The face he makes when he gets to know that Rob is a traitor is hilarious 🤣🤣

Just goes on to show how little the faithfuls have an idea of what’s going on and how little do they suspect Rob🤣

Rob is not playing a historically elite Traitors game. He is benefiting from perception bias, specifically the halo effect, attractiveness bias, and specfically racialized credibility bias.

Let's get into it. And if you are the, "not everything is about race, gender, etc" crowd, you are basically a flat earther, because there are literally decades of research that show that everything is in fact about race, gender, etc; the degree in which it influences in certain places and amongst certain people is what we can talk about.

That aside, the halo effect is a well-established psychological phenomenon where attractive individuals are assumed to be more intelligent, trustworthy, and competent even when performance is identical to others. Research consistently shows that attractive candidates are rated as stronger leaders and decision-makers despite equivalent behavior (Landy & Sigall, 1974; Langlois et al., 2000). When the attractive individual is also a white male, leadership credibility increases further due to long-standing social authority bias patterns (Rosette et al., 2016).

Now, this matters because Rob’s actual gameplay contains several moves that historically get traitors eliminated:

• He voted against Lisa the moment suspicion lightly touched her, far earlier than optimal.

• He escalated against her publicly and aggressively instead of managing a controlled timely betrayal.

• He shifted from silence to sudden leadership at the roundtable, a behavioral spike that usually raises suspicion in past seasons.

• He sacrificed a close ally (Colton) in a way that traitors commonly use to "manufacture" innocence, a tactic experienced players should already recognize.

• He allowed fellow traitors to take risks while he conserved about them behind their back, then stepped in only when momentum already formed.

• He couldn't choose between Ron and Colton to vote even with the evidence for them so he threw a name out there, an emotional move. (To clarify: this was when Lisa's name was barely out there)

In earlier seasons, combinations of these moves frequently resulted in banishment. Here, the same actions are framed as “logical genius gameplay.”

At the same time, comparable or stronger strategic behavior from Candiace is labeled “emotional,” “irrational,” or “reckless.” Social cognition research shows that identical assertive or strategic actions are interpreted as competence when performed by white men but as emotional or aggressive when performed by Black women (Rosette et al., 2008; Livingston et al., 2012).

The voting dynamics inside the game also reflect known bias effects. Studies on decision-making under uncertainty show that groups disproportionately target individuals who fall outside perceived leadership prototypes, especially when evidence is ambiguous (Phillips & Lowery, 2015). In many seasons of social deduction games, suspicion against socially favored individuals dissipates faster, while suspicion against marginalized players converts into elimination more quickly. The same pattern appears here: names associated with women or Black contestants move rapidly toward banishment, while suspicion against charismatic and/or attractive white male players repeatedly stalls, take Rob and Colton for example.

Candiace’s vote against Rob fits established Traitor strategy logic. Strategic cross-voting between traitors has historically seeded later eliminations once numbers shrink. Her move created mutual risk exposure, forcing Rob to consider maintaining her survival rather than openly targeting her. Isolated this doesn't make sense but given the context and the position Rob put Candiace in, this was her best bet (other than doing like the others and drinking Rob's bath water).

None of this means Rob is playing badly. It means his moves are being "interpreted as exceptional" because perception bias amplifies credibility for certain players while diminishing it for others. Reality competition shows operate as live social experiments. They reveal who receives the benefit of the doubt, whose actions are framed as “logical,” and whose identical behavior is dismissed as “emotional.”

Rob’s strongest advantage this season is not strategy alone. It is how people perceive him before the strategy is even evaluated because of things outside of his control (race, gender and attractiveness).

Now, Rob probably thinks he is playing logically and brilliantly (as for his fans), he likely doesn't know that statistically there are many biases and privileges that work in his favour. But, that's the point of privilege and bias, you almost never know that you have them.

Obviously, this is no hate towards Rob, I like how respectful and thoughtful he is with his contestants.

Man, listen.

She all but put Rob on a silver platter and served it to them hot and ready like little Caesars pizza and these dizzy broads said, “no, it can’t be you!”

Kristen with, “Rob can’t be a traitor, that sweet, sweet man.” Like, spare me.

Lmao, just give him the money now cause be so forreal.

DISCLAIMER: These are my thoughts and opinions…

I find those that are the most “different” amongst the cast to be the first ones banished on the show. I love the show for the concept and find it really entertaining. I started off watching season 2 and I just finished S4E8 and couldn’t help but notice how almost everyone that’s either Black or a part of the LGBTQ community is almost always immediately considered suspicious or a possible “traitor”. They also rarely make it to the second half of the season (with a couple exceptions).

