Big Brother 25 (Week 9)- Back and Better Than...Last Week

I have no problem forgetting that last week happened. It clearly did, but we're going to ignore its existence. With the power structure back in the game, the strategy continued, making for a more stomachable week. Once the resurrection brought Cameron back into the game, the result of the ensuing HOH Competition was inevitable. I'm just happy that the game resumed after a terribly slow and tedious week. 

The Game is Back On

Last week was an anomaly that took two months to finish. There was very little gameplay, with only Cameron and Jared getting to compete. With Cameron back in the house and the HOH Room, things were kicked back into high gear. Cameron is a chaos agent, but this week wasn't quite as chaotic as we've seen from him. Honestly, I was so happy for the game to be back in its proper form. Big Brother only works when there are competitions, a power structure, and an eviction. Last week wasn't Big Brother. It was terrible. The live feeds were worth watching again. There were moving parts that made it an exciting week. It's nice to have you back, Big Brother. 

New Targets

It was not a great week in the house for Cory and America. Everyone seems to be gunning for them, though no one is ready to take the shot at them yet. Cory was close to going on the block as a replacement nominee, and Felicia used her speech to Cameron to call out Cory for his gameplay. Blue despises the showmance. Mecole left the house guns blazing, calling out Cory, America, and Bowie for trying to go after Matt, Jag, and Blue. Time will tell how much trouble he's really in, but Cory needs to turn new leaves with everyone in the house. 

Cameron's 3rd HOH Reign

If HOH reigns were graded based on getting your initial target out, Cameron failed this week. He wanted Felicia gone when she hit the block to start the week, but that's not how the week played out. However, he changed course later in the week, allowing Cory to think he flipped the vote to save Felicia. I don't think this was a terrible week for Cameron. It was more successful than his first HOH reign, and getting Izzy out during his second reign was fine but not great for the enjoyment of this season. Cameron appears to be in a better position than when he was initially evicted, working with several people this week. It's likely that he's being played since he's the biggest shield in the house, but he'll be fine if he keeps winning competitions at the rate he is. 

This Week's Eviction

I was prepared for Felicia to leave the house, but her lucky rabbit's foot continues to keep her out of trouble. Instead, Mecole was evicted unanimously, and I'm honestly not upset. It never felt like Mecole was trying hard, actively trying to lay low to float through the game. Once she didn't win the veto competition, it was only a matter of time before the vote flipped against her. I love that she went out trying to start a fire, but it was a clear indication of how wrong she was about the game. She took a shot at Cory, America, and Bowie for trying to target Matt, Jag, and Blue and told Julie that Cory and America sabotaged her game. In reality, Cory and America sincerely tried to work with Mecole. She wanted no part in picking sides, so she was grasping at straws in her final days. She waited too long to start playing the game, allowing the game to pass her by as she exited as the final pre-juror of the season. 

What Could Happen Next Week (WITH HOH SPOILERS)

Hell has frozen over because Bowie Jane is the Head of Household this week. Ignoring that Bowie Jane and Felicia had the two worst answers to a tiebreaker question in BB history, we finally have a woman in charge of the house for the first time since Felicia won the HOH in Week 3. There are a lot of possible routes for Bowie to take with her power. The only two houseguests that appear to be safe are Matt and Jag. Cory and America might be safe, but they have huge targets on their back. I wouldn't be surprised if Blue and Felicia are the initial nominations and a backdoor target, like Cam or Cory, is heavily discussed. Bowie seems to be low on getting Cam out this week, though that could change in a heartbeat. 

Revisiting My Preseason Rankings

With the jury phase set to begin this week, I took a look back at my initial ranking of the houseguests. Because Cirie hadn't been announced for the cast, she wasn't included on my list. When she was announced, I knew she'd instantly be the frontrunner for the season. While it hasn't gone smoothly in the last few weeks, she's still in a strong position to win the game. 

As for the rest of the house, my first impressions were a mixed bag. There are some people I was spot on about and others I missed the mark on. For starters, three of my bottom four for the season are still in the game. Outside of Hisam being evicted early, Bowie, Cameron, and Felicia are all still in the house. Felicia has survived multiple trips on the block, and Cameron has been evicted once this season, so I'm not wrong about being low on them. Still, they've managed to stick around longer than I anticipated. I was lower on America during the preseason than I am right now. She's been talked about by a lot of people but is still holding strong into the jury phase. I was also very wrong about Kirsten. I had in 4th to begin the season. Instead, she was the first person evicted, albeit the second person to leave the game. 

On the other side of the coin, my Top 3 are still in the house. Matt was my frontrunner for the season before entering the house, and while it took a few weeks for his game to get going, he's in the best position to win the game right now. Behind him, I had Blue and Jag. My opinion of Blue has soured a little as the season's progressed, and Jag only started playing the game a few weeks ago. I don't think either is likely to win, but their odds improve with each passing week. I was also high on Cory during the preseason, saying he had a better chance of surviving than Jared, which was before his mom entered the game. I'm a little surprised that it came true. 

As we enter the Final 9, jury management will become a significant part of the gameplay. Everyone has their eyes on the prize, but only one person will stand tall on Finale Night. Big moves will be made, feelings will be hurt, and at the end of it all, someone will be much richer.