Ciara Miller on Why Everyone Was 'Obsessed' With The Traitors' Coffin Theory
Theories, shmeories...
Ciara Miller became the seventh player to be banished from The Traitors after a near-unanimous roundtable vote, ending the Summer House star’s game and booting her out of the Scottish castle. Unfortunately for Miller, she was the latest Faithful to be ousted, falling victim to the popular coffin theory that was an undercurrent to several episodes. The belief among the players was that one of the three people who were placed in the coffins earlier in the season – Ciara, Jeremy Collins, and Nikki Garcia – was a Traitor.
To get the scoop on her Traitors experience, Ciara hopped on Zoom to dish on what led to her banishment, why everyone was dead set on closing out the coffin theory (hint: it has to do with Season 2), and the power duo she wanted to break up if she was still in the castle.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Did you have an idea that you were in danger of banishment? What are your thoughts on how it played out?
I definitely feel like I had an idea going into that roundtable. People weren't saying my name to my face until after the challenge, and maybe 20 minutes before the roundtable, so I had very little time to be prepared. But I suspected. If it's really only my name being thrown around, it's probably my time to go. So honestly, I kind of knew someone was going to lead the charge against me at that table. And of course, that's what happened.
Everyone seemed keen on closing out the coffin theory. Why do you think that there was such an obsession in the castle?
People were obsessed with the coffin theory. And I was surprised I lasted even that long, given, I had been in the coffin. In Season 2 there were coffins as well, and there was a Traitor in the coffin. So, people were convinced because of Season 2, that there would be another Traitor in the coffin as well. And my thought process, and this is very fourth wall, but I was like, why would they produce the same pattern of where to put Traitors? I think that in the seasons going forward, there will always be coffins but people were convinced there had to be at least one Traitor in the coffin when in reality it was a Traitor in the cages. But people couldn't let it go. So, I guess they put the nail in the coffin with me.
You said that you were going to go after the Traitors that evening in the coffin. Do you think you should have approached that differently?
Yeah, I didn't defend myself. I was just like, "I'm gonna find you guys!" Going a little too hard. Honestly, I stand by what I said. I am not the type to negotiate with Traitors. If you put me in any situation where I sell myself out just to save myself from something, I probably wouldn't. That was definitely my mentality. But also, some people were like, "I'm willing to work with you." And some people were talking about their athletic abilities, and I'm just kind of like, no. That was the truest response that I could have ever said. I stand by it to this day. It might have put suspicion on my back, but I think it's more so because people in that house didn't really know me. The people who really know me were like, yeah, of course she said that. I'm not doing this on your terms. I stand by it 100%.
Had you survived the roundtable and weren't banished, what was your next move?
If I had survived that roundtable, I definitely think I was going to come after Britney and Danielle because I was like, it's either one of them. It's either Britney or Danielle. I was down to break up their little powwow that day, but it's really hard to get people to sway and listen to you. I definitely would have gone after either one of them had I stayed, but who's to say.
What was your reaction when the Traitors' identities were unveiled to you?
I was definitely surprised by Carolyn. Definitely shocked me. Danielle, I was a little shocked because there were some things that contributed to why people didn't vote for her or pin her down for a Traitor. I initially thought that she was a Traitor for a solid week, and I was like, let me stay out of her way because I'm not trying to be noticed. Once you get to know people, then they convince you otherwise. Once it was unveiled, I was like, you gotta be kidding!
One of the highlights of your last episode was the lullaby mission. One of the funniest scenes was Tom Sandoval showing off his singing skills. Can you discuss having a front-row seat?
It was hilarious. I mean, he thinks that he is literally on top of the world. It was honestly just so funny -- the process of him warming up his vocals and him singing and covering the ear and getting it so down to every little intonation and pitch, like a crescendo here, a decrescendo there. He was so serious about it. He was fully having a moment, and he's been waiting for this moment. Honestly, he was like, "We're gonna crush this. We're gonna do so well." It ended up being so much harder than anyone could think. I can't remember nursery rhymes, and then they're backwards. It was a funny challenge because, I mean, I was just worried about the shield like everyone [else] and I don't think I want to debut my singing career on national TV.
What's surprised you as you've watched the season unfold? Did anything not make it into the episodes?
My relationship with Bob H. did not get shown at all. It was kind of sad that that never made it to light. And I guess the roundtable where no one really stuck up for me or stuck their neck out to be like, "I don't think she's a Traitor." And then it was a unanimous vote. It was par for the course, but it was sad watching it back.
Do you feel the majority of the players went into that roundtable having their minds made up to banish you?
I think people had their minds made up, and so there was really only one option. People weren't throwing out other names or suspecting other people. And I think they were like, let's just close the door on [the coffin theory]. But then for people to be like, "I knew she wasn't a Traitor," then why vote for me?
Who do you think is in the best spot at this point in the game?
Ivar is in the best spot. Since Bob the Drag Queen voted for Ivar early, early, early on, it solidified that he was not a Traitor. And so, Ivar has been in a great spot this entire time, has been able to say nothing, blend in. I also think Dylan too, because Dylan gained house trust by getting Bob the Drag Queen [out]. Dylan is very much a Faithful and nobody is ever going to come for him, so he's in a great spot as well.
If you were presented with the chance to go back into the castle, would you want to return as a Faithful or would you want to give being a Traitor a shot?
I think I'd be an awful Traitor. But I would be down to go back as a Faithful again.
Same approach?
I'd probably go a little harder. You're on a tight rope; you're on a balancing act [in the castle]. But I think if I went in again, I would definitely go a little harder.
Stream new episodes of The Traitors every Thursday at 9p ET on Peacock.
