40 Traitors Rules and Sneaky Behind-the-Scenes Secrets You Didn’t Know

But season 2 marked the first time players were able to sit down with Alan to plead their case on whether they’d be deemed a Traitor or Faithful.

Season 1 star Cirie Fields revealed to E! that players were told there could be between three to five Traitors.

While it might look like contestants get their own rooms at Ardross Castle, Alan told The Daily Beast that they actually sleep in a hotel located near Inverness Airport.

The host said that while he has a large changing room where he sometimes napped during production, he also had to leave the castle every night.

Although contestants are often spotted with a drink in hand (a glass of wine contributed to a massive plot point in season 2!), Season 2 star Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu told Entertainment Weekly that they’re only allowed one drink a night.

“My first idea was to do it on a ship in Australia, and if somebody had to be out of the game, he or she had to jump into the water and swim to an island, but then I thought it would be too difficult to produce,” creator Marc Pos told Variety. Although filming the entire series on a boat was too tricky, there have been several water-themed missions thus far.

But producers told Parade that they decided to expand the set to allow for extra scheming in Season 2, opening up the kitchen and an outdoor terrace, in addition to the library, the billiards room, the bar, and the roundtable room.

Season 1 star Arie Luyendyk revealed that most players would be lucky to get around six hours of sleep a night. “It takes probably an hour for your brain to kind of shut off,” he told US Weekly. “You’re there for so long and it’s one of those things where we probably started at 8 or earlier and we probably were up till about 12 to 2 in the morning, depending on if you’re the Traitor or not, because the Traitors had to do their thing after the whole day was finished.”

If the Traitors recruit a player, they must forfeit that night’s murder, running the risk of keeping Faithfuls who might be onto them.

“They’re checking on you at all times,” Season 2 player Mercedes Javid said on the Just Sayin’ podcast. “They’re so cheerful and professional. I felt taken care of at all times.” Fellow castmate Ekin-Su recalled an instance when she cried “overwhelming tears” to a welfare team member.

According to Season 1 contestant Rachel Reilly, the car rides to and from the missions were the best time to coordinate plans with fellow players. “You’re separated and nobody can hear what you’re saying,” she told Reality Blurred. “In the castle, you have to whisper.”

When players become Traitors, they must agree to the Traitors’ Oath, which reads: “Do you commit to lie and deceive throughout the game? Are you willing to murder your fellow players every single night? And, do you vow to keep your identity and the identity of your fellow players a secret?” Should players break this oath, they could be removed from the game.

For example, viewers recently learned that players are not required to reveal if they’re in possession of one of the coveted immunity-granting shields, as seen during a shocking Season 2 power play.

“There’s microphones everywhere, there’s cameras everywhere, and it’s a bit like Big Brother,” Ekin-Su told Entertainment Weekly.

“Its a massive military operation each night to get the Faithful to bed in individual rooms and get the Traitors back out to have their meeting,” producer Mike Cotton told Variety. He said the process was necessary in order to preserve the “secrecy of the Traitors.” Seasons 1 and 2 cast member Kate Chastain told Vanity Fair that there were security guards in place to ensure players never left their hotel rooms.

“You’re not supposed to talk about the game when the mics aren’t ready or the cameras aren’t on, because if we say something that’s important and it’s not on camera, they can’t use it on the show,” Season 2 player Dan Gheesling told Business Insider.

It was all in good fun though! “I did try to sneak out of my room to leave notes… I was trying to have fun in the moments where you weren’t supposed to have fun,” Reza Farahan told Digital Spy. “I would leave notes under people’s doors that said, ‘I know what you did last summer, signed The Traitors.'”

Arie told US Weekly that production edited out “a lot of below-the-belt stuff” from the roundtable discussions, as it was deemed too mean and ultimately too distracting from the game’s events.

“When we got off the plane, I was like, ‘Oh you’re taking our phones, right?'” Mercedes recalled on Just Sayin’. “No, they take everything — all of your communication, your chargers, your watch, your passport, your wallet, your money.”

“The host is not there very much, and has to be careful not to manipulate the game, influence viewers, or spark doubts within the minds of contestants who are in their bubble,” creator Marc told Variety. “But when they’re there, they have to be kind of a friendly yet intimidating figure.”