The Mole is, in my opinion, one of the best and most intelligent "reality" show on television. The show is based loosely on spy dramas. On it, the players must work together as a team in order to accomplish certain tasks. These tasks may be pseudo-military operations like hostage rescues or building defense or they can be more intellectual like finding a specific location in a strange city or deciphering a series of clues to get a reward.

Every time the players complete a task a certain amount of money is added to the game's prize total. However, failing the task takes money out of the total.

There is one additional complication. One of the players is "The Mole". The Mole is really working against the other players, trying to make them fail at their tasks.

At the end of each episode the players are given a test to determine how much they have been able to figure out about The Mole. The player who gets the fewest correct answers on the quiz is "Executed" and is out of the game. The last player surviving is the winner.

The show is hosted by Anderson Cooper, a former ABC investigative reporter. As he puts it, "It's a simple game", and it is. That's part of what makes it work.

After the success of the first season a second season was produced. This time there were fourteen players.

The Players:

• Al - Distribution Manager
• Ali - Nurse
• Bill - Retired Rear Admiral/Surgeon
• Bob - Financial Consultant
• Bribs - Skiing Instructor
• Darwin - Corporate Attorney
• Dorothy - Musician
• Elavia - Sales
• Heather - Account Supervisor at PR Agency
• Katie - Spanish Teacher
• Lisa - Assistant U.S. Attorney/Hot-Dog Vendor (huh?)
• Myra - Airline Pilot
• Patrick - City Manager
• Rob - Videographer/Magician

Who... is The Mole?

Episode Summaries:

1. The First Betrayal
2. The Second Betrayal
3. The Third Betrayal
4. The Fourth Betrayal
5. The Fifth Betrayal
6. The Sixth Betrayal
7. The Seventh Betrayal
8. The Eighth Betrayal
9. The Ninth Betrayal
10. The Tenth Betrayal
11. The Eleventh Betrayal
12. The Twelveth Betrayal
13. The Final Betrayal

Molewatch: Who is The Mole?

Here is a listing of possible suspicious activities by each player over the course of the series.

Active Players

• Dorothy - Winner of Mole 2: The Next Betrayal
  Missed her question during the Burn Bags Game (episode 1). Declines to wear a diaper to double the pot during the Clothesline game (episode 2). Jumps at the chance to get the key piece of cake starting the Blueberry Game (episode 2). Gets Katie to leave her room during the Blueberry Game (episode 2). Is able to come up with two answers at the very last second in the Dumb vs Smart Game (episode 4). Gets lost and never gives an answer to her question in the Think or Sink Game (episode 5). Almost completely unable to ride a bicycle in the Bike the Mountain Game (episode 6). Chosen as "Caesar" during the Gladiator Game and so does not participate (episode 7). Chooses not to bungee jump during Relative Bungee (episode 8). Only player to never meet their loved one during the Relative Games (episode 8). Has filled up one Journal and started on a second (episode 8). Wants to help dissassemble and reassemble the car even though she does not know what most of the tools are for in the Assembly Line Game (episode 9). Figures out the combination to the greenhouse at the last minute (episode 9). Does not want to drink the wine produced by Al and Heather after the Grape Game (episode 9). Hits the ball out of sequence in the All Night Ball Game (episode 9).
• Bill - The Mole
  Was told by Rob that he was not very athletic and then put Rob in the Crossbow Biathlon and put the most money on that game (episode 1). When Myra is attempting to help Al with his racing heartbeat by suggesting he rub his carotid artery warns (loud enough for Al to hear) that if he presses too hard he could pass out (episode 1). Refused to wear a diaper to double the pot during the Clothesline Game (episode 2). After finding the missing Ali and Bribs returned to the bar with them instead of taking them back to the train station (episode 2). Told Al he didn't want an Exemption in the Exemption Game (episode 3). Dents a car in the Morality Game (episode 4). Rob says he is good at math and numbers but misses a math question in the Smart/Dumb Game (episode 4). Unable to last more than a few minutes in the pool despite being former Navy and despite claiming that he could last a while in the Think or Sink Game (episode 5). Nearly leads the group in the wrong direction in the Homemade Pizza Game (episode 6). Eats an ice cream bar, causing the group to receive a penalty after the Homemade Pizza and Bike the Mountain Games (episode 6). Makes several mistakes in the Gnome Home Game then breaks the Gnome, losing the game but gaining an Exemption for himself (episode 7). Is visited by his brother-in-law, not his wife, during the Relative games (episode 8). Keeps encouraging the players to disassemble the car in the Assembly Line Game (episode 9). Neutralizes Dorothy during the Assembly Line Game (episode 9). Attempts to cause the players to lose the All Night Ball Game in order to earn an Exemption (episode 9).

