It’s A Wicked Game | Traitors 2026 | Thread 9 | Spoiler Free!

[CaveMum]

Link to previous thread: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/5476221-everybody-wants-to-rule-the-world-traitors-2026-thread-8-spoiler-free?page=1

Welcome to Thread 9 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 <spoiler warning if you haven’t seen the start of episode 9>

Traitors
Hugo
Rachel
Stephen
Fiona (Secret Traitor)

Murdered
Netty
Ben
Maz
Reece
Adam
Jessie

Banished
Judy (Faithful)
Hugo (Traitor)
Ross (Faithful)
Amanda (Faithful)
Fiona (Traitor)
Harriet (Faithful)
Sam (Faithful)

The floor is yours…

You're right, it was Jack.

I don't think she's related to James either though. During the show, she referred to him being her best mate, but I think that just means her bestie is the castle rather than they already knew each other before in rl.

I still think if there is a third connection (and I don’t actually think there is), it’s between Jack and James. I think they look really alike when you ignore Jack’s hair and look behind the glasses.

Snarky

Yes, he's sweet.

Well, they keep on relentlessly and she's understandably frustrated coz there's no real evidence.

Think it’s damned if she does/doesn’t.
She could start constructing some arguments as to why it’s not her, eg accusations against her began with Amanda who had no real evidence despite her detective training and who pointed at other people she was wrong about, she could start pointing at other people with some kind of basis other than you picked me so I’ll pick you…
But I think overall this would make people more suspicious that she suddenly had ideas about anything.

It’s brilliant tv. S2 Traitors is my favourite traitors ever. I may rewatch it again from the start. Superb.

Overall this game has seemed more balanced between traitors and faithful in that the traitors have been given more curve balls. But the missions also seemed designed to cause divisions between the faithful.

It does how hard it is for the faithfuls when they don't form alliances.

Rachel and Stephen do deserve to win together, I don't believe she will throw him under the bus. Having said that either of them might need to vote for the other out of self preservation if the heat is really on the other traitor. I hope they get a chance to murder Matthew because that would be hilarious.

I agree Jade is too fragile to be on this show.

Also, as I have said before, having at least one youngish ethnic minority woman as a Traitor every time has put the spotlight on ethnic minorities. I think that's why Amanda and Matt were/ are so set on her.

But honestly these faithfuls! Fiona v Rachel had such Traitor vs Traitor energy, but Rachel still didn't get a single vote!
She is brilliant. I don't care if she uses the money for Botox. I will be SO pissed off if Faraaz or Jack win..Neither of them have done anything except be amiable.

I don't think either Rachel or Stephen will throw each under the bus unless no choice. They are like Alan and Cat.

'Hard -as- nails' Rachel has actually deflected the heat away from Stephen several times.

Murder Matthew please

jade is a little immature in some of her reactions however she is one of life’s beautiful people

I am so surprised that Rachel is not under more suspicion since she has had a lot of intense drama directed towards her from Fiona and from Harriet.

The attacks from Fiona and Harriet were so intense they really should raise alarm bells for the faithfuls. And Rachel's constant references to Amanda's suspicions - since Amanda did not show show herself to be very perceptive - should also raise questions.

All that, together with her regular 'announcements' which try to derail things should all add up.

The FBi training would have had me voting for her! 😀Rare misstep from Rachel. Another misstep was telling people who Amanda was.

I expect Stephen to be in a tutu by the finale as distraction!

I really hope Rachel & Stephen win, I think of all the players left now, they deserve to.

The others are either vanilla & quite lazy or a bit irritating.
None of the remaining faithfuls have done particularly good detective work or shown good game play really. And the ones who have made a bit more effort - James & Matt - have done so for purely selfish reasons, not to play as a team of faithful.

I know people like Faraaz but I find him quite annoying because he doesn't really add much, just the odd jokey or sarky comment.
In terms of clever play & risk taking in the game it has to be Rachel and/or Stephen for the win.

Disagree. Jade lost her Mum and sibling around age of 18. That is tragic and explains a lot… +she admits herself it’s taken a lot to get her confidence back up. Jade may also be ND and even if not, said too she doesn’t let people in easily… she didn’t breakdown when accused (part of the game) 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc times… but when you are singled out almost every time and are still young/bit fragile it’s understandable to breakdown a bit.

Go Jade for telling Matt to shove his hug…Matt is behaving like a traitor since the pieces of silver chat in the Church…

Rachel will do anything to win. Traitors have the strategic advantage and it would be much more amusing if either Stephen takes it all at the last breath or Faithfuls win… those saying they haven’t done much… what can they do? They’re sitting ducks, Traitors get to have much more screen time/fun.

I don’t think she said or anyone in the game

She did explicitly deny the connection suggested but that was Jack, wasn’t it? (Please someone confirm; I am not certain.)

I’d definitely have voted for her with the FBI speech after I stopped eye rolling.
I really hope all the remaining people have a clue - it’s a bit despairing to be that clueless.

They could come up with more theories, analyse more, look for clues, stir things up, bring theories to the round table?

I think Stephen & Rachel are playing well but not THAT well, the faithfuls left just don't seem to be hungry for clues at all, they all just seem to be coasting along, hoping to make it to the final in a bland, self-serving way.

Yes Jade has a tragic backstory.That's exactly why I think she shouldn't be on the show. It appears too distressing for her and made hard viewing.

I am not a fan of armchair ND diagnoses, personally. We have no idea who is ND or not.

Agreed. I’ve been trained by a former FBI agent to read micro expressions 🤣🤣🤣… F Right Off!

I can’t find the post now but PP said players like Faraaz haven’t done enough to win because they’ve just been amicable and coasted along…

I know I posted that as a reason in my ‘don’t want to win’ list of players yesterday. But it’s made me think - that’s actually the secret to success, isn’t it?!

Be amicable, don’t rub anyone up ‘the not right way’ [per Ross; Uncloaked]; appear to be a friend to all.

Exhibit A: Harry from S2.

I said it. Harry was a Traitor. It was good strategy for him!

Being amiable is a good strategy for a Faithful up until a certain point, but not further. I think we have reached the crucial point now.

I do agree with this. She reacted so badly to any suspicion towards her, and this was pretty early in the game, not just once it increased. She came across as genuinely haughty and personally offended. Once players start making it personal it becomes unpleasant. Having a tragic backstory or ND aren’t a free pass to getting to behave like that (no clue who might be ND anyway, the term is bandied around so much these days and some people like to self-diagnose anyway.) I wish the screening of contestants had picked up that Jade wasn’t comfortable or confident to give much to the game and that she had zero resilience and wouldn’t cope with any suspicions thrown her way. It’s a GAME! It’s a TV show! If people can’t get their heads around that, don’t apply.

Thanks @CharlotteRumpling. It’s a good strategy for a player in the game; it makes them dull viewing for us! Especially when a Faithful and we don’t have the knowledge that it’s a Traitor (Harry) being manipulative.

I often wonder what urges people to Apply (edit: not apple) to reality shows. What are they hoping to gain tv exposure or just for the hell of it?