Good morning all, It was a crazy weekend with Mickey as the hoh and I thought we’d finally have a week that made sense. After seeing Vinny, Jimmy and Lauren all taking out an ally, Mickey said ‘hold my beer!’ She’s decided to see if she can top them.
For a weekend review, Rylie won the hoh. He’d planned to nominate Mickey, Morgan and Ashley.
Jimmy and Zach were aware of it and gave them a heads up. Zach didn’t come out of the Adrian vote clean with Rylie and figured he was better off sticking with Mickey. (For now)
I wish we could’ve seen more of the interrogations and Rachel helping Mickey on the feeds. That would’ve been so much fun. Keanu accidentally helped by being sure it was Ashley. Ashley helped by being herself and just looking suspicious.
Rachel put on a make up and a dress preparing for her ‘tv moment’ and she enlisted Jimmy to spread that Ashley must have it too.
Zach is the one who knew Mickey had it and told the entire house. We’ve spent 2 weeks thinking it was a worthless power because everyone knew. Rylie said it wasn’t fair becauae Mickey didnt have to earn it. He’s wrong, she did earn it. She earned it by fooling him.
If Zach and Vinny had kept Adrian by tying the Adrian vote and having Lauren break it, they’d be in an even better position. (Lauren was willing to do it) Rylie would’ve won the hoh, he wouldn’t have been upset with Zach over the vote and Mickey would’ve gone on the block. Zach would’ve stuck with the truth about how he knew Mickey had the power and we would be in the middle of a Rylie hoh week.
That didn’t happen so Mickey took over and put Rylie, Kelley and Keanu on the block. Keanu won the Veto (again) and here we are, waiting for Mickey to make her replacement nom.
Mickey and her group could being a great position but like every other hoh this season, she’s about to throw the advantage away. She’s leaning heavily towards putting Jimmy on the block.
In part, Jimmy put himself in this position. He had a final 3 with Mickey and Morgan but wouldn’t listen to anything they said during his hoh. He took out Amy, an ally, because he was trying to work with too many people. He made the mistake of venting to Katherine and Lauren when Morgan and Mickey were irritated with him over it. Naturally, Mickey and Morgan noticed he was spending more time with Katherine and this made them even more skeptical of him.
For an added layer of problems, Mickey has been worried that she’s just an add on to the trio of Morgan, Vinny and Zach. Morgan keeps saying they’re a solid 4 but Mickey’s had her doubts. I could be wrong, but this this is where I think some of Mickey’s strategy stems from this week.
Mickey really does want to work with Morgan but she doesn’t want to be the 4th in an already tight 3. I don’t think it’s going to work but I think she wants to pick up her own extra numbers to level things out. Maybe she can have Rylie and Katherine on the side, the way she feels Morgan has Zach and Vinny.
The thing she’s forgetting is that she already has that with Will, Ashley, Jimmy and Rachel. All four of them are closer to her than they are Morgan. She’s in the middle of both groups. (Great spot imo) She’s actually making the exact same mistake Jimmy made. She’s getting a little greedy.
In order to keep Rylie happy, she can’t (won’t) make the obvious move and put Katherine otb. Rylie has her convinced all is forgiven as long as Katherine doesn’t go up. (You buying it? I’m not) Here’s the thing, she took over his hoh because she didnt trust him. It got back to her he was going to put her otb. He also yelled and cussed at her after it happened. (Hopefully we get to see that Wednesday) Is this someone you should believe now?
Its not just Mickey tho, the entire house seems to like Rylie. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard someone say “anyone sitting on the block next to Rylie goes home?” (I don’t get it and I don’t see it) To me, everything he says sounds like bullshit, but maybe in person he comes off as more sincere or something? He’s also a comp threat so why not take him out?
Anyway, that’s how we got to here and Jimmy probably going up. Mickey is working with Will, Ashley, Rachel, Ava and Morgan. She has a 4 with Morgan, Vinny and Zach. She already told Lauren she wouldn’t put her up. She thinks she and Rylie have a clean slate if she doesn’t put Katherine up. That leaves Jimmy, who she’s also working with but has lost some trust with lately.
There’s another thing going into Mickey’s motivation this week. She thinks she needs to make a big move to avoid wasting her hoh. That’s true but most of these people don’t understand ‘big move.’ A big move can be taking out a comp threat or a huge house target, as long as that target’s NOT ON YOUR SIDE! Players always say, ‘I don’t want to get blood on my hands.’ The meaning of that has gotten so diluted over the years. Not getting blood on your hands doesn’t mean avoiding taking out a big target. It means being sneaky and manipulative so that when you take out a big target, you don’t get the blood on YOUR hands. You maneuver in a way that you can blame someone else.
