On this episode of Big Brother 12 it was every man for himself as the three members of the Brigade alliance each competed to win this season's last Head of Household competition and thereby guarantee a spot in the final two. Plus: We get a trip to Enzo's New Jersey home and Ragan's entry into the jury house brings on Round 3 of the continuing Rachel-Ragan bout. So, which players are one step closer to becoming the final and most powerful HOH? Let's find out.
First, a grievance: I don't like stringing Part 3 of the HOH competition out until the live season finale for two reasons. One: The jury questioning on finale night always feels more rushed and awkward than it does when that part is taped and edited. Two (and this one is more important): It makes episodes like tonight's feel ultimately useless. Everything before the last 10 minutes was filler, and while some of it was drama-filled, I'd rather just get to it already. Moving on ...
The show picks up with Enzo, Lane and Hayden hanging from their respective ropes in the backyard. Each of the guys complain about their legs and their "boys downstairs" being numb and/or squished during the competition, but one thing is clear: Not one of these guys trusts the other two enough to give up and hope they get taken to the finals. After about 20 minutes of competing, the most predictable thing in the world happens: Enzo falls off his rope, completing his trifecta of performing terribly in all of this season's endurance competitions. (Hayden says Enzo lacks "intestinal fortitude.")
While Enzo goes inside to warm up and cook himself dinner, Hayden complains about the freezing water pouring down on him and Lane. Hayden also compares slamming into the walls to a "car wreck without the car" while Lane likens the competition to a Texas bar fight: "You get thrown from wall to wall, you get alcohol or water poured on your head, and when you wake up in the morning, your testicles hurt."
After about two hours on the rope, Lane begins to feel the burn, but he forces himself to use his football training to block out the pain. "It's a mental thing," Lane says. "We're men; we don't have ponies or dolls. Block it out and stay on the rope." Hayden is also weakening, but noticing Lane's discomfort, he decides to hold on a little longer. The decision pays off, as Lane drops shortly thereafter. So, Hayden wins his third competition in a row and earns an express ticket to the final phase of the HOH competition on finale night.
Big Brother takes a trip to visit Enzo's family in Bayonne, N.J., and, of course, the first shot is of meatballs in marinara sauce. Enzo's wife talks about how Enzo is a great dad, working two full-time jobs to provide for the family. She loves his sense of humor, as does his mom, who admits his humor made up for the fact that he wasn't an A-plus student in school. While Enzo's wife thinks Enzo's social game gives him a good shot to win, his mama believes it's his determination that will win. "Once he starts something, he has to finish," she says. (Except for endurance competitions, it seems, right?)
In the jury house, Matt hopes anyone but Ragan is the next evictee, not only because Matt wants Ragan to win the money but also because Matt doesn't want to tell Ragan about lying. (We all saw how well Matt's confession about his wife not having a rare disease went over with cancer survivor Kathy last week.) Ragan is equally stunned by the news when Matt sits him down. "I feel like Charlie Brown when Lucy pulls the football away," Ragan says.
But don't worry, Ragan: Rachel is here! Fight and make it all better! When Ragan confesses his lie — that he has a doctorate in communications and is a college professor — Rachel asks how his degree helped him in the game. Ragan says, contrary to what Rachel and Brendon think, Big Brother isn't about book smarts but how well you interact with people. Rachel takes it personally, as she's shocked that Ragan is dissing her social game. This leads back to Ragan telling Rachel she was at the heart of every fight in the house, and Rachel says stupid things that make no sense about people not listening. She then makes one valid point: No one was arguing in the jury house until Ragan showed up, so maybe he is equally responsible for creating drama as Rachel is. In any case, Rachel makes a mature exit, insulting Ragan's homosexuality (again): "Grab your tiara and be a f------ queen," she says.
Back in the house, Lane and Enzo separately compete in Part 2 of the HOH competition. Each player has to correctly identify five photos that feature the morphed-together faces of two other houseguests. If both players identify all five photos, the player with the fastest time wins. Lane goes first and uses a good strategy. He finds both names he needs and takes them both, instead of making multiple trips back to the table for each photo. He also seems to recognize the faces faster than Enzo.
Enzo, meanwhile, takes names one at a time, mostly because I think he has trouble identifying both faces in time. He ultimately gets all five correct, but so does Lane. Since Lane finished 30 seconds faster than Enzo, Lane wins and moves on to face Hayden on finale night for the final round of the HOH. Enzo, meanwhile, can only hope that whoever wins the final HOH feels it is in their best interest to take Enzo to the final two. Considering Lane and Hayden's bond, though, I don't see it happening. Both of them are afraid of Enzo having friends on the jury. But I honestly think Lane might take Enzo over Hayden, because Hayden has been such a fierce competitor as of late and will most likely beat whoever he's against in a final two situation.
So, what did you think of the episode? Is Enzo the worst physical competitor ever to make it this far in the game? Who do you want to win the final HOH? And who do you think will win it all? Vote in our poll and share your comments below. And check back next Wednesday night to see who takes home the $500,000 prize.
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On this episode of Big Brother 12 it was every man for himself as the three members of the Brigade alliance each competed to win this season's last Head of Household competition and thereby guarantee a spot in the final two. Plus: We get a trip to Enzo's New Jersey home and Ragan's entry into the jury house brings on Round 3 of the continuing Rachel-Ragan bout. So, which players are one step closer to becoming the final and most powerful HOH? Let's find out...
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