Harriet’s dramatic banishment is yet more evidence that shutting up is the only way to play as a Faithful
This story contains spoilers for The Traitors
When will they ever learn? Just one day after Fiona sealed her own fate by gobbing off about Rachel being a Traitor, Harriet has gone and done the exact same thing. She couldn’t have been surprised that it was her – and not Rachel – who was banished at the end of tonight’s Round Table.
Let’s rewind. The episode started with Harriet’s audience with the Traitors, which she took as an opportunity to say her piece to them, rather than a special opportunity to glean some information. With a face like thunder, she told Rachel and Stephen (who were hidden behind a confession booth door): “I may not know who you are, but I want you to know who I am.” And so began her ill-thought-out rampage against the Traitors.
At breakfast the next morning, the Faithfuls (and Rachel), who knew who had the power to speak to the Traitors, all agreed they would have a private conflab before revealing what had happened. Their plan never came to fruition, however, as Harriet announced that she wasn’t “acting as a collective with anybody anymore”.
I couldn’t believe my eyes as I watched her publicly accuse Rachel of being a Traitor in front of the entire group. This was the exact behaviour that had brought suspicion to Fiona’s door and ended with her banishment. But Harriet went even further – and soon her frustration spilled over into rudeness.
“I was not going to allow a day of any further machinating and web-weaving around me because I have had enough,” she declared. “I have had enough; I am on to you. You should have killed me when you had the chance.” She spoke over Rachel and Roxy, raising her voice and shooting daggers around the room. Watching her unravel was incredibly uncomfortable – and not in the spirit of the fun skullduggery we love about The Traitors.
Arguments are the backbone of the show, and nine times out of 10, they’re great fun. Remember the breakfast showdown of series one when Tom and Alex revealed they were a secret couple? Or Fozia and Linda’s hilarious rivalry? This felt nastier.
Harriet is an incredibly smart woman. She’s a published author of psychological thrillers and used to be a criminal barrister. It shouldn’t go unnoticed that she correctly identified a Traitor twice: first Hugo, then Rachel. Which makes it all the more mind-blowing that she would commit the worst Faithful sin: piping up.
Meanwhile, Matthew – who, if you remember, became a treacherous Faithful and asked the Traitors to recruit him – kept his conversation with the Traitors close to his chest. And while the secrecy did draw some suspicion, it wasn’t half as much attention as was drawn to Harriet. Yet further proof that there’s only one way to win The Traitors and that is to keep your mouth shut.
Or rather, say just enough. There have been instances of players drawing suspicion to themselves for being too quiet – we’re seeing it happen to Faithful Jade in the current series. But there’s a difference between being quiet and being timid. Last series, Traitor Minah got very far by only putting her head above the parapet when she was forced, as did Cat Burns in the Celebrity version.
As for Faithfuls, declaring your Traitor accusations to the entire group when you are the only one suspicious of that person has never played out well. Take series four’s Jaz (AKA Jazatha Christie), who almost made it to the final until he was banished for finally saying his piece. Cool, calm and collected Harriet was on track to become one of the best Faithfuls the game has ever seen – until it all got too much for her.
“If my voice is shaking, it is not through nerves,” she told the Traitors at their secret meeting. “It is through anger that you have taken me for such a fool.” How unfortunate that she ended up living up to their expectations.
‘The Traitors’ continues tomorrow at 8pm on BBC One