Sorry, I know that was a lot. I’m starting to realize writing about stupid game moves takes longer than writing about good ones. I guess there’s just a lot more that goes into these decisions when they’re dumb. Here’s my summary of yesterdays events and where the players are positioned at the moment:
MICKEY
I’ve already mentioned where I think some of her motivation is coming from this week. Unless something changes this morning, she’s planning on Jimmy being the replacement nom. This is an absolute terrible move for her game. Yes, Jimmy’s trying to play all sides like everyone else. However, except for the Amy incident, he votes with Mickey. He put in a lot of work last week to make sure Will stayed. She seemed to be pulling away from Morgan a little bit last week but with Morgan back in her ear, shes about to lose any ally.
Even if Jimmy wins blockbuster and stays, he’ll probably be done with Mickey. For someone who’s been more tight-lipped this season, she’s also talked way too much since being the hoh. Rylie already knows she considered putting up Katherine and Vinny will know she considered him too. The damage ia probably done.
Initially, she made a deal with Kelley that Kelley wouldn’t use the veto on anyone if she didnt put Kelley up. Mickey put her on the block anyway but still expected Kelley to hold up her end of the deal. She and Morgan said Kelley would show she isn’t a team player if she used the veto. (On herself!!)
Mickey and Morgan had a long talk with Keanu after he won the veto. They hashed out why she put him on the block and why he was targeting them. She thinks Keanu wants to work with her now and maybe he does, but it’s Keanu. She believed a lot of the things Keanu told her and thats helping land Jimmy otb. (Its Keanu tho, the guy who has the worst read on everything in the house)
MORGAN
Morgan’s main priority is protecting Vinny and Zach, along with herself of course. She isn’t necessarily trying to screw Mickey this week but she also has a bad read on the house. She thinks Vinny and Zach prioritize her as much as she does them. (I don’t think that’s true)
She still hasn’t caught on to how much Ashley has sabotaged her game. She has however, noticed Ashley flirting with Zach. (priorities, you know) She changes her mind on the daily as to whether or not she wants Lauren on “her jury.” Her wanting Lauren to stay for jury is directly connected to how much time Zach has spoken to Lauren that day.
She seems so blinded by her connection to Vinny, and Zach, that she hasn’t figured out that Jimmy leaving isn’t even a good idea for her game. Sure, it got back to her that Jimmy said she was overbearing but so what? She IS overbearing! There were a couple of moments yesterday that she did seem to question the move, but you could see her push the thought away.
If she’s determined to go down this road, she needs to get rid of Lauren. Zach and Vinny may actually want Lauren as their 3rd over Morgan so she should eliminate that option. The problem is, with Jimmy gone, she’s losing a number and she may not be able to focus on taking out Lauren. They’ll still have Rylie, Katherine and Kelley to worry about. (Maybe Keanu too, I don’t see this truce between them sticking)
KEANU
He’s on a roll and took himself off the block again. He’s also still lost and continuing to play week 1 on repeat. He keeps going back to ‘who was the person trying to get me on the block.’ He’s wouldn’t hear Rachel when she told him it was Vinny. He’s blamed Vinny, Morgan, Mickey, Ashley, Rachel and Jimmy. (Jimmy did suggest him, to be fair) IT WAS VINNY! It’s always been Vinny. (That’s Keanus blind spot but its also several people’s blind spot)
Working with Rachel and Jimmy was short lived just like we knew it would be. He had a lonnnng talk with Mickey and Morgan after winning the veto. They hashed out everything so he’s back to blaming his poor game play on Rachel again. Mickey and Morgan think they can work with him now but good luck with that one.
Keanu thinks what Keanu thinks and no one can tell him anything different, unless they happen to be named Vinny.
RYLIE
Rylie’a having a rough week but he seems to have alot of people snowed so props to him, I guess. In spite of yelling, cussing and talking shit about people, (in a pretty aggressive way) everyone still views him as this sweet, southern gentleman. (Ok, this is a stupid beef for me to have over something but I can’t help myself. Rylie’s from Oklahoma. Oklahoma is not the south!)
I’ve tried to be neutral but Rylie’s the type of player I can’t stand. He knows nothing about the game and had spent the past month saying he didn’t want to play it. He said he was just on vacation. If it’s strategy to come off as a non threat, it’s a stupid one. Vinny told Morgan yesterday “we’ve been playing the game for a month. Rylie just started this week.”
He also uses what I call the ‘martyr strategy,’ which I also hate. It’s that “I’m just here to try and help you win” and “I’ll always save you over myself” bullshit. He does it with everyone and ALL the time with Katherine.
I’m also really tired of hearing the way he talks to Katherine. He is a perfect example of the term ‘love bombing.’ I don’t even know that I’ve heard him have real conversations with her, getting to know her. He’s just all “I love you Katherine…. I’m only here to help you win… don’t give up on me Katherine…I need you, I need your heart, I need your support…” (It’s like if they hired someone to write Hallmark cards WHILE they were in the middle of a crying drunk) Yuck!
