“We would never interfere with the gameplay.”
Warning: This article contains spoilers forThe Traitorsepisode 8, “Knives at Dawn.”
There’s no denyingThe Bachelor’s “Pilot Pete,“a.k.a.
Peter Weber.Peacock
Peter Weber, was in serious trouble onThe Traitors.
His days were numbered.
But a last-minute twist saved him whenhost Alan Cummingannounced the banishment roundtable had been canceled.
So was the canceled banishment a last-minute addition to keep Peter around a little longer?
Check out EW’s chat with executive producer Sam Rees-Jones about all that and more below.
Peacock
ENTERTAINTMENT WEEKLY: Why did you choose Dan and Phaedra as the Traitors this season?
SAM REES-JONES:I think they both bring something completely different to the show, don’t they?
And the way that they approach it so differently is just so interesting to watch.
What was your reaction to watching Dans gameplay and how he ultimately got found out by the Faithfulssoearly?
You could argue he didn’t adapt quickly enough.
He got heat early on from Larsa, and it’s hard in that castle when you have heat.
It’s quite hard to shift that.
Was the way he accused her even allowed in the rules of the game?
Because I thought Traitors werent allowed to expose their fellow Traitors point-blank.
Dan was acting as a Faithful, so he could call out another Traitor.
But under the guise of a Faithful, he played within the rules.
It’s quite a stressful one to watch.
I know Phaedra is furious with him.
Yeah, I can’t even imagine.
[Laughs] I know.
I’m looking forward to the reunion with that.
Were you panicking, like, “We need to pivot and introduce a new twist here?”
No, I think it’s exciting!
That was a twist that had been planned for that episode before we even started filming.
We would never interfere with the gameplay because, well, one, we don’t need to.
And two, it wouldn’t be satisfying.
But as far as them all having a bit of heat, Phaedra didn’t have that much heat.
It was just Trishelle that commented in that episode.
I mean, it’s exciting when they start getting glimmers of Traitors.
That’s the game, isn’t it?
And that’s fun to watch.
So that wasn’t a response to anything that happened before.
It wasn’t a knee-jerk to Peter’s [refusal].
When Peter turned down the letter, it was so brilliant to watch.
What did you think of the ending?
There’s lots of moments that are going to happen that will take you by surprise.
You’re currently casting for season 3, so what other reality shows are you considering for new players?
Could we see someone from, like,Jersey Shoreturn up to the castle?
It is definitely too early [to reveal].
We consider everyone, and I think that’s the beauty of the show.
It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, or what your past is.
If it fits within the jigsaw of the casting puzzle, then brilliant.
Who would’ve imagined that John Bercow would be there and would work within the cast?
So, yeah, we absolutely consider all shows.
[Laughs] I know, yeah.
We’re excited to see where season 3 will go.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
