Recap: The Traitors US 3, Episode 9 – “We’ve been bamboozled.”

Recap: The Traitors US 3, Episode 9 – “A Silent Assassin”

Danielle is sad, upset and frustrated at Carolyn refusing to allow Britney in the Turret. Danielle says fine, she’ll go with murder then and it will be yet another sacrifice she will have to make to get Carolyn to trust her. Carolyn rolls eyes and shakes her head.

I have the same reaction as Carolyn! Lol

“I’m so done. Oh my god,” Danielle says. But she tells us that she is trying to tell “woman” Carolyn that it’s better to be her friend than her enemy.

Danielle suggests they kill Dylan so people will suspect Gabby, but Carolyn thinks that’s a bad idea and that it’s better to keep them both in the game to have their rivalry play out. Danielle can’t believe it, but she next suggests Sam. Carolyn thinks his emergence is too recent and still too little. Danielle puts up Dolores, but Carolyn says Dolores trusts both of them.

Danielle is even more frustrated. I’ll be honest, I would be a bit frustrated as well. lol But it’s good that Carolyn is finally asserting herself in the Turret. It’s a long time coming.

Danielle tells us that she is doing everything to keep their “kingdom” together, but Carolyn is being so “closed off”. Danielle doesn’t think she can keep going like this. Carolyn tells us that they don’t trust each other so it will all come down to who will get who first.

I’m good with the decision to murder instead of recruit.

At breakfast, Carolyn and Gabby are first in. Gabby says they have to stop going after big personalities and perhaps take a closer look at Danielle whose “I can’t kill my friends” and crying shtick at Round Tables is very suspicious. Carolyn nods and agrees.

Britney and Tom come in next followed by Ivar and Danielle. Danielle tells us that she knows Carolyn will be coming for her, so she needs to start planting seeds against her in the event that happens.

Dolores comes in next and it comes down to Dylan and Sam. Ivar feels bad that one of his best bros will be murdered.

The last one safe is Dylan which means Sam is murdered.

Back in the Turret, Carolyn and Danielle eventually agreed on Sam saying that there will be no suspicion on them. The players are all sad about Sam. But Alan walks in to tease today’s mission.

Dylan is surprised he has made it this far. But he realizes that means someone he trusts is bringing him to the end, knowing he will be loyal to them.

During the daily chatting time, Tom tells Gabby that Dolores is raising a lot of red flags. Like when Dolores wasn’t eager to get a Shield, but then got so defensive at the Round Table. Gabby believes the Traitors will start to turn on each other, so they will have to look out for that drama.

You better be looking very soon Gabby! It might be sooner than you think!

Dolores walks with Danielle, telling her she has played an honorable game so far.

Pffft.

Danielle says she will not play scared anymore. She isn’t going to name names, but she tells Dolores to be on the lookout for how the Traitors always attack the wrong people while the Faithfuls are the soft-spoken and respectful ones.

Huh?

Gabby and Dylan have a chat. Dylan thinks perhaps he should team up with her instead. Gabby jokes that men always come crawling back. But both agree that Danielle appears to be most suspicious.

Dylan talks to Carolyn and asks if she still suspects Danielle. Carolyn says if she starts talking, Dylan has to vote that way then. Carolyn tells us that she is happy Dylan is finally listening to what she is saying about Danielle. But she is still worried about whether this is the right time or if she might misfire once again.

Meanwhile, Britney is in tears telling Danielle that she would die if she didn’t come back. Britney cannot go on in this game without her. Britney tells us that she is so happy that they were able to reconnect here and feels good about them getting to the end together.

The fact that they are acting this way because of some lame Christmas special that wasn’t even anything like actual Big Brother? WTF? Lol

Danielle tells us that the guilt is killing her, especially after what Britney said to her. She wanted her to be a Traitor so much because she loves her so much and wants to reach the end together. She can’t even think about what Britney will think when she finds out the truth.

Britney asks if Danielle is going for Carolyn. Danielle tells us best case scenario is Carolyn is banished and announces she’s a Traitor then Danielle can recruit Britney.

May that actually not happen. 🙏

It’s time for the mission. They are driven to a large chess board. Alan says they must think and move as a Traitor today. Last night, the Traitors were asked a series of questions. And the players today must answer the same questions with how they think the Traitors did.

Each correct answer will be $5000 with the chance for a total $20,000 for the pot today.

Alan then invites Queens (questionable) Kate and Parvati to join the fun as they will reveal the questions asked of the Traitors.

First question is Who’s slithering under the radar? Danielle and Carolyn decide on Britney. The players agree it is “Britney, bitch.”

Britney goes to move the snake piece onto her name. Alan tells the players to get on their own names. The large Traitor begins to move around the chess board and knocks over the snake piece, signaling the correct answer.

More fun theatrics! Love that moving Traitor piece. At least we get all these dramatic set pieces for the missions and challenges to try and take our minds off of the crazy gameplay or lack thereof lol

For the skull piece, the question is Who is the biggest threat to the Traitors? Danielle and Carolyn decide on Britney again.

