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Rachel Rights Her Wrong

When Rachel and Brendon first walked into the Big Brother house this season I, like so many folks, let out a little scream of protest at my TV monitor, “What? Ya gotta be kiddin me!” Rachel had been such an emotional player, a bridge burner, a bitch, irrational and unlikeable. She seemed repelled by other females, like a cat in heat on the loose. Sadly her anthem became the famous, “No one gets between me and my man.” For all that she didn’t even win, and here she was walking right back into our three-day habit looking very un-remorseful. But CBS gave us Jeff and Jordan, and Evel Dick and Daniele, and a whole bunch of sparkly newbies to distract our annoyance. It would be okay, it really would.

True to form, Rachel started to play herself out in the beginning, picking stupid fights with other HG’s, crying at failed competitions, playing too hard and too fast. Yep, this was the same Rachel we had come to hate, and the producers played it up as best they could, even inserting a special theme of dramatic music: aka Rachel’s Theme.

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Rerun Week

In the history of Big Brother, there have been few HouseGuests that have managed to come back into the game in the same season. Big Brother has only performed the Revive-a-Player move in four seasons. Twice, the returning player has managed to last more than a single week. BB3’s Amy was the most successful, and she only got to Fourth place. Oftentimes, the returning player is seen as a “major threat” that “must be sent packing.”

The problem with a returning HouseGuest, of course, is that the rest of the house loses whatever momentum had been building. Energy must now be spent in getting the returned player back to whence they came, and in that sense the week they go is lost. Based on this logic, it is easy to see why Danielle’s own analysis was that the last two weeks were a failure.

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Brendon on the Block

Adam took himself off the block today and Daniele again targeted Brendon for eviction. Up against Shelly, it seems that the trend of a returning houseguest having a short second life in the Big Brother house is continuing.  Brendan and Rachels plan for Dani to backdoor Jeff obviously fell on deaf ears, and Daniele wants nothing more than to get Brenda out – for good.

At this point Jeff and Jordan seem to be unsure who they will vote out on Thursday, thinking that Brendon may be better to keep over Shelly, trusting the Veteran alliance to stay true. The smartest thing that Daniele could do this week is tell Jeff and Jordan about the Brenchels plan to backdoor him so it assures their vote will be for Brendan to leave.

With Brendan back on the block, Rachel seems to be reverting back to her whiny, crying, clingy self and hasn’t let him go. Only time will tell what kind of campaigning will be done to keep him but no doubt it will involve intimidation, big words, and tears.  The vote, if not all in Shelly’s favor, will more than likely come down to Adam.

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Second Verse Same as the First

All things considered, this week is very similar to last week. We have two couples in the house, Brenchel is in full effect and Lawon is contributing just as much now as he did all season. Lawon’s departure from the game was not surprising given the antics of the HouseGuests in Week 5, but Brendon’s return with over a million votes cast in his favor was a shocker to those online. Many (including this blogger) assumed that the vote would come down to Cassi and Dom. Clearly, we were mistaken.

In retrospect, however, this isn’t much of a surprise at all. There are two things that Big Brother fans adore more than anything- drama, and stupidity. Brendon’s return provides the drama. Unfortunately, Kalia provided the stupidity in spades this week. Kalia wasted the week, lost an ally and put in a weak competitor against a strong returning game player. Part of this is not her fault- the HouseGuests had no idea that former players would return, and putting Lawon in against a returning Brendon was unforeseeable. Still…

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Reality TV Psych Out

Have you ever thought about the psychological disadvantage of being on a show like Big Brother, and whether what we see is pure reality? Is reality TV a joke? What IS reality? Do I sound like Doug Henning? I’ve pondered it a bit and think that this season, over any other, is a good example of how someone’s personal life can become so compressed with fake conflict that they literally begin to falter with the truth. Take Daniele who started this game barely speaking to her father, and now in his absence has taken on his characteristics in order to survive. Is she behaving in a reality based way, or are we seeing an authentic Danielle? Whatever it is, it suits her well IN THIS GAME.

On the other hand, you have Rachel and Brendon who are so affected by their relationship with the other contestants that they’ve banded together and are vowing to death do us part, only this ain’t death, it’s just Big Brother. Theirs is poisonous relationship folks, and the show has brought it to the surface, for better or worse. Brendon controls Rachel way too much and, even though she’s a drama queen, she doesn’t deserve to be treated the way he treats her. So . . . don’t slip on that ring, don’t kiss the bride. Brendon, take a step outside.

