
Big Brother season review: the best game of all time
After 27 seasons, Big Brother still manages to keep its fans on the edge of their seats. True to its catchphrase, “expect the unexpected,” this summer delivered shocking twists and a finale that proved patience and timing can be more powerful than luck.
If you’re not familiar with Big Brother, it’s a long-running CBS reality show where a group of strangers live together in a big house under constant surveillance, cut off from the outside world.
Each week, they compete in challenges like Head of Household, which gives one player the power to nominate two others for eviction - however, this season was different.
Houseguests are forced to choose three people for eviction, with a chance for one to take themselves off the block in the Blockbuster competition weekly.
Power of Veto, on the other hand, allows someone to save a nominee from the block and forces the HOH to put up a replacement nominee. The houseguests then vote to evict one player each week until one remains to win the grand prize of $750,000.
It’s part competition, part social experiment - and for fans like me, it’s become a summer tradition.
This summer’s season went beyond competition and entertainment, it became an interesting look at strategy and human psychology.
As a student, Big Brother offered me a much needed escape and unwind at the end of the day. Three nights a week, my brother and I would sit down to watch, just like we have for years. It’s been our tradition and no matter how hectic life gets, it’s always something that brings us back together.
From the beginning, it was clear that this season would be unpredictable. Every player had a real chance and the game came down to patience and timing rather than luck.
Ashley stood out to me early on, playing an unassuming, harmless role, pretending that outside of the house she was a social media marketer - but what no one in the house knew was that she was actually an attorney.
Every move she made was calculated, from acting confused, throwing Head of Household (HOH) comps to staying out of major conflicts. She reminded me a bit of myself in college, where sometimes it’s smarter to step back and observe before jumping in.
The season also had its fair share of chaos. Vince and Morgan’s relationship developed quickly, becoming one of the most talked about storylines, especially since Vince had a girlfriend watching from home.
The “cheatmance” as fans called it, created tension from both in and outside the house - and it got even messier when Vince’s girlfriend, Kelsey, broke up with him on social media while he was still in the game. He had no idea, since houseguests aren’t allowed any contact with the outside world, which made the whole situation more uncomfortable for viewers who knew what was happening behind the scenes. Watching how it unfolded showed just how much the isolation of the game can affect people’s choices.
Other players brought different kinds of drama. Rachel Reilly, a former Big Brother winner, returned to the game with the confidence and fire she is known for. Her experience showed – she dominated socially and wasn’t afraid to stir up conflict, especially with my favorite contestant, Keanu.
Their “frenemyship” became one of the most entertaining storylines of the summer. Rachel thrived on confrontation, while Keanu managed to stay calm and collected - even when things got tense.
The finale was one of the most intense I’ve seen yet. Vince’s crucial mistake during the final HOH competition, which required careful attention to the instructions. In a high-pressure three-part challenge, he misread a key step, causing him valuable time and ultimately the win.
That slip completely changed the momentum of the game, giving Ashley the opening she needed to secure the victory. She won her first HOH at the perfect moment and went on to win the game.
In her final speech, she explained that her plan all along was to downplay her intelligence and let others take the spotlight until it mattered most.
My favorite moment though, was my favorite player, Keanu winning America's Favorite Player. I voted for him 80 times a day until finale night. He played the game with honesty, loyalty and self-awareness – qualities that made him stand out in a season full of manipulation and strategy.
The show wasn’t just entertainment – it was a way to see strategy and psychology in action. This season showed how much skill and timing matter in the house, and that made it worth watching every week.