Tom suggests he is the answer. Parvati and Kate say “Of course” he will think it is him. And how the hell would they know that? Either they have watched the episodes already or are just being fed lines. I think we all know the answer to that!

Everyone agrees with Tom and he puts his piece on his name. The Traitor starts to move around the board and stops in front of Britney. Danielle tells us that Carolyn does not realize choosing Britney is good for her game since Britney knows Danielle does not see her as a threat at all.

The wolf piece is next and the question is “Who is the leader of the pack?” Danielle and Carolyn decide on Tom. Tom suggests himself again and Carolyn agrees. But everyone else agrees on Dylan.

The Traitor moves and to everyone’s shock it is Tom. Dylan tells us that he is now taking a closer look at Carolyn. I doubt it, to be honest.

Last question with the mouse piece is Whose voice is the most irrelevant? Carolyn suggests herself and Danielle says to go right on ahead.

During the discussion, Carolyn puts herself out there and the others agree. She tells us if maybe she shouldn’t have put her name out there.

The Traitor knocks the mouse piece over and now Dylan thinks Carolyn might have framed herself. Danielle thinks Carolyn has basically loaded the gun against herself.

Alan warns “the power of seeing could change the course of the entire game” tomorrow.

On the way back to the castle, Dylan tells Tom about his suspicions about Carolyn. And Carolyn wonders if Danielle set her up with the answers.

In the afternoon, Ivar tells Carolyn and Tom about being suspicious of Danielle. Tom insists Dolores is the right target. After Carolyn leaves to get more food, Ivar and Tom agree that Carolyn couldn’t pull off being a Traitor. And if she has, then she deserves an Oscar. Tom says that’s why he trusts Carolyn.

Ivar tells us that he has long been suspicious of Danielle, but feels like there is not enough evidence yet.

Carolyn pulls Dylan aside. Dolores walks in and Carolyn asks if she can give them some privacy for now. And as Dolores leaves, she tells Danielle about Carolyn’s request.

Dylan tells Carolyn that it will break his heart if she and Danielle go after each other tonight. Carolyn asks if her name is really being thrown around like that for tonight. She says there is no reason to lie like Danielle did if she was a Faithful. And she gets emotional thinking about how she is being treated this way again like she’s been treated in life and even on Survivor. Dylan understands.

Dylan tells us how Carolyn and Danielle both mean a lot to him. But there’s too much evidence pointing to at least one of them being a Traitor. So he will have to choose between two “friends”.

In the kitchen with Dolores, Ivar tells Danielle that Carolyn has been throwing her name out. Danielle says Carolyn is just acting dumb like Columbo and Ivar can see how that is possible.

It’s time for the Round Table and Ivar speaks up first. He believes there are two Traitors left and they are likely girls. Dylan brings up Alan’s warning about tomorrow’s potential power.

Carolyn goes up next and says a Faithful has no reason to lie. So why would Danielle do that. Ivar asks Britney to repeat the “supposed” lie which was that Carolyn said Britney’s name.

Danielle says Carolyn is putting on an act and pretending to be dumb like Forrest Gump.

What the actual fuck?!

Carolyn asks Dylan, who watched her season of Survivor, if this is an act. Dylan says no and this is what he loves about her.

Carolyn says she is not done speaking yet, but Danielle says she will be speaking first. Danielle points out Carolyn putting herself out there with the answer today. And then how the Traitors are always aggressive. Tom says he has never seen Carolyn be aggressive, but Danielle says Carolyn attacked her that night because Carolyn was afraid of Danielle finding her out.

Danielle starts to get emotional and Carolyn tells her not to fake more tears. Danielle asks if she has mentioned Carolyn’s name at all and Dolores and Britney shake their heads no. Danielle says it’s because she is afraid Carolyn is going to kill her.

Carolyn asks the table if everyone can trust Danielle 100%. Danielle’s name has come up because people have asked what was going on and Carolyn has merely stated what happened. Danielle says she has no reason to lie to Britney.

Carolyn says she has no reason to lie either and tries to reclaim her time from Danielle who tries to interrupt.

Carolyn says she has been absolutely alone and Danielle says she is a loner and a “silent assassin”.

And being a loner means what?

Tom says there is some evidence there. But he remembers how Carolyn advocated for him to continue to go after Rob.

Carolyn says she has told everyone the same thing from the very beginning. She reminds Dylan about asking him if he was ignoring her. Dylan admits it made him feel like shit. Carolyn doesn’t want to make him feel bad, but it made her feel like once again in her life, she was being ignored. So she just stayed quiet. And it hurt when that happened.

An emotional Carolyn adds that this is not about feeling betrayed and getting back at Danielle. She is not some assassin.

Alan stops the discussion and tells them to vote.

Danielle tells us that she hopes she has lied enough that they believe she is a Faithful. Carolyn tells us that she questions why she went after Danielle tonight and says it feels like yet another time in her life that she was not prepared for or that she is not heard.

