There Goes the Neighborhood, Episode 6: And Then There Were Two

So far on There Goes the Neighborhood, the DeGirolamos, the Southeys, the Bussieres, the Nelsons, and the Mullenixes have left the confines of the oversized walls.

Before we jump into this week, I want to take a moment to once again thank Teeuwynn Woodruff for filling in for me last week. Especially since she wasn’t feeling well. Thanks Tey!

I’d also like to say that, although in my recpas I have been somewhat harsh on some of the families in the Neighborhood, I do appreciate how editing can present only part of the picture. After reading Tey’s interviews with most of the evicted families, I can truly say that I have nothing but respect for all of them.

I am glad to hear that they have all been able to put the game behind them and that the Neighborhood has remained close. If you haven’t read those interviews, you will find the links to all of them at the end of this recap.

As the Neighborhood’s days behind the walls come to a close, three families remain inside:

• Johnston Family (“The Intellectuals”): Dad Cameron (51), Mom Regina aka “Gina” (44), Daughter Carliegh (11), and Niece Theresa (25).
• Schindler Family (“The Young Bunch”): Dad David (40), Mom Christina (39), Sons Noah (12) and Emmett (10), and Daughter Olivia (6).
• Upshaw Family (“The Athletes”): Dad Ricardo aka “Rick” (42), Mom Therese (42), Son Christopher (21), and Daughter Alexus (18).

The Upshaws discuss the eviction, with Rick saying if the Mullenixes want to be mad, let them be mad. Therese wonders how they can be mad at the Upshaws when the Johnstons didn’t even support the Mullenixes. The Upshaws are here to play the game, although they do feel for their neighbors and care about their financial situation. But nobody was just going to give up the $250,000. Once again, tomorrow’s challenge is a must-win for the Upshaws if they want to stay secure.

Cue colorful intro and catchy theme! The Johnstons celebrate still being inside the walls with a big victory breakfast. Cam even grills! The family says they feel like they are still there because they are not viewed as much of a threat. Everyone’s strategy has been to get rid of the strongest competition and their family is still there. They need to do whatever they can to make sure they win, and it will be pretty cool.

The Upshaws believe the Johnstons would keep them should they win the Neighborhood Challenge. Therese reminds her family that there is still one challenge they have to win, and son Christopher says the Upshaw family has the biggest bull’s-eye of anyone left in the game.

Rick says his family has a pact with the Schindlers, which was the first pact they made in the game. But they’ve known the Johnstons longer than the Schindlers. The Upshaws plan what they will say should one of those families win the Neighborhood Challenge.

The three families gather together in one of their houses (I can’t tell which) and Rick says it’s real simple. At the next Neighborhood Meeting he wants everyone to be relaxed and make it easy on whichever family has to make the decision. No hard feelings, it’s a game, and that’s all he wanted to say with all of the families there. Everyone claps.

Cam Johnston says he appreciated Rick coming over to say what he did. It shows that he cares about the families outside of the game. But it also makes him think that Rick is certain his family will win the next Neighborhood Challenge.

Matt calls the families outside where a giant inflatable slide is set up. Olivia Schindler declares it, “Awesome!” Cam says the Upshaws have become the family to beat. Matt explains that this is the Neighborhood Challenge, and the entire Neighborhood has been turned into a giant water park. There are other slides set up in different yard inside the walls.

Each family will pick three members to participate, who will go one at a time. They will climb up and slide down the first slide, then run around the corner where they will find a puzzle board with 12 items on it. They will have to memorize the items, making note of where they are on the board and their color.

When they are sure they have them memorized, they will run and slide on two more slides before coming to their family’s puzzle board and a basket full of items that may have been on the original puzzle board. Some of the items will match, and some of them will be decoys.

Each family will have to try to arrange the correct items in their correct spaces on their family puzzle board. If they are unable to get it, they will tag their next family member who will try to pick up where they left off. First family to correctly arrange their objects will be the final Kings of the Neighborhood and will get to choose which family joins them in the final two and which family leaves the game.

The winning family will also get to take a trip outside the walls and to go an arcade with pinball machines, a bowling alley, and video games. They will also be able to get whatever they want to eat. All of the families—especially the children—look extremely excited at this prospect.

For the Upshaws, Christopher, Alexus, and Rick will play. Christopher tells Therese he loves her to death but she is not good with memory. The Johnston ladies will play, with Theresa going first, Carliegh second, and Gina third. They agree to each memorize one row of the puzzle. The Schindler guys are playing, and all we hear is that David will be the anchor man. Sons Emmett and Noah join him at the start line while the non-playing family members head to the sidelines.

As the first three competitors take their place everyone cheers. Noah is going first for the Schindlers. Nobody spends much time trying to memorize the board, and Christopher Upshaw pulls out to the lead. He starts to place items then tags his sister and she starts running through the course.

Theresa Johnston starts placing items and after she believes she has completed her row she tags Carliegh as Cam watches from the sidelines. Noah Schindler finally arrives at his family’s board and he can only remember two items before he tags brother Emmett.

The families cycle through their members, with the Upshaws seeming to be in the lead. The Johnstons and the Schindlers each seem to have half their boards filled. Alexus Upshaw heads out to get their last item as the Schindlers and the Johnstons are also down to one last square to be filled. But it is unclear whether the items are correct.

The Upshaws call Matt over when they have all 12 squares filled, followed very closely by the Johnstons. Matt checks the Upshaws’ board and finds their items are not all correctly placed. He heads over to the Johnstons’ board. And the Johnstons are… correct! They are the Kings and Queens of the Neighborhood and will be heading outside the walls for a family fun day. Cam runs over to hug the ladies.

Matt reminds the Johnstons that they have Home Security and will get to choose the family they will go up against for the $250,000. David and Christina Schindler say they had a pact with the Upshaws but now that the Johnstons have won their fate is up in the air.