SPOILER ALERT: This text incorporates spoilers for “Backstab and Betrayal,” the sixth episode of “The Traitors” Season 2, now streaming on Peacock.

Not as soon as in his two-season run on CBS’ “Large Brother” did legendary participant Dan Gheesling see his title written down for eviction. Greater than a decade later, it’s nonetheless a powerful feat within the annals of actuality competitors historical past.

However Gheesling’s clear file got here to an finish on Thursday when he watched all however one in all his 12 costars on “The Traitors” scribble his title on their chalkboard and banish him from the Scottish fort for accurately deducing that he, actually, was a Traitor. However Gheesling’s exit from the sport wasn’t precisely a shock after final week’s episode, when he made what would grow to be the deadly mistake of making an attempt to homicide Carsten “Bergie” Bergersen primarily based on false intel planted by Peter Weber, who suspected Gheesling of being a Traitor.

When the shield-protected Bergie walked into breakfast at first of this week’s episode after surviving Gheesling’s tried homicide (one consigned by the opposite Traitors), Weber wasted no time in revealing to the group — over smoked meats and crumpets — that he fed his laced intel to a few individuals: Gheesling, his fellow Traitor, Parvati Shallow and Chris “CT” Tamburello. From there, the contaminated trio have been left to make the case they didn’t take the bait, a process solely CT managed to convincingly do. By the point the forged convened across the roundtable to deliberate who must be banished by night time’s finish, Gheesling was the primary out of the gate to weave a considerably baffling net in opposition to his different fellow Traitor, Phaedra Parks.

His case, albeit flimsy, included him taking subject along with her theatrics at every breakfast when the murdered participant is revealed — one thing she bit again at with the immediately iconic line, “I do an excessive amount of since you do too little.”

When it got here time to vote, Gheesling obtained each different participant’s vote besides Weber’s, the person who trapped him, who mockingly voted for Shallow simply to ensure individuals don’t overlook he additionally suspects her of being a Traitor. So why did Gheesling attempt to bulldoze Parks’ recreation when Shallow’s goal was far greater?

“Everybody favored her, and nobody suspected her,” Gheesling tells Selection. “And till I introduced her title up, nobody even thought-about her. To me, that’s actually harmful and I hope she takes that as an indication of respect. I went after you as a result of I didn’t suppose I may beat you in the long run.”

Trying again on his gameplay, Gheesling shares the errors he made, the “intestine punch” from his fellow “Large Brother” alum Janelle Pierzina and the place he stands with Parks after the present.

You spoke in your Circle of Reality about popping out of a decade-long retirement for this. So why was it “The Traitors” that resurrected you, Dan?

There’s a few causes. The primary is that I had seen the primary season and it’s the first present in a really, very very long time that I watched that was centered simply across the recreation. You noticed preventing, and also you noticed individuals go at it, however it was concerning the recreation. It wasn’t about character clashes. You want that stuff to make entertaining TV, however the recreation was the middle of every little thing. It was a brand new and distinctive recreation. On high of that, I watched it and thought it didn’t appear like actuality TV. The best way it’s filmed, it simply regarded completely different. The second factor was that Sharon Vaughan at NBC simply made it really easy for me to say sure. I’ve three little children and I’m married, and I used to be capable of name my children and name my spouse. They alleviated any worries I’d have and the one factor I needed to do was to return play the sport and have enjoyable.

Did this make you wish to bounce again into the world of actuality TV? Or was this a one-and-done till your subsequent resurrection?

I actually wished to return again and play in opposition to some nice gamers. I simply knew that if they’re calling me, I’m not the one individual they’re calling. They’re calling some massive canine. That was actually intriguing to me. But in addition, I suppose the double-edged sword of this all is that they set the bar so excessive. To me, that is the usual. I’ve gotten just a few calls already about different exhibits and it’s like, “Does it meet that normal?” I simply suppose so extremely of this present and it’s actually onerous to high. And I don’t have an curiosity to return again and do one thing that has been performed 100 instances earlier than.

Did the funeral problem just a few episodes in the past convey again reminiscences of if you staged your personal funeral in “Large Brother 14?” And is {that a} requirement of the competitors collection you’ll be part of shifting ahead?

