Editor’s note: The Final Four polls have closed. Check back on Friday to vote in the championship!
The first half of today’s voting is in the books and, folks, you cannot deny the most diabolical, dastardly, devious traitors to ever walk this Earth (and Tatooine).
Sixty other sellouts stepped up, but as we enter the Final Four of The Ringer’s Ultimate Traitor Bracket, only the best of the best remain—the 1-seeds. They are Brutus, Judas, Benedict Arnold, and Anakin Skywalker.
Let’s quickly break down the Elite Eight matchups to reach this point. I really thought Scar had a chance to take down Brutus, but apparently the reading of Julius Caesar in high school lit class really stuck with people. On the flip side, I’m also a little surprised to see Darth Vader take down Cain. The bracket’s sole remaining movie villain is an icon, for sure, but Cain is one of the original sinners! For better or for worse, we won’t see a championship showdown of biblical proportions.
More From Traitors Week
When it comes to Judas and Benedict Arnold, though, their victories always felt a bit more assured. The latter’s opponent (Walder Frey) betrayed a House; Benny Arnold betrayed a nation. And Cypher of The Matrix never really seemed like he had a chance. Judas walloped him by the widest margin in the Elite Eight, capturing 75 percent of the vote.
Now we are set for a truly compelling Final Four faceoff. A battle between guys whose names rhyme—one word catchalls for snakes. A duel between a musket and a lightsaber—between America’s Traitor and the Galaxy’s Traitor. Who will come out on top? Gah, I can’t waste any more time analyzing—let’s get straight into it!
Polls are open below and on our Instagram account until 6 p.m. ET. We’ll meet back here tomorrow to determine the winner of the Ultimate Traitor Bracket. May the most heinous traitor win!—Aric Jenkins
(1) Brutus vs. (1) Judas, the New Testament
Brutus
What do you say when someone betrays you? “Et tu, Brute?” right? Well, meet Brute. Stabbed Julius Caesar, his friend and mentor, to death in the Roman Senate. Was probably trying to save Roman democracy from the rise of a tyrant; may have slightly miscalculated, as his actions led directly to the fall of the republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. Good job, good effort. Literally messed up so hard at work that a thousand years later, Dante put him at the center of the ninth circle of hell. —Brian Phillips
Judas
If Jesus Christ Superstar is to be believed, Judas was the most anguished traitor of all time. He slimed out Jesus for an infuriatingly paltry sum, and in an annoyingly cutesy way. The butterfly effect of his betrayal is immeasurable: For one, I blame him for every bitchy tweet from JD Vance. His name is synonymous with betrayal, and by this measure, he’s peerless. —Justin Charity
(1) Benedict Arnold vs. (1) Anakin Skywalker, Star Wars
Benedict Arnold
What more needs to be said? An entire nation turned my guy’s name into a synonym. All Benedict needed to do was stay loyal for another year or so, and he would have gone down as a national hero. There’d be towns and monuments and federal buildings named after him—the man who won Saratoga and convinced the French to join! Instead, he couldn’t handle getting passed over for a promotion a couple of times. Grow up, buddy; it happens to the best of us. —Jenkins
Anakin Skywalker
It was said that it was said that Anakin would destroy the Sith, not join them; bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness. And sure, he arguably got around to doing some destroying and balancing, eventually. (At least until, somehow, Palpatine returned.) But he sure took a roundabout route. Anakin killed his wife and dueled his brother, and no possible point of view—or allowances for his harsh upbringing—could justify what he did to those younglings. Mace Windu and Palpatine accused each other of being traitors, but the biggest traitor was standing right next to them. —Ben Lindbergh
