In a dramatic turn of events on BBC's The Traitors, the seemingly invincible player Rachel may have just made the mistake that costs her the entire game. After surviving intense roundtable confrontations, her decision to publicly target another contestant has potentially exposed her true allegiance.
The Unravelling of a Master Traitor
Until recently, Rachel, a communications head, was considered the strongest player in the castle. She had flawlessly balanced her dual role, acting as an alpha in the turret while maintaining an impeccable 'Faithful' facade downstairs. Her credentials seemed unbeatable after she successfully saw off rivals Fiona and Harriet at the roundtable.
Even when Harriet launched a furious, kamikaze-style attack on her, resulting in Harriet's own banishment, the Faithful remained unconvinced of Rachel's guilt. Fellow contestant Ellie summed up the prevailing mood, stating, 'I don't think anyone's thinking Rachel… It just doesn't feel like it's Rachel at the moment.'
A Rogue Accusation That Changes Everything
The pivotal moment came after the banishment of Sam. In what experts are calling a critical strategic error, Rachel chose to shoot a broadside at fellow player Faraaz. She publicly labelled him a Traitor not once, but twice in front of the group, even capping off the night by saying, 'Goodnight my Traitor son.'
This move was a significant gamble. Faraaz, an internal auditor, is a bedded-down member of Team Faithful and is one of the few contestants who has never had their name written down at the roundtable. By bringing unprovoked attention to him, Rachel has inadvertently caused Faraaz to turn his inquisitive eye towards her.
In a subsequent library conversation, Faraaz confirmed the shift, noting that Rachel's behaviour had prompted him to scrutinise her because he himself had exhibited 'no Traitorous behaviour.'
Why This Could Be Rachel's Downfall
This accusation has placed Rachel in a precarious position with no good outcome. Faraaz is currently one of three names up for murder, and Rachel appears unaware of the danger this presents.
If Faraaz is murdered, the Faithful will likely remember that Rachel accused him in front of everyone, creating a direct link. If the Traitors choose to murder Matthew or Jessie instead, they leave in the castle a now-suspicious Faraaz who has explicitly stated he will be watching Rachel.
This series has repeatedly shown that publicly accusing someone under little suspicion is a doomed strategy. Fiona, Harriet, and Hugo were all banished for similar failures to play a quieter game. Rachel's move, based on a thin ageist hunch about the youngest player, ignores this recent history—the very history that allowed her to survive previous roundtables.
Analysts suggest Rachel may have become overly arrogant or felt pressured to voice a theory to avoid the trap of saying too little, which has ensnared player Jade. However, the art of the game is saying just enough, as demonstrated by past players like Minah and Cat.
Rachel has previously dodged a grenade from Fiona and a kamikaze move from Harriet. It would be a stunning twist if the master Traitor's undoing was ultimately a self-inflicted wound, born from an unnecessary and poorly evidenced public accusation.