It was form of weird as a result of it actually was like a funeral! But in addition, I’m like, “Man, please don’t let anybody say that I’m acquainted with funerals.” I simply didn’t need anybody enjoying the sport to convey it up as a result of till Janelle blew up my recreation, nobody knew who I used to be besides Sandra (Diaz-Twine), Peppermint and Janelle. And Parvati, although I don’t even suppose she knew.

So do you suppose you have been enjoying a stable recreation earlier than this Janelle/Peter plan within the final episode or, wanting again on it, would you’re taking a special tactic from the start?

No, I’ve a laundry checklist of all of the errors I made. (Word: At this second, he actually picks up a yellow pad with a bunch of scribbled notes on it.) However I really feel like there are additionally some issues that went in opposition to me. I’ve at all times been capable of adapt and get better. I make errors in all of those exhibits, however I can at all times get better. What actually first knocked the wind out of me — that’s one of the best ways I can describe it — was that I knew Janelle was going to return after me. However I didn’t know, and so they don’t present every little thing, that she was going to return after me saying, “This dude is harmful. He’s performed X, Y and Z. He’s faked his personal dying.” All the pieces I didn’t need individuals to know, Janelle threw out on the desk and everybody checked out me otherwise after that. And that carried over for me into the Traitors turret. The sport is absolutely quick and I simply by no means recovered from it. So I’m making the choice to take a big gamble and do away with Bergie, and I’m doing so whereas I’m nonetheless surprised. Some issues went fallacious, however the Janelle intestine punch was actually what began the tailspin.

Have you ever talked to Janelle because you have been each banished?

Oh, yeah! I really like Janelle. We giggle about it. That’s the factor, even with Peter. Peter set a lure, however I’m the one who units the traps! Peter set a lure on me and when he obtained me, all I may suppose was, “Man, that was a fantastic transfer.” I didn’t inform him that within the second however it was what I used to be pondering. I really like that he makes strikes like that, however I by no means noticed it coming.

That’s the great thing about this recreation plucking gamers from all throughout the truth TV panorama. There are some actual wild playing cards. Do you know of Peter earlier than this as a result of he appeared to return out of nowhere for you?

No. That is what I knew of Peter: “Bachelor.” However then I obtained to know him and discovered he’s a pilot and a extremely likable man. I took him as actually simple and trustworthy — not savvy, you recognize. However that was what he introduced to me. In the meantime, he’s doing all these cool issues. Even early on, once I was watching the present, he faked a little bit battle with Kevin [Martin]. However that’s my transfer! I can do nothing however respect it as a result of I really like seeing that stuff on TV. Whereas I would favor it’s me doing it to another person, I can recognize it.

Why go after Phaedra on the roundtable when Parvati already had the goal on her?

For “Large Brother” followers, Parvati was Memphis (Dan’s shut pal and runner-up on “Large Brother 10”); Parvati was Danielle (his closest ally on “Large Brother 14”). A totally completely different stage than Danielle, however I say that for the extent of belief. I had 1000 % belief in Parvati, and I really feel prefer it was reciprocal. However she was the individual that I noticed myself going to the tip with. That was half one. I wasn’t going to activate her as a result of I do know to win, you may’t win by your self. I actually trusted her. Would trusting the Black Widow get me in the long run? Who is aware of however I wish to suppose not.

The opposite factor was that I didn’t see a path to win with Phaedra within the recreation. I understand how this recreation works. You aren’t knocking out Faithfuls your complete recreation after which it’s three Traitors standing in the long run. A Traitor goes to go. I didn’t need it to me, I didn’t need it to be Parvati. And Phaedra was so insulated. Everybody favored her, and nobody suspected her. And till I introduced her title up, nobody even thought-about her. To me, that’s actually harmful, and I hope she takes that as an indication of respect. I went after you as a result of I didn’t suppose I may beat you in the long run. You’re going to be on the last fireplace on the finish, take a look at your Bravo associates, wink at them and I’m gone. I didn’t see a solution to win along with her, and I believe in hindsight, that was an enormous mistake as a result of I believe she is a little bit upset with me now as a result of she actually trusted me and I by no means gave her a purpose to not. Generally, if you play a recreation like this for the primary time, that stings. So I fully perceive if she is upset with me.

