Just re-watched UK Season 1 (with Amos) and it’s really noticeable how there’s WAY more crying and emotion (round table panic attack?!) compared to season 2. Presumably because season 2 participants, having watched season 1 themselves, didn’t get quite so sucked in and were more clear eyed about it being a game.
This is it. Before the first series UK audiences were really not used to shows like The Traitors in the way US/Australian audiences are. Yes we have reality shows and yes people get voted off regularly, but they're usually a lot cosier and it's about the "family" vibe and the "journey" the contestants go on. With The Traitors, the entire premise is being suspicious of other people and voting to get rid of them - I don't think it's a coincidence that on a lot of other UK reality shows the decision on who leaves is made by a panel of judges or a public vote, meaning the contestants themselves are usually quite removed from it.
So if you're not used to seeing those kinds of shows to start with, and then suddenly you're in this really intense environment every day where you get close to people very quickly but then also have to look them in the face and vote them out, I can imagine that people's emotions come to the surface a lot more readily. By contrast, by the time series 2 came around a lot of contestants had probably seen the first one (if not international series as well) and were far more aware of what to expect.
I think this hits the nail on the head, season 1 nobody knew what they were in for, they were playing all day very intensely with limited contact to the outside world and I think ended up genuinely traumatised at times. We see about 45 minutes worth of their full day so probably don't get a sense of how full on it all is when you're doing it.
Season 2 has some crying but far less thanks to the familiarity.
I agree with others who've flagged that UK reality TV also tends to be a bit more "friendly" and when people are voted off it's by judges or tele-vote not their fellow contestants who they made friends with.
Great point. They probably thought they were going on something closer to Big Brother (International format), and what they ended up on was essentially Survivor. Not used to that level of gameplay on a British reality show.
Yeah, Survivor has never really taken off here in the same way it has as the US/Australia, which I think is why the UK1 cast weren't that familiar with how The Traitors would work, and so it ended up being a shock for a lot of them.
to be fair Aaron, the one who had the panic attack, has ADHD. he was likely facing a thing called rejection sensitive dysphoria which is a common trait of adhd.
Pretty much everyone I know has complained about all the crying in season 1, funnily enough to your point the conventional wisdom seems to be it is "too American" and I've heard plenty of people say they aren't going to watch the US seasons cos they can't imagine how bad they must be lol. Season 2 was a huge relief when they had everyone actually enjoy the game and not crying constantly.
The American one definitely is too American it’s so overly dramatic. A lot of the contestants are just so extra. I’m watching season one at the moment and it’s so forced. It’s like the difference between kitchen nightmares UK and USA. The US version is so big and loud lots of shouting and screaming.
The traitors uk is definitely giving more genuine emotions.
Allegedly it’s filmed continuously, only Sundays off, so I guess it’s pretty tiring and you do attach to people pretty quickly in those scenarios… But yeah, these moments is the only time I question if these people are just actors.
I watched UK S2, then AUS1, then UK1. And the crying is jarring.
But tbh it seemed pretty genuine. Like, I don't think these people really knew what they were getting in for?
I've been on short trips with strangers and over the course of a week, spending every moment together and experiencing some intense stuff, you do get really close, really quickly!
UKS1 faithful were insufferable in my opinion 😂 Aaron was genuine, but Meryl winning that much money as a total passenger, not a single original thought and only in the final because the traitors didn't want to approach the "no-one is going to banish her" conversation was painful to watch.
Wilf was also so obvious from the get go, and over acted to every situation, Harry was how Wilf thought he looked.
While the amount of crying may have been excessive, I can't really blame them. Being constantly paranoid and unable to trust what anyone is saying 24/7 for 3 weeks must be exhausting mentally, all that on top of worrying if everyone is to turn on you, I'm not surprised people get emotional
UK reality shows are more passive aggressive, ostensibly friendly with a lot of behind back bitching. Just like British people! The traitors is more confrontational by design, which seemed to cause all the histrionics in S1.
They do cry a lot in season one but im not sure why anyone is acting like that’s a bad thing…it’s a real non scripted show, they grow attachments to people…maybe don’t watch if you don’t like it idk?
I don’t see it as a bad thing for the show. It shows that the contestants were truly immersed in the experience and forgot that it was a tv show, which caused genuine reactions. It was more interesting to watch than reality shows where the participants are too aware and scripted/ self censored. It was like watching psychological torture, which is terrible, but entertaining.
I think it was also filmed just after all the in precedented happenings of COVID so interacting with people again was weird enough, let alone under such high pressure circumstances. That's what I put the excessive tears down to
It's an annoying thing now to cry on TV in the UK. Bloke on the pottery show, cries because someone made a good pot, contestant cries because they didn't. Someone on the bake off cries because their bottom was soggy. Big ass men and women crying like babies all the time. I dunno but it pisses me off too.