Executed:

• Al - Volunteered for the more difficult double crossing during the Pulse Rope Walk then had trouble with an extremely high pulse rate (episode 1). Volunteered to be the Matchmaker in the Little John/Little Jane Game (episode 3). Made questionable matchups (Patrick, Katie) against Little John in the Little John/Little Jane game. Gave an Exemption to Katie who he considers "The weakest player in the game." (episode 3). Did not answer all questions correctly in the Rappelling Game (episode 4). Offers to tell Patrick his favorite color just before that question appears on the Mole quiz (episode 4). Gets very upset when he does not get to participate in the Think or Sink Game (episode 5). Is knocked out very quickly in the Gladiator Game (episode 7). Wagers half of money won and loses it after the Grape Game (episode 9). Mentions his shoe size just before that question appears on the Mole quiz (episode 9). Seems to not hear Bill tell him to go in the Evader Game and stands around a bit before starting (episode 10). Executed in episode 11.
• Ali - Missed her question during the Burn Bags Game (episode 1). Went to the bar instead of the train station during the Clothesline Game (episode 2). Pretended to have been offered an exemption for throwing the Clothesline Game (episode 2). Executed in episode 2.
• Bob - Had trouble riding the bike back up the hill during the Crossbow Biathlon (episode 1). Executed in episode 1.
• Bribs - Has can of "Mole Killer" (episode 1). Went to the bar instead of the train station during the Clothesline Game (episode 2). Badly misses his question in the Rappelling Game (episode 4). Is able to guess one answer and correct another in the Think or Sink Game (episode 5). Turns down the chance for an Exemption by chosing to successfully complete the Gladiator Game (episode 7). Searches the greenhouse but does not notice the combination lock on the door during the Assembly Line Game (episode 9). Hits the ball twice in a row causing the players to lose the All Night Ball Game and denying Bill the chance at an Exemption (episode 9). Executed in episode 10.
• Darwin - Knew Rob was not very athletic but still put Rob in the Crossbow Biathlon and put the most money on that game (episode 1). Removes part of his costume during the Clothesline Game (episode 2). Loses his share of the pot during the Blackjack Game (episode 2). Leaves his room and wanders around quite a bit when summoned by Lisa during the Blueberry Game (episode 2). Gets his question wrong then gets his finger caught in the rope, preventing him from checking any more questions in the Rappelling Game (episode 4). Is able to correct Rob's answer in the Think or Sink Game (episode 5). Eats an ice cream bar, causing the group to receive a penalty after the Homemade Pizza and Bike the Mountain Games (episode 6). Searches the greenhouse twice before noticing the combination lock in the Assembly Line Game (episode 9). Encourages Dorothy to hit the ball out of sequence, causing the group to fail the All Night Ball Game (episode 9). Executed in episode 9.
• Elavia - Throws the Swing for Life game to get an Exemption (episode 1). Declines to wear a diaper to double the pot during the Clothesline game (episode 2). Can't read her question and so just guesses at the answer in the Rappelling Game (episode 4). Can't find the answer to her question in the Think or Sink game, asks a local and then gets the spelling wrong (episode 5). Mentions her boyfriends name just before a question involving it appears on the Mole quiz (episode 5). Takes an Exemption instead of adding $15,000 to the pot in the Redemption game (episode 6). Takes a bribe of $50,000 to leave the game (episode 7). Leaves (voluntarily, not Executed) in episode 7.
