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…

Regarding how 'likeable' Rachel is/n't, there doesn't seem to be any correlation between who is popular in the castle and who is edited to come across well on screen - remember last year every single contestant, even Kaz, absolutely loved Joe and referred to how hilarious and great he was, whereas viewers saw a whiny, sulky man baby?

Bear in mind that for every 12-16 hours-ish worth of footage per day that's edited down to 60 mins, which when you include all the shots of glorious landscapes/claudia's outfits/challenges etc works out as a few minutes of screentime per person.

I'm sure any of us could have an amazing day where we were the life of the party/world's most industrious employee/loving mother completely misrepresented if only the 2 minutes where we shouted at the kids/fell asleep watching tv were the ones shown!

In other versions e.g. Australian, they do that split or steal thing. I'm not sure if the UK version would do that as so far there has not been more than one traitor left.

Ooh, I hadn't thought of that. Could well happen.

I hope not, it's an absolutely shite way to end it, as that series showed. Renders everything beforehand totally redundant and you know everyone will choose steal. From a gameplay perspective, you should. You have no power at all over whether you get any money; that's entirely in the hands of the other person. All you can do is control how much you get if they choose split, so steal is the best option. You can always split it with them afterwards if you truly want to.

But if everyone chooses steal, you get nothing. I love this.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S0qjK3TWZE8&pp=0gcJCTIBo7VqN5tD

Oh I don’t know it was a very satisfying ending. And Sam’s reaction was comedy gold. His arrogance and to be taken down like that by Camille was a pleasure to watch.

I know, but as you can't control whether others pick split, you may as well steal. If they choose steal you'd have lost anyway, if they pick split you get more.

You simply cannot control whether you get anything so it's always best to steal. You can share it afterwards if you want to.

(And yeah, I know that one! But the guy basically convinced Ibrahim that now his only chance is to split. But had Ibrahim actually picked steal...)

It was satisfying if you just want to see Sam go down, but as gameplay it's very frustrating. It's got bugger all to do with dynamics and choices of whether to banish. It was so obvious everyone would steal.

Gameplay yes I agree. But his reaction towards Camille - well he deserved that imo.

I am now very confused about "split or steal"! How does it work? If you both choose steal, do you get half or nothing?

You both pick split or steal. If you both pick split, you each get half. If you both steal, nobody gets anything. If I pick steal and you pick split, I take the lot.

That's why the famous Goldenballs scene shared by a PP was so interesting. Usually, there is no reason to pick split. You have no control whatsoever over what the other person does. That guy convinced Ibrahim that the game had been inverted, and now his only chance is if he splits. I love that scene, but had Ibrahim stolen, he'd have the lot. And actually he had originally intended to...

Is anyone else watching the US S4 currently showing weekly, and fancies having a private DM chat ‘thread’ about it?

The traitor's dilemma is a renaming of "The Prisoners Dilemma" in game theory. Ironically as Stephen is a cyber security expert by trade he may have come across it before. The Traitors actually gets a mention towards the end of the Wikipedia article confirming it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner%27s_dilemma

Showing where?

I don’t think they can do split/steal because Claudia said at the start that any traitors left would split the prize. They can’t throw in a rule change last minute.

I would dislike this as it would discourage traitors working together. You don’t want a fellow traitor in the final if that means you end up with no money.

Can we please not post spoilers for other series on the thread please?

This was requested a while back and the concensus was no, we can't avoid spoilers for other series.

It was only satisfying because that guy was a complete psychopath. Most of the time it would be an utterly rubbish end.

It has also been available to watch since mid 2023. I think it's fair to mention it in Traitors discussions.

Yes on that I agree!

@RubieChewsDay Australian s2 was on at least a couple of years ago so people if interested will have already watched.

Most people manage to refer to these series without naming names and going into specifics. That’s the most blatant spoiling I’ve seen for some time.

Pretty sure the consensus was to stick to this series, they even got a tag added for no spoilers a couple of threads ago.

No spoilers refers to this series. Things read in the press or social media. How many years would you say need to pass before we can discuss?

Then please report it to MN. It was on 2 years ago but I apologise if I’ve spoilt it for you and others.

Also read the first post on every thread that makes it clear other series will be discussed