Carolyn votes for Danielle. Ivar votes for Carolyn and says she lost the argument today. Danielle laughs.

Dolores votes for Tom.

Danielle votes for Carolyn and says she couldn’t ignore all the signs.

Gabby votes for Danielle and says both did an amazing job tonight, but she believes Carolyn’s tears are genuine.

Which they are! You can’t say that about Danielle and her hysterics.

Tom votes for Dolores. And of course Britney votes for Carolyn.

Carolyn has three votes, Danielle has two and Tom and Dolores each have one, meaning Dylan is the deciding vote.

Dylan votes for Carolyn and he hopes they are right tonight.

That means Carolyn is banished. She steps on the Circle of Truth and says she is someone who is judged every day for her differences and her quirks. She didn’t want to connect with everyone because she is an emotional person and playing this game is difficult for her. “I just wanted to have fun,” she says.

“And being a Traitor is not fun.”

Danielle falls to the floor and is shaking profusely.

omg.

Carolyn tells us that she does not regret speaking up today. She admits she is impulsive, but it would hurt more to not be true to herself. So even if she’s not listened to, she loves and is proud of herself.

Everyone congratulates Danielle for pegging Carolyn. Britney is ecstatic for her bestie.

But later, Gabby wonders to Britney and Tom if it was Traitor on Traitor tonight because she thinks it was giving Rob vs Bob again. Tom can see it. Britney tells us that she wonders if she can fully trust Danielle. And maybe she hasn’t been murdered because of that reason.

Alan meets Danielle in the Turret and says according to the rules, she must recruit someone.

But why though?

Danielle must now issue an ultimatum to someone. Join her or die.

Obviously, Britney gets the letter. And obviously she is going to choose to join her BB bestie over getting murdered. Come on now.

Episode Thoughts

Ugh. The writing was on the wall from the first minutes. So I was dreading the Round Table.

I haven’t watched Survivor since watching some episodes of Cagayan only because my family is from Cagayan. Just a few towns over from Santa Ana where they filmed. So The Traitors is the first time I’ve met Carolyn. I didn’t know what to make of her at first, but she quickly became the only Traitor I could root for.

(Though after recently learning the truth about an infamous moment with Boston Rob on TAR7, my entire perspective and opinion on him has completely changed. But that’s a discussion for a TAR post not here lol)

Carolyn was playing the best Traitor game until this episode. But she definitely fell into a trap. And we’ll see if the Faithful are merely keeping Danielle as a sure Traitor or not.

But it was actually such a treat to watch Carolyn play this game and get to know her through it. What a great personality and character to watch. And no, I don’t mean character in the way Danielle tried to imply at the Round Table.

And let’s talk about that actually. Look, I was a fan of Danielle for her masterful, almost-winning performance 23 years ago on Big Brother. But not here on The Traitors. Everything she pinned on Carolyn could’ve easily applied to her. Erratic, liar, overacting.

Hey, lying is part of the game. And it’s up to you to convince others you’re not as much of a liar as someone else. I haven’t been a fan of her messy gameplay. But good for her for being the last original Traitor standing.

What really crossed the line with me was the way she went after Carolyn’s personality. Saying her being “dumb” was an act is one thing. But to call her Forrest Gump kind of takes it to a place that is really unnecessary. Calling her a “loner” was straight up high school shit.

Especially, as we learn through the show, Carolyn has had to deal with difficult things all her life. And so the things Danielle was saying was a low blow rather than backstabbing, conniving gameplay. Danielle could have made her case without going there and it just came off as gross and without class.

And that hysteric shaking on the floor? Absolutely absurd. And should easily be the final bit of evidence for the Faithful to confirm she is a Traitor.

I hope this:

was Dolores laughing at how absurd Danielle looked.

You can be a ruthless villain, but not be so beyond the pale in this way. It, to be honest, really turned me off to Danielle Reyes from now on.

It’s funny though that the obsessive, toxic BB fandom who love to cry and whine about bullying and microaggressions in the house will applaud this entire performance. And that nonsense is really the biggest (if not only) reason I no longer care to watch or engage with Big Brother anymore.

It’s not about being a snowflake or having thin skin or “Carolyn is a grown woman” so she can handle it. If something just feels off to you, then it feels off to you. The toxic BB fandom thinks they are the moral arbiters of reality show gameplay. But if they have the right to whine about the most harmless things or even nonexistent things you want to pull out of thin air, then people have the right to not like the kind of behavior Danielle exhibited toward Carolyn this episode. Or this entire season, to be honest.

Anyway. I hope it is Britney that turns the knife on Danielle when she is eventually banished. Whether it’s next week or at the end. And then I hope Tom and Dolores end up winning as the two remaining Faithful. That hilariousness would be only way to redeem this season, to be honest.

It’s been some great television the last couple of weeks. And this one was almost there if it weren’t for that regrettable moment. Sorry not sorry.