Once A Traitor, Always A Traitor is the eigth episode in the eighteenth season and the three-hundredth-and-sixteenth episode ever produced of The Real Housewives of Orange County. It premiered on August 29, 2024, to an audience of TBC million live viewers.
On Bravotv.com: "Emily analyzes her harsh behavior towards Jenn. Shannon gets a breathalyzer installed in her new car. Katie takes her daughter to legally change her name. The ladies reconvene for a special murder mystery-themed party where the Tres Amigas come face-to-face to hash out their issues."[1]
Summary[]
Heather, Emily, and Tamra have drinks. They talk about Tamra's upcoming Traitors party, Tamra clarifies Alexis is not invited and the ladies agree that the alleged video of Shannon on the night of her DUI should not be brought up.
Shannon is getting a new car, as her car was totaled from the DUI. A breathalyzer is installed in her new car, which needs to be utilized before the car starts. Shannon states her businesses have been taking a hit since her DUI, and she takes responsibility by stating she needs to change her life in order to portray the healthy messages her businesses convey.
Katie does yoga with Jenn. Katie had sent Heather a text over a week ago but hasn't heard back. They talk about Katie's previous marriage and they are not on speaking terms. Katie was married at 21, when her daughter Kalli was 14 months old. Before Katie's wedding, her brother-in-law texted her saying "good luck with him". Katie was unsure if she should go through with the wedding, but her parents encouraged her to do it. The couple fought intensely after two more kids were born. Katie states she left her ex-husband multiple times, and she was left with nothing through the divorce, including her childhood belongings. Katie's two oldest, Kaili and Gavin recognizes Katie's now husband Matt as their dad, while the youngest Max chooses to stay with Katie's ex in Atlanta. Kaili is in the process of changing her last name to Matt's. Jenn and Katie connect on their similar experiences and Jenn hopes her kids will get through this difficult time as well.
Emily and Shane get spray tanned. They revisit Shane's health issues (see Red Flags and Flag Footballs). Emily thinks Shane is not taking it serious, they talk about the ladies accusing Emily for being aggressive toward Jenn. Emily sees similar behavior in Jenn and her mom where they blame other people for their mistakes. Emily recognizes the anger she has toward Jenn is actually toward her mom. She breaks down and Shane comforts her.
Tamra goes on a drive with her daughter Sophia. They talk about Sophia taking a gap year and her anxiety. Tamra says Sophia doesn't have a relationship with her dad, she is saddened that two of her kids don't speak to their dad and one doesn't speak to her. Tamra tries to bring up Simon and Sophia reinforces her boundary.
Katie and Kaili discuss Kaili's name change. When Kaili was younger, Katie's mom was diagnosed with cancer. Katie felt like her ex-husband was preventing her sons from seeing their grandma, so Kaili send a text to her biological father telling him that he's selfish and they have not talked since. Kaili is nervous about changing her name, Katie thinks filing the paper work symbolizes putting her past traumas behind her. On the way to filing paper work, Katie reveals to Kaili that Tamra and her want Kaili and Sophia to connect as they are about the same age and have similar backgrounds.
Shannon and Vicki are on their way to Tamra's Traitors Party, Shannon tries to tell Tamra and her's meeting previous episode, but Vicki continues to work on her phone.
Ladies arriving for Traitors party
Tamra's Traitors Party commences, Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave is the host. The ladies break up to fill out surveys. Vicki and Teddi have beef from BravoCon 2023, when Teddi asked Vicki where she was on January 6th and brings up Brooke's cancer scam. Vicki is mad at both Teddi and Tamra. Teddi gathers the ladies to choose the traitor.
Teddi selecting the traitor
The ladies move onto the cocktail hour. Heather pulls Katie aside to extend an invitation to her upcoming Sonoma trip. Heather clarifies that she does not want to be friends with Katie but does not want Katie to feel left out. Katie attempts to apologize but gets shut down by Heather.
Emily apologizes to Jenn. Jenn questions Emily's motive and Emily opens up regarding her childhood, Jenn accepts Emily's apology and states she admires Emily.
Tres Amigas hug
The Tres Amigas talk about their cancelled show. Tamra blames it on her fallout with Shannon. Tamra liking Alexis' photo is brought up, Tamra feigns ignorance. Elsewhere, Gina debates whether she should tell Shannon about the video Alexis claims to have with Katie and Heather. She is worried about the effects on Shannon's children if the video is released. Shannon breaks down and they talk about the John Janssen lawsuit. Tamra states Alexis and John wants Shannon to clear John's name, Shannon says she is not going to lie. Vicki supports Shannon while Tamra worries about being stuck between Alexis and Shannon. Vicki diffuses the situation, the Tres Amigas hug and they make up.
Tamra in the pool
The ladies play the first game (see below). Shannon and Jenn win immunity and Tamra is murdered. But the traitor states she did not intend to murder Tamra but Vicki instead. Teddi killed the wrong person. The ladies play the second game, the Traitor unexpected murdered Shannon to create confusion. Vicki refused to participate and is murdered. The Tres Amigas are murdered. Teddi shoves Tamra into the pool before the third game and they skip to the final deliberation, Heather is revealed to be the Traitor. Tamra and Vicki guessed right, but they are dead, so Heather won the game.
The Traitor[]
First Game: Who Knows Housewives?[]
The ladies are split into teams, they must guess what the ladies agree upon in the survey they took earlier. Winner gets immunity and cannot be murdered this round
Team One: Heather, Katie, and Gina
Team Two: Vicki, Tamra, and Emily
Team Three: Jenn and Shannon
Questions One: Who is the most defensive?
Team One: Heather
Team Two: Heather
Team Three: Shannon
Answer: Shannon
Questions Two: Who is the first to throw someone under the bus?
Team One: Katie
Team Two: Tamra
Team Three: Tamra
Answer: Tamra
Questions Three: Who drinks the most?
Team One: Emily
Team Two: Heather
Team Three: Shannon
Answer: Shannon
Questions Four: Who is the biggest traitor?
Team One: Tamra
Team Two: Tamra
Team Three: Tamra
Answer: Tamra
Final Score
Team One: 1
Team Two: 2
Team Three: 4
Winner: Shannon and Jenn
Murdered: Tamra
Shannon hiding behind the camera from the crickets
Second Game: The Mystery Box[]
The ladies need to reach into the box and take out the pieces of paper that has their name on it. The box is filled with crickets. The ladies open their paper, Vicki refuse to participate and is murdered
Murdered: Vicki and Shannon (unexpected murder)
Third Game: Boat Race[]
The ladies need to get toy boats across the pool, winner gets immunity. This game is cancelled when Teddi shoved Tamra into the pool.
Katie: "I'm not gonna kiss your a*s Heather, I'm not Gina."
(hearing loud motor) Katie: "Your child has that Mustang?" Jenn: "Yeah, it's a really cool Datson."
Vicki: "That's Tamra's minion (Teddi)."
Teddi: "Welcome, Housewives and Vicki." (Teddi is also not a Housewife)
Emily: "I'm happy to see that Heather has acknowledged that Katie exists, and breathes air."
Heather: "Alright, now let's go find out who this traitor b*tch is." (Heather is the traitor)
Teddi: "Because it's not even numbers, it will be 3-3-2." (splitting the ladies up into groups) Gina: "Oh that's my custody schedule." Tamra: "Mine too!"
Gina: "You (Emily holding a fist full of crickets) are so Ohio."
Shannon: "I'm on antibiotic right now." (refusing to play the third game)
