Big Brother 9, February 27: Quoth the Raven, “Not Condor?”

Previously on Is This REALLY Going On For Another Three Months?, James & Chelsia won Head of Household, and they promised not to put Matt & Natalie on the chopping block. Instead, they nominated Matt & Natalie as a pawn for true target Alex & Amanda per Operation: Condor. Like that will work. Amanda and Allison suffered from slop poisoning (or something) and had to go to the hospital. Luckily, they recovered and returned. Joshuah & Sharon won the Power of Veto, choosing to keep the nominations intact.

We start this episode after the veto ceremony. In the diary room, Josh explains that Matt & Natalie and Alex & Amanda are both strong couples, and the powerful foursome needs to get broken up. Alex wants to stay, but he doesn’t want to campaign against his friend. I’m guessing that either Alex doesn’t want to win or he knows he’s gone anyway. Matt vows to play more aggressively.

The house is still shaken after Amanda’s collapse. She’s fine now, though the doctor advised her to eat at least five times a day. As a hypoglycemic, Amanda knows she needs to keep her blood sugar high. Natalie apologizes to Amanda for not doing more. Natalie realizes that the houseguests truly care about each other.

Outside, with a storm brewing, Adam pledges his loyalty to Matt, promising not to get rid of him. With Adam’s word, Matt just needs one more couple to vote on his & Natalie’s side.

Allison watches Matt & Natalie work out. She realizes their strength as a duo, and also recognizes the chance to get rid of them. She finds the other couples in the HoH room, and tells them about Matt & Natalie’s strength, coupled with their real food over Alex & Amanda’s weakening slop. Adam wants Operation: Condor to succeed, but James is more willing to substitute Operation: Condor for Operation: Bro-Down. How about Operation: Who Cares? Allison knows that Adam & Sheila won’t go for her idea, so she’ll try to convince partner Ryan and Josh & Sharon.

Matt & Natalie know they have Adam & Sheila, so they try to get the vote of Josh & Sharon. Matt believes that Natalie’s word is good in Josh & Sharon’s eyes. Thus, Natalie half-sobbingly promises to Sharon that if they stay, Josh & Sharon will be safe should Matt & Natalie win HoH. Josh walks in, and Natalie explains what she just said to Sharon. She adds that Adam & Sheila can’t stand Amanda. Natalie feels a bond with Josh & Sharon, so she hopes they vote for them to stay.

Ryan & Allison know that they are in a great position. Alex & Amanda targeted them as HoH, so this is their chance for revenge. Allison, however, fears that they can’t beat Matt & Natalie in the end. She wants them out now so that scenario can’t play out.

Time for a Diary Room Vote That Doesn’t Say Anything Useful, especially since the votes are live this week. Sheila enjoys Alex’s company, and Adam ribs her for missing Alex if he goes. Adam has a good relationship with Matt, so he & Natalie staying would help Adam & Sheila.

Time for the weekly Julie-Chat. Julie asks Amanda and Allison how their medical emergencies have affected relationships in the house. Amanda says she and Allison have gotten closer and learned more about each other. Next, Julie asks Sheila if her friendship with Allison has recovered after the big blowup. Sheila did feel miffed that things were said behind her back, but she knows that some secrets must remain just that. Sheila was scared when Allison suffered her allergic reaction, and she feared her removal from the game. Julie congratulates James on saving Amanda. James thought at the time that Amanda would die, so he had to do something to help. Alex felt great seeing his partner return, as her safety was his top priority.

On a lighter note, Julie reminds the group that they lost hot water and drinking cups in the HoH competition. Matt tells Julie that everyone has been miserable after being forced to drink like dogs. He claims he’s always miserable, so he wasn’t as affected. Julie then asks Sheila about the slop diet. Sheila congratulates Big Brother on giving her a working diet, since she lost five pounds on the horrible non-oatmeal.

DRVTDSAU. Sharon thinks Matt & Natalie should go because Natalie has become scary due to the nomination’s pressure. Josh knows Amanda hates him (gee, I wonder why), and he believes she can’t wait to evict him.

Next, the show focuses on bike-riding world traveler James and small town Iowan Chelsia (although here in Iowa, Cedar Falls really isn’t such a small town). James tells Chelsia about his trip from L.A. to Seattle to New York to Florida, as well as the pamphlets he passes out to promote his message about peace and prosperity. Brian, James’ friend from Bar 107, considers James as family. At first, Brian thought James was completely nuts, especially when he revealed his bicycle-powered raison d’etre. Now Brian thinks James is awesome to be doing what he’s doing at 21 years old.

Chelsia says her mother claims that if she was the first child, she’d also be an only child due to being such a brat. After her “noose” comment, I don’t blame her mother. She was also in a lot of clubs in high school, ranging from ice skating to science club “for cute boys.” Chelsia’s friend, Jenny, believes Chelsia is a kind-hearted girl, but one who knows when to get serious. Jenny thinks James’ free spirit fits well with Chelsia. Brian also thinks of James as honest. If Chelsia won the money, she’d donate it to her college (University of Northern Iowa). If James wins, Chelsia will follow him on his bike trek.

Julie gets to talk with James & Chelsia in the HoH room. First, she asks James why he went back on his word to Matt & Natalie. James made the promise not planning on winning HoH. Still, he won, so he felt the need to break up the strong friendship of Matt and Alex. James didn’t want to be vocal about his strategy at the nomination ceremony, but he did admit to breaking his word. Chelsia will not regret her time as co-HoH, but she did feel anxious after the nominations.