Emir Elidemir on ‘The Traitors Türkiye’

In our April 2026 issue of Episode Magazine, we spoke with Emir Elidemir from the The Traitors Türkiye team, whom we hosted on our cover.

I realized how quickly I could distance myself from people. Normally, I am a warmer person, but there, I can suddenly distance myself from everyone and focus entirely on the game.”

Taking place in a castle in Belgium, in an atmosphere completely disconnected from the outside world, The Traitors Türkiye is not just a strategy game for Emir Elidemir and the other contestants; it is a mental war where mind and emotion constantly collide. For Emir Elidemir, this experience turns into a process that starts with logic but becomes difficult over time due to paranoia, suspicion, and emotional pressure.

In this closed world where the concept of time is erased and everyone analyzes one another, the most critical issue for Emir Elidemir and the others is knowing when to speak and when to remain silent. Because in this game, the winner is not just the one who finds the truth, but the one who catches the right moment. We listened to what Emir Elidemir had to say on this matter.

​Is this more of a game of mind or a game of emotion? Which one did you prioritize?

The mind definitely wins, but struggling with emotions is truly very difficult. No matter how much you try to stay logical, emotions are the side that constantly pushes you.

Did you lose your sense of time in the castle? Did the days blur together?

It definitely gets lost. There is no outside world, no clocks, no routine… After a point, it’s not days that remain, but only “moments in the game.”

How did trying to understand if people were lying affect you?

It’s tiring at first, then it becomes a reflex. After a while, you start analyzing everything everyone says, which inevitably makes a person paranoid.

How did you form your first alliance and why did you trust those people?

I looked at energy and eye contact. It’s not actually a very rational choice; I moved forward with whomever I could communicate with more easily. Rather than trusting, I chose the one that was “less risky.”

Did someone you trusted betray you? How did you feel at that moment?

As far as I know, no. But in this game, you can never be one hundred percent sure of anything. That’s why the feeling of trust always remains incomplete.

​Is it a stronger strategy to stay silent or to lead by speaking in the game?

Speaking at the right time. The one who talks constantly sinks, and the one who remains completely silent is erased. The one who manages the timing well governs the game.

At what moment in the castle did you say, “Things are getting out of control here”?

The moment I started going crazy from paranoia as the game progressed. Reality and game personas begin to merge; that’s where you feel you’re losing control.

Did a trait of yours emerge during this process that surprised you?

I realized how quickly I could distance myself from people. Normally, I am a warmer person, but there, I can suddenly distance myself from everyone and focus entirely on the game.

Did your view of people change after the competition?

No. This is a game, and everything that happened stayed there. All the contestants were playing only to win the game. I didn’t experience personal issues; in fact, we formed new friendships after the competition.

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