Brief Thoughts from a First Time Traitors Viewer
Most Abstract to Least Abstract
Hi readers!
As I mentioned in my ins and outs, weekly shows are IN. So, in the spirit of new year’s resolutions, I am delighted to be watching the Traitors on Peacock for the first time. I’ve noticed a Substack community surrounding the show, and I’m excited to participate in the weekly release reality tv discourse.
Now, before I get into my list of random thoughts…
Spoilers abound…
They should make more freak stuff like this
I am a member of the generation of people who thinks everything wrong in the world today was foretold by The Hunger Games. I’m sure I’m not the only one who watches reality game shows like this or hears about shows like The Beast Games and wonders how crazy it would be if they actually killed the people like we are in Panem or the Squid Game universe.
And the powers at play recognize that this pervasive point of view exists. I’m thinking about Trump’s “patriot games” deal. His team definitely had him alluding to the Hunger Games just for funsies. Just to make the Zillenial reader girls freak out.
So now you’re wondering why I would want the world to make more stuff like this. The answer is that if we keep making this weird stuff and crazy concepts now, it will look super unoriginal if the government tries to actually start killing people through these avenues. It is our responsibility to saturate the market with low stakes freaky game shows so that we are not entertained by it all anymore if the republicans start acting up.
We all love cruelty way too much
I haven’t seen any previous seasons so I can’t gauge if this season has been of a similar or different level of cruelty as the norm, but I am very surprised by some of this. Putting Ron in a cage for no reason? Tying people to trees and making them beg for their lives? Digging their own graves? Pushing/Carrying teammates across long distances manually? CRUEL
I have two problems with this… one is the epidemic of trauma on network tv. These stupid challenges are probably activating the same parts of our brains as every time Meredith Grey gets bombed or loses a loved one. We know it would be so bad but we are ADDICTED to seeing it play out to someone else.
The second problem is that it requires the players to be of certain physical and mental strength to participate. They seem to do a good job of promoting racial and gender diversity in the cast of the show, but it is not inclusive unless it is accessible to everyone, and it is not.
Bullying is so sad
Remember that tense moment when we were waiting to find out if Donna was a traitor or not? The group appeared much more stressed than the previous roundtable elimination, and here is why.
The stakes were so high because they all knew that if Donna was not a traitor, they had successfully outgroup bullied her.
If Donna had not been a traitor, they still would have sent her home because she was not one of them. The “evidence” offered to prove she was a traitor was very easily explained by the fact that she is a 74-year-old mom and not a reality TV star. They criticized her for not having a group, not talking game strategy like everyone else, and being generally quiet. Can you imagine being thrown into a castle with Lisa Rinna as a near-normie????
They lucked out that she was a traitor because I was getting really mad on her behalf. If she was a faithful the whole time, I legit would have stopped watching. I wish they had been more accepting of her.
Whoever did this deserves the money
Obviously, there is no ethical way to be a billionaire. Dare I say there is no ethical way to be a millionaire either. But the guy who is funding this? They get a pass. I love to see Alan Cumming bringing the drama in those weird fits that I don’t understand enough to regard as avante garde fashion. I love the location, I love the extras, I love the bizarre twists and turns. Whoever thought of this is a weirdo but I’m glad they had money.
One day I should be so lucky to fund my weirdness too.
Should I get a round table in my house?
Seeing everyone at the roundtable makes me want to get a round table for my home. Imagine having friends over and chatting around the round table. It is like a regular table, just round. Everyone can see each other.
Idk maybe round tables are gonna take off???
Who Lisa Rinna is
At first, I only knew Lisa Rinna from when she was and M&m for a special red-carpet promotion. I knew her as Lisa Rinna M&M. Then for a while I thought that people were posting about my old boss Carol, since they look alike. But now, I understand.
I see you, and I know you, Lisa Rinna. If you ever need a place to stay in Kansas, feel free to contact me.
Are you watching The Traitors? Do you agree or disagree with my takes so far? Any predictions? Let me know in the comments!
About Quintessential
Thank you so much for reading! Quintessential is a collection of personal writings about how I am managing to live my life authentically as myself. You may be interested in this publication if you:
Are a young woman trying to make it in this world;
Enjoy niche topics;
Care about your communities around you;
Don’t take life too seriously; and
Want to know what makes me, me!