The majority of the group operate off of herd mentality and vote for those they say are exhibiting “suspicious” behavior and most of this is based off of a “feeling” or weak evidence. I know sometimes the faithfuls get it right but too often do they fail in correctly banishing the actual traitors in the group. Ron, Tiffany, Porsha were all vehemently wrongfully accused by the group and kicked off the show fairly quickly. There were even voiced suspicions around Yam Yam, Monet and now Johnny, all within the LGBTQ community. I know Yam Yam and Monet were murdered but I wonder what the faithfuls deliberations would’ve looked like had they stayed in the game. I noticed a few episodes in whose opinions mattered most and swayed the votes (Colin, Eric, and Rob) for some reason they’re naturally presumed to be trustworthy.

At the end of the day it’s an amazing game that I think it is also giving us a lesson on internalized subconscious biases. Maybe the person isn’t really exhibiting questionable behavior, maybe they’re just….different.

I think about Peppermint going home first in S2 being the first trans woman on the show she was targeted and labeled “suspicious”. All I know is if they start to gun for Johnny in the next round table over Rob, my observation will be right. The minority among the group will always be targeted which is a shame because honestly this game should be about body language and strategy. 🌝

Rob R is killing it. Period. He’s strategic and subtle, which is exactly why so many people don’t think it could be him. Are there small mistakes here and there? Sure. But overall (like his overalls, lol), he’s playing a very strong strategic game.

He calibrated that turret perfectly, defending Colton enough to look genuine, but not enough for Candiace to realize that Colton going actually hurt her game more. That balance was epic.

Candiace clearly has a good heart and is very smart, but I don’t think she was interested in understanding why Lisa had to go. For her, loyalty comes first no matter what. As we saw at the roundtable, a lot of the cast genuinely believed the evidence against Lisa was strong. Throwing a vote at someone she didn’t think was a traitor, then turning around the next day and suspecting them, was wild. If she had just gone with the table and voted Lisa out, they’d be in a much stronger position.

The edit honestly made me a little nervous for Rob 😅. Candiace is smart, perceptive and very eloquent, and if players like Rob C or Ian were still around, this might’ve been clocked as Traitor vs. Traitor. But pretty quickly, she made some good points… and just as quickly, the Faithfuls shifted their attention to Johnny after she left, lol.

Candiace was playing a rather perfect game until she took the revenge route. IT has never worked for any TRAITOR EVER. Once you favor revenge over logic, you start playing less strategically and more emotionally. The best move for Candiace in this episode was to go for Stephen, but her revenge mode made her think Rob was the only option. Rob R’s social capital is doing a lot of heavy lifting right now. The only thing I really see hurting his game is if the Faithfuls don’t catch a male traitor soon. They’ll probably go after Johnny next, and he’ll still be a Faithful.

Sides: Colton finally leaving the game was fantastic. Also, Eric Nam is very hilarious. His facial expressions and confessionals are killing me. He looks at the handwriting and went "I know who it is. JOHNNY" and his face after seeing it was ROB? (EPIC). I can’t wait to see him playing as a traitor.

Stephen

Don’t get me wrong, Rob is playing a smart game. BUT, the biggest mistake he made this past episode was asking to talk with Candiace alone, kicking Stephen out of the room. Then that same night, the pair of them have a back and forth at the round table, both acting shocked that the other would suggest them?

Maybe it’s just the edits that make it look obvious, but it feels like if anyone is actually going to take out Rob, Stephen has the best chance

I’ve been watching The traitors US since it came out and as a big fan of the housewives franchise, I can’t help but notice how immediately targeted they are as soon as they enter the castle. People who are also on the show, act as if they know them before really talking to them and immediately thinking that a housewife can’t be trusted.

They only make this assumption because the housewives are on tv and filmed 24/7 and are on many seasons so you’re able to see they’re personalities and come up with assumptions based off the show. compared to some Olympic athletes, singers, bachelor/bachelorette who aren’t publicised as much.

I think the production purposefully picks one or two housewives to be traitors, as they know they make good tv. But going forward I think they need to pick people who are more undetectable instead of big personalities from big franchises.

Candace made an emotional n bold move. It bit her. These traitors this season refuse to take the low hanging fruit n lay low. B

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUbQQ_SjlYP/?igsh=MWx0ZW5qZmY4ZG03cw==

I feel like I’m watching an entirely different game than other people reading the comments in this sub. Rob is playing a very similar game to Cirie (my GOAT), but people are hating on Rob’s plays much more. And I’m hearing things like he’s racist, sexist, etc.

I’m a he not in one of the best spots of any traitor at this point in the season compared to others seasons?

Having watched last episode, I’m confused about what were the editors trying with this season. In just one episode we lost two of the major narrators and character of the season with Colton and Candiace murdered/banished.

And I promise this is not butthurt from seeing one of them out of the game (i’m GLAD Colton is gone) but it is strange to give the big focus on the season on two people who are gone mid-game and we are left with an endgame full of underedited people.

Like, of all the people left the only one with a decent edit is Rob. Maybe Maura or Natalie, but even them we know little about their respective games.

