5 Reasons Why The Traitors Is Peacock's First Legit Phenomenon

Peacock may finally have a hype-worthy hit on its hands... and we don't mean more reruns of The Office.

Hosted by the talented and captivating Alan Cumming, the rascally new reality series The Traitors (all 10 episodes now available to steam) combines 10 reality TV veterans with 10 fresh faces for an ultimate test of wit and social savvy.

For the uninitiated, three players are secretly chosen by Cumming to be the Traitors. The remaining 17, deemed "the Faithful," are tasked with unmasking the Traitors and banishing them from the game via group vote. But after every banishment comes a murder! The Traitors meet after midnight to select one player they think is getting too close, and once pinpointed, he or she is "murdered" and cut from the game.

Along the way, the group banks money into a team prize pot, and if the Faithful can eliminate all of the Traitors by game's end, the cash is theirs to split. But if one or more Traitors remain, he, she or they will stake claim to the green. But of course, the players will have to navigate a few jolting twists along the way.

Based on the original Dutch series De Verraders, Peacock's domestic version feels fresh and exciting, made to order for fans of strategic social games like Big Brother, Survivor, The Mole and the like. Set in a beautiful nineteenth century castle in the Scottish highlands, the series is not only gorgeous to gawk at, but has quickly become one of the most wildly addicting reality offerings of late.

Read on for five (spoiler-free!) reasons why The Traitors needs to be your next big binge — and if you've already watched, drop your (again, spoiler-free!) thoughts in the comments below. 

Who better to play the role of murder mystery dinner party host than the Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated actor Alan Cumming? Not only is the Brit consistently dazzling in his traditional Scottish garb (including the finest of kilts, trousers and berets), but Cumming puts his West End and Broadway experience to perfect use, adding heaps of theatrical flair to his role.

The Traitors could've used any ol' TV host or quasi-celeb to emcee this duplicitous reality competition, but having a veteran of the stage — one with a sly sense of humor who isn't afraid to serve full-on camp — takes this castle-set mystery game to the next level. Cumming lights up the screen in every scene he's in, puppet-mastering the whole shebang like a modern-day Willy Wonka. He's not afraid to deliver monologues tongue fully in cheek, but he also never shies away from amping up the drama during the show's biggest edge-of-your-seat moments. You certainly can't say this about every reality host, but the show simply wouldn't be the same without him.

Before the Faithful vote to banish a member of the group (one person for whom they hope is a Traitor), the players meet at the Roundtable to unpack all of their feelings, thoughts and theories... and the paranoia induced there is limitless. There's finger-pointing, arguing, carefully calculated power moves and lots of tears, as the tension and suspicions rise to great heights. Of course, we know who the Traitors are from the get-go, which makes it deliciously fun to watch them fight, scratch and claw their way to answers or barrel straight ahead into dead ends. Will a Roundtable finally expose a Traitor or will it accidentally shine a spotlight on a member of the Faithful? Let the wrongful accusations fly!

Not only is pairing reality vets with newbies a solid casting choice (hey, it worked for Survivor), but the show's picks for returnees is spot on. If you ever wanted to know what would happen if you stuck Brandi Glanville (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills), Kate Chastain (Below Deck) and Rachel Reilly Villegas (Big Brother, The Amazing Race) in a room together, well run-don't-walk to Peacock to see aaaall of those fireworks.

Pre-existing relationships also throw a few wrenches into the social dynamics of this Traitor-ous outing, including that of former Survivor "Heroes" Cirie Fields and Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, and also Rachel's friendship with fellow former BB houseguest Cody Calafiore. Let's just say things get messy and personal.

In this highly unpredictable game, no one is safe. Especially when there are two ways players can be eliminated. While the Faithful gets to have their say after every Roundtable, the Traitors commit "murder" while everyone is asleep. The three hooded figures meet in the castle's dingiest, darkest corridor to decide which power player they want to flick off the board. If you love a good double elimination on your favorite reality shows, imagine if every single installment served up double the carnage. That's exactly what happens here in the epic battle between the Traitors and the Faithful. Plus, it does wonders for the show's pacing; there's always a shocking reveal or blindside right around every corner.

Akin to Netflix's Mole reboot, The Traitors challenges its players with tasks that are physically demanding, brain-busting and at times, entirely cringe-worthy. As seen in the photo above, players were actually buried alive for nearly an hour, forced to await rescue from their fellow Faithfuls. (Yeah, that's very much not on our 2023 bingo card.) In another task, players were locked into small cabin-like escape rooms with large rats, as gallons and gallons of creepy-crawlies were dumped on their heads. (Also, NO.) Two finalists even jump into a lake from a helicopter! Each and every challenge feels fresh and fun, with a wide variety of tasks pushing players to their breaking points.