I'm watching Big Brother for the first time ever!

Yes, it's because Rick Devens and Dee Valladeres on are in this season. And because my Survivor fan friends are also watching and I don't want to be left out of the convo.

And yes I am having a good time despite me learning that this season is frustrating because it's too much of a steamroll by one side. (And as of yesterday, that seems, perhaps, set to change).

And I don't love it as much as Survivor. But I do appreciate the interpersonal trickiness and emotional turmoil of it all. 80-90 days is a long time to be sequestered together in a windowless dwelling and of course there are confused loyalties between game play and personal connection. Everyone (with the exception of the first boot) seems to take their eviction so personally. Which, I get, but also--I'm finding myself say to them (and they don't hear me because they are in my television set and because it's the past), "IT'S A GAME!" And someone has to be voted out. It's not personal. Unless it is personal. Because I guess sometimes it can be personal. I think when Haley and Kamu goes, it will be personal. The other thing I appreciate is the silliness. It's fun to see them dress up in goofy costumes and pretend to be poisoned to death or spin around on big pickle structures. I love that people are locked in to playing hard, but they are also game to "act" when required. And I love that there's a big fanbase to connect with and gossip with. A shared experience, if you will.

As I'm writing this, it's still the middle of the season. Only four people have been evicted. Four people have been HoH. I know there's still lots more drama and shenanigans to come. I will say, it's a lot harder to keep up with everything. Not just because there are like 4 episodes a week but there's also the live feeds AND the discourse. Survivor discourse is hard enough! RHAP alone has several Survivor podcasts per week when a season is happening. Big Brother feels like a full time job for fans. Thank goodness it only happens during the summer. I mean, if I'm going to continue to watch. And I probably will. Once hooked, you know...