them to vote for Rachel next they still jump all over the place, totally clueless.

MrsLeonFarrell · 16/01/2026 17:32

awaynboilyurheid · 16/01/2026 17:26

Oh I think Rachel would shrug it off in an instant as “it’s a game Stephen “ as the wheels on the bus run right over him!
Stephen on the other hand would risk defending her, bless him
But I’m annoyed with all the faithfuls now so as much as I don’t want Rachel to win they are so hopeless that if she does so be it!
All this even after Harriet impaled herself in front of them to vote for Rachel next they still jump all over the place, totally clueless.

Show quote history

It's because they like her. Which is why i believe she is likeable. We only really see game related chat in this series and it's a highly edited version of each day. There are reasons people like Rachel and don't believe the attacks of women who did it in a nasty way. The reasons are I believe because she is likeable in person.

At this point i do think she and Stephen deserve to win but I'm not sure Stephen will survive if they have murdered Jessie. He doesn't seem to have Rachel's teflon coating and she may have to vote for him if everyone turns on him.

SoScarletItWas · 16/01/2026 17:40

Blimey @CaveMum we are on a thread an episode!! Thanks so much for keeping on top of us; a true Faithful.

RainbowSnake · 16/01/2026 17:41

I didn’t like Rachel at the start because she seemed quite cold but I think she’s shown a lot of warmth over the last few episodes and I like her now. I like how she responds to accusations and thought she was great in the turret in the last episode with allowing Stephen to decide what would be best seeing as he would be most impacted. She may turn on him at some point but I think she’s happy to work as a team with him now.

PineappleSunrise · 16/01/2026 17:42

awaynboilyurheid · 16/01/2026 17:26

Oh I think Rachel would shrug it off in an instant as “it’s a game Stephen “ as the wheels on the bus run right over him!
Stephen on the other hand would risk defending her, bless him
But I’m annoyed with all the faithfuls now so as much as I don’t want Rachel to win they are so hopeless that if she does so be it!
All this even after Harriet impaled herself in front of them to vote for Rachel next they still jump all over the place, totally clueless.

Show quote history

Yes, Rachel is very good at convincing people she’s nice. It seems to be a regular theme across all the seasons - the best Traitors are both popular with others & ruthless about chucking them under the nearest bus to get what they want.

SoScarletItWas · 16/01/2026 17:44

PineappleSunrise · 16/01/2026 17:42

Yes, Rachel is very good at convincing people she’s nice. It seems to be a regular theme across all the seasons - the best Traitors are both popular with others & ruthless about chucking them under the nearest bus to get what they want.

Show quote history

Yes, the Overnight Brain Wiper (thanks to PP) only works because people already like Rachel. I make no secret that I’m Team Rachel from the start but nobody can deny she’s playing the game perfectly.

I also believe she’d go to the end with Stephen and he’s safe from passing buses.

Umbilicat · 16/01/2026 17:51

I believe Rachel saying she'll keep Stephen with her to the end, she certainly is working to deflect suspicion from him. He may be the one to chuck her under the bus. She's playing a gam and people who find her too ruthless or cold - that's gameplay

SwedishEdith · 16/01/2026 17:59

CuteCritter · 16/01/2026 16:59

Youre being seduced by the Irish accent, she doesn’t come across as warm beyond that!

Show quote history

I think she sounds like Arlene Foster so not sure she's that seductive sounding.

MrsLeonFarrell · 16/01/2026 18:07

I have a theory about overnight brain wipe syndrome. Past players have talked about having a day off sometimes. Maybe there has been a day off that we don't see and in that day off they overthink and argue themselves out of their previous convictions?

KittyHigham · 16/01/2026 18:10

MrsLeonFarrell · 16/01/2026 18:07

I have a theory about overnight brain wipe syndrome. Past players have talked about having a day off sometimes. Maybe there has been a day off that we don't see and in that day off they overthink and argue themselves out of their previous convictions?

That's a good theory.

dayswithaY · 16/01/2026 18:29

Harriet was interviewed on BBC London today, she said (I’m paraphrasing) that as an imaginative person she got way too involved in the game and took it personally. She regretted her anger and agreed it wasn’t a good look but it is such an intense environment.

She broke down after confronting Rachel in the chapel as she had a sudden fear that she had got it very wrong and gone too far.

I think if you are a very driven and intelligent person it must be very hard because not everyone is playing the game as they should. Amanda said she was in constant fight or flight and therefore got it very wrong.

I think Sam said last night on Uncloaked that you can go in there with all best intentions and it just all goes wrong and then you’re scuppered.

The best way to be is just bumbling along and seeing what happens but then that’s no fun for us, the viewers.

