‘The Traitors: New Blood’ Season 5 episode 5 review: “Wake of the Living Dead”

A poisonous apple is about to sink everyone’s games on The Traitors: New Blood. “Wake of the Living Dead” is a rough journey for both the Faithfuls and the Traitors. No one is playing with optimal strategy; the attacks are going in every direction with no successful hits. If “Wake of the Living Dead” taught us anything, there’s two different possibilities from this episode: (1) the Faithfuls completely crumble under their self-sabotage, or (2) the murder in plain sight exposes all the Traitors. We’re at the edge of our seats, but the narrative hit plenty of speed bumps before getting there.

Tearing the group apart.

Jay’s performance during the round table is a prime example of a treacherous Faithful. In essence, this is a Faithful that brews chaos and confusion in the hopes of achieving their personal goal, regardless if it hinders the group at large. Granted, he picked up on the evidence that Logan presented before his untimely death, but Jay executed his plans in the worst way.

For instance, poking and prodding Katie into blowing up during the challenge painted himself a terrible look. Regardless if he accused her of being a Traitor, he came off looking like a bully who refused to work with the group. Instead, he sabotaged everyone’s game to get a response from her. It looks intentional and self-serving – these are two qualities that scream that he’s not a team player. So, when it came time to accuse Katie (and Kriste) at the round table, his support was non-existent. No one wants to work with someone they can’t stand, regardless if he might be right.

Plus, Niyyah’s and Sherry’s arguments against him were right on the money. Unless he changes direction completely, he’ll keep wasting people’s times. And his inability to vote either Katie or Kriste when the time came sealed his fate. His lack of conviction creates a narrative that he’s all tension and no follow-through. He should’ve voted for one of them.

Defense of the damned.

The best thing that could’ve happened to Abby L. was the blunder at the round table. Similarly to Kriste’s Madeline mishap, her epic voting fail adds a mark against her Faithful status. She led the vote against Sherry, so she’ll take the blame for steering the group in the wrong direction. For the Faithfuls, this means she’s an active player taking swings, both good and bad ones. For the Traitors, she’s a Faithful that’s drawing on suspicion. Abby L. read the evidence wrong, and unlike Jay’s behavior, she’ll benefits from several weeks of avoiding murders.

Sherry, on the other hand, had a tough road to avoid the elimination. This banishment is a prime example of a never-ending loop. Abby L.’s argument about Sherry mentioning “three Traitors” was flimsy at best. If Sherry had presented it as a logical breakdown (i.e., most seasons start with 3-4 Traitors), she could’ve added doubt to the situation. However, even with her defense, the group seemed ready to accept their own confirmation biases.

For example, the group chastised Sherry for being quiet and not throwing out theories. So, when she does make an argument and present a theory, she’s chastised for being eloquent and looking suspicious. And even when she reasonably defends against Abby L.’s evidence, the group doubts the most common facts about the game. They had it set in their minds that Sherry was getting voted out; that’s a situation most Faithfuls can’t work their way out of.

A poisonous bite.

“Wake of the Living Dead” introduces one of the most challenging ‘murder in plain sight’ twists yet. Having someone catch an apple thrown by the Traitors is nearly impossible. Sure, someone does eventually catch the apple and will answer the cliffhanger, but it’s a glaring move. This isn’t a covert meeting of the Traitors or a burning a tarot card; this is a direct action made with a physical prop. Based on the growing suspicions, the group has noticed the strange behavior.

This murder challenge could be the undoing of Joe’s and Tomica’s Traitor games. Joe walking around the manor with the red apple is highly suspicious on its own, but throwing the apple to Morgan was incredibly stupid. She’s sitting in a large group and a red apple gets thrown her way. How would the group not pinpoint this move when she gets murdered? He should’ve retreated once it became clear that he couldn’t get the apple to her.

Tomica, on the other hand, will fall simply due to proximity. Asking the group if they wanted fruit is such a vague request on its own; she has room to plant doubt and escape banishment. However, Joe’s glaring mishap strengthens her moment, especially if he gets banished at the round table. Victor will undoubtedly push the fruit theory to the group, and if either Joe/Tomica get banished first, it’ll seal both of their fates. Katie made the right call to take the step back. There’s already a huge target on her back – she doesn’t need this apple sinking her game too.

The bottom line.

“Wake of the Living Dead” from The Traitors Season 5 Episode 5 is a self-contained round that exposes the faults of the Faithfuls and the Traitors. Tensions are keeping us at the edge of our seats. This episode serves as a building block, a round that will no doubt spark greater drama and troubles in future episodes. Hopefully, The Traitors: New Blood players rein themselves in to start playing with structure and purpose. We need people to root for, not just root against their mishaps.

The Traitors: New Blood airs new episodes on Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC.

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Images courtesy of NBC.