‘The Trust’ on Netflix: The First Contestant Eliminated Was Doomed From the Start

Usually when the first elimination of a reality competition comes, any disappointment can be quelled with knowing that someone would’ve had to have gone home eventually. But that’s not the case in Netflix‘s latest unscripted show The Trust: A Game of Greed.

The series follows 11 strangers as they are given the opportunity to evenly split a cash prize of $250,000.

Over eight episodes, the loyalty of the players is tested as they are able to vote people out of “the trust” and steal money from the group’s collective funds.

The streamer released the first four episodes on January 10, 2024, followed by the next episodes on January 17, 2024 and then the finale on January 24, 2024.

Despite the lax rules of the game, one unlucky contestant heads home at the end of the first episode, titled “House of Lies,” after being targeted by the group. Juelz Morgan, a 32-year-old police officer, was seemingly doomed from the start as his fellow contestants made comments on his appearance and character from their first meeting on the island dock.

“The guy’s got one button, just one! He had a whole shirt of buttons, but he only chose to button one button… that’s a power move,” player Gaspare, a 33-year old teacher, observers about Juelz at the top of Episode 1.

Then, when the group is settled in their mansion and mingle on the back porch, Juelz fibs and says he is a stripper. Tolú, 26, who works as a marketing manager, gestures to his chest and points out his unbuttoned shirt. “There are so many men like Juelz where I come from, so immediately my red flags come up. He was trying to use his sex appeal to build rapport, but baby, you can’t charm a charmer like me,” she says in a solo interview.

Another player Julie, a 28-year-old entrepreneur, also questions his character: “I do not trust Juelz. Hustlers will usually end up putting themselves first. He’s been a hustler all of his life, he says he’ll do anything for money…”

Later in the episode, the group comes together to play a game with host Brooke Baldwin that involves them submitting anonymous secrets and guessing who is responsible for what. Juelz’s name comes up more than once, for rather unfortunate options, such as sleeping with over 150 people after being cheated on and going to parties where women were weighed upon entry. The muscular police officer is not responsible for either of those “secrets.”

Juelz final damning moment comes when he is sent to the Vault with another player Simone. They are told that they can take an amount of money from the trust, or they can add money to the trust and block two players from voting. They go with the option that would benefit everybody, and pick which players to block by selecting the first two names on a list.

The duo’s choice frustrates the blocked voters, but they don’t have to fear for retaliation in the moment, as the two are unable to vote at the ceremony. But what Juelz doesn’t know is that a few women have all conspired to vote someone out in order to have power in the game. Together, they decide to bid farewell to Juelz and he’s voted out at the end of the episode.

“I’m disappointed. I didn’t vote, I’m true to my word,” Juelz said upon being eliminated. “It didn’t have to be like this. We all deserve to go home with something, we really do.”

Personally, Juelz deserved more from the game and he gave the players zero reason to gang up on him as intensely as they did. Brian, a 42-year-old rancher, was devastated by the results and proclaimed, “This is bullshit… he was nothing but kind,” to the table of players. “I’m embarrassed, I’m pissed off,” he continues in his talking head interview.

Maybe in the future, Juelz will take the money.