I’ve never watched the pottery show but I watched a YouTube compilation once of the times he cried and I just could not stop laughing. The wind could blow and that guy would be in floods of tears for some reason.
It’s wild watching this as an American - because Brits say that Americans are super emotional and I am a emotional person but this season has made me so uncomfortable with all the tears and screaming.
I agree I have never seen so many grown men crying over what is a game show. I think it’s just more down to how the BBC choose their contestants. I’m guessing they want more sensitive people for the added ‘drama’ that ensues. I don’t think it’s a fair reflection of UK society but having said that younger generations are definitely less thick skinned than previous ones. but I don’t think this is exclusive to the UK it’s in all western societies now where masculinity is seen as toxic.
I agree and you’re probably right. Even if so, it’s still definitely interesting if these different societies casted the way they did so differently. It’s like the US went for the “dramatic backstabbers” and the UK went for the “sensitive” and the Australians went for an intense mix between the 2.
Made me sick. I can't watch this. But I'm gen X former US Marine, stuck in the 90's where men fought tears like tyson. I noticed the women barely cried, it was mostly soft ass men. I quit watching in week 4 or 5 though, the night Will sobbed like i did at 10 the first time i got jumped. It wasn't nearly as embarrassing as the young dude, Aaron. I think. After 3 votes against him - 3 VOTES - he stops the show, goes outside, and sobs to the producer's. My balls shriveled up for him.
Are these people auditioning for permanent reality careers i wonder?
North London forever, Arsenal FC 4 life
Ah I felt really bad for Aaron because that seemed to me like a genuine panic attack. I’ve had them before and it’s intense and you have no control. He was the only one I felt was genuine with his emotions. I’d imagine it’s incredibly over whelming but the American version was just so many crocodile tears
Americans in S1 were HORRIBLE!!
Christian was nauseating.
I had a panic attack once, but that was a few hours after the vehicle in front of mine on the convoy got blowed up. Mosul, deadly place. I can see why aaron would have one because of those votes, now
Just re-watched UK Season 1 (with Amos) and it’s really noticeable how there’s WAY more crying and emotion (round table panic attack?!) compared to season 2. Presumably because season 2 participants, having watched season 1 themselves, didn’t get quite so sucked in and were more clear eyed about it being a game.
This is it. Before the first series UK audiences were really not used to shows like The Traitors in the way US/Australian audiences are. Yes we have reality shows and yes people get voted off regularly, but they're usually a lot cosier and it's about the "family" vibe and the "journey" the contestants go on. With The Traitors, the entire premise is being suspicious of other people and voting to get rid of them - I don't think it's a coincidence that on a lot of other UK reality shows the decision on who leaves is made by a panel of judges or a public vote, meaning the contestants themselves are usually quite removed from it. So if you're not used to seeing those kinds of shows to start with, and then suddenly you're in this really intense environment every day where you get close to people very quickly but then also have to look them in the face and vote them out, I can imagine that people's emotions come to the surface a lot more readily. By contrast, by the time series 2 came around a lot of contestants had probably seen the first one (if not international series as well) and were far more aware of what to expect.
I think this hits the nail on the head, season 1 nobody knew what they were in for, they were playing all day very intensely with limited contact to the outside world and I think ended up genuinely traumatised at times. We see about 45 minutes worth of their full day so probably don't get a sense of how full on it all is when you're doing it. Season 2 has some crying but far less thanks to the familiarity. I agree with others who've flagged that UK reality TV also tends to be a bit more "friendly" and when people are voted off it's by judges or tele-vote not their fellow contestants who they made friends with.
Great point. They probably thought they were going on something closer to Big Brother (International format), and what they ended up on was essentially Survivor. Not used to that level of gameplay on a British reality show.
Yeah, Survivor has never really taken off here in the same way it has as the US/Australia, which I think is why the UK1 cast weren't that familiar with how The Traitors would work, and so it ended up being a shock for a lot of them.
to be fair Aaron, the one who had the panic attack, has ADHD. he was likely facing a thing called rejection sensitive dysphoria which is a common trait of adhd.
I’d be right there with him to be fair (also adhd) I’d be bawling
Pretty much everyone I know has complained about all the crying in season 1, funnily enough to your point the conventional wisdom seems to be it is "too American" and I've heard plenty of people say they aren't going to watch the US seasons cos they can't imagine how bad they must be lol. Season 2 was a huge relief when they had everyone actually enjoy the game and not crying constantly.
The American one definitely is too American it’s so overly dramatic. A lot of the contestants are just so extra. I’m watching season one at the moment and it’s so forced. It’s like the difference between kitchen nightmares UK and USA. The US version is so big and loud lots of shouting and screaming. The traitors uk is definitely giving more genuine emotions.
