How psychological gameplay TV has audiences hooked
The Traitors has become a smash hit among reality TV fans in the UK, with the first episode of season two watched by a peak of 3.1 million viewers. The Trust: A Game of Greed is an adjacent production on Netflix which draws on elements of The Traitors. Each participant is entitled to their share of $250,000, and all they have to do is not vote each other out. However, temptations along the way offer the chance to boost individual wealth to the detriment of the group. The success of such shows shines a light on people’s interest in content where reality TV meets psychological gameplay. Viewers are fascinated to observe the lengths others will go to for a cash prize, something particularly potent amid economic precarity. With 11 million UK adults reporting struggling to pay their bills and debts, these manufactured scenarios allow people to insert themselves into these worlds and live vicariously through contestants. There’s an element of relatability that viewers can find in these everyday characters who have an opportunity to win big during tough economic times.
Meanwhile, as people switch off from content overwhelm, spontaneity in entertainment is proving a valuable USP in media. It’s something formats like The Traitors successfully leverage, with the inherent uncertainty of the in-show dynamics offering viewers off-the-cuff, authentic drama away from a set script. It’s not only the show itself that reflects these desires for more surprising and engrossing entertainment, but the behind-the-scenes content, too. The BBC launched an online version of The Traitors, which lets audiences join in with the ‘Round Table’ deliberations and enjoy further candid content with the fan community.
