"Spirit Session" in "The Traitors": How Oleksiy Hnatkovskyi Organized an Unusual Challenge with a Magic Sphere for Participants

The ninth episode of the second season of the Ukrainian show "The Traitors" aired on November 5, immediately capturing viewers' attention with a non-standard gameplay element. The show's host, Oleksiy Hnatkovskyi, known in the show as "Mr. Count," organized a so-called "spirit session" for the contestants — a playful yet atmospheric challenge format where players had to guess the answers of those who had already left the Schoenborn Palace. The episode is an exclusive of the SWEET.TV Originals platform and is already available for viewing.

The "Session" Format: A Magic Sphere, Photos, and Questions to the Eliminated

The action unfolded at a round table covered in scarlet cloth, with a glowing magic sphere in the center. Photos of the contestants were laid out around the table, while candles burned in massive candelabras in the background, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a spirit salon. Hnatkovskyi took on the role of a medium: he asked questions regarding the choices and assessments of players already eliminated, and those present had to guess which of the two suggested candidates their former rivals had named. For every correct answer, money was added to the total prize pool, which gave the challenge not only an entertaining but also a strategic character.

Participant Reaction: "As if he does this every day"

For Alina Kovalska, this format was a complete surprise. The participant noted that the challenge proved to be "interesting, unusual, and a bit mysterious," and Hnatkovskyi himself gave the impression of someone for whom conducting such sessions was a common task. "It felt like conducting spirit sessions was his usual business and he does it almost every day. He felt so organic in this role," Kovalska told Styler in a comment. According to her, it was precisely the host's confidence and immersion in the role that made the scene so memorable.

Reminder of the Rules: 21 Players, Three Traitors, and One Million Hryvnias

"The Traitors" is the Ukrainian adaptation of the international format of the same name. 21 people start the game, three of whom are designated as traitors from the beginning. Their task is to hide their affiliation and gradually eliminate the faithful players. The remaining participants, in turn, try to determine who can be trusted and expose the traitors. The main prize of the project is one million hryvnias. The ninth episode of the second season, released on November 5, continues to build dramatic tension in the final part of the season.

Season Context: Lolita Laizan's Reconciliation with Her Father

Beyond the game mechanics, the second season of "The Traitors" was also remembered for the contestants' personal stories. It was previously reported that one of the project's participants — Lolita Laizan — reconciled with her father after a long silence, and this process was in many ways linked to the emotions she experienced during filming. Such stories highlight that The Traitors format goes beyond a simple game of trust and becomes a space for personal revelations — both in the game and beyond.

About the Publication and Source

The material was prepared based on a publication by the entertainment project Styler (RBK-Ukraine), which combines entertainment and lifestyle content. "The Traitors" is an exclusive project of SWEET.TV Originals. The ninth episode of the second season has been available on the SWEET.TV platform since November 5, 2026.