I loved The Traitors but one massive mistake nearly ruined the whole series
The Traitors has been a brilliant series, but one thing in particular has really irked me - and it's not just the constant sobbing
Steffan is Reach PLC's Deputy Content Hub Director. He is also Reach's Head of Spare Time. He writes, edits and oversees content across Reach's large portfolio of websites, including some of the UK's largest national news websites like the Mirror and Express to its biggest regional websites like WalesOnline, the Manchester Evening News and Liverpool Echo. He covers everything from food, cooking and recipes to gardening, cleaning and DIY hacks to travel and places to go both inside the UK and abroad. He is particularly interested in healthy eating and ultra-processed food, as well as amazing places to go within the UK (he knows a lot about Wales). He also loves discovering and writing about pubs, restaurants, beaches and historic places to visit. He has won several awards, including Story of the Year at the Wales Media Awards for his work on a 50th anniversary tribute to the Aberfan disaster, as well as Website of the Year and Digital Initiative of the Year at the Regional Press Awards and News Website of the Year several times at the Wales Media Awards. He has been shortlisted for several more awards, including Online Editor of the Year at the Online Media Awards. He has also spoken at events, including most recently at the Welsh Crucible where he advised researchers on engaging with the media. If you think you have a story, get in touch by emailing steffan.rhys@reachplc.com He is a Welsh speaker who grew up in Carmarthenshire, joined Reach in 2006 and has worked in our Pontypridd, Bridgend, Carmarthen, London and Cardiff offices. He grew up supporting the Scarlets in rugby and Liverpool in football, and now cycles and runs to keep fit.
Let's just get this straight from the off: I'm a massive fan of The Traitors. It's top-notch telly and has been a delight to watch throughout.
It's an amazing concept, executed superbly, and I can't heap enough praise on everyone who played a part in bringing it to our screens. I've eagerly anticipated it every week and have relished the post-episode talk in the office and on WhatsApp groups. I'd be hard-pressed to find someone I know who doesn't tune in.
The regular tears can be a bit grating but as someone who wept silently throughout the entire Gavin and Stacey Christmas finale, I'm not really in a position to criticise.
Before you read on, be warned that this article contains spoilers, including the winner of Friday night's The Traitors final. So, as much as you might want to hear the thoughts of a random bloke you've never met, consider whether it's worth spoiling the final for if you haven't watched it yet.
Because, despite my love for the show, there was one fatal flaw in this series of The Traitors that spoiled the final for me: The Seer. I was intrigued by the early-series hype about a "never seen before" power that would be granted to one player before the final. I was eager to see what it would be. But once it was unveiled, the game was essentially over.
Frankie was handed the power and she decided to uncover Charlotte's 'true' identity. It was clear then that Charlotte, a likeable traitor who transformed from an innocent faithful with a fake Welsh accent to a cunning back-stabber, was done for. Frankie's fate seemed sealed too, and it was obvious Alexander wouldn't survive the final cut.
And that's exactly how it unfolded. The last moments of the finale were still worth watching, but a finale without a traitor lacks suspense and this finale paled in comparison to season two, where viewers watched in horror as traitor Harry shattered faithful Mollie's heart.
Would things have turned out differently if Frankie hadn't chosen Charlotte? Maybe. But there was always the chance that the Seer would pick a remaining traitor, sealing their fate. This decision also meant a significant part of the finale became a contest between Frankie and Charlotte over who could lie the loudest and most often insist that "I am a 100% faithful".
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The psychological element and the excellence of Minah's strategic planning from earlier in the series were sorely missed. Speaking of Minah, she was arguably the real winner of the show, demonstrating cool-headed calculation from the moment she was selected as a traitor until her unfortunate banishment from the round table. The title of best The Traitors contestant is a toss-up between her and series two's Harry.
Viewers took to social media to criticise The Seer too.
"I've loved this series but I feel like The Seer power has ruined the final a bit. Yeah it's added drama but it's made it a two horse race rather than all the cast in the end," voiced one disgruntled fan.
Another said: "The Seer has ruined it for me this year, absolute nonsense."
And another added: "Even if you didn't believe Frankie, there is no way you wouldn't get rid of Charlotte anyway. The game has been ruined."
Despite that The Traitors remains the best reality TV show I have ever watched. I already can't wait for series four.