Warning: This post contains spoilers for the first three episodes of .
Peacock’s Emmy-winning reality competition series , Season 3, is underway. The first three episodes, streaming since Thursday, 9 p.m. ET, deliver familiar deception and twists. However, the shadow of casts a pall over the Scottish Highlands setting.
For the uninitiated, Scandoval refers to the March 2023 revelation that star Tom Sandoval was unfaithful to his long-term partner and co-star Ariana Madix with fellow castmate Rachel “Raquel” Leviss. This seven-month affair became public shortly after the show’s airing (filmed the previous summer), sparking an international sensation. The fallout brought Madix increased opportunities, while Sandoval was labeled the in a 2024 *New York Times Magazine* profile.
Given *Vanderpump Rules’* history of cheating storylines since 2013, the reaction was intense. Sandoval’s response, including a deleted apology omitting Madix, and later comparing his situation to that of and in the *NYT Magazine* piece, showed a lack of self-awareness.
Sandoval subsequently appeared in another season of *Vanderpump Rules* (preempting Bravo’s planned recast) and *Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test*, without significantly improving his image. Ahead of *The Traitors* Season 3 premiere, Peacock released a where Sandoval expressed excitement about finally being taken seriously.
However, the first three episodes suggest otherwise. His arrival in Episode 1 immediately drew scorn. Nikki Garcia of *Total Bellas* and Gabby Windey of *The Bachelorette* both expressed their disinclination to interact with him.
During a one-on-one with host Alan Cumming, Sandoval insisted he’d be a loyal player, only to be proven wrong when Cumming selected Danielle Reyes, Carolyn Wiger, and Bob the Drag Queen as traitors. Sandoval’s reaction – removing his blindfold and intensely observing the other contestants – prompted Bob to comment on his aggressive behavior.
Sandoval then tried to implicate Chrishell Stause, leading to the first Scandoval reference. Stause noted Sandoval’s bias due to her friendship with his ex and her negative opinion of him following the affair.
And that’s just the first episode. In Episode 2, with the addition of Rob Mariano, Derrick Levasseur, and Wes Bergmann, Sandoval’s attempts to share his suspicions were dismissed by Bergmann as “propaganda.”
While preconceived notions exist among reality stars, most conflicts stem from previous shows, not real-life events. Sandoval’s attempts to rehabilitate his image are becoming irritating. Embracing a villainous role might be more effective than his current approach.
As of Episode 3, Scandoval hasn’t significantly impacted the game, but it remains a distracting element in an already dramatic show.