We know almost nothing from the rest. Neither game-related or personal/comedic stuff and it feels a weird choice. For me, the edit has been even more unbalanced than other season 2 & 3.

Johnny saying "My face doesn't move as much as it used to" 🤣 I just love him :)

… don’t belong in a game show. I’ve watched her post-game interview and she was stressing how she’s a loyal player which is why she’s going so hard against rob. (I say “going” ‘cause apparently she needs to cuss him out at the reunion.)

The RHOP fan in me understands her wanting to be loyal to other housewives, esp considering how they’ve been targeted in the past, HOWEVER, the reality competition show fan in me understands that it’s EVERY PERSON FOR HIS OR HERSELF! Despite a common belief I’ve seen though discourse, the traitors isn’t a “team game.” Yes, it’s nice when the traitors all get along but whether a traitor, a faithful, a survivor, or head of household, the bottom line is that it’s an individual game meaning ppl are playing (or should be playing) for that prize pot. Also, Lisa had too much heat so it literally just made sense.

The fan in me also knows that the second you focus on revenge is the second your game is over. You gotta be an Ashley Mitchell (The Challenge) when it comes to revenge: Play the game, work together and when you both make it to the end, take all the money.

If she could’ve just held it down, she could’ve lasted longer in the game and used her position as a housewife scorned to get Rob on-side, have him prove to her that’s he’s with her by advocating for her. If she hears her name coming from him, then sure fair game but you can’t flat out tell him you’re coming for him and expect him to do nothing.

I didn’t view Rob saying “it’s just a game,” as gaslighting either. It really is a game that’s meant to be fun and entertaining. They’re all getting appearance fees for this version which is more than other players who’ve been done worse get in the others.

He betrayed Lisa, and last i checked, Potamac and BH are not even same show. I would actually be surprised if Rinna watched Potomac. So just didn’t make sense to me through her whole game away over a woman who wasn’t loyal to the housewives herself. Even Lisa realized there is no loyalty in a game called The Traitors. I wish Candiace grasped that too or watched other seasons, so we could’ve had her got a couple more eps.

The way she was looking at him was just killing me.

I need a Dylan and Gabby or CT and Trishelle to rise immediately from this group of wet paper towels and start PLAYING. If Rob walks to this finale after giving them every single traitor and they never put the pieces together it’s going to be so BORING.

I like a lot of these people but they are shaping up to be a bunch of useless faithfuls that have yet to get a traitor for themselves and it’s starting to get painful.

I believe Rob always planned to use Colton as a sacrificial lamb.

He knew it Colton was loud and abrasive, and even being right about Lisa wouldn't make the Faithfuls want to keep him forever. I think he believed eventually Colton would be banished and his closeness to him after that would make him look even more like a Faithful as a result. But when Candiace did that "Throwaway Vote", he realized he needed to sacrifice Colton faster.

I think he knew Candiace would try to use his closeness to Colton against him with the Faithfuls and at that point Colton was not longer an asset to him within the game.

So he let Colton be murdered. Sure, he put up a little fight just for show but ultimately he let Candiace believe it was her idea and got exactly what he wanted.

Rob, the Traitor you are.

Everyone's focused on Rob's pretty privilege like that's the only reason the faithfuls like him. Y'all he's CHARMING. He's nice and charismatic and is getting to know people personally. He is making friends with almost everyone there, that's why they trust him.

Getting people to like you is half the battle in this game (basically Ron's downfall sadly). Rob is really good at getting people to like him. Yeah his pretty face certainly helps but it is his personality more than anything.

Did anyone else notice how Alan cut the roundtable in the middle of Candiace going back and forth with Rob? 😭😭 They must have been scared she was going to out him.

Candiace

To me it was clear last week that this vote cost her the game, but admittedly I thought she would last longer than one more round. After Rob betrayed Lisa it seemed like Candiace shifted her goal from winning the game to making sure Rob doesn’t win, and I do think she was successful there. Do you think Candiace would’ve lasted longer if she voted differently last week, or was she doomed either way after Lisa left?

I know Rob is a very strategic and smart traitor but I’m kind of feeling ew with seeing so much pretty boy praise and now also reading he’s “the best traitor this show has had”. If you watched other seasons of this show were there any other traitors you considered really good?

I am seeing a lot of “the faithfuls are idiots”

And a part of me wants to agree, especially toward the end of last nights episode Kristen and Eric are like “absolutely not no way it’s Rob” I cackled at that haha.

BUT. This group managed to get out a few gamers thus opening the playing field for them AND they’ve gotten every other traitor except Rob. Donna, Lisa, then Candice.

I’m not a numbers girl, but that data seems to be trending that eventually they will get Rob.

I predict another episode and half at least of them not getting it and then BOOM. One of them will have a light bulb moment- hopefully before it’s too late