THE TRAITORS US Season 3 Reunion

Writer Caroline Framke (Vulture, Variety) returns to the pod for a freewheeling and wideranging discussion of the messy reunion of The Traitors Season 3, as well as a further debrief. of the finale and season as a whole. We discuss whether or not Tom Sandoval’s redemption arc is overhyped or not (he’s being sued for revenge porn, so let’s settle down a bit everyone) Ivar Mountbatten’s dark past in Venezuelan mining and election tampering (google it!) Gabby Windey’s nuptials (unfortunately not to me) and where Boston Rob and Dylan Efron’s showmance will take them next. Plus the confusing lore of the Britney/Danielle/Reindeer Games drama and how production might have failed its own Master Thespian Traitor.

And NO, you still haven’t heard the last of us for the season! Join Richard, Emily and FTB guest Katey Rich Wednesday March 12 at 11 a.m. PT for a live chat on The Ankler Live to talk about this season and the future of the show.

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THE TRAITORS US Season 3 Finale

“You see us as you want to see us — in the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a bachelorette and a housewife, and a british royal, and Zac Efron’s brother. Does that answer your question?”

Richard and Emily delve into the mostly maddening, occasionally satisfying season finale of The Traitors, and discuss the future of the franchise given the unprecedented events of this season. What elements of the game need to be thrown out? Why is it a feature and not a bug that people like D*****s and I**r consistently can win The Traitors? Will we cover UK Season 3 now that it’s on Peacock? And perhaps most importantly: did Danielle Reyes cost the show its 2025 Emmy?

We’ll be back for one last installment covering the Reunion episode, but leave us a voicemail at (319) 224-0339 if you would like more First to Breakfast in your life!

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THE TRAITORS US Episode 310

It had to happen some time (I guess!?!?) — Tom Sandoval has left the castle. We discuss his glowing self-generated report card for his time in the castle, plus Gabby finally coming into her own, Ivar and Chat GPT coming into their own, and that ridiculous cliffhanger. Will Britney throw Danielle under the bus for a second time on reality television? Will Dolores learn to count? Will Alan ever give anyone the Power of the Seer? We hear it’s a power like no other. With the potential to change the game… forever. All of this is questionably worth the wait as we head into next week’s possibly disastrous season finale.

Leave us a voicemail at (319) 224-0339 or send us an email at [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit firsttobreakfast.substack.com

THE TRAITORS US Episode 309

As a final defiant Minnesotan holler echoes through the Scottish highlands, The Ankler’s Richard Rushfield and Shōgun writer Emily Yoshida discuss a heartbreaking episode and the loss of a fan favorite. But before we do, Emily reports from her visit to the Traitors Experience in Los Angeles this past week, and what it was like to take on missions and hold her own at the round table with a group of Traitors stans and actors in kilts at an OTT L.A. mansion.

This week’s tearful round table was a lot to take in — literally screaming and crying and shaking on the floor over here — but between contestants’ tweets and podcast interviews, the game’s off-screen “meta” story is becoming impossible to ignore. We dive into that, and some possible major problems the producers are going to have to address for the next season, but most importantly, pay our respects to the Tattooed Goddess Carolyn Wiger. We also take a listener call about the Official Traitors Rulebook and how its interpretation may be affecting some players’ strategy.

Leave us a voicemail at (319) 224-0339 or send us an email at [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit firsttobreakfast.substack.com

THE TRAITORS US Episode 307

The Traitors isn’t the only show to deal with a notable absence — we’re down a cohost with Emily Yoshida out this week. But stepping in to assist Richard in an uncertain post- Emily and Boston Rob world is The Ankler’s Katey Rich, whose expertise of Hollywood awards season strategy and backstabbery is second only to her Traitors insight. Together they discuss the better-late-than-never emergence of Sam Asghari as an entity on this show, the third unearthing of the unkillable Coffin Theory, and an unfortunately wildly successful episode for Tom Sandoval, both in the castle and perhaps in his long future career as a reality TV gamer. And they speculate how the latest clash of Danielle and Carolyn will shake out, and try to predict who the Traitors will seduce or destroy.

Leave us a voicemail at (319) 224-0339 or send us an email at [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit firsttobreakfast.substack.com

THE TRAITORS US Episode 307

Ding dong the Rob is dead! The day that faithful and traitors alike thought would never come finally dawned on the castle, as Boston Rob’s reign came to a sudden, almost unexpected end. Once again this week, Emily Yoshida and Richard Rushfield convene to pick through the ashes of the dreams of reality TV’s Great White Shark. In his wake, we wonder: where does this leave the remaining faithful without a de facto leader — traitor or otherwise? Do Britney and Dylan have what it takes to get to the Final? Has Tom Sandoval at last been redeemed as a guy who’s “not totally useless all the time”? And what will be the lasting trauma of the most disgusting televised wedding this side of Bachelor Nation?

Leave us a voicemail at (319) 224-0339 or send us an email at [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit firsttobreakfast.substack.com

THE TRAITORS US Episode 306

Emily and Richard reunite to discuss THE most dysfunctional traitors turret we’ve seen in any iteration of this show, with all three traitors now gunning for each other —in addition to the faithfuls they’re supposed to be murdering. But who’s to blame for this chaos? Is Boston Rob’s high-risk Icarian gameplay sustainable in a house ruled by volatile emotions, goldfish-like memories, and increasingly tragic dinner offerings? What led to self-proclaimed Winningest Winner Wes’s downfall? Will Derrick live to see another day after taking an admirable but ultimately failed shot at the king? Who is responsible for Sam Asghari being here, and will he get to experience the joy of a fudge brownie before he meets his doom? All this and more in a supremely entertaining hour of The Traitors.

Leave us a voicemail at (319) 224-0339 or send us an email at [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit firsttobreakfast.substack.com

THE TRAITORS US Episode 305

Apologies for the late episode! Richard is out this week and Emily is joined by friends and Traitors aficionados Caroline Framke and Marie Bardi to talk about an episode that was light on Round Table fireworks but heavy on Pure Grade A stupidity. We discuss where Bob Harper’s getting all that Thom Browne and the cast member 2/3 of us are unfortunately attracted to. Plus, the long awaited connection between Tom Sandoval and Voldemort the Dark Lord.

Leave us a voicemail at (319) 224-0339 or send us an email at [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit firsttobreakfast.substack.com

THE TRAITORS US Episode 304

A battle for the ages at the round table!  Shōgun’s Emily Yoshida and Ankler columnist Richard Rushfield load up their stale croissants and take in one of the greatest showdowns in Traitors history, as traitors Bob the Drag Queen and Boston Rob fight for their lives before the unsuspecting faithful.  Elsewhere in the show: they look for the early signs of who is playing to win in this castle and who is just making noise, how did Dylan miss that coffin right in front of his face, and what happens when the Traitors turret starts to unravel this early on. It’s a recap to remember for an episode we won’t soon forget.

Leave us a voicemail at (319) 224-0339 or send us an email at [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit firsttobreakfast.substack.com

And we're off to the evil races. The Ankler's Richard Rushfield and SHŌGUN's Emily Yoshida dig into the first three episodes of The Traitors’ third US season, desperately trying to keep track of the multitude of Housewives, Gamers, and Bobs. Richard explains Survivor to Emily. Emily explains Tom Sandoval to Richard. And a special in-studio guest drops by for additional expert analysis.

Leave us a voicemail at (319) 224-0339 or send us an email at [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit firsttobreakfast.substack.com