Traitors: New Blood Episode 9 is the episode that finally lets me get to know these contestants, which feels both like a great thing, considering we’re getting close to the end, and too little, too late. It would have been much better to get this honest glimpse at not just people’s motivations, but emotions, much earlier. Particularly considering that we don’t have the advantage of coming into this with opinions on the contestants.
But the more you care, the more you suffer, and all that. And that’s part of the problem with a show such as this one. Just as spending time with these people makes it harder for Joe and Katie, knowing more about why they’re playing this game makes it harder for us to really root against anyone. Except, you know, Victor. He’s played the villain role to a “T,” even when he’s right. He probably has a career on reality TV, if he wishes.
In this episode, however, we saw the game flip once again. It seemed like after Tomica’s ousting, Joe was clearly next. I wasn’t sure if anyone would catch Katie, but I wasn’t sure Joe could actually turn things around. Of course, since this show continues to give us the worst cliffhangers, we’re not sure if he actually did. But he’s at least going into the roundtable with a plan, an alternative, and hope, which is more than I expected.
This is such a weird game, and I think I would be really bad at it. Traitor or Faithful, really. Because all Kriste did was what everyone else ended up doing, which was to say that she didn’t want to exchange goblets. But she was sure of her answer so fast that she turned people off. But then I might have chosen to put the poison in my own goblet, if I were Joe, because I would have been sure Victor was going to want to trade. And hey, Victor was probably not the right person to murder right now, but…I want him gone.
Here’s the thing about Victor: he is 100% right about Joe, but he is also the worst, most annoying communicator ever. I want to root for him because he’s actually on point! I just can’t because I don’t like him! And I actually quite like Joe. And likeability is a big part of this game. You cannot bully people into agreeing with you. Victor would benefit from an alliance with someone who could temper him, but neither Wyatt nor Shane are those people, and his best option, Katie, is a Traitor! Not that he knows that.
So, what happens next? My prediction is that Kriste will be gone, even though Victor will try to push for Joe. I just don’t think he’s got the people. And honestly, I think pushing for Joe might end up costing him the game. Because if he pushes for Joe, Kriste is gone, and then he doesn’t get killed, then everyone’s smart play is to vote him out because at that point he looks more like a traitor than not.
Right now, my bet is Joe and Katie are winning this game. We shall see if I’m right. But one thing I’ll say is that, for the first time, I’m feeling pretty good about whichever side wins, as long as it doesn’t include Victor.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of The Traitors: New Blood Episode 9 ‘Playing Chess’? Share with us in the comments below!
The Traitors: New Blood airs Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC, with episodes available the next day on Peacock.
