The Traitors’ Dan Gheesling Is Retiring After ‘Ticking Time Bomb’ Final Days in Reality TV (Exclusive)

Dan Gheesling survived his own funeral Big Brotherbut in Thursday’s episode Traitorsthe funeral director put the final nail in his banishment coffin.

“I think it’s pretty ironic that she owns a funeral home and she’s the one who finally adopted me,” Gheesling, 40, tells PEOPLE of fellow Traitor Phaedra Parks, a licensed funeral director and former Real Housewife of Atlanta.

In an attempt to save himself at the round table, Gheesling dropped Parks, 50, as his prime suspect as a traitor after he was criticized for playing quietly. But Gheesling found himself caught in a trap set by Faithful Peter Weber, who tricked the Traitors – including Survived‘s Parvati Shallow — for “murder” Island of love alum Carsten “Bergie” Bergersen when Bergie, 24, had a shield that made him immune to elimination.

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Phaedra Parks.

Euan Cherry/PAUN via Getty

Even before Bergie came in for breakfast, informing the player of the Traitors’ failed attempt to knock him out of the game, Gheesling knew he was facing a “terrible, terrible situation.”

“I shouldn’t have seen Bergie’s face. When I heard the knock, I said, ‘This is not good,’” Gheesling says. “But I didn’t think it was over. That’s how I play all those games. I could be cornered and 10 wolves wanted to come at me, I’ll fight until it’s over. That lit a fire in me, like, now I have to go after Phaedra.”

Despite his best efforts, Gheesling was kicked out on Thursday. Gheesling now reflects on his strategy, the current state of his relationship with Parks, and why he thinks so Traitors will be his last reality TV series.

What were you planning to turn down after Bergie came in at breakfast?

DAN GHEESLING: At that point, I immediately wanted to get to Peter. You saw part of that conversation. I said, OK, like you’re sitting across the table, it’s a bad guy and a good guy, and like, can we find some way to work this out? It was just an attempt at immediate damage control.

Did you think Bergie was such a threat that you had to go after him, or did you just pick him because you thought Peter had a shield?

What she really was – and this is where I got so fixated on it – was a weakened Phaedra. You have to see how tough they were, but they were tough. Bergie had the wool pulled over his eyes. He had no idea that Phaedra was a traitor. She could take him anywhere he wanted. And I say, OK, getting rid of Bergie weakens Phaedra. It was really, how do I get rid of Phaedra? And the thing was that without Peter Bergie, he is not very dangerous. I really underestimated Peter. He did such a phenomenal job and it was fun, really fun to play against Peter.

Peter Weber.

Euan Cherry/PAUN via Getty

Looking back now, do you respect Peter’s game?

A thousand percent. Even early on when he did that little misdirection with Kevin [Kreider of Bling Empire], I look and say, “Dude, it’s just…” People say, “Well, what’s the point?” Anything that doesn’t focus attention or cause chaos, I love it. You saw me, I said, Peter’s not that smart. He’s not going to set this elaborate trap to try and catch one of the Traitors. And then when he did, inside I’m like, I respect that. Normally I’m the one who sets traps and catches people, so being caught shocked me and I like it. I completely overlooked him from a strategic point of view, but also as a leader. He has such command over those Believers and is so good in everyday life and earns trust. He played a phenomenal game and I look forward to seeing what he decides to do if he decides to become a Traitor.

Why did you choose to be silent at the beginning of the game?

I tried to be quiet even when I was talking [have people think], “OK, this is Dan’s time, let’s give him this vote. He shoots, I come out as Traitor and it’s like, OK, he’s really Faithful.” And then I build some trust with everyone. And then probably closer to the end, you shoot whoever is the next person you recruit. So that was the ending.

In your podcast you revealed that Peter came to you saying he was planning to vote for Parvati. At that point did you think you should rally everyone around Parvati?

It was maybe 10 minutes before the round table. He came in and said, “Dan, we can keep you, but you have to vote for Parvati.” As I look at those games and as I have had success, I choose one person and agree 1000 percent. I will protect that person, I will not stab them in the back. I just really trusted her. Watching the show in retrospect, it was cool to see that Parvati had a few shots to throw me under the bus when she really didn’t. It confirmed that for me [choice]. I didn’t see a way to win with Phaedra in the game and I said, I can’t just bleed out in this game and be a ticking time bomb. I have to target Phaedra and try to get her out.

