by David McAlpine

 

Last time on Big Brother 11, Chima began her worthless rule over the house (a la Jeff’s Coup d’Etat power), continuing Jessie and Natalie’s mysterious stranglehold over the Head of Household. Thanks to some persuasion from the power couple, Chima ended up nominating Russell and Lydia for eviction.

 

Start from the end of the nomination ceremony, where Russell has another one of his special moments where he tries really hard to come out as the good guy…but just ends up looking like an ass. And poor Michele gets beat up again, being called out by someone who really doesn’t have the right to be calling her out. Cue a conversation between her, Chima and Natalie about how similar Russell and Jessie are. Women’s power alliance? I don’t see it forming anytime soon because these girls are just too catty, but it’d be something to consider.

 

And yet, it seems like it’s a definite possibility considering the three of them start making concrete plans. Are we really seeing Natalie separate from the underbelly of Jessie? Maybe she can sense that it’s going to hit the fan with the Coup d’Etat this week. Before I have time to do a double take, enter Russell, who tries to make an alliance with Jeff and Jordan (who, all of a sudden, have become the two safest people in the house—go figure).

 

Of course, Russell makes another brilliant move by then picking Jeff for the veto when he draws a “Houseguest’s Choice” ball. Lydia also draws a “Choice” ball and picks Kevin, while Chima draws Natalie’s name for the Power of Veto. In the PoV, the houseguests had to dress up like chickens and attempt to retrieve eggs from a coop while maneuvering through chicken wire—and as if this week weren’t interesting enough, Kevin wins the veto.

 

So, of course, Lydia is safe this week, right? Kevin’s first thought: Lydia should be safe because Chima wants Russell out this week. His second thought: Russell has made so many enemies in the house that he should be going home. His third thought: Should I really make my alliance with Lydia that obvious? As we slowly see Kevin creeping down the path of not using the veto, Lydia becomes increasingly confident that she’ll be saved. Oh, the buildup.

 

Russell, knowing he’s absolutely screwed, tries to make a last minute final two deal with Jessie. Jessie turns around and lets Jeff and Jordan know about the deal, effectively sealing off any way out that Russell had. And though Jessie didn’t know it, he could have made the best move for his game right there, because perhaps Jeff won’t even use the Coup d’Etat because he wants Russell out that bad.

 

And Russell can’t make things any better. No joke, this guy is crumbling in front our eyes. First he’s fighting with Michelle, now he’s fighting with Chima, calling her a racist. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Russell can’t even let it go as the Haves sit down to watch “The Goods.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone implode like this while they’re nominated, and I’m really surprised that Russell is the one to be falling apart.

 

But the best part about this episode comes at the Power of Veto ceremony when Kevin decides not to use the veto. By best part, I don’t mean strategically, because Kevin doesn’t realize how few allies he has in the house (meaning no one but Lydia), but the sheer irony that Kevin didn’t want to be like Marcellas…then pulls the equivalent of a Marcellas. Ouch.

 

Be sure to tune into Big Brother 11 on Thursday at 8/7c to see how, after this week’s dust settles, who will end up walking out the door. Will it be Russell or Lydia, or will Jeff’s Coup d’Etat change the nominations completely? And who will be crowned the new Head of Household?

 

(Image courtesy of CBS and RealPlayer)

 

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