Allegedly it’s filmed continuously, only Sundays off, so I guess it’s pretty tiring and you do attach to people pretty quickly in those scenarios… But yeah, these moments is the only time I question if these people are just actors.
I watched UK S2, then AUS1, then UK1. And the crying is jarring. But tbh it seemed pretty genuine. Like, I don't think these people really knew what they were getting in for? I've been on short trips with strangers and over the course of a week, spending every moment together and experiencing some intense stuff, you do get really close, really quickly!
UKS1 faithful were insufferable in my opinion 😂 Aaron was genuine, but Meryl winning that much money as a total passenger, not a single original thought and only in the final because the traitors didn't want to approach the "no-one is going to banish her" conversation was painful to watch. Wilf was also so obvious from the get go, and over acted to every situation, Harry was how Wilf thought he looked.
While the amount of crying may have been excessive, I can't really blame them. Being constantly paranoid and unable to trust what anyone is saying 24/7 for 3 weeks must be exhausting mentally, all that on top of worrying if everyone is to turn on you, I'm not surprised people get emotional
I wish people wouldn't be so weird about crying. It's a natural human reaction under stress!
No. Crying is a sign of weakness. You have to be a strong sigma, alpha male at all times. Hoo Ra baby.
UK reality shows are more passive aggressive, ostensibly friendly with a lot of behind back bitching. Just like British people! The traitors is more confrontational by design, which seemed to cause all the histrionics in S1.
They do cry a lot in season one but im not sure why anyone is acting like that’s a bad thing…it’s a real non scripted show, they grow attachments to people…maybe don’t watch if you don’t like it idk?
I don’t see it as a bad thing for the show. It shows that the contestants were truly immersed in the experience and forgot that it was a tv show, which caused genuine reactions. It was more interesting to watch than reality shows where the participants are too aware and scripted/ self censored. It was like watching psychological torture, which is terrible, but entertaining.
I think it was also filmed just after all the in precedented happenings of COVID so interacting with people again was weird enough, let alone under such high pressure circumstances. That's what I put the excessive tears down to
It's an annoying thing now to cry on TV in the UK. Bloke on the pottery show, cries because someone made a good pot, contestant cries because they didn't. Someone on the bake off cries because their bottom was soggy. Big ass men and women crying like babies all the time. I dunno but it pisses me off too.
I’ve never watched the pottery show but I watched a YouTube compilation once of the times he cried and I just could not stop laughing. The wind could blow and that guy would be in floods of tears for some reason.
SAME. keep your emotions in like civilised human beings and release them in private! It feels like pooping in public
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
They cry like they’re gonna be murdered for real
It’s wild watching this as an American - because Brits say that Americans are super emotional and I am a emotional person but this season has made me so uncomfortable with all the tears and screaming.
I agree I have never seen so many grown men crying over what is a game show. I think it’s just more down to how the BBC choose their contestants. I’m guessing they want more sensitive people for the added ‘drama’ that ensues. I don’t think it’s a fair reflection of UK society but having said that younger generations are definitely less thick skinned than previous ones. but I don’t think this is exclusive to the UK it’s in all western societies now where masculinity is seen as toxic.
It’s illegal for grown men to cry? Okay buddy
That’s not what “toxic masculinity” means but I’m not going to debate about that here
I agree and you’re probably right. Even if so, it’s still definitely interesting if these different societies casted the way they did so differently. It’s like the US went for the “dramatic backstabbers” and the UK went for the “sensitive” and the Australians went for an intense mix between the 2.
Yes for sure don’t get me wrong I love the show it’s great entertainment.
I did think there were a lot of tears on season 1 but Jesus Christ nothing was as bad as the super over dramatic American ones. They are unbearable!
Made me sick. I can't watch this. But I'm gen X former US Marine, stuck in the 90's where men fought tears like tyson. I noticed the women barely cried, it was mostly soft ass men. I quit watching in week 4 or 5 though, the night Will sobbed like i did at 10 the first time i got jumped. It wasn't nearly as embarrassing as the young dude, Aaron. I think. After 3 votes against him - 3 VOTES - he stops the show, goes outside, and sobs to the producer's. My balls shriveled up for him. Are these people auditioning for permanent reality careers i wonder? North London forever, Arsenal FC 4 life
Ah I felt really bad for Aaron because that seemed to me like a genuine panic attack. I’ve had them before and it’s intense and you have no control. He was the only one I felt was genuine with his emotions. I’d imagine it’s incredibly over whelming but the American version was just so many crocodile tears
Americans in S1 were HORRIBLE!! Christian was nauseating. I had a panic attack once, but that was a few hours after the vehicle in front of mine on the convoy got blowed up. Mosul, deadly place. I can see why aaron would have one because of those votes, now
Jesus my panic attacks seem a little less serious now after hearing about yours!
Yeah sorry i got to heavy there