The Traitors, a cozy, betrayal-filled, reality TV watch

Typically December newsletters are full of festive suggestions and end of year recaps. But for our first (but not only!) newsletter of the month this recommendation is too important to wait until January. I spent the past week binge watching season one of The Traitors (U.S.) and it might be the most fun I've had watching a reality show since Grease: You're the One that I Want! - the Search for Sandy and Danny circa 2007 (iykyk). Season two premieres in January so now is your time to catch up on the Peacock show that first came out at the beginning of the year.

Here's how it works. A mix of reality TV stars and "normal people" compete together in challenges and attempt to figure which members of their group have been randomly assigned the role of Traitor. Each night the Traitors pick someone in the house to "murder," each day the Traitors and Faithfuls (the high-and-mighty name given to the non-Traitors of the bunch and boy do these Faithfuls really think they're doing something special) compete together in a challenge that puts money into a pot of winnings and each night the group publicly votes out a member that they believe to be a Traitor. While you probably don't understand why I would ever call a show involving betrayal, fake murder and the Real Housewives cozy, it's set in a castle in Scotland in the fall. Enough said. There's something about this majestic, Clue-like, location that feels like you're watching a true cozy mystery with no actual threat of death, no matter how seriously the contestants take things. And they do take them seriously! There are literal tears when someone is "murdered."

Fortunately Tony-award-winning host Alan Cumming is there to provide the perfect balance of dramatic flourish, hilarious commentary and sass to the contestants. THIS is the way a reality TV show host should be. Goodbye to the boring "It's time for the final rose" and hello to "It’s me again! Your bed and breakfast host from hell." To add to the charm, he's also rocking mostly HIS OWN WARDROBE, so get ready for wonderful capes, coats and caps. And who may you ask is competing on the show? Everyone from Olympian Ryan Lochte to Big Brothers' Rachel Reilly to Survivor's Cirie Fields to Real Housewives' Brandi Glanville. It's a quick, fun watch filled with fighting, scheming and conclusion-jumping that serves as the perfect way to balance out the rest of your holly jolly December viewing.