• Heather - Stands outside with Katie instead of exchanging information with the other players prior to the Burn Bags Game (episode 1). First player to realize that their bags are at risk during the Burn Bags Game (episode 1). Complains about not being one of the players during the Blackjack Game (episode 2). Falls over without even being touched in the Little John/Little Jane Game (episode 3). Misses her question in the Rappelling Game even though it is felt that she should have known the answer (episode 4). Ties her shoelaces together and tosses her shoe into the basket, guaranteeing that she will get out of her cell first and be offered the Exemption in the Get the Key Game (episode 5). Turns down an Exemption even after repeatedly saying she wanted one (episode 5). Touches the bicycle after having been told not to in the Bike the Mountain Game causing the group to receive a penalty (episode 6). Knows an Exemption is inside the gnome in the Gnome Home game but chooses not to take it, even after repeatedly saying she wants one (episode 7). Fails every time when chosen as a players "eyes" in the Relative Disguise game (episode 8). Is proposed to by her boyfriend during the Relative Games (episode 8). Wagers half of money won and loses it after the Grape Game (episode 9). The Mole's final victim. Runner-up.
• Katie - Nearly panics during the Swing for Life Game (episode 1). Stands outside with Heather instead of exchanging information with the other players prior to the Burn Bags Game (episode 1). Missed her question during the Burn Bags Game (episode 1). Reveals that her stuffed cow is named "Meadow Muffin", which is a euphemism for "bullshit" (episode 1). Runs around stirring up the other players when Ali claims to be playing for an exemption during the Clothesline Game (episode 2). Splits her threes at an inopportune time during the Blackjack Game (episode 2). Leaves her room when summoned by Dorothy during the Blueberry Game (episode 2). Calls someone "bitch" in her journal (episode 3). Lies to Patrick about not reading his Journal (episode 3). Lies to Elavia about reading Patrick's Journal (episode 3). Upset at being on the "Dumb" team in the Dumb vs Smart Game (episode 4). Tries to cause the Smart team to fail thus gaining an Exemption at the cost of $40,000 to the pot in the Dumb vs Smart Game (episode 4). Seems to have a lot of trouble figuring out the answer in the Think or Sink Game; has the word order of the final answer wrong even though the number of letters is clearly marked and fails to move one letter over even after she is asked repeatedly if she moved all of them (episode 5). Mentions throwing rocks when she first sees the message from the Mole on the side of the van and the Find the Key Game, which occurs later, involved throwing rocks (episode 5). Tries to take time to conjugate all of the verbs they need before searching for ingredients in the Homemade Pizza Game (episode 6). Executed in episode 8.
• Lisa - After finding the missing Ali and Bribs returned to the bar with them instead of taking them back to the train station (episode 2). Loses her share of the pot during the Blackjack Game (episode 2). Gets Darwin to leave his room during the Blueberry Game (episode 2). Executed in episode 3.
• Myra - Volunteers for the Neutralizer Game (episode 3). Gets across the bridge on a technical (hit in head by Little Jane) in the Little John/Little Jane Game (episode 3). Tries to cause the Smart team to fail, thus gaining an Exemption at the cost of $40,000 to the pot in the Dumb vs Smart game (episode 4). Wastes time trying to get the useless slingshot and then attempting to use it in the Get the Key Game (episode 5). Executed in episode 6.
• Patrick - Missed his question during the Burn Bags Game (episode 1). Has written massive amounts in his Journal but tells Katie not to read it in the Journal Switch Game (episode 3). Begs Al for an Exemption after the Little John/Little Jane Game (episode 3). Attempts to mislead the other players as to the names of the two women in the Morality Game (episode 4). Tears pages out of Katie's Journal (episode 4). Executed in episode 4.
• Rob - Falls off bicycle and throws up during Crossbow Biathlon Game (episode 1). Puts all remaining chips on single hand and loses during Blackjack Game (episode 2). Tells everyone not to read the "Mole's Journal" (episode 3). Has written almost nothing in his Journal (episode 3). Admits that he is not much use in the Dumb vs Smart Game (episode 4). Gets lost then misspells his answer in the Think or Sink Game (episode 5). Executed in episode 5.