The Traitors Season 3: A Feast of Betrayal Ends in Faithful Victory
Spoiler alert: This article contains detailed information about the finale of “The Traitors” Season 3, now available for streaming on Peacock.
Season 3 of "The Traitors" turned into an unexpectedly savage affair, marked by internal strife among the Traitors themselves. Instead of focusing on eliminating the Faithful contestants, the Traitors engaged in a cannibalistic power struggle, ultimately leading to their own downfall and leaving the prize pot of up to $250,000 to the Faithful victors.
The Traitors’ strategy, if it could even be called that, was highly individualistic and often uncompromising. This lack of cohesion and inability to present a united front proved fatal. The group, composed of Bob the Drag Queen, “Boston” Rob Mariano, Carolyn Wiger, Danielle Reyes, and Britney Haynes, spent more time backstabbing each other than plotting against the Faithful. Their infighting created an opening for Gabby Windey, Dylan Efron, Dolores Catania, and Lord Ivar Mountbatten to claim victory as the last remaining Faithful players.
Here’s a breakdown of Season 3’s Traitors and how each met their demise:
Bob the Drag Queen:
Bob, the charismatic winner of "RuPaul’s Drag Race" Season 8, was the first Traitor to be ousted. Affectionately referred to as Bob TDQ/Tidicue by some, Bob quickly found himself in the crosshairs of Boston Rob. A seemingly innocuous comment made in Episode 4 ignited Rob’s suspicion and triggered a ruthless campaign to banish the drag queen.
The Beginning of the End: Bob’s downfall began with the statement, “I did think that one of the new guys needs a head up there because we all think one of them might be a Traitor.” Rob interpreted this as a direct attack, perceiving Bob as targeting him and wanting to immediately remove the threat. Rob wasted no time initiating a campaign to eliminate Bob before Bob could do the same to him. This marked the beginning of a season defined by Traitor-on-Traitor betrayal.
How Bob the Drag Queen Got Banished: Bob’s defensive strategy at the Episode 4 roundtable only exacerbated the situation. His attempts to deflect suspicion were unconvincing, and Rob effectively swayed the other players against him. In the end, Dolores, Danielle, Chrishell, Britney, Ciara, Dylan, Carolyn, Sam, Ivar, Rob and Bob Harper all voted to banish Bob. Before his departure, Bob managed to deliver one last blow, sarcastically commenting that while Dylan Efron’s older brother, Zac Efron, might be an actor, he was "not a good one."
Boston Rob Mariano:
Despite his reputation as a strategic mastermind from "Survivor," Boston Rob’s cunning proved insufficient in the treacherous environment of "The Traitors." After successfully banishing Bob and skillfully navigating several roundtable discussions, Rob ultimately met his end in Episode 7. His decision to murder Derrick, seen as his biggest threat, backfired spectacularly, casting suspicion directly upon him.
The Beginning of the End: Rob’s intense focus on eliminating Bob earlier in the season raised eyebrows among some players, who began to suspect a Traitor-on-Traitor conflict. The murder of Derrick further fueled these suspicions. Dolores astutely pointed out that suspicion would inevitably fall on Rob. Rob’s response, a weak "Yeah, I’m being framed," lacked conviction and did little to quell the growing doubts.
How Boston Rob Got Banished: Tom Sandoval, fixated on the belief that Rob was a Traitor, proved impossible to sway. Although Rob attempted to deflect suspicion onto Britney, his efforts were unsuccessful. Sam pointed out that anyone who dared to target Rob consistently found themselves eliminated. Fellow Traitors Danielle and Carolyn, sensing the shift in momentum, opportunistically joined the bandwagon against Rob. Tom, Britney, Carolyn, Ivar, Sam, Danielle, and Gabby all cast their votes to banish Boston Rob from the castle.
Carolyn Wiger:
Carolyn, with her quirky personality and genuine nature, managed to fly under the radar for much of Season 3. However, her game imploded in dramatic fashion, making her the third Traitor to fail in her mission to steal the prize money from the Faithful.
The Beginning of the End: Tensions between Carolyn and Danielle had been simmering since Danielle first suggested Carolyn as a potential Traitor. Their conflict reached a boiling point in Episode 9 when the Traitors were presented with the opportunity to recruit a new member. Danielle advocated for her "Big Brother" ally, Britney, to join their ranks, a move that Carolyn correctly perceived as a potential attempt to eliminate her from the game.
How Carolyn Got Banished: In a showdown between Danielle and Carolyn, the Faithful had a guaranteed chance to eliminate a Traitor from their midst. (Regrettably, Tom and Dolores missed the opportunity, inexplicably voting for each other.) Danielle skillfully convinced Faithfuls Ivar, Britney, and Dylan to vote Carolyn out of the castle. Carolyn admitted, "I wasn’t ready to fully defend myself." Ultimately, Carolyn’s own friend Dylan cast the deciding vote against her.
Danielle Reyes:
Against all odds, Danielle managed to survive until the final episode, despite several close calls. She was a hair’s breadth away from victory when the Faithful finally coalesced and voted en masse to eliminate the "Big Brother" alum.
The Beginning of the End: It was a miracle that Danielle didn’t become the prime target in Episode 5, considering her decision to repeatedly nominate players other than herself for a shield during the riddle game. Her dramatic, over-the-top reaction to Carolyn’s banishment also raised suspicion. Gabby astutely observed that Carolyn’s banishment may have been another instance of Traitor-on-Traitor conflict.
How Danielle Got Banished: The first of two banishments in the finale resulted in a split vote between Ivar and Danielle. Dylan, confronted with overwhelming evidence against his friend Danielle, ultimately cast his vote against her. Gabby also voted for Danielle, and Britney, claiming she believed her "vote would not save" Danielle, followed suit.
Britney Haynes:
Britney’s tenure as a Traitor was relatively short-lived. Despite initial tension with Danielle stemming from Britney’s vote to eliminate Danielle on "Big Brother Reindeer Games," the two surprisingly formed a strong alliance. Danielle shielded Britney from potential murder, but this strategy ultimately backfired. Britney’s participation in Danielle’s banishment proved to be either a calculated move or a fatal miscalculation.
The Beginning of the End: Boston Rob planted the seed of doubt regarding Britney’s loyalty back in Episode 7 when she was actively working to protect him, unknowingly foretelling the truth. Coupled with the fact that Danielle was noticeably distraught by Britney’s betrayal earlier in the final episode, the remaining contestants felt they could not proceed to the fire pit with Britney still in the game.
How Britney Got Banished: As the finale reached its climax, Britney’s attempt to turn the tables on Dylan failed spectacularly. She argued that Danielle’s "visibly distraught" reaction to Dylan’s vote meant he was betraying a fellow Traitor. However, her argument failed to convince anyone. For the first and only time, the roundtable resulted in a unanimous vote, and Britney was banished, unable to reveal her Traitor status and leaving the Faithful to ponder whether another Traitor remained hidden among them.
Ultimately, the Faithful prevailed due to the Traitors’ inability to work together. The constant infighting and backstabbing created too many opportunities for the Faithful to identify and eliminate the threats. Season 3 of "The Traitors" serves as a cautionary tale: even the most cunning players can fall victim to their own ambition and treachery. A united front, even among deceivers, is often the key to victory.
