Big Brother 2: A Tale of Three Alliances, and a Lesson in Life

Three factions have developed in the Big Brother 2 household: Chill Town (Mike, Will, Shannon), The Untouchables (Monica, Hardy, Krista), and The Independents (Kent, Bunky, and Nicole). Somewhere in there we’ve also seen mention of The Real People (everybody but Chill Town) and, most recently, “TOP” or The Other People (Monica, Kent, Hardy, Bunky, and Nicole); but for now we’ll just stick with the main three.

I've searched long and hard to try to figure out why we hate Chill Town so much. After much reflection, I think I've put my finger on it. Chill Town reminds me of those people in high school who thought they were better than everybody else. The football stars, cheerleaders, and "popular" kids. As we age and mature, we realize that these kind of people suck. That is, except to people who are like Chill Town. They haven't yet figured it out yet. They really seem to think that they are better than the rest of us, and believe they can control the house. But let’s face it, they’re doomed.

Life lesson here folks. The more I've reflected, the more I realize that they win spots in the high school student body because they are a voting alliance and the rest of us were unorganized clods. I learned this lesson in my sophomore year in college. Each dorm floor had a "rep" for a dormitory council. It's kind of like a student body – a bunch of people to rubber stamp the decisions that have already been made. In short, the people who thought they were just so cool nominated one girl. A friend of mine took me by surprise by nominating me. I accepted, if only for the special meal they gave us instead of the usual dorm food. Bottom line: I was elected, because there are more of us "non-cool" people that those who think they are better than the rest of it. I went to those stupid meetings and voted against everything on general principles. I did have a few nice meals. More than that, I learned something: there are more of us who DON'T think we are better than the rest of you than there are "cool kids."

Chill Town is getting this life lesson hammered into them now. Sheryl was a political victim of the first Chill Town attempt to control the house, and then Shannon was 86’d as well. Face it guys, you're doomed.

The Untouchables have played it FAR smarter than Chill Town. In fact, they are probably lucky Chill Town was formed. They've been able to form a secret alliance while being part of the great group of "real people." In essence, the three Untouchables are using the Independent votes to advance themselves in the game. Once it was revealed, Krista's nominations made perfect sense. They could cut the strength of the unallied members (either Autumn or Kent would serve their purpose) while still holding ultimate power over Chill Town. When Hardy, another Untouchable, followed as HoH, they could slit the throat of Chill Town while still being in the good graces of the independents. At this part of the game, I'd have to say that given the current strategy, an Untouchable will win the game. But that could change with the recent revelation that some of the Untouchables and Independents are getting annoyed with Krista’s Chill Town friendliness.

I refer to Kent, Nicole, and Bunky as the Independents because they don't seem to be part of an open or secret alliance – at least not one other than being strictly anti-Chill Town. In a way it is strange, because Kent understood first the importance of an alliance, and tried to form one. However, he acted too soon. He needed to find people who clicked together first. Chill Town and the Untouchables did just that; Kent forged ahead without realizing that key component. Right strategy, wrong implementation.

In any case, Kent and Bunky are in a better position than Nicole, simply because they have formed a most unlikely bond. Kent had spoken against "alterative lifestyles" to Bunky, and then Bunky later told Kent he was gay. If the producers wanted fireworks, it didn't work. Kent is treating Bunky with respect and addressed the problems Bunky has experienced as being a homosexual, and listened. This might have made the difference; while most houseguests just accepted Bunky, Kent inquired as to his problems, and acknowledged them. This in turn has probably won over Bunky, who realized that Kent is treating him as a human being, instead of a sicko, freak, or weirdo. Part of this is Bunky; he's not an in-your-face type. What I think has happened is both of them have shattered the stereotypes of the other. Bunky isn't in Kent's face about being gay; Kent is treating Bunky like a human being instead of a deviant. Both appreciate the gestures the other has made, and have formed the strangest bond you might have ever seen. If I had to name them, it would be "The Odd Couple." (In fact, we just heard Saturday that's what other houseguests call them as well.)

To win the game, Kent and Bunky need to figure out the Untouchable alliance (if it lasts), and whittle down the strength of both them and Chill Town. They also must recruit Nicole. Three alliances of three members each could be VERY interesting.

Nicole is playing too many sides right now. She's a "real person," but she's not part of the Untouchables, nor part of the bond Kent and Bunky has. She was trying to infiltrate Chill Town as well. It's not working. Chill Town put her up because they didn't like her, and thought by putting up Sheryl she'd get an early exit. It backfired, and Nicole won. She needs to forget about Chill Town, because they are a dying power. The first eviction hurt; this week's loss of Shannon and failure to get HoH crippled them. They are a NON-factor at this point. Eventually she’ll need an alliance, and her only option is with Bunky and Kent. It doesn't matter if it is a political alliance rather than a friendship bond. This game is about politics and political power, not friendships.

My predictions at this point? Chill Town is doomed, and when there are five left none of them will be around – unless they decide to keep Will around just because they think he would lose in a final vote against anybody. An Untouchable will win. I can't predict who, because it all comes down to the final two HoH. The person who gets HoH with three people left is in a strong position STRONG, because that person will be a finalist. But the person who gets it with four left is vulnerable, because he/she can't win HoH when three are left, and thus cannot be immune from the final eviction. It's too bad, because I really like Kent and Bunky, and would like one of them to win. I like Kent's determination and maturity. He won the car because he refused to leave it. He understands strategy. He also accepted Bunky, despite his orientation. He and Bunky can kid each other because they know they respect each other. I like Bunky as well. He's a nice person, and has accepted Kent even after his remarks. The fact he will share a room with Kent at night despite his snoring speaks volumes. I think it's a good sign for our society as well. If two people with such differences can co-exist and be buddies, maybe we can all just get along.

Let me close with some advice for the remaining Chill Town folks:

Mike: You are doomed. You threw in with Chill Town. Yes, you are the least obnoxious of the three, but you sided with them. Bye bye, we do NOT forget, or forgive.

Will, you are worse than Mike. Your arrogance and vanity has cost you the game. If you really think you are better than us all, you need a life lesson. You are NOT. You bad-mouthed the toaster selection, which not only Bunky, but the house, appreciated. Hey, Will, if you don't appreciate America's choice, too bad. Personaly, I thought a toaster was the best choice for the house. A massage chair, suggested by Shannon, was my second choice; the pull bar dead last). Don't resent the choice America gave you; be grateful for the gesture. Don't tell us that the gift was boring; how do you think we will react? Even Hardy, who wanted the pull-up bar, conceded that a toaster benefited everybody.

To both of you: You don’t realize how much you have alienated the viewing audience. You giggled and went along with Shannon’s toothbrush vengeance. You laughed at Bunky’s prayer. You will not win on Big Brother 2, and you will not win with viewers afterwards. I hope you’re not counting on this as your claim to fame. Instead, it’s a claim to shame.

Shannon, you are simply not a nice person. Your action against Hardy was NOT funny, it was nasty, cruel, and mean. We do NOT think it was funny; we think is was an act of vengeance against a guy who is sick of you and Will. You ARE the villain in this drama; but you refuse to see it. You are NOT a "cool" person, you are a pathetic little witch who has never learned that what was cool in high school doesn’t cut it in the real world. Goodbye. Learn something… if you have the ability to do so.

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