I'm catching up on this thread having caught up with this show last week. Though last week after having just seen the previous episode I was already spoiled on the latest HoH here, spoiler tags are there to be used. HoH competitions have looked a bit cheap, a bit like happened in the US version not long back when they overdid the quizes and did some cheapo sets. I hate HoHs decided on chance as well.
Overall it's been an ok 4th run of this. It's been made more palatable by slimy Mitch, shouter Dallas and tedious alpha male Jared and the gay guy who's supposed to be oh so funny Raul all being evicted. Jared was painful reading his scripts in the DR. Would have preferred Loveita going back in, Kelsey was mainly put in for a showmance. Can't stand the brothers. Nikki her usual self, never got the appeal. Joel is the usual geek role, he's had his date now we just await his makeover task.
Although of course this style BB is about gameplay you find on this (maybe even more than the US version) that most people are crap at it or just there for the experience, leaving it to just a few to decide what happens. That can make things boring and predictable, but I'm happy Mitch went because of the twist. The arrogant mastermind cliche is so overdone on this style BB in the US or Canadian version, you just see their DRs week after week about how they control everyone.
Tim doing the AU style nominations was great, it reminded me of when they had an audience evict on the US version I think, in that HMs not knowing what will happen at a ceremony is much more exciting. Most of the time they know how nominations will go and even evictions. Early in these shows you often get unanimous votes too. Twists are needed to shake the HMs of this format out of their complacency because you can get situations where people are in total control in the house, and you are seeing more audience participation votes these days (beyond just the old stupid votes for type of have-not food).
They do copy an awful lot of the US version, even 'hey, who wants to see my HoH room', the scripted ceremonies and so on. The fake hooting and hollering for the cameras. The competitions are largely the same things.
Having some HMs from abroad is good and I think needed, the more variety the better. They still seem confused on this program though, we hear 'the world is watching' and at other times they bleat on about 'Canada' deciding something. They need to make up their minds, the less nationalistic the better I think. The Canadian version of this and The Amazing Race tend to emphasise the nationalistic part, maybe because that is felt needed to differentiate it from the US version and pretend that it isn't largely a copy. The US version is still better at this point I think, but bringing in outside people is definitely progressive.
If we can't have Tim on the US version, then I'd like to see
@Benjamin2012HM or Stacey (preferably both) there. They had some strategy and were fun to watch. Eh, Layla would be nice too. 2012 and 2013 were good seasons.
wtf, Estelle is way better than any of those turds mentioned from her season. Oh and the 'strategy' of those three you mention was pathetically bad or boring anyway.