The Traitors season 3 episode 3 recap: The next target for murder

In episode 3 of The Traitors season 3, which aired on January 9, 2025, the remaining players faced strategic decisions as the Traitors continued to tighten their grip on the game. At the start of this episode, the 21 contestants still in play included notable personalities such as Bob Harper, Bob The Drag Queen, and Wes Bergmann.

The episode began with a twist: Rob Mariano, a new Traitor, joined the group, causing mixed reactions among the existing Traitors about how to include him. Meanwhile, another murder took place, shifting the group dynamics.

By the end of episode 3, Tony Vlachos became the target of banishment due to a series of strategic moves that made him vulnerable.

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New arrival and the next target for banishment on The Traitors Season 3 episode 3

Rob Mariano joins the Traitors

The third episode began with Rob Mariano joining as a new Traitor, adding complexity to the group that included Bob The Drag Queen, Danielle Reyes, and Carolyn Wiger. Rob noted the group's lack of strategic depth and expressed concerns about Bob's influence over Danielle and Carolyn. He suggested the group consider adopting a strategy of chaos or unity, setting the tone for the rest of the episode.

The most important decision the Traitors made was during the breakfast meeting when they decided to kill Chanel Ayan, a player who had drawn suspicion but was not deemed a threat to them. The Faithfuls were left puzzled by the elimination of Ayan at such a stage in the game.

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Strategic movements and tensions rise

After the murder, players started to focus on the emerging power dynamics. Jeremy Collins raised a concern about Danielle Reyes' gameplay, suggesting to Carolyn that Danielle might be playing both sides. Meanwhile, Tony Vlachos became aware of growing suspicion from the Housewives, who were wary of his previous successes in similar competitions.

Rob Mariano maintained a low profile, observing the group’s interactions. He noted Dylan Efron’s attempts to shift blame onto Bob D.Q. and Robyn Dixon, accusing them of being involved in the banishment of Wells Adams. Rob saw this as an opportunity to distance himself from the accusations and maintain his standing within the Traitors’ alliance.

During the group’s mission, Tony faced additional scrutiny. Bob Harper publicly called Tony out for not volunteering to sacrifice his position in the mission. Despite Tony and Nikki Garcia participating in the mission, none of the pairs were successful in completing the challenge unscathed, resulting in no shields being earned for the group.

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The banishment of Tony Vlachos

By the time the group convened for the Round Table, the conversation turned toward Tony Vlachos. Dylan, having previously accused Bob D.Q. and Robyn, now shifted his focus to Tony. Dylan suggested that Tony had been acting suspiciously by naming other potential Traitors without providing substantial evidence.

Bob Harper expressed concern that Tony had been quiet and inactive since the start of the game, failing to defend his innocence against allegations. Rob Mariano seized the opportunity to suggest banning Tony, mentioning that Tony had stolen a shield from him but didn't interact afterward.

Comments from players like Derrick Levasseur, Tom Sandoval, and Gabby Windey contributed to Tony being voted out of the game.

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Don't miss the next thrilling episode of The Traitors Season 3! Tune in for episode 4, airing Thursday, January 16 at 9 PM ET on Peacock.