The Traitors: New Blood Season 1 Episode 9 Review: Playing Chess
We finally had an exciting episode after a few weeks of duds. The Traitors: New Blood Season 1 Episode 9,” Playing Chess,” gives us some of the things we have been begging for.
“Playing Chess” starts with a dinner party where someone gets murdered. This is unlike how many previous episodes begin, so that automatically adds some excitement. That continues with us trying to figure out, along with the Faithfuls, who the Traitors murdered.
R.I.P. Morgan.
After this major event, expect the same Fruitgate rehashing, but it’s a bit more intriguing. Despite Victor successfully eliminating Traitor Tomica, the Faithfuls still don’t completely trust him. It also just seems like people aren’t willing to say goodbye to their friend Joe.
They’re looking for any excuse to banish anyone but Joe.
Some clever editing could be at play here, but Joe doesn’t seem dead yet. However, the editors’ love of cliffhangers continues. The editors leave us in the dark about whether Joe leaves or if the target has successfully shifted to someone else, likely Wyatt.
This cliffhanger has us intrigued again because it seemed like Joe wouldn’t make it to the next episode, and he might not, but now we’re uncertain.
That’s enough to keep us glued to The Traitors: New Blood for at least one more week. Additionally, “Playing Chess” hints at a romance between Katie and Victor. We hadn’t really seen this discussed in previous episodes.
This may be why his suspicions haven’t gone her way, and that may be something to watch for in the final few episodes. Katie may become Victor’s blind spot. This could lead to an epic finale if they’re both in it.
The missions are always one of the weaker parts of The Traitors episodes, especially the US version. However, this Traitors classic is one of the more entertaining ones. “Playing Chess” works on multiple levels this week.
We learn more about everyone else, we have an entertaining challenge, and the cliffhanger works this time.
Maybe the producers and editors have been having a slow mid-half because they’re planning to go full force with the final episodes by really highlighting the other players, giving us some intrigue, and maybe an exciting finale.
We were starting to lose hope with The Traitors: New Blood. However, this episode feels like a major step back in the right direction. It isn’t perfect but a vast improvement from the last few weeks.
We can now see a path of an entertaining and enthralling finale.
“Playing Chess” allows other characters beyond Victor and Joe to shine, while not making Fruitgate disappear, but not preoccupying the episode so much. It’s nicely balanced with a fun classic Traitors challenge and a cliffhanger worth waiting for.
Let’s hope New Blood keeps up the momentum set from this episode.
What did you think of this episode of The Traitors: New Blood? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!
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The Traitors: New Blood airs Thursdays at 8/7 c on NBC.
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Jerrica Tisdale
Jerrica Tisdale is your favorite neighborhood pop culture junkie. She will annoy you with random TV and film facts, while complaining about whatever is the hottest new book. She has been a TV fan all her life but writing about it for over a decade. You may find her work all over the internet especially reality TV rants. She is a senior writer at Tell-Tale TV.