The Traitors season three started with such promise. A fake Welsh accent for no apparent reason? A Traitor with such confidence it verged on delusion? A man criticising his wife's spaghetti bolognese on national television? We were well and truly back, as they say.
But in the last few episodes – particularly highlighted in the scenes that led to doctor Kasim's untimely (and unfair) exit – the tone of the usually-gripping show has slipped into something, well, less fun.
We're used to reality television shows bringing the drama. A level of tension or conflict is to be expected, and for better or worse it's usually this that draws audiences in and keeps them on their seats.
But with The Traitors, it was always more deliciously camp melodrama than uncomfortable screaming match. And that's a big part of what made it so enjoyable to watch.
With two seasons behind it, in the UK at least, it's a positive feeling we have come to expect from The Traitors. It's one of the ingredients that sets it apart, arguably making it more modern and self-aware than other, more established formats.
Unlike the discourse that can consume other shows, so-called villains of The Traitors have been appreciated for the scenes they have brought to the table. (Take Paul, a true saviour of season two, and eventual winning Traitor Harry who brought us the most tense finale imaginable.)
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Related: The Traitors star Kasim responds to dramatic show exit on Instagram
The whole premise of Traitors versus Faithfuls creates a legitimate space for friction. It's a pantomime with assigned roles, and both the audience and the contestants can revel in the theatre of it all without feeling too guilty about it or taking it too seriously. It's quite literally the name of the game.
For the first time though, in season three, it's starting to feel a bit deeper.
When Kas, with his twinkle in his eye, was chosen as the suspect in the usual group witch hunt for a Traitor, almost everyone seemed to jump on the inevitable bandwagon.
This wasn't unusual in itself, as herd mentality tends to be at play on the show; the round tables usually unfold with the majority jumping to scribble the same name on their chalk board, even if they'd originally entered the room with someone else on their mind. It's become par for the course – and also interesting for those who are into social commentary.
But when asked why Kas seemed to have given up on trying to clear his name, he implied that he felt unable to even participate properly in the game because he was being avoided.
Since his departure has aired on the BBC, Kas has reflected on feeling "ostracised" at times in the castle (via Indy100), even though he's spoken highly of his fellow contestants since the game ended.
This sense of isolation radiated off the screen, and it simply didn't feel in-keeping with the show we've come to know and love. It's also taken over the accompanying conversation that surrounds The Traitors, something usually dominated by lighthearted memes and the applauding of iconic one-liners ("...but Ross is").
The same could be said of other emotional scenes, which saw the youngest contestant – Freddie, aged 20 – crumbling into tears, and Livi walking out after a difficult round table.
There is hope for season three yet though. Minah is shaping up to be a top-tier Traitor, controlling the game without even a hint of suspicion to her name, even if Linda is one over-the-top gasp away from giving it all away...
The Traitors is currently airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer – check out The Traitors season 3 release schedule for episode details.
The Traitors series 1-2 are streaming on BBC iPlayer.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
