Oh man, am I ready for Dan to leave the castle. We got close this week, and I’m hoping that next week a traitor is finally banished. Adds a little fun, right? But with the arrival of a Season 1 cast member and Pilot Pete being the smartest player of the episode, it’s clear that you never know what to expect from The Traitors US.
The episode begins with the tail-end of Phaedra wringing out Parvati like a Buff after a challenge. Rule #1 of The Traitors? Don’t underestimate the housewives. That goes for you too, Janelle, but we’ll get to you later.
While Phaedra holds the metaphorical knife to her fellow tratiors’ necks, Dan looks like a deer in headlights. I’m so over this schtick! Throughout the episode, he repeats to his fellow players and the audience that he always lays low before jumping in aggressively once everyone else is deep in the game. How many episodes are supposed to be in this season? Dan is like a kid on a diving board for the first time. Jump, Dan. No one is entertained by you looking nervous.
As a peace offering, after putting a spotlight on the Housewives, Parvati hands Phaedra the kill for the episode. Phaedra chooses Tamra, a choice that appears to be as confusing the next morning at breakfast. Phaedra doesn’t look confused…she’s just looking for boiled eggs.

I’m surprised no one elaborated on Parvati’s theory from the round table about the Housewives being a traitor. Do the cast really not like Parvati? How is that possible? I’m glad it keeps her out of the spotlight, but I want to see her on my screen more than the Big Brother/Challenge folks.
For the mission, Alan brings the players out and asks them to divide themselves into an “inside team” and an “outside team.” Only the outside team is eligible for a shield. As MJ and Kevin request to have a chance at the shield, Trishelle sees another opportunity to speak rudely at a woman of color. Can anyone tell me if Challenge Karen has any redeeming qualities? What a flop.

I would rather see 1 of Peppermint’s other looks over 10 of Trishelle’s Christian girl autumn attempts at fashion. I’m glad they made her look like an idiot with her bird-watching costume when she got her way and ended up on the outdoor team.
Most missions are boring, but this one had all the players squawking like birds, so that was fun.
Anyway!
Now that Pilot Pete is on a show where the producers encourage him to use critical thinking skills, he concocts a plan to be vague about who has the shield, telling Dan, Parvati, and CT a lie that he and Janelle have shields. I think this might work! Just like he did, four times, in that windmill. Bless him.
Then Alan announces that another player is entering the fold. Katelyn guessed Jennifer Coolidge, but it is in fact Kate Chastain. Adding a new player at this stage is kind of silly, because they haven’t gotten any traitors yet. But I’m still a wee excited for her to f*ck up some sh*t (her words). Within two minutes, Kate has sussed out Parvati’s poisoning of Ekin-Su and got Janelle and Sandra mothering each other off. Drama!

Despite Janelle’s efforts to banish Dan, Janelle herself is voted out. Sorry to the Janelle fans. This means Dan has to be voted out next episode, right? Right?
I think it’s likely. Dan falls into Pilot Pete’s trap and and proposes to murder Bergie, who actually does have a shield. In Parvati’s biggest moment of the episode, she lays out Pete’s plan. Parvati is the queen of lying to boys and knowing when boys lie. Don’t underestimate her, Cast of Traitors Season 2!
I’m here for bird squawks, drama, and Parvati screen time. This episode had two out of three. I’m hoping, with Dan out of the mix, we can get all three in one episode soon.