Hooray for the eviction we’ve all been waiting for on Big Brother 21: Jack has been sent out the door! The egotistical, misogynistic, racist bully got evicted during Week #6, which will now go down as “The Rise of the Bottom-feeders.” The outsiders banded together to make the first targeted strike against one of this season’s power players and it was so beautiful. After enduring all of the depressing weeks before this, the underdogs got the upper hand for once. But did this one glowing week of #JacksEvictionParty stand out as the current best we’ve had this summer?
The biggest surprise to come from Week #6 is Jessica. She transformed from clueless coaster to competition and strategic threat; everything went her way to get Jack out. Jessica pulled in her allies, she won the challenges she needed, and she stuck to her guns to deliver a powerful move. Jessica was so angry about not being included in any of the majority alliances before that she directed that fury toward making a strategic attack. The Jessica who emerged as Head of Household seems like the houseguest who we were lightly introduced to during Week #1: motivated, empowered, and determined to succeed with a women’s alliance. We need this Jessica to stick around to fight the good fight.
As both HOH and Power of Veto winner, Jessica made it known that one of the strong boys was getting the boot. Typically, it’s a dangerous strategy to make your intended targets known to the opposing force. If anyone from the Six Shooters had won, Christie would’ve used her Diamond Power of Veto ability to ruin Jessica’s plans and evict Nicole, Cliff or Kathryn. Luckily, that outcome never came to be. Jessica’s fire reinvigorated as HOH, as well as her allies, but they need to keep their heads in the game now that Tommy is the new HOH. They won’t have as much safety to speak their minds without potentially getting nominated and Tommy will no doubt go after someone from the outsiders.
During our Week #5 review, I discussed the potential end of the Six Shooters alliance. I believe the alliance of what it was is no longer intact; however, after the recent events, I don’t think the group is completely over yet. There’s still a trace of a connection remaining in the house, regardless of them turning on each other. Jessica nominating both Jack and Jackson helped to drive the wedge deeper between them; Jackson and Holly are much more open now to work with the outsiders if it means getting rid of the others. Though, I could see a path where they end up working with Tommy and the Six Shooters again now that he is HOH. Comfort and familiarity is too good to pass up sometimes in the Big Brother house.
Nick is playing a dangerous and shaky game by moving to the middle. Pulling himself away from being the house target after Bella’s and Sam’s evictions was no small feat; some houseguests would’ve gotten evicted next. However, playing the middle strategy requires A LOT of balancing relationships to make yourself seem trustworthy and reliable to both sides. Based on his performance during Week #6, he wasn’t the most skillful. He nearly got placed on the block because everyone spotted his shady ways. If it came down to either side, he’d choose the Six Shooters because he wants to work with the “cool kids.” However, they would be the first ones to drop him once his vote is no longer necessary. His chances of winning are decreasing by the weeks.
Another worrisome gameplay is the combination of Holly, Kat, and Jackson. Regardless of what they say, the three houseguests have been pegged as a trio. They truly can’t shake the perception of them knowing each other outside of the house. All of this stems from Jackson’s major error. He should’ve NEVER told Jack that Holly and Kat knew each other! Jackson didn’t know the fully story, and even if he did, telling anyone about it would’ve made his showmance partner a big target. Spilling the beans put himself, his showmance, and a guaranteed vote to protect him at the risk of getting evicted. He made a terrible move that will have major consequences.
Both the HOH and POV competitions during Week #6 were fun and engaging games that should make a return in the future. The memory HOH weeded out many of the players, and it put their knowledge to the test of what they could learn in a short amount of time. The POV game, on the other hand, was all luck; anyone could’ve won the challenge if luck had been on their side. I enjoyed all the references to past seasons and houseguests on the board.
Jack’s eviction came as no surprise. The outsiders wanted him gone, Holly was going to vote out Jack regardless, and if the vote came down to a tie, Jessica would break it to send Jack packing. After everything Jack did in the game to exert his power/authority, he placed himself too much as a target and a leader of his alliance. He tried his hardest to stay, but there’s no way the outsiders would keep him around, especially after he tried blackmailing people. He needed to go.
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I love whenever Julie breaks form and challenges the houseguests in their goodbye interview. Jack deserved all the ire that came his way. Julie did not let him off the hook for every vile action and thing he said while in the house. Do I think she could’ve pressed harder? Of course. Jack said and done even worse things than what was discussed in his goodbye interview. But at this point, I’ll take any accountability that Big Brother/CBS is willing to give us for this eviction.
Week #6 shifted the balance of power to keep the players and viewers on their toes. The bottom-feeders got the power to drive a huge ax between the majority alliance. These weeks are the ones we as Big Brother fans look forward to all summer. Hopefully, there are more weeks like this to come.
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