He’s also constantly moping, sulking and pouting over something. (It usually involves Katherine not wanting to share a bed with him) He’s still hung up on Mickey lying to him about the power. Well, no shit, thats how the power worked. If she didn’t successfully trick him, she didn’t get the power!
KELLEY
Finally, Kelley didn’t volunteer for the block! (Yeah, I know she kinda did, but not really) What she actually said to Mickey was she’d rather go on the block than have Mickey put Rylie up, which isn’t the same thing. She also tried to make a deal to keep herself off the block for once. (Hey, progress, even if small)
I have moments where I feel bad for Kelley but like Jimmy’s situation, she did it to herself. I think the only big brother she’s seen was last season. It’s why she’s obsessed with Tucker, wants to volunteer for the block AND ran around “instigating” and telling everyone she was instigating. Since we had the AI Instigator last season, she thinks that’s a big part of playing the game. (I guess no one clued her in that BB always has a lame but different theme for every season)
The only thing she gained this weekend was having her eyes opened a bit by Mickey. Mickey explained the Vinny and Zach vote situation with Adrian and she doesn’t trust Vinney anymore. (We’ll see if it lasts though. If it doesn’t, it’s not like she has a lot of other options)
She’s moved up a half a notch, I guess. People don’t seem to be targeting her anymore because they want her gone specifically. Now they’ll just be targeting her because she’s an easy person to throw on the block. Hey, she at least got alcohol for everyone last night for her birthday.
KATHERINE
She didn’t do the greatest job talking to Mickey but with Morgan’s accidental help, it may still be enough to keep her off the block. Let’s be clear though, Katherine is staying off the block because Mickey wants to work with Rylie. She still doesn’t care anything about Katherine.
She’s forced herself to talk to Mickey a little bit and she made up with Rachel. Rachel’s hung up on the showmance shit, which I get. That’s how she met her husband, but still… Anyway, that gives Katherine an in with Rachel, at least a little bit. Like Rylie, she doesn’t play the game. Last week, she was adamant about keeping Adrian, but she barely had a conversation with Lauren about it. She just doesn’t do enough, actually she doesn’t do anything.
After last week’s vote, she doesn’t trust Zach anymore. She still wants to target Ashley and said as much to Mickey. It was odd to me that mickey was fine with it. I get it, Mickey’s not Ashley but who the hell does Mickey think they go on the block with Ashley on a Katherine hoh? Katherine’s very no nonsense and doesn’t deal with bullshit (except Rylie’s declarations of love) She’s definitely a wild card. A Katherine hoh could potentially scare the hell out of everyone in the house. (I want it!)
RACHEL
She missed an opportunity this weekend, which was pushing for Katherine to go otb. When Mickey finally told her it may be Jimmy, Rachel was naturally upset. She’s close to Jimmy but she also sees how it doesn’t make sense for Mickey’s game. She pushed for Vinny and I get why. Unfortunately, Mickey’s aligned too closely with Morgan, who is aligned too closely with Vinny for that to happen. (Mickey’s actually hoping Rachel will take that shot for her) Because Rachel’s blinded by Rylie and the showmance, she never pushed for Katherine and that was the move to go for.
She and Mickey had a great conversation and I actually think Rachel could’ve moved the target onto Katherine if she had tried.
She and Mickey also had a strange conversation yesterday about “Ava.” Rachel got emotional and suggested mickey put “Ava on the block and send her home.” Mckey said she couldn’t do it and wanted Ava to make a jury. Rachel asked if that was fair to Ava because she had a family and a life to get back to. Rachel was explaining it wasn’t fair to Ava to only keep her around just to stick her in the jury house for over a month. Basically, if that’s all they wanted her for, go ahead and get rid of her now.
In case you haven’t picked up on it, Ava is Rachel and they were talking in code.
The night before, Rachel found out from Ashley that Morgan, Mickey, Zach and Vinny had a conversation about wanting Rachel to be the first person in jury. They wanted that so she would be in there to advocate for them to win. Naturally, this pissed off Rachel and it was still on her mind yesterday. She was trying to get across to Mickey without saying it, if you’re only keeping me here to sit in the jury house for a month, don’t bother. If I don’t have a chance at all of winning the game, just go ahead and send me home.
They both hugged cried and went down to dinner. Later, after Rachel had a diary room session, she told Mickey, taking out “Ava” wasn’t a good idea. Mickey agreed and said she knew Ava was just having a moment.
