The Traitors: New Blood has brought regular contestants into the U.S. castle, and many fans like the change. In two Reddit discussions, viewers praised the cast for getting straight into the game. Their biggest complaint was not about the players at all: they want longer episodes and fewer sudden endings.
The show premiered on NBC on September 17 and is available on Peacock the next day. This story discusses the cast and the way episodes end, but does not reveal who gets eliminated.
Fans like meeting players they did not know before
The main U.S. version of The Traitors is known for bringing in reality-TV personalities. New Blood instead introduces civilian players. In the discussion of the first two episodes, one Reddit viewer said they had worried about remembering so many new names, then found themselves picking favorites almost immediately. Another said the cast seemed ready to play rather than rely on a TV reputation.
The reaction is not unanimous. One fan likes the new cast but thinks some players are still as loud as reality-TV veterans. Another called the Faithful bad at spotting Traitors. For some viewers, though, questionable guesses are part of the entertainment: a commenter in the episode discussion said they value fun television more than flawless strategy.
One viewer put the mixed reaction to the cast plainly:
The cast is better than celebrities for sure, but they're still loud and over the top
That same commenter was more frustrated by where the episodes stop. Other fans in the ratings discussion also said they preferred civilian contestants, and one hoped the strong launch would mean another season with them.
The shorter episodes are the real complaint
Several viewers say New Blood cuts away just as a scene gets interesting. A fan who otherwise called the season fun said the cliffhangers make them want to wait until every episode is available and watch it all at once. Another congratulated the show on its launch, then immediately asked for longer episodes next season.
Some commenters connected the shorter runtime to New Blood airing on NBC, where episodes must fit a broadcast slot with commercials. That is their explanation, not an announcement from the network about why a particular scene ended where it did. The complaint itself is clear: they want more time with the conversations and votes before each weekly break.
What happens next?
New episodes air Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and stream on Peacock the following day in the U.S., according to NBC. Fans who dislike cliffhangers can wait and binge later; those watching weekly have a new group of players to argue about after every roundtable.
The civilian casting has given New Blood its own feel, separate from the celebrity seasons. The current fan debate is simple: people want to keep watching these contestants, but many would rather get a longer episode before the next week’s wait.
