Well everyone, here is my first weekly recap! And this first week of Big Brother 4, the Ex factor, could not have been better! While many balked at the idea of some of the houseguests having known each other previously, some felt that it would be an interesting twist to the show. We were introduced to the “Ex” Factor on the show’s premier of Tuesday July 8th.
When the season opened, we met 8 of the thirteen houseguests. First into the house were Scott, David, and Nathan, who were instructed to find a bed, and claim it as their own. Then entered Erika, Alison, and Jun, and finally, Dana, and Jack. When they had all claimed their beds, the talk started! The House Guests at once realized that there were only 8 people in the house right now, but there were 13 photos on the wall. 5 had been left blacked out, so they would not know the faces of the new HG’s until Big Brother wanted them too. But the gossip was tempered almost immediately when Julie Chen instructed the HG’s to go out to the backyard to their first food challenge.
What they saw were two beams sticking up into the air. They lowered into the ground, and then the House Guests got on. They were then asked a series of True or False questions about the other people in the house, which most managed to answer incorrectly. But despite the increasing angle, all 8 House Guests managed to stay on top of the beams, and won food for the week.
Then came the surprise. As well as noticing that the house lacks 5 people, the HG’s also noticed that there seems to be a running theme in the house, of X’s. Julie sat them all down in the living room, and told them that 5 of the people currently in the house would be meeting up with someone from their past. 5 of the House Guests would have an ex boy or girl friend in the house with them.
Some reacted with dread. Some reacted with cautious enthusiasm. Some just didn’t really react at all! (They are the enviable ones: the ones with a good history of ex’s!) But in the end, all 8 decided that it would be in their best interests to stick together, and eliminate the new HG’s, the Ex’s.
Finally, we met them, at the end of episode one. Jee (Jun’s ex), Amanda (Scott’s ex), Justin (Alison’s ex), Michelle (David’s ex), and Robert (Erika’s ex). Jun, who had feared the worst, reacted pretty much as suspected, claiming that she was going to throw up at the sight of Jee. Alison moaned and cried about how this was so awful for her, and how she did NOT want Justin in the house. Scott reacted with, again, cautious enthusiasm, along with David, and Erika just ignored Robert altogether.
In the beginning of Episode Two, we saw the HG’s start to interact with one another. We learned more of why they split up with their ex’s, and we also learned of their plans for this new twist. Jee and Jun, we found out, broke up after Jee’s father died. He had had cancer, and Jun had promised the man on his deathbed that she would continue to take care of his son. Days later, she dumped him. Amanda and Scott engaged 8 months after they started dating, but things went quickly downhill. The things that Amanda had found cute got annoying. But we also found out that Scott still has feelings for Amanda! When he saw her, he realized that this could be a chance for them to reconcile their differences. Justin and Alison, we learn, did not truly break up, and are quick to separate themselves from the group. Michelle and David dated in High school, but broke up because David was not looking for a long relationship. And Robert and Erika broke up because Robert insisted on dating other people! (Although personally, I do not see how he dated ONE girl at a time!)
The 5 new HG’s were then given Bed Passes, which they could use if they wanted too. Robert and Jee were the only two to use the bed passes, and were not quick to make friends in the house! Robert took Alison’s bed in the Desert room, who then ran to Erika, saying that Robert now has two enemies in the house, voice (as always) hoarse with sadness. The tears were (again, as always) welling up. Jee used his bed pass on Dana, who was understandably upset, but not overly.
After the new bedding arrangements were made (and used), it was time for the first Luxury Competition. The HG’s were herded into the backyard in their bathing suits, and led to pools of slime. Their goal: To fill a bucket with enough slime to lift the lid off the key to their hot tub! The catch: they had to use their bodies as transports, and could only wipe slime off the OTHER HG’s! So off they went, to win themselves a hot tub!
Of course, the game was set up so that they had to win, even if their collective skills amounted to the skills that peanut butter has, but even so, they were proud! That night they all partied in the hot tub. But also that night, allegiances were forming, and re-forming. Scott, Erika, and David all say that they will watch each others backs; Alison says that she will align with her former boyfriend Justin, but is truly planning on his departure. Nathan, Jun, and Alison sneak off to the bathroom, where Jee overhears them. He knows that they plan to get rid of him.
The day after winning themselves a hot tub, it is time for the first Head of Household competition. The game: Partner up, and try not to get fish guts on you! The HG’s were to team up in teams of two, thereby already leaving someone out. Scott volunteered, and was left out. They were then trooped out to the back yard, and told that one partner had to kneel on a button, while the other had to sit underneath some fish guts. If the button was released, the sitter got gutted!
Most of the HG’s were out within an hour, but 2 groups remained. Alison and Nathan, with Robert and Justin. They form a pact: If Alison and Nathan win, then they will NOT nominate the other two. Robert and Justin leave, and then Nathan gets up, allowing Alison, in a funny, funny twist of fate, to be fished. It was the best part of the show.
Scott then is allowed to choose who the HOH is: Alison, or Nathan. In a smart move, he chooses Nathan.
In the next episode, we see more interaction between the houseguests, and the ex’s. Nathan is shown to his HOH suite, complete with laundry service and a fully stocked fridge, and any album of his choice. But along with the luxury comes the responsibility. Nate must nominate two fellow house guests. Amid promises of nominating Erika, and perhaps Scott, Nathan shocks viewers, and his fellow allies, by nominating Amanda against Jee. He says that he does not trust Amanda, and that Jee is there to ensure that Amanda leaves. But as we saw last season, that plan usually sees the other nominee leave. Will someone use the Power of Veto? If so, who will be nominated? And next week, who will eventually be evicted, and lose out on the chance to win 500 000 dollars?
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