Warning: Spoilers from “The Traitors: New Blood” Episode 8 below…
“Fruit-gate” is being put to rest at last.
For the past three episodes of “The Traitors: New Blood,” Victor has been pushing his (correct) theory that Tomica and Joe are Traitors after a murder in plain sight involving a poisoned apple tipped him off. But despite his efforts, he failed to convince his fellow Traitors to support him and received the most votes at the Round Table last week.
Before he was banished, however, host Alan Cumming shocked the players by announcing that Victor could be saved via the Power of the Pardon. The recipient of the special power would solely decide Victor’s fate, choosing to have the banishment continue or deciding to spare him.
Episode 8, out Oct. 29 and titled “A Bad Apple Spoils The Whole Bunch,” revealed the winner of the power and if Victor’s time on the show would continue. After the decision was made, the players only had a few hours to recover before Cumming arrived at breakfast the next morning to announce a surprise midday Round Table would begin immediately.
In between the Round Tables, the Traitors also met in the turret to murder another innocent Faithful. So, did two or three players leave the castle by the end of the episode? Read a recap of Episode 8 below and find out if Traitors Tomica, Joe and Katie dodged suspicion once more.
The Power of the Pardon Is Unleashed
Fans didn’t have to wait long for the cliffhanger from last episode to be resolved. Alan swiftly announced that Shane won the Power of the Pardon and handed him a special medallion. Victor had to convince Shane, who voted for him to be banished, to change his mind and save him. Victor said he would not beg or plead for his life in the game. He simply told Shane that he was a Faithful and if he needed to be banished to prove that, then so be it.
The tactic worked and Shane decided to pardon Victor, meaning the banishment was put on hold. Victor was elated and declared, “Tomorrow a Traitor will fall.”
In her confessional, Tomica, who received the second highest number of votes, said she was concerned fellow Traitor Katie had voted for her. Meanwhile, Katie revealed in her confessional that she was confused by Victor’s revelation that Tomica had thrown her name out.
Elsewhere in the castle, Faithfuls started to doubt that Victor was a Traitor based on his reaction to learning about the Power of the Pardon. They began to wonder if maybe “fruit-gate” had merit.
A Pivotal Murder Changes the Game
After all the Round Table chaos, the Traitors met in the turret to unpack the events of the night. Joe shared in his confessional that he wanted the Traitors to stick together despite the tension between Tomica and Katie.
Katie immediately dismissed any possible issues brewing between her and Tomica. She said she knew Tomica didn’t have the votes to go when she voted for her. She also said she thought the Traitors needed to distance themselves from each other and that it would confuse the Faithfuls if they didn’t vote together.
The conversation switched to the next elimination. The three decided that Abby L., Victor and Clyde should be on the shortlist for murder.
At breakfast, Victor was one of the first to arrive. He, again, shared his plan to target Tomica. When she walked into the dining room next, she and Victor engaged in a back-and-forth, accusing each other of being Traitors.
All the players made their grand entrances before it was revealed that Abby L. had been murdered. In a flashback to the turret, Joe explained that he wanted to get rid of Abby L. because she caused “the most dissent” with her theory about Wyatt being a Traitor. Katie also pointed out that Abby L. didn’t suspect any of them, so she was the perfect person to go.
When Abby L. received her murder letter from the Traitors, she said she was “really pissed off.”
She then doubled down on her final incorrect theory. “I knew it. It’s Wyatt. If I were Wyatt, I would’ve killed me too, so I get it,” she said.
Abby L. added, “But, it’s been so much fun meeting everyone. So much amazing people from such different backgrounds that I never would’ve met in my normal life. I have a lot of data I need to analyze so I’ll get back to that, I guess.”
Alan interrupted the players’ breakfast to share some unexpected news: the group would skip the mission and go straight to the Round Table.
Leading up to the next elimination, both Tomica and Katie voiced their concerns in their confessional interviews. Tomica said Victor was “rotten” as he was shown following her around the castle from room to room. Katie revealed she regretted not supporting Tomica’s idea to murder Victor two episodes ago.
All Eyes on the Traitors at the Round Table
At the Round Table, Victor opened the discussion by questioning why Abby L. was murdered. It was suggested that the Traitors had murdered Abby L. to frame Wyatt and take suspicion away from Tomica. When Tomica tried to defend herself and explain why she accidentally said Katie’s name last week, Kriste jumped in to defend her. She said Tomica’s error was due to menopause. Jay also chimed in, reiterating his theory that Victor was a Traitor.
But Victor was relentless. He put pressure on Joe, asking him to reveal his Traitor ideas. Joe briefly stumbled over his words before conceding that it was possible Tomica was a Traitor.
When it was time to vote, fellow Traitors Joe and Katie joined many Faithfuls in casting votes for Tomica. She was banished from the game after watching her allies turn on her.
“First, I want to say I love this game. I’ve had an awesome time with every single last one of you,” Tomica said while standing on the Circle of Truth. “But I flew my plane a little too close to the sun and got burnt. Because I’m a Traitor.”
Most of the players started to cheer and celebrate. Clyde, who was close friends with Tomica, began to sob.
In her last confessional, the pilot said she was in disbelief that the players figured out she was a Traitor. “Victor staying around sowed too many seeds,” she pointed out.
“I came on this show to be a Traitor. I wanted to push my limits but I got so much more along the way. I learned about myself. I learned about friendships and it’s been a really good ride. It’s been a great ride. I’m thankful for it,” she added before wiping away tears.
The Traitors Scramble After the Fallout from the Round Table
After congratulating the players, Alan announced that there would be a “Highland Feast” to celebrate.
In his confessional, Joe said he was hurt that he had to vote out Tomica. He said he felt awful and began to cry. Katie expressed a similar sentiment and noted that Joe looked suspicious “in default” because Victor suspected he was a Traitor, too. She called Victor the “messiah of the castle” and said he now has a lot of influence over the Faithfuls.
The final moments of the episode showed Joe confronting Victor in the kitchen. He asked Victor directly if he planned to come after him next. Victor replied that he didn’t expect to make it through the next murder. Joe bluntly told him if he was a Traitor, he would murder him next.
What Will Happen Next Episode?
Episode 9, “Playing Chess,” will air on Thursday, Nov. 5, on NBC at 8 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. CT.
Viewers will see the Highland Feast commence and learn if Joe will follow through on his threat toward Victor.
There are only two episodes left before the dramatic season comes to an end on Thursday, Nov. 19, with an extended two-hour finale.