Dan Gheesling and Parvati Shallow.

Euan Cherry/Peacock via Getty

You were ready to throw Phaedra under the bus early on — why did you wait so long?

In hindsight, I would have taken that chance maybe a week earlier because I still had Janelle [Pierzina] and she was waiting for me. I think we could have gotten a few votes. I don’t know if the end result is different in the sense that Phaedra was so well insulated. But I think there was a higher percentage chance that I still had Janelle in there and that I shot.

Do you think you took the wrong approach by not trying to work with Janelle, who you played with? Big Brother previously?

I was just overly concerned about Survived/Big Brother people, seen [as] super tight. So I tried to stay away from her, but I always trusted her. I kind of knew they were going to come after me because some people told me. I didn’t expect them to drop a nuclear bomb on me. I was stunned. All I cared about was getting out, about winning Big Brother, how dangerous I was, she put it all on the table. It was like if you’ve ever been hit or fallen and the wind knocked out of you, that’s how I felt all night in that Traitor’s dome. It was really hard to recover. But I love Janelle and one of these days we’ll be on the same page. But I think I was wrong to keep her at such a distance. I kind of sketched her out, so I can understand why she did what she did.

How would you have progressed working with Phaedra if Parvati had been the one kicked out?

The shocking thing to me was how adept Phaedra was at rejection and how personally she took it. Even at the autopsy, she is not very happy with me. So I don’t think it would work well in my house. And I get it. I think she really believed me, but I don’t think she saw it. It didn’t matter because she was so good at rejection, but I think it probably hurt her. I think it’s hard after you shoot someone like that and then you have to work together.

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Do you think the hosts are underrated in the match?

I know. Their knowledge of conflict is out of this world, so they can create situations to create conflict and chaos and get away with it, which is a big part of these games. Some of them are used to how they strategically place themselves, but I think their skill set is well suited for these games. Even someone like Kate [Chastain from Below Deck] came in, she’s not a Housewife, but she’s Bravo. I said, “Man, this is not good.” As a fan TraitorsI say, “Okay, let’s go.”

Did you immediately predict that Kate would be so suspicious of you?

She really came in like a blank slate. She did not come with any prejudices. I had some one-on-one conversations with her and I could tell those conversations weren’t going very well because she wasn’t buying what I was selling. Someone with almost a full season of experience is worth that much. She’s been through this before and I think she’s really taken advantage of it and has a good feel for what’s going on.

Dan Gheesling.

Euan Cherry/PAUN via Getty

Is there anything we haven’t seen on TV that you wish was in the final version?

I was very quiet in the house and that doesn’t mean that much TV was being watched, but I was working. I talk to everyone, just not about the game. And that’s where I developed those relationships. I could tell you a lot about everyone in that lineup because I’m sitting there digging and working. I just ran out of runway. IN Big Brother, I can do it endlessly. This is where I say, “Hey, I’ve spent too much time doing this and not enough time talking about strategy.

Who would you want to give a traitor’s call if you survived the last round table?

I think Pete is a really interesting choice. When you watch it, you think, “No way.” But while we’re at it, I still think Pete could use some work. To me it’s like someone probably likes CT [Tamburello]. It would have to be a dude because otherwise he’ll come back to me at some point.

Did you initially consider keeping Parvati as a believer to be on your side and bringing in someone else as a traitor?

As soon as I saw Parvati, I said, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” She plays Survived like I’m playing Big Brother. I needed someone there in the Traitor’s turret who had strategic experience to build on. On top of that, it’s like I’m a fan of hers and Survived, and I’m just like, “In what other world do I get the chance to work side by side with Black Widow?” I think it worked because there was another day in the office in Parvati for the poisoning. I would be clumsy everywhere. I really enjoyed playing with Parvati.

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You said in your podcast that you don’t think you’ll ever play the game again. Should we consider this your pension?

You haven’t seen me in 10 years and I think this is it for me. But it was one heck of a way to go out – such a positive, fun and wild experience that I’ll never forget.

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New episodes Traitors drop Thursdays at 9pm ET on Peacock.

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Source: HIS Education