WIDM aftertalk: no one saw this elimination coming

Expect the unexpected; it is the thought with which you tune in for ‘Who is the Mole?’ (and okay, also ‘beware of tunnel vision’, but we'll surely get back to that later this season). You would think that after 25 years we have seen all the side paths a bit. But not at all. The makers still manage to surprise us. This twist in the elimination really caught everyone off guard. Well, except for one person, of course.

An offer you can't refuse (or can you?)

After the cliffhanger From last week, quite a few theories were shared among all the Mole fans about what that mysterious offer from Rik could be. With episode two, the liberating answer finally came: Nathan could gain prior knowledge about the next task, but he had to halve the amount he could earn. €1500,- straight into the trash. A move that doesn't necessarily make him suspicious. As a Mole, it's of course an easy way to wave away money for knowledge you already have, but as a candidate, you just want to do everything to stay in the game at this point. The rest understands that too.
Whatever the motive was, Nathan seems to get away with it remarkably easily. When Rik tells the other candidates that he has determined how much can be earned, that news seems to completely disappear in the chaos of the new team division. For the next task, four candidates get a crash course in tasting port; the rest has to haul barrels. Whether Nathan will return seems to be a minor issue for now.

Even the queen of ether discipline can't fix this

Thanks to Rik, Nathan knew that the Mole in the team with the barrels would have the most influence, so the choice of who to join was quickly made. Perhaps to sabotage better, or just to spot suspicious actions – that remains to be seen. Together with Sahil, Kim, Merel, and Loes, he has to collect the right port barrels with five hints. Good consultation with the other team is needed for that. And who can lead that better than Ellie Lust, the queen of ether discipline?

But even with Ellie at the helm, it quickly becomes chaos. The riddles are all mixed up and the tasting team is too busy with sipping. Especially Merel and Kim are meanwhile stamping which barrels go along, with all that time pressure you just have to make decisions – even if it hasn't really been thought through. It turns out (perhaps intentionally) not to be the best tactic: only one chosen barrel is correct. The tasting was clearly a bit too cozy; pointing out which port is actually good turns out to be a bridge too far. The Mole can be satisfied: only €200,- is earned. Nathan has indeed learned something from this task, although he keeps that to himself. You can always share it with us, Nathan; we really won't tell anyone.

Test stress, but then in a Who is the Mole? way

Probably one of the biggest reasons why we are glad we left the school benches behind us: those miserable tests. Yet the candidates had to face them again, because a real chemistry test turned out to be the key to the money. For that, half of the group first had to solve experiments to give the others the right answers. When the bell rings, they can consult in the hallway – as long as everyone is back in the classroom on time.

Maybe the infamous tunnel comes a bit earlier than hoped, but it's again Merel and Kim who catch my attention. They both pass on the clues rather vaguely, and that costs precious time. With Merel even so much that she is out of the game, causing her information to be lost. It could be a tactical move, but it doesn't really pay off. With four correct answers and €2000,- the pot is finally a bit filled. And more can still be cashed.

Rik, what are you doing to us?

That promise of maybe even more money immediately creates an ominous atmosphere. What is still to come? Another task? No way. While the candidates unsuspectingly want to park their buses, there suddenly is Rik – with nine tablets. No extra preparation, no warning, straight into that test. And that's not the only unexpected twist: after question fifteen, the test suddenly stops. Time for a devilish dilemma. The group can choose: continue with the last questions, or earn €1500,- and do the elimination now. The only thing the candidates know further is that someone who answered that the Mole is a man would get the red screen at this moment.

Where making decisions during the tasks went quite smoothly, it suddenly seems harder now. No one wants to make the decision; because what does that say about your position in the game and about what you answered? Eventually, the test is halted; the Mole will be disappointed, but a number of candidates can breathe a sigh of relief. Not Richard. For him, this anniversary adventure is over. Accompanied by dramatic music, he leaves the game. Did you notice anything? He was again the fourth to see his screen. I told you so! Why that is, we still have to keep you in the dark. More chaos, more suspicions, and hopefully finally an answer to that riddle of that fourth screen next week.