JIMMY
Oh boy! Jimmy’s in trouble. He’s acting very paranoid and even if he’s not fully admitting it to himself, I think he knows he could be going on the block. Rachel didn’t give it away, but she kind of hinted at it to him. Jimmy was acting paranoid before this conversation though. When he was with Mickey and Morgan, he could tell the vibes were off and asked them about it. Mickey said she was just tired.
Last night, Morgan and Mickey both interrogated Jimmy, for lack of a better way to put it. They asked him about anything and everything he’s ever said to anyone in the game. It was NOT a good conversation. Unfortunately, once people have their minds made up, everything you say, they twist and use against you. It felt like the moment for them to hash everything out and come back together had passed. The cameras switched away from them for a lot of the conversation, so that was my take on it for the part of it we could see.
Like I said earlier, if Jimmy goes on the block, it’s part stupidity on Mickey’s end and part Jimmy’s hohitis on his end. We could have some fireworks tho so…yeah us!
VINCE
If Jimmy goes otb block today, it will be great for him. Some people are on to Vinny but alot of people really trust him. He has Morgan and Zach plus Mickey by extension. He has the trio with Lauren and Zach too. Keanu and Rylie may not fully trust him after the Adrian vote but he came out of it better than Zach. (It’s because he blamed Zach for it, haha) He still has some work to do with Kelley but he started it this weekend.
I don’t mind Vinny because he camera talks and owns what he does in the game. He’s admitted to lying to too many people and says he’s only there for himself. (I like a self interested player) If he can’t somehow get Ashley and Rachel out, he’ll be in even better shape.
ZACH
He’s similar to Vinny but better. Jimmy, leaving would be great for him, too. But people aren’t suspicious of Zach the way they are Vinny. He also has his love triangle strategy. So far, he’s flirting his way to the top and it’s working. It’s more like a love square because we now have to add Ashley into the mix with Lauren and Morgan.
They all trust him and wanted to work with him. Rylie and Katherine don’t trust him anymore but other than that, he’s in a really good position.
AVA
Ava is the one person in the house who holds the information that could get the target off Jimmy. She knows she made a move by talking Vinny and Zach out of causing a tie with Adrian.
Unfortunately for Jimmy, I don’t know if she connects the relevance to that move for this week. There’s also a chance she knows and just doesn’t care enough to do anything about it. She likes Jimmy, but they’re not that close.
She could have possibly done what Ashley and Rachel weren’t able to do yesterday. If she’d told Mickey that Vinny and Zach were we’re trying to flip the vote last week and take out Will, I think that’s the one thing that could’ve gotten Mickey to put Vinny on the block.
ASHLEY
She’s still in everyone’s business and although annoying, she’s funny to watch. Sorry Kelley, Ashley’s the real instigator this season. She’s caused doubts about Morgan to both Rachel and Mickey. She gets under Morgans skin by flirting with Zach. She also found herself in an argument with Keanu about people targeting him.
Like Ava, it’s not great for Jimmy to go because technically he’s on her side. However, she knows Jimmy wouldn’t mind seeing her gone so Jimmy leaving isn’t as big of a loss to her. It’s a loss only in Jimmy being a number when they need a vote.
WILL
He’s still not doing alot this week. With a break from the block, he’s socializing more and is somewhat getting back into game talks. He was with Ashley and Rachel when Rachel found out about the first in jury conversation. Will agreed with Ashley and Rachel about seeing Vinny, Zach, Mickey and .organ as a four. All three of them were actually smart enough to see them as a five. They think Lauren is the fourth and said Mickey, without knowing it, is their fifth.
LAUREN
She had a long chat with Mickey yesterday and it was painful to listen to. You can listen to Lauren talk for 10 minutes and no joke, she will have said nothing at the end of it. I get it, she’s not really working with Mickey and doesn’t want to give up anything, but damn, it’s painful to hear!
Lauren wavers from one day to the next over being one of Morgan’s targets. As I said above, it’s determined by how much she’s talking to Zach. I don’t think Lauren wants a showmance, even if she likes Zach. I think her goal this week was just to stay out of the fire and she’s accomplished it.
Some Quotes and Random Tidbits:
Kelley: “Whats the pressure cooker?”
Kelley: “I’m hoping they bring Tucker back for something, like to live with us.”
I agree with this:
Ava: “My comp is the pressure cooker. Nobody is better at doing nothing than me.”
I had more random tidbits that I’ll save for later. I just realized how incredibly long this one is today. I’m sorry, I thought going player by player on Mondays was a good idea, but I’m realizing, maybe not. I need to wrap this one up.
Mickey finally started to question if a Jimmy nom was only good for Morgan last night. I just don’t know if the trains already too far down the tracks for her to switch gears at this point. We’ll know soon enough.
The veto ceremony will be later today and maybe we’ll see Jimmy on the block. Maybe Rachel will change Mickeys mind but I doubt it. Have a great Monday!
Mel
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