The Traitors Season 2: Dan, Janelle, and MJ Have Advice For Future Faithfuls
51Dan Gheesling and Janelle Pierzina came from the world of Big Brother. They have a clear understanding of gameplay, especially the kind that is social in nature. Mercedes “MJ” Javid did not come from a gameplay situation, but any Bravo fan who watched her on Shahs of Sunset knows that she can handle her own, especially with people who lie. While each of these people had their own strategies going into the game, playing it has proven to be more of a challenge than they may have anticipated. When Collider first spoke with these three players in The Traitors' castle, they had just finished their first mission and were well aware of the game they were playing, as well as their roles in it.
Dan knew he was a traitor at the time of the conversation, and his method of being reserved while playing as a Traitor worked as well during that time as it has in the season so far. His fellow Big Brother alum might have been the better Traitor choice, as she began playing aggressively in the name of self-preservation. Many of the others in the castle felt that Janelle was acting selfishly when running to get a shield in the first mission, but her tenacity has kept her alive in the game so far.
She also did her research ahead of time and discussed how to play the game with Rachel Reilly, who was in season one of The Traitors. Janelle said, “I reached out to [Rachel], and I was like, ‘What do you think?’ And she told me that it’s such a fun game and that I shouldn’t stress myself out. She was like-- 'cause Big Brother’s so long; it’s like such a long game. Her advice to me was just, ‘It’s really quick, so you have to be quick.’ Because, in Big Brother, we sit for days and think about things and what people said... We [had] so much [more] time to think.”
MJ came from Shahs Of Sunset, a series that had plenty of lies, deceit, and drama to go around. So, while she may not have come into the game, she certainly was aware that she could handle herself. Her fellow Shahs of Sunset cast member, Reza Farahan, was the first person murdered in season 1 of The Traitors. When asked if she felt whether she’d fare better in the game than Reza did, she responded emphatically, saying, “Yes. [laughs] Sorry, Reza, but yes, I will.” MJ also shared that she was excited about getting out of her comfort zone for the show.
She shared, “For me, it is obviously like [using] this whole other muscle in our brain. We’re all moms, and it’s really interesting to have so much at stake with what we’re giving up to experience something so different from our day-to-day.” Perhaps it is her motherly instinct that has made MJ such a force to be reckoned with on the show. Unlike most of the other players, MJ nailed Dan as being a traitor almost immediately.
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