In The Traitors Season 4, few storylines captured viewers’ attention quite like the dynamic between Olympic figure skating icons Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir.

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The longtime best friends brought glamour, sharp wit, and a genuine bond to the Peacock competition, making it all the more frustrating to watch their gameplay unravel in the finale.

Despite reaching the final stages as Faithfuls, their “late awakening” to the Traitors’ identities—particularly Rob Rausch and Eric Nam—came far too late to turn the tide against Rob’s ironclad alliance.

From the start, Tara and Johnny played a subtle, low-key game. They kept their close friendship somewhat under wraps early on to avoid drawing suspicion as a potential power duo (a smart move in a show where alliances can become targets).

Their polished demeanor and celebrity status occasionally raised eyebrows—some players whispered that Johnny’s eloquent speeches felt “too rehearsed” or that Tara’s calm votes hid calculation—but they largely avoided the early heat that claimed bigger personalities like Lisa Rinna and Candiace Dillard Bassett.

The turning point came in the later episodes. After weeks of misdirection and the Faithfuls’ repeated blunders (including the infamous banishment of Natalie Anderson, where Tara wavered at the last minute), Tara and Johnny finally pieced it together.

In the finale, “Leap of Faith,” they openly targeted Eric as a Traitor and pushed hard to convince Maura Higgins that Rob was the puppet master.

Johnny made a desperate last-ditch effort at the Round Table, arguing that Eric’s quiet demeanor and Rob’s influence were red flags. Tara backed him up, admitting their mistake in banishing Natalie and urging Maura to see the truth.

But Maura—blinded by her trust in Rob—didn’t budge. She even relayed their suspicions directly to Rob, handing him the ammunition to flip the vote.

Johnny was outvoted 3-2 and banished, leaving Tara isolated. At the final Fire of Truth, the remaining players (Tara, Maura, Rob, and Eric) voted to continue, banishing Tara in a 3-1 decision. Her pleas to Maura fell on deaf ears, and Rob’s alliance held firm.

Why did the Olympians fail to stop Rob’s dominance? Several factors played in:

• Timing and Momentum: Their realization hit in the endgame, after Rob had already eliminated threats and solidified Maura’s loyalty. Earlier suspicions were scattered, and the Faithfuls’ overall poor gameplay (misreading signals, folding under pressure) left little room for a comeback.
• Celebrity Perception: As high-profile figures (Tara a gold medalist and commentator, Johnny a flamboyant icon), they sometimes came across as “too perfect” or detached, making it easier for Rob to paint them as potential Traitors or distrusted outsiders.
• Alliance Strength: Rob’s charm and strategic betrayals (including turning on Eric at the end) created an unbreakable hold on Maura. Tara and Johnny’s attempts to sway her were outmaneuvered by Rob’s direct influence.

Post-finale buzz highlighted their run as a “fun foil” to Rob’s serpentine strategy. They made it to the final four (Tara) and five (Johnny), a solid achievement for non-reality TV vets, but their late push couldn’t overcome the season’s inevitable trajectory.

Interestingly, both skipped the reunion special (filmed February 12, 2026), as they were in Italy commentating the 2026 Winter Olympics—proving their figure skating careers still take priority.

Tara and Johnny’s arc was entertaining and heartfelt, showcasing real friendship amid betrayal. But in The Traitors, timing is everything—and theirs was just a little too late against Rob’s masterful alliance.

Do you think Tara and Johnny could have won if they’d clocked Rob earlier, or was the season always his to lose? Let us know in the comments!