A new wrinkle shows up and then gets shown out.

The Traitors season 4 premiere reveals first victims and ‘Secret Traitor’ twist

A new wrinkle shows up and then gets shown out.

By Dalton Ross

Dalton Ross is a writer and editor with over 25 years experience covering TV and the entertainment industry. *Survivor* is kind of his thing.

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January 8, 2026 9:00 p.m. ET

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'The Traitors' season 4. Credit:

**This article contains spoilers about *The Traitors* season 4, episodes 1-3. **

*The Traitors* season 4 is finally here! And yet, four people are already out of the game.

The first batch of season 4 episodes were released on Peacock Thursday night, and the biggest headline was a new twist unleashed by host Alan Cumming just minutes into the game. It came in the form of a “Secret Traitor.” Not only would the Faithful not know the identity of this designated Traitor in their midst, but neither would the other Traitors. Or the viewers.

Under the new set-up, the Secret Traitor would be short-listing the names of potential targets to be “murdered,” and then the regular Traitors would have to pick one of those names from that list to be offed. (The twist also appeared on the U.K. version of the series.)

Alan Cumming on 'The Traitors' season 4.

Euan Cherry/PEACOCK

While players and viewers alike were unaware of the Secret Traitor’s identity, the three other Traitors received their blindfolded shoulder taps from Cumming designating them as deceivers in the game. Real Housewives Lisa Rinna and Candiace Dillard Basset as well as *Love Island* star Rob Rausch were selected as Traitors. The picks were something of a surprise considering the turret is usually filled with *Survivor* and *Big Brother* players (who are generally better versed in reality competition gaming strategy than their Bravo counterparts).

The absence of any “gamers” in the turret initially seemed to point to one of the *Survivor* or *Big Brother* alums as the Secret Traitor, but then *Big Brother *champion Ian Terry was put on the very first shortlist and eventually murdered.

Ian Terry on 'The Traitors' season 4.

Euan Cherry/PEACOCK

Another player then met their end at the Roundtable, as contestants had to banish the first person they deemed a Traitor. The three main targets ended up being Michael Rapaport (for being a general nuisance), Porsha Williams (for making some verbal slip-ups and claiming “I killed Ian”), and Donna Kelce (maybe the others are not Chiefs, Eagles, or T-Swift fans?)

In the end, after a well-laid-out argument from comedian Ron Funches, it was Porsha that was banished — with the Housewife even garnering a vote from fellow franchise star Lisa. (DRAMA!) But Porsha revealed in the ridiculously titled Circle of Truth that she was, in fact, a Faithful, putting Ron in trouble for being so vocal in his incorrect assertion.

'The Traitors' season 4 cast members reveal most traitorous things they've ever done (exclusive)

'The Traitors' season 4 cast members make their pitches to be selected Traitors (exclusive)

After the first Roundtable, *Survivor* stalwart Rob Cesternino — perhaps clued in by Candiace’s absurd conga line ploy to get people out of the kitchen — sniffed out that a murder in plain sight could be happening. He was right, but it didn’t matter, as he was the next Traitors victim and was forced to leave the castle.

Rob Cesternino on 'The Traitors' season 4.

Euan Cherry/PEACOCK

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With Donna’s Banishment seeming almost a forgone conclusion, Cumming summoned the players back to a special morning edition of the Roundtable to just get the inevitable out of the way. Indeed, she was almost unanimously voted for (with Michael casting the sole dissenting vote against Yam Yam Arocho). But before she left, Mama Kelce revealed that she was indeed the Secret Traitor… ending all the audience speculation fun before week one was even over. Oh well.

But there is more murdering and banishing to come. Episode 3 ended with Ron, Eric Nam, Kristen Kish, and Caroline Stanbury all tied to trees and hilariously pleading for their lives while the Traitors and a masked executioner all just kind of stood there awkwardly. Who will be the next *murrrrrrrrrrder?* We’ll have to wait until next week to find out. Until then… CONGA TIME!

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Reality”