Sigh... Firstly congrats Brian and Jay for making it to the finale. It really is devastating to fall so short after putting in so much for this game. I really worked for it and ultimately it came down to a comp that I wasn't good at. Before breaking down your respective games I am going to talk about my own because if I can't be a winner I may as well play for the 3rd place icon :p
I came into this game pretty blind to the cast. I knew initially that I wanted to ensure I was in position to get my game off to a great start. I made some relationships early on and Brian went on to win the first HoH. Naturally I was in his ear the whole week and I started our friendship from there. - although ultimately I guess Jay was a better friend i guess lmao -. With Brian in the picture and my allies forming I pushed Nathan into dragging myself, Brice, Chandler and Brian (as HoH) into the Category V alliance. Like the hurricane we were - there was a lot of carnage but I was sitting pretty in the eye of the storm <3
It wasn't smooth sailing for long though because ultimately Nathan and Brian started to target one another and for me it was complete damage control. I was talking to them both and ensure that whatever happened I had my bases covered. Ultimately Cat V came back together but this was the start of what would shape the dynamic of the game in weeks to come.
Category V from there continued to build momentum which Chandler and then Brian winning HoH's. My strategy in basically the whole season was to throw competitions. There were very few comps that I actually tried my heart out and that is why physical prowess isn't something that I take too seriously in BB. Ultimately, if you are strategic and social enough, competitions - especially earlier in the game - are not always needed to win. At this point it seemed like everything was in a good position but then for the first time in the summer, Cat V was in danger.
So Scott pops into the equation and fights for the HoH. I was intending to throw the competition but realizing that I was needed to the safety of Cat V - I tried my hardest (for the most part). Mid-competition I cut a deal with Scott to ensure my own safety at the peril of the alliance. I think this was a big social move from me that no one really even noticed. This week was all about saving Brian for me. I knew the value Brian had at this stage for my game and I devised a plan to manipulate Scott into wasting his HoH. I wanted a floater out so that I could keep Brian as a shield for me. If Brian went then I would be next and that didn't work for me. So I convinced Scott into backdooring Brian by throwing up to floaters. And that would mean that Brian would have the numbers either way ensuring that there would be a floater to vote for come eviction night. That was until the REAL plan came to be...
So, Scott noms Jay and RJ and I am stoked. So proud of myself - only to learn that there was a REAL backdoor plan in motion Brice - with Chandler and Nathan were pushing for Brian to go. This was the big turning point in my game. New strat - LIE LIE LIE. I told Brian I was voting RJ and keeping him.. and told Brice I was voting out Brian. This is when the infamous X-Terminator alliance was born. This new alliance consisting of Brice, Nathan, Jay and myself seemed to be a valid option for me in the game. This vote was one of the hardest in the entire season. I was so on the fence about pulling the trigger with the X-terminators and voting Brian or staying with Brian. Ultimately voting RJ seemed the smartest thing to do. I had the plan of a) if Brian goes - lie and pretend a floater switched cause there were plenty at the time - and keen a jury vote in the end. or b) RJ goes and I convince Brice someone else in the X-Terminators betrayed him. At this point in the game keeping them both in to fight against each other over me seemed the smartest thing to do.
Brian scared Brice into submission was a shock to my strategy for sure. Brian caught wind of the situation and obviously I lied through my teeth to keep my relationship with him. I knew at this point Brian would be in the game for many more rounds and losing this relationship at this stage would have been catastrophic.
Nathan winning the next HoH was another really interesting turn of events. Everyone knew that Brian was a target of Nathan's from basically the beginning and so once again Brian was in the hotseat. This was actually the only time was I was truly suprised by a round in the game. Brian and Jasoi sitting together seemed fine. People knew Jasoi was Brian's puppet so it made sense. Jasoi picked me which was strange but I didnt think much of it and played the game. At this point I had thrown so many comps and I wasn't gonna start winning anytime soon and when I was blindsided with the renom I was livid. There was a lot of scrambling that day to survive that vote but I managed to pull through and survive another round.
DOUBLE EVICTION night was amazing for me. Brian winning another comp was perfect for me. Bigger and Bigger shield in my eyes. This is when the alliance with Brian and Jay really started to build. I hadn't really talked much with Jay prior to my renom vote but we had been on the same side most of the season so it seemed like a good ally. And looking down the line someone who I would take with me to the finale. This was the home stretch and assuming Nathan went then I was really set to go for the gold.
After Nathan's eviction I actually started to try in comps. It was the final 5 and from the beginning I wanted the F5 HoH and the F4 PoV - and that is what i DID!. I knew that I couldn't let Scott or Chandler win and so I went for the win and SLAYED that competition setting me up for the final 4 and the final 3. At this point I had accepted that Brian would be in the F3 with me. If he was on the block at F4 I would have voted him out in a heartbeat (love ya :P) but I was pretty sure he would have won either the HoH or the POV at the F4 anyways so I just stuck with the plan and took out Chandler and moved one step closer to the Win.
Then it basically came down to voting out the inact and going to the finale with my good allies Brian and Jay. I knew the Brian wouldnt take me (i wouldnt take him either lmfao) but I spent this time building on my relationship with Jay so that he could see how much bigger a threat Brian was to my game than I was. Ultimately it didn't matter because I lost the 3rd HoH comp and so now I am sitting here talking to you in an iconic third place <3
I had a blast all season and I think I played a really strong game. I threw basically every comp besides the F5 HoH and the F4 PoV which I wanted to win. I was on the block once and I was never in any danger and I think my jury management was pretty strong. I wish you both the best of luck. Honestly you both deserve it for different reasons..
One question each to both of you.
As I said before I dont hold comps in very high esteem frankly I see Social and Strategic much higher.
BRIAN - You played an amazing strategic game but you really struggled with social relationships and jury management. If given another chance - would you change anything and if so, why?
Jay - You played an amazing social game with little blood and few enemies yet your under the radar gameplay made your strategic side seem weak. If given another chance - would you change anything and if so, why?
Overall, I LOVED this game and thank you Joey for hosting! It was a blast and I wish you both the best of luck :P <3