The Traitors Season 4 starts a little differently than most fans expect. Normally, the first episode ends with an immediate murder that sets the tone for paranoia. This season, Episode 1 holds that moment back. No one gets murdered right away, which gives the Faithful an extra night to relax, speculate, and form early bonds. Of course, that also makes the first real murder hit harder, because people start the game thinking they have more time than they actually do. Then Episode 2 arrives and reminds everyone what show they’re watching.
Who was Murdered in Episode 2 of The Traitors Season 4?
Ian Terry is the player murdered in The Traitors Season 4 Episode 2.
Because there was no murder in Episode 1, Ian’s elimination becomes the season’s opening “shock.” It also signals that the Traitors aren’t messing around. They went straight for someone they viewed as dangerous, rather than choosing a low-profile target just to stay safe.
Why Did the Traitors Choose Ian?
The Traitors targeted Ian for a simple reason: they saw him as a high-level Faithful threat.
Ian has a reputation for being smart, strategic, and difficult to outmaneuver. On top of that, he’s a proven winner from Big Brother, which often puts a target on your back in a game like this. Even if Ian plays quietly, other contestants tend to assume he’s calculating. That kind of player can become a problem fast, especially once the Faithful start comparing notes and looking for patterns.
From the Traitors’ perspective, it’s safer to remove that risk early than to let it grow into a late-game monster.
Who Else as on the Traitors’ Shortlist?
The shortlist didn’t come out of nowhere. It was shaped by the first money mission, which featured coffins and a big “danger list” moment.
During that opening challenge, nine players ended up in a position where they could potentially be targeted for murder later. However, the twist didn’t stop there. A Secret Traitor element narrowed that larger pool down to just four names, turning it into a much tighter shortlist.
Those four targets were:
- Rob Rausch (Traitor)
- Ian Terry
- Mark Ballas
- Eric Nam
From there, the three Traitors had to make the final call and pick who would actually get murdered first. So while the Faithful saw a dramatic mission moment, the Traitors used it like a filter. It helped them identify who looked influential early, who might become a game-shaping voice, and who they’d rather remove before the castle settled into alliances.
That context also makes Ian’s murder feel even more deliberate. He wasn’t just a random first pick. He made it through the first cut, landed on the narrowed list, and then the Traitors chose him over three other strong options.
The Game Just Got Real
Now that the first murder is on the board, the social game should speed up fast. If you want to track every elimination and twist, keep our The Traitors hub bookmarked. And if you need a refresher on who’s in the castle this season, check out our The Traitors Season 4 cast guide so you can follow the alliances as they form. Otherwise, head over to Who Was Murdered in The Traitors Season 4 Episode 3 guide.
