The Traitors Review: Karan Johar’s Reality Show Lacks Depth and Thrill

By Shanti Swaroop Tripathi

• Rating: 2.5 Stars
• Producer: Sameer Gogate for IDTV
• Writer: Juhi Goklani
• Creative Director: Neeraj Shetty
• Series Director: Nishant Nayak
• Host: Karan Johar

Contestants:  Raj Kundra, Uorfi Javed, Apoorva Makhija, Ashish Vidyarthi, Raftaar, Anshula Kapoor, Maheep Kapoor, Sahil, Karan Kundra, Laxmi, Soaeb Motiwala, Elnaaz Norouzi, Harsh Gujral, Mukesh Chhabra, Jasmin Bhasin, Sudhanshu Pandey, Poorab Jha, Jannat among twenty others.

Ever since satellite TV began in India, reality shows have been a staple. But over time, audiences have grown tired of them. Viewers are now aware that what is presented as "reality" is often entirely scripted. Shows like Salman Khan’s Bigg Boss have become so vulgar that many prefer to avoid them altogether. Amidst this fatigue, audiences were eagerly waiting for a reality show that offers clean, engaging entertainment.

On June 12 at 8 PM, a new reality series The Traitors began streaming on Amazon Prime Video, with new episodes dropping every Thursday. Hosted by Karan Johar, the show features 20 contestants. Each episode typically runs for around 1 hour and 5 minutes, with the first episode being slightly longer. We watched the first two episodes, and this review is based on them.

While The Traitors is a game of mind—where cunning and deception outplay friendship and rivalry—unfortunately, the first two episodes are quite underwhelming. If these episodes are anything to go by, the rest of the season may turn out to be even more monotonous.

This isn’t an original concept. The Traitors originated in the UK in 2022, produced by the BBC and hosted by the sharp yet charming Claudia Winkleman. Set against the foggy backdrop of a Scottish castle, the original show was a hit, combining psychological gameplay with high-stakes drama. The Indian version is a Hindi adaptation of this format, set in a palace in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

All 20 contestants are gathered at the palace. Right at the beginning, contestant Nikita Luthra eliminates Elnaaz Norouzi. Then, the host Karan Johar secretly selects three of the remaining contestants to be “Traitors” while the others are “Innocents.” The twist? Only the Traitors know who they are—no one else does.

Each day, the contestants play games to win prize money, with a total pot of up to one crore rupees. Every night, the Traitors secretly eliminate one Innocent contestant from the game. During the day, the remaining contestants try to identify the Traitors among them. Every night ends with a heated discussion in the “Circle of Suspicion,” leading to one contestant being voted out. The game revolves around deceit, suspicion, and psychological manipulation.

Review

The weakest link of The Traitors India is its cast. In the UK version, contestants included ex-army officers, swim coaches, and teachers, offering diverse backgrounds and unpredictable dynamics. In contrast, the Indian version is packed with controversial celebrities and social media influencers, who spend most of their time whispering and conspiring.

In the first episode, host Karan Johar sets the tone by selecting three Traitors and making them swear secrecy, adding some intrigue. But beyond that, the episode falls flat. Even the high-stakes challenge to win money comes across as dull and poorly executed.

The contestants start scheming and suspicion begins to rise. They attempt to outsmart each other, but since no one can reveal their true intentions, the conversations lack depth and intensity. The mind games, instead of being thrilling, end up feeling repetitive.

Moreover, the very premise of the show—promoting lying, betrayal, and elimination—raises concerns. Rather than fostering teamwork, empathy, or personal growth, the show encourages players to focus solely on “murder” and deceit. One has to ask: what kind of society are we glorifying through such formats?

In conclusion, while The Traitors had the potential to be an engaging psychological reality show, its execution in the Indian version fails to deliver excitement or meaning. It may appeal to fans of celebrity drama, but for those seeking substance or innovation in reality television, it falls short.

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