House of Dreams, Episodes 8 & 9: Web of Revenge

Before getting started on this week’s show, a brief recap of last week’s episode is in order. I call it “The Spider’s Web.”

It begins with a recap of the previous episode, where God told Tony to vote out his buddy John instead of Viveca. Sherrill gained the ire of several when he was part of the plot to deadlock the vote, but then changed his mind. Rochelle made a mistake, naming the people at the top of her hit list.

The first day, the task is pouring concrete for the driveway and front sidewalk. They all write their names in the concrete, including those already eliminated. Nice touch. It’s otherwise uneventful, and they get another “Good job” from Foreman Joe.

The Key Ceremony is next, and Viveca is excluded by virtue of surviving the last episode. Matt goes through, but Flor does not. Sherrill, Matt, Naomi, Jim, and Tony all pass through the door cleanly, and Rochelle is standing all alone on the wrong side of the door … so she wins the second read hat.

This is Flor’s third time in the red hat! Finally, will they get rid of the lawyer and break up the power duo? It seems unlikely, as the majority of builders are part of her voting bloc. But stranger things have happened!

The red hats are assigned a task … a cook-off. Major-league seafood, frog-legs, and whatnot are provided for them. It takes the rest of the day, but in a show of camaraderie, all of the builders help with the meal and there seems to be a good time had by all. On the way back to the cabins, Mike gives Rochelle the pep talk she needs to put up a fight.

The next day, it seems Rochelle is having some success, as Viveca seems willing to vote for Rochelle because she thinks Rochelle will make a better jury member.

The work task for today is to hang the interior doors. Joe shows them how to do it and he seems to hang the door in about 30 seconds. The red hats are in charge and Flor loves giving orders, especially when it provides an easy excuse not to actually do any work. Naturally, her group messes up as they hang a door backwards … and then she can’t get it down.

Joe is getting exasperated with her, he’s just shown her how to use a pry bar but she doesn’t seem to listen, or even want to listen. Flor knows better. I would not liked to have been her instructor in Law School.

In the other group, Rochelle’s efforts are lauded. At this point, we must remember that this show has about as much to do with building a house as Survivor has to do with extreme camping (not much). But it has plenty to do with playing the inter-personal game. And that’s why Flor is still here while others are not.

Flor analyses the voting probabilities and, realizing that Viveca’s vote is lost, knows that “Grandpa Jones” holds the swing vote. She tries to appeal to him on a friendship level. She might not be much of a builder, but if you need a false friend, she’s your gal!

Today’s task is a soft one, selecting the furniture for two bedrooms. Surprise (not), Flor’s choices win the vote 5-4. Foreshadowing?

Next, a segment where they hit us with some heavy-handed editing, showing a nasty-looking spider while Sherrill and Mike discuss Flor. We all know the tales of female spiders eating their mates when they’re no longer useful, so it’s just as well Jim isn’t standing there. Sherrill’s conclusion is that “she won’t be the victor, though. She’ll end up dying herself. The victor will be the one that wins the house.” Mike responds “The question is: who’s the spider?” Umm, Mike… Flor’s the spider. If you haven’t figured that out, Sherrill’s subtle advice will just be going to waste.

This brings us to the eviction ceremony. The red hats plead their cases, Flor first. She says she “must have done something evil to be red-hatted three times.” Well, if you can’t figure it out, ask Jim’s wife. Rochelle’s plea is centered on wanting the house for herself, a point she felt was weak in her previous trip to the podium.

Voting discussion centers around Tony, who claims that he’s only playing for himself, and a heated discussion between Mike and Jim, where Jim shows he has the quicker wit.

The vote was closer than we might have initially thought as Viveca does indeed vote for Rochelle, however Sherrill does not and Flor the lawyer survives to play another day. Rochelle is very happy with her $5000 from LendingTree.com and hopes that the other builders see her eviction as a mistake. Umm, sorry, not likely to happen.