SPOILER ALERT: This column contains potential spoilers about “The Traitors.” 

Peacock’s “The Traitors” is an Emmy Award-winning show for a reason. The murder-mystery competition show set in the idyllic Scottish Highlands has continued to capture audience attention as it reaches the end of its third season.  

The show is set like a giant version of a childhood favorite game Mafia. Most of the cast are “faithfuls” and a few are hand-picked by host, and the impeccably dressed, Alan Cumming to be the “traitors.” The traitors are given a mission to select a faithful to “kill” each night. As members begin to fall, the faithfuls must figure out who of the group are traitors.  

Every night, there is a very tense roundtable where suspicions are brought up and the cast must defend themselves from banishment. When our faithfuls get it right and banish a traitor, it is exhilarating, but for the most part, they get it incredibly wrong. During the day, our cast is also trying to add money to their prize pot through bizarre challenges that make you wonder: who came up with this stuff?  

I will admit, my main reason for tuning in was for Tom Sandoval. Sandoval, the disgraced star of “Vanderpump Rules,” whose name became synonymous with cheaters everywhere is perfect for reality TV. Almost two years ago, “Scandoval” erupted, making him a villain in pop culture. He is smug and self-righteous, so I knew that he would be absolutely insane to watch on the show (spoiler alert: I was right).  

“The Traitors” is based off of the Dutch series “De Verraders“ and has been spun off in the UK as well. The U.S. version of “The Traitors” is campy, dramatic and filled with TV’s best and brightest reality stars. The mansion features members from “The Real Housewives,” “Survivor” legends, “Big Brother” icons, a royal, “The Bachelorette” and even Britney Spears’ ex-husband.  

If you don’t know the players and haven’t watched yet, that’s okay! If you are like me, much of your watching also includes Alan Cumming, a Broadway legend famous for his portrayal of the Emcee in “Cabaret.” He plays a dramatized version of himself, equipped with Shakespearean-esque quotes flared perfectly with his Scottish accent.  

I watched every episode with my roommates, including one who loves all things competition shows and knows the history behind castmates on “The Challenge” and “Survivor,” and one who hates all things Bravo. I lie somewhere in the middle, obsessed with niche micro-celebrities and rooting for the more dramatic members over the logical and strategic.  

I cannot compare this season with the others as I haven’t watched season one or two, but I know that what made this season especially good was the fact that the traitors weren’t very good at their jobs. The season started with three traitors: Carolyn Wiger from season 44 of “Survivor,” Danielle Reyes from “Big Brother 7” and Bob the Drag Queen, whose full name is Christopher Caldwell, from “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” “Survivor” icon “Boston Rob” Mariano was recruited as traitor in episode two of this season after initially being offered to join the group in the first episode.  

From the get-go, tensions were high in the traitor’s turret. Danielle and Carolyn were constantly arguing. Mariano decided he had to banish Caldwell from the roundtable after Caldwell aired his suspicions. During each episode, it felt like the traitors were more focused on getting each other out than being strategic.  

As a viewer, we knew who the traitors were, so seeing the faithfuls continuously choose the wrong people was frustrating. The clues felt so obvious, yet it seemed like the faithfuls made decisions based on one person bringing a name up. For example, WWE star Nikki Garcia was accused of being a traitor due to her being on the quieter side. When she revealed herself as a faithful, you almost had to laugh. 

On March 6th, the finale and reunion special aired on Peacock and it is not the outcome I expected. After banishing every traitor minus Reyes, she recruited her “Big Brother” frenemy Britney Haynes to join her as a traitor. The two promised they would end the game together, splitting the prize money. It seemed like the perfect pairing, but when suspicions arose about Reyes as a traitor, Haynes ended up voting for her at the roundtable. It was a shocking moment revealed to us after a week-long cliffhanger.  

Haynes had formerly betrayed Reyes during the “Big Brother Reindeer Games” making this the second time she has been the reason for a Reyes loss. When Haynes revealed she voted for her, Reyes stated, “You did it to me again.” The tension was palpable, leaving Haynes in true tears and Reyes bitter.  

Haynes did not end up winning. She was banished by the faithfuls leading to a very wholesome ending. Our faithfuls — made up of “Real Housewives of New Jersey’s” Dolores Catania, fan favorite Dylan Efron, “Bachelorette” Gabby Windey and Lord Ivar Mountbatten (a British aristocrat) — took home the prize. When it was revealed that the group was made up of only faithfuls, it was the payoff the audience wanted.  

This is exactly why “The Traitors” works. It features talent with well-established personalities and some that have major history with one another. Locking the most expressive, drama-starting people in a mansion with each other almost forces them to turn on each other.  

I look forward to the next season, manifesting for certain reality TV stars to appear. My dream cast would feature former “Bachelor” and “Dancing with the Stars” winner Joey Graziadei, former “Real Housewives of New York” star Ramona Singer or Youtuber Trisha Paytas. Casting, I have notes!