I wonder what would happen to me should I ever get picked to be on Big Brother? Well, first of all, they wouldn’t pick me because I sing too much and I look like hell in the morning, but barring all that and I actually did make it on, what would happen? Would all my normal sensible reactions go off kilter? Would I switch to attack/survival mode without even knowing? Would I start eating all the time, like Kalia? Would bathrobes become the most important treasure in my life, like Lawon? Is it like Ghostbusters where all your fears come to life a la giant Stay Puft marshmallow dude? It’s a bad trip on that show, man. Whoever gets to the end deserves the money. And forgiveness. And a vacation from reality.

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Reverse The Curse

In Week Four, Daniele swore she would change the dynamic of the game: Mission Accomplished! Following one of the most emotionally topsy-turvy Big Brother weeks seen in ages, we find ourselves with Brenchel torn asunder, a Newbie in power and the house control reversed from previous weeks.

Before we move on from the past week, it must be noted how successful Dani’s run as HoH actually was. Granted, there was a little bit of luck- but every HoH that succeeds has that happen. In this case, it was Brendon’s questionable plan to save Rachel rather than himself that allowed Dani to keep the target on her main rival in the game. More than Jeff or anyone else, Brendon represented the polar opposite of Daniele’s game play. His departure is one less stumbling block for the scion of Evel.

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Big Brother Balance

Was this game really fair? Usually when veterans are brought back, they’re grouped into a house that’s comprised of other veterans for an All Star show. But this year someone had the sick idea to throw a handful of wide-eyed newbies into the mix, like fingers dangling into a piranha tank. Now, with Dani’s recent win—tailing the end of her golden key immunity—the newbie’s might have a decent chance to get back in the game. But who trusts Dani, really? Everyone had two secret alliances and now it’s all been blown to hell. Dani looks like a love ’em and chew ’em up kind of gal. I don’t know if I’d give her my third child if she asked me to.

I think we all want to see Brendon leave the house, if only to watch Rachel implode from the wake. Hey, that might not be such a bad idea. Dani gets rid of Brendon and teams up with Rachel. I sense a bit of feministic fascination coming from the beautiful brunette Donato. It would be a real Thelma and Louise situation, only it would be Rachel and Dani. And no Brad Pitt. But we do still have Jordan and Jeff, and I can close my eyes and pretend he’s in the room. Also, there’s no convertible to drive off a cliff. And there’s no cliff. Hell, they could just swing off the balcony or something. Girl power. Yeah.

But again, this would put the noobies in trouble. I’d start sleeping with my eyes open if I were them. I’d develop hyper listening skills, hang around the storage room, start making deals with shadows. Or, OR, I’d never throw a veto competition ever again. How’s that for a plan?

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Brendon Saves Rachel

Brendon won the Power of Veto and used it to save his fiancee Rachel, much to the shock of the house. Daniele, forced to name a replacement nominee placed one of the most loved House Guests in Big Brother history against him: Jordan. Daniele will realize her goal of having a strong Veteran leave the house.

Rachel is shattered that her other half will be leaving her for the summer, but has vowed revenge on Daniele. Brendan, having played a post-Rachel game last year continued on to win the next HOH competition, and Rachel will attempt to do the same after kissing him goodbye.

Jeff and Jordan who were suspicious of Daniele, who attempted to backdoor Jeff last week, but were assured that they wouldn’t be split up. Dani negated most of the risk by placing Jordan on the block: it’s virtually certain that Brendon will go home on Thursday.

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Brendon Wins Veto

When Daniele won Head of Household after setting the Couples alliance against her, it was unsurprising that she nominated Brendan and Rachel for eviction.  Both fierce competitors, they played the Veto competition along with Daniele, Jeff, Porsche and Adam. Unsurprisingly, Brendan added another win to his record and there is now a sliver of hope for the Couples Alliance.

Although it’s most likely that Brenchel will be split up this week, Daniele has few options for replacement nominations. Dani, who assured Jordan directly after the HOH competition that she and Jeff wouldn’t be split up for the summer, may not want to risk anything that might send Jordan home. Daniele said point blank that she will not put Jeff up since there would be too much risk. Shelly, who has raised suspicion with her game play, is a much better option and so is Porsche.

One thing is certain this week: tension is ratcheting up in the Big Brother house. The other Veterans are uncomfortable around Daniele, Kalia and Lawon. But a lot can change in the two days between now and Monday’s Veto Ceremony.

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Falling Dominos

It has often been said that the game of Big Brother changes from week to week. Those in power one week can become pariahs the next; those who suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune can become the top dogs a week later. For two years, no one has exemplified this statement more than Brendon and Rachel. When they’re in power, they relish the power– but once they lose, it becomes a sob story for the ages.

Coincidentally their collapse came in week three of both seasons. Unsurprisingly, however, it followed the combined inflation of the Brenchel head to a sphere the size of Pluto. No matter when it happens, one thing is certain: watching Rachel and Brendon squirm is delicious. Big Brother TV viewers will see it on Sunday’s show but the feedsters saw the entirety of the HoH endurance comp play out.

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