The Trust: A Game of Greed Review

It comes as no surprise that most new reality competition shows are pitched as variations of existing ones with a unique twist. In the case of The Trust: A Game of Greed, the twist is the prize pool of $250,000 to be divided amongst the 11 competitors. Host Brooke Baldwin assures them, “You’re here. You’re already winners.”

However, this is where the unique aspects of The Trust end. This new Netflix show borrows elements from quintessential reality competitions like Survivor and The Traitors, and presents them in a slightly altered package. It’s evident that the final roster of competitors will be different from the initial 11 contestants as they have the chance to eliminate fellow players over roughly a month, with the fewer winners resulting in a larger share of the spoils.

The Contestants

Introducing the contestants is where The Trust aligns with typical expectations. After providing standard information about the contestants, including their name, age, and profession, the show offers insights into their personalities. This introduction phase, however, feels rushed and lacks the more interesting get-to-know-you conversations that could have added depth to the contestants’ backgrounds.

The Competition

Like any typical free-for-all competition show, The Trust features the formation of alliances, the escalation of small misunderstandings into significant issues, and heated arguments following the exchange of backchannel information between voting blocs. The familiar peaks and valleys of such shows are evident, with attractive people engaged in gossip by the poolside.

The show then leads to secret-ballot votes, where contestants privately decide whether to eliminate another player or preserve the group. The individual receiving a majority of the elimination votes gets sent home, and one rogue vote has the power to change the course of the game.

The Netflix Strategy

The Trust embodies the Netflix strategy of taking something familiar and reframing it as a different widget with slight alterations. The show’s success lies in the sunk-cost framework of reality TV competitions, even if it follows the same rhythms of outwitting and outlasting opponents.

Without an overriding theme, the contestants willingly become pawns in a game predicated on the decision of how many people will split the prize pool. However, The Trust lacks the layers that could elevate it beyond a typical reality competition show.

The Host and Complications

The show’s host, Brooke Baldwin, fulfills the role of collecting votes, providing updates, and delivering news of eliminations. Although Baldwin demonstrates her expertise as a skilled interviewer in critical moments, the show doesn’t fully utilize her potential.

Regarding complications, The Trust keeps them simple, avoiding convoluted rule changes. One notable curveball is “THE OFFER,” a collection of leather-bound folders presented to contestants as a temptation to prioritize themselves over the group. The subsequent twists mainly involve making contestants confront uncomfortable truths in front of their peers with conflicting interests.

Conclusion

While spending time with the contestants feels somewhat engaging, the show’s increasing episode count makes certain details feel obligatory. Amidst half-hearted romantic subplots and the lead-up to significant moments, The Trust feels like consumable TV that is not meant to be questioned. Although certain contestants may be more complex than they appear, the same cannot be said for The Trust itself.