by Kylene Hamulak

 

The latest episode of The Glass House begins with tears. Not from Erica or Robin, however, who both remain in Limbo awaiting their fates, but from Jeffrey, who is still crying about what it means to him that half the house joined him in declaring war on Andrea in support of gay rights. That's what happened, remember. Mike and Kevin are irritated by the drama surrounding the vote, and I don't blame him. I liked Jeffrey a lot until he turned a REALITY TELEVISION game show into a political statement.

 

With that being said, it's barely five minutes into the show before Kevin and Mike are in what I guess is the "backyard" still complaining about all the weirdos in the house (which is everyone except the two of them and Andrea) when Ashley shows up. She tells Kevin that Joy has been talking a lot about his vote for Erica, which came after a Glass House hook up that may or may not have actually happened, and Kevin isn't happy about it. He confronts Joy and tells him it's strategy and part of the game, but Joy is still pissed at him. Oh, also? She's crying about it.

 

Since the theme of Episode 4 (or at least the first ten minutes of it) seems to be TEARS, Gene keeps things rolling by talking about the anniversary of his best friend's death, which happens to be right now. I don't like seeing people cry on reality tv when it's about serious stuff, but I'm happy Gene finally explained that his hat is a tribute to that friend because the numbers have intrigued me for weeks.

 

Those of us who haven't been watching the live feeds apparently missed some fireworks on the 4th of July, when Mike challenged the "Showmance" between Joy and Gene. Racism was brought into the conversation (so now we have accused homophobes and racists living in the same house - this is definitely going to end well), and there is carryover in the episode. Mike doesn't think Joy's feelings are genuine and that she's playing Gene, while Joy accuses Mike of being racist. He doesn't care that you're white, Joy. He cares that you can be a bitch.

 

It's not really a surprise when the new occupants of the Enemies Room are announced - it's Jeffrey and Andrea. Over in the Friends Room? Mike and Kevin are moving in. That's nice for them, since, by their own account, they're the only normal ones in the house. And the last decision we've been waiting on? The viewers have chosen to send Robin home, meaning Erica is returning to the Glass House.

 

That sound you heard was a collective "uh oh" from Mike and Kevin, who were hoping that Robin would stick around to strengthen their alliance, which now includes Andrea and, to some degree, Holly.

 

The "Fanswers" in this episode come from not the Wall, and not from other ABC reality tv stars but from - can you handle the cute? - PUPPIES! We learn that the viewers want Andrea to stick with Kevin, but that Stephanie has more fan support than Mike, and Gene is considered a hero more than a villain.

 

When it's time for team captains to be named, Holly is selected with Ashley, for the third challenge in a row. Kevin's alliance is in trouble now, as the teams will split them, and one of them will end up in Limbo. And Ashley cries about it and pulls the Hurricane Katrina card, which she fought through to survive. Just so we're clear? Everyone in this house has a story you couldn't make up if you tried.

 

The alliance is strategizing how to pick teams and decide that Ashley will stock her team with all the, as Mike calls them, "Good People" and Stephanie, while Holly's team will be all the "Bad People". They reason that the only way they can get someone from the other team out of the house is to force them to vote one of their own into Limbo, and Holly stands the best chance of coming back. Or, as Kevin says, being "the sacrificial lamb."

 

The challenge for the episode is to move a ball across the arena by balancing it on a giant disk and depositing it into a tube. Team Ashley starts strong but run into some problems, which makes them start to wonder if Stephanie was throwing the challenge. Team Holly has the opposite issue - they start slow but get into a groove and complete the challenge in 5:36. Team Ashley took 7:57 to complete their challenge.

Hear that? Sound familiar? It's Kevin's alliance and their collective "UH OH" again.

 

So as Kevin and Mike and their "team" come to terms with that, the other alliance discusses who to send to Limbo. Their room is kind of annoying, to be honest with you. Stephanie is over dramatizing how "tense" it was with the other team, and Erica and Jeffrey are like middle-school girls plotting against Kevin. His only chance is to sway Gene's vote.

 

When they are revealed, it's not a surprise when Stephanie and Kevin are tied with four before the final vote comes through. The final vote revealed sends Kevin into Limbo with Ashley, and as they disappear, Erica says, "I made my point. Please send him back. I'm not done looking at him."

 

That made me chuckle. And also? I agree with her.

 

 

The Glass House airs Mondays at 10/9c on ABC.

 

(Image courtesy of ABC)