I do love it but really, it is a very silly game. It requires no skill, no intellect (including FBI training) and it’s just a game of chance. Right place, right time, persuading a bunch of strangers that actually you’re a not a liar.

I really feel for those people who went in with a strategy as it doesn’t lend itself to that.

MrsLeonFarrell · 16/01/2026 18:41

dayswithaY · 16/01/2026 18:29

Harriet was interviewed on BBC London today, she said (I’m paraphrasing) that as an imaginative person she got way too involved in the game and took it personally. She regretted her anger and agreed it wasn’t a good look but it is such an intense environment.

She broke down after confronting Rachel in the chapel as she had a sudden fear that she had got it very wrong and gone too far.

I think if you are a very driven and intelligent person it must be very hard because not everyone is playing the game as they should. Amanda said she was in constant fight or flight and therefore got it very wrong.

I think Sam said last night on Uncloaked that you can go in there with all best intentions and it just all goes wrong and then you’re scuppered.

The best way to be is just bumbling along and seeing what happens but then that’s no fun for us, the viewers.

I do love it but really, it is a very silly game. It requires no skill, no intellect (including FBI training) and it’s just a game of chance. Right place, right time, persuading a bunch of strangers that actually you’re a not a liar.

I really feel for those people who went in with a strategy as it doesn’t lend itself to that.

You do need to be good at forming social connections and you need to be able to fight your corner without alienating people. It's pretty impossibly to guess who the traitors are unless they give themselves away.

I'm glad Harriet realises that her anger was her downfall. If she had stayed calm she would have made it more uncomfortable for the traitors.

KittyHigham · 16/01/2026 18:42

dayswithaY · 16/01/2026 18:29

Harriet was interviewed on BBC London today, she said (I’m paraphrasing) that as an imaginative person she got way too involved in the game and took it personally. She regretted her anger and agreed it wasn’t a good look but it is such an intense environment.

She broke down after confronting Rachel in the chapel as she had a sudden fear that she had got it very wrong and gone too far.

I think if you are a very driven and intelligent person it must be very hard because not everyone is playing the game as they should. Amanda said she was in constant fight or flight and therefore got it very wrong.

I think Sam said last night on Uncloaked that you can go in there with all best intentions and it just all goes wrong and then you’re scuppered.

The best way to be is just bumbling along and seeing what happens but then that’s no fun for us, the viewers.

I do love it but really, it is a very silly game. It requires no skill, no intellect (including FBI training) and it’s just a game of chance. Right place, right time, persuading a bunch of strangers that actually you’re a not a liar.

I really feel for those people who went in with a strategy as it doesn’t lend itself to that.

Fair play to Harriet. She certainly came across on Uncloaked as being more reflective than Fiona

I think the game is actually a form of torture if you think about it. Keeping players in isolation and only socialising in an environment of inherent mistrust! No wonder it messes with their heads.

It was very clear that "being right" mattered an inordinate amount to Harriet, so I can see that type brain would find the randomness really hard to deal with.

There's really no more intelligence in finding traitors than in finding a fortune in a box. It's Deal Or No Deal with a fabulous wardrobe wonderful scenery and entertaining activities to watch 😆

RainbowSnake · 16/01/2026 18:50

dayswithaY · 16/01/2026 18:29

Harriet was interviewed on BBC London today, she said (I’m paraphrasing) that as an imaginative person she got way too involved in the game and took it personally. She regretted her anger and agreed it wasn’t a good look but it is such an intense environment.

She broke down after confronting Rachel in the chapel as she had a sudden fear that she had got it very wrong and gone too far.

I think if you are a very driven and intelligent person it must be very hard because not everyone is playing the game as they should. Amanda said she was in constant fight or flight and therefore got it very wrong.

I think Sam said last night on Uncloaked that you can go in there with all best intentions and it just all goes wrong and then you’re scuppered.

The best way to be is just bumbling along and seeing what happens but then that’s no fun for us, the viewers.

I do love it but really, it is a very silly game. It requires no skill, no intellect (including FBI training) and it’s just a game of chance. Right place, right time, persuading a bunch of strangers that actually you’re a not a liar.

I really feel for those people who went in with a strategy as it doesn’t lend itself to that.

If she was so worried about having got it wrong or having gone too far after the chapel part then why was she going so hard at Rachel for the entirety of the next day?

It must be very intense and the faithful have to be really on edge as they have no idea who to trust so I can imagine many of them act in ways that are out of character for them.

There is a bumbling character in the Irish season who is great telly for the viewers though! You’d have thought they’d just wandered into the show by accident rather than having applied to be on it.