‘The Traitors’ season 2 finale review: A bloody blindside ends in an explosive victory

A fiery end to an incredible season. The Traitors Season 2 has been one of the best iterations yet from the international franchise. “One Final Hurdle” and “Reunion” capped off the competition with an explosive ending we didn’t see coming. Based on how the players were set up in the Final 5, the expected finish seemed like a dull sure thing. However, The Traitors proved yet again why it’s an unpredictable series right down to the bitter end. (And oh, we do mean bitter…)

The first surprising move of the second season finale came in the final murder from the Traitors. Choosing to go for Shereé was both shocking and surprising as a blessing in disguise. Shereé had been tight in the Bravo alliance, and it seemed expected that Kate would keep her Bravo sisters (i.e., Shereé & MJ) to the end so that she could win. However, her plot to sew seeds of doubt grew into something no one expected. It’s these types of subtle moves that can be the most impressive based on how the players maneuver it.

For example, murdering Shereé (who was in Kate’s alliance) so that she could pin it on someone else is a classic Traitor move. Many have attempted to divert attention through murders, so it’s a good play when done right. However, Shereé revealing in her final confessional that she sussed Kate out as a Traitor came as a shock! She put all the pieces together and nailed down the narrative. If Shereé had stayed, she would’ve led the charge against Kate and got her banished earlier. It’s so fun to see The Butterfly Effect play out. Just like how everything fell for the Traitors when Janelle got banished instead of Dan, the Shereé murder might’ve caused a few other losses down the line (we’ll get to that later on!).

The final challenge during “One Final Hurdle” was another rinse-and-repeat game from The Traitors U.K. Season 2. There is nothing wrong with the game – it’s a physically stressful challenge that pushes the players to work together as a team. And just like the original version, the game came down to the wire with plenty of messy decisions along the way. Based on this game and the one from the first season, The Traitors should look to make the final mission more challenging OR shift it to something like a bribe. Like what if they had to sacrifice their final vote or group pot for guaranteed personal cash. Or a way to sabotage someone else? Or maybe it’s giving up something to get a clue for the possible final Traitor? Make the last challenge so tempting that it causes mistrust.

At least we had Kate to give one final nail in the coffin of chaos. She may have expressed during the reunion how difficult it was to be a Traitor, but her final manipulation grew into a chaotic mess that was a masterful Traitor play. I loved how she seamlessly turned around her car conversation with CT into a ploy that caused CT, Sandra, and Trishelle to splinter. Sandra, the queen of Survivor, even gave her kudos for how she fell into Kate’s trap – that’s how good it was! Sure, that type of gameplay might buy Kate one extra round (if even), but sometimes all you need is one round. Could you imagine if Kate had been a Traitor earlier in the season?

Based on all the evidence, Sandra was going to get banished at some point. Whether it was the final Banishment Ceremony or during the Fire of Truth, her suspicion level was too high. Sandra being too close to Phaedra, especially during the archery game, painted a picture that caused lots of doubts. Sandra knows exactly how to win reality shows and how to get to the finals. The catch is that her survival techniques can only work when the others are working in her favor to celebrate or keep her around. She wouldn’t be able to avoid her suspicion, regardless if CT and Trishelle had kept to their word and voted Kate out first.

Kate’s banishment during the Fire of Truth was expected. The second Sandra got banished and revealed herself as a Faithful, Kate’s elimination was a guarantee. There was still a Traitor in the group. MJ said it perfectly during her vote: there still had to be a Traitor in the mix BECAUSE Shereé got murdered. The group had no choice but to keep voting someone out until they found the Traitor; Kate gave herself away by voting to end the game so early. In hindsight, if Kate had used her vote to target CT (who had a shield), she could’ve positioned it as Phaedra was the final traitor. That hypothetical is a long shot, but it might’ve worked if done right to force a victory.

Now, for the big controversy: do you side with MJ about Trishelle/CT being underhanded with their final vote? In the Final 3, CT and Trishelle forced a final banishment vote, and in a deadlock move, they both eliminated MJ to win the game. No rule states the remaining Faithfuls must share the money after the Traitors are cut. The game ends once all the remaining Faithfuls agree to end the game OR there are two final players. CT made it known that he 100% trusted Trishelle and doubted anyone else, while Trishelle originally voted to cut CT. She flipped her vote back after his heartfelt plea won her over.

I lean to the position that it was a part of the game. CT wasn’t shy about him not trusting anyone else but Trishelle; he would’ve doubted anyone else. Trishelle wanted MJ at the end with her, but she changed her mind. And let’s not forget that MJ voted out Trishelle instead of the person (CT) she said she didn’t trust. Was it an awful move to cut someone so close to the end? Definitely, but it’s a competition. The Traitors is a reality TV show. The players aren’t forced to make a specific move; they can vote out whomever they want, especially if they have doubts.

However, “One Final Hurdle” highlighted an issue with The Traitors we have discussed in the past: voting blocs having a firm hold on eliminations. There should be a penalty whenever the Faithfuls incorrectly vote someone out, specifically with the cash prize. How about an escalating fee is deducted whenever a Faithful is eliminated? Or maybe it’s at the Fire of Truth? Have the remaining four players hold a quarter of the prize, and for each player eliminated until it’s agreed to end, that quarter is eliminated with them. This penalty forces the Faithfuls to debate whether they can trust their intuition or if they’ll prioritize the cash prize.

When it came to the reunion, this cast delivered with the drama and iconic scenes. Phaedra calling Dan a “piece of shit” for his betrayal? Legendary. The group’s confused reaction to MJ’s bitterness? Hilarious. Dissecting Peter’s gameplay? So fun. There were plenty of great scenes and moments of the cast, especially from early boots like Johnny Bananas and Peppermint. However, the reunion should consider limiting the number of flashback segments. These reels felt like filler and took away from the reunion; these scenes can be a few seconds – we want more of the players talking.

“One Final Hurdle” and “Reunion” was a satisfying conclusion to a great season. A few surprising twists kept the momentum going and left us at the edge of our seats. Plus, a fun reunion provided a great way to debrief the season and chat about all the drama. Bring on more of these finales for The Traitors in the future!

The Traitors airs new episodes on Thursdays on Peacock.