After the episode aired, she posted on X, “Bye, Dirty Dan.” Have you ever talked to her? What would you say to her?

I imply, I’ve DM’d along with her. I’d say the DMs have been… How would I say it? I’d say very impartial. Impartial to she’s not proud of me, however I hope with time that she understands. That’s the powerful factor for me. I actually favored everybody. While you play “Large Brother,” generally individuals get in your nerves and you’re completely happy for them to go. But it surely wasn’t like that with Phaedra. I like her. I imply, she’s a star. In order that was onerous for me as a result of I genuinely favored everybody. However the one factor I can do is say that it was only a recreation. You already know, I’ve three little children. The best way I method that is that I play onerous and I’m going to try to knock you out. However I’m not going to make enjoyable of you within the course of. I hope in some unspecified time in the future she sees it like that and that I wasn’t making an attempt to, like, embarrass her or something like that.

Have you ever began watching “The Actual Housewives” to take notes for future competitions in opposition to them? Those that know Phaedra knew she was to not be messed with.

I’ve at all times watched “Actual Housewives” by osmosis with my spouse, and she or he is an enormous “Orange Nation” fan. So I knew who Tamra Decide was. I’ve watched “New Jersey,” and I like “New Jersey.” I’ve watched some “Beverly Hills,” however I’ve by no means actually seen “Atlanta.” If I had seen “Atlanta,” it most likely would have served me rather a lot higher on this recreation for certain.

Did your spouse ship you off with any phrases of knowledge in coping with Housewives?

She did inform me that if Tamra was there, be associates along with her and you’ll belief her. And I actually like Tamra. I do know now that Tamra thought I removed her, however she came upon later that it wasn’t that and I actually wished to work along with her within the recreation.

We solely get to see a lot of the roundtable. Had been there different components of your case in opposition to Phaedra we didn’t get to see?

I believe they did a fantastic job of distilling it all the way down to the vital components. Some stuff was minimize out, however it was nothing that made a distinction. But it surely was fascinating to look at again as a result of it felt rather a lot worse. Like, Phaedra and John [Bercow], they only got here after me. They eviscerated me. Within the edit, I obtained knifed up and it was fairly unhealthy, however I don’t know. That is the primary time that I’ve watched a present that I’ve been on and it’s completely different. While you’re on “Large Brother,” you’re not going to look at the present as a result of it’s over. However this can be a case the place you’re dwelling one thing that occurred three months in the past, however you’re watching it for the primary time. So it was a singular expertise.

Was there something in your Circle of Reality speech that we didn’t get to listen to? As viewers, we wish you all to say a lot extra earlier than leaving!

Yeah, it undoubtedly was rather a lot longer. You already know once I get the possibility to talk in entrance of an viewers, I wish to put a little bit one thing on it. It was form of like a little bit winding street. I didn’t wish to go up there and simply say, “I’m a Traitor.” I wished to make them sweat a little bit bit. The best way I wrapped issues up, I believe I mentioned one thing like, “My favourite films are those the place the unhealthy guys get away in the long run.” Then they have been like, “Nicely, are you a foul man or an excellent man?” And I mentioned, “Sadly, this isn’t a kind of films.” So it was rather a lot longer, however I believe the best way it was edited was true to kind and the messaging I used to be making an attempt to get throughout.

Since you’re watching it in real-time, what do you consider Pavarti and Phaedra’s choice to try to recruit Peter as your substitute within the turret?

I believe if Peter places on the cloak, it will make for unimaginable tv as a result of all these folks that love him, he’s now going to get to stab. I imply, you dream of that in a recreation like this. A minimum of I dream of with the ability to do one thing like that. Being within the fort, I believed he may very well be swayed. However watching at house, I used to be like, “This dude is rarely going to take that.” However right here’s my factor: if he doesn’t take the deal, he’s flicking off the Traitors. He’s performed. For those who try this, you’re not getting back from it. For me, as a result of I’m rooting for Peter, I hope he takes it. It would make for unimaginable tv. If he doesn’t, he’s a lifeless man strolling and, belief me, I do know what that’s like.

This interview has been edited and condensed.