Big Brother 23 week 1 breakdown: Hurricane Frenchie storms the house

In the wake of a lackluster All-Stars season, CBS’ hit reality series Big Brother has finally returned for a summer of showman’s, backstabbing, and more teams and twists than you can shake a stick at. With new inclusion guidelines in place, a cast of all newbies gunning for the largest grand prize yet ($750,000), and a summer promising all sorts of twists and turns, Big Brother 23 is already shaping up to be a tumultuous and highly entertaining season.

After snagging victory in the HOH competition during the live move-in premiere, Tennessee farmer Frenchie promised half the house safety – but after his initial targets won safety on their own terms, he broke promise after promise as he scrambled to come up with a pair of viable nominees. On eviction night, though, it was Hawaiian surfer bro Travis who snagged the unenviable title of first boot, taking out a potential comp beast early in the season.

Big Brother: Do you want French Fries with that?

During the live move-in premiere, the houseguests entered in groups of four, where each group played in an initial competition to determine which four houseguests would serve as team captains and be eligible to compete in the crucial first HOH competition. Julie then explained to the houseguests that whichever team captain wins HOH ensures safety for their entire team for the week – heightening the already high stakes for week one.

The teams shook out as follows: The Jokers (team Captain Frenchie) consist of Azah, Derek F, and Britini; The Queens (team captain Claire) snagged Kyland, Tiffany, and Travis; while the Kings (team captain Christian) took Alyssa, Xavier, and Sarah Beth. Lastly is the Aces, led by team captain Whitney, with Derek X, Brent, and Hannah.

Frenchie snagged the crucial win, securing safety for Azah, Derek F, and Britini. Frenchie also promised safety to his entire move-in group (Xavier, Travis, and Derek F), and the following morning, he told several houseguests (including Britini and Tiffany) that he wouldn’t target a woman or POC in week one. If he were to stick to all his promises, that would’ve reduced Frenchie’s potential nomination pool to Brent, Travis, and Christian – slim pickings, to be certain.

Big Brother: Christian’s Wildcard Win and Nominations

As social dynamics began to develop, Frenchie told multiple houseguests that he was looking to get rid of a big hunky guy or a showmance in week one, and luckily for him, the perfect potential target developed. Frenchie noticed on days two and three that Christian seemed close with Alyssa, and jumped to the conclusion that Alyssa and Christian were starting a showmance – putting them squarely in his nomination sights. Unfortunately for Frenchie, though, Sarah Beth also picked up on the dynamic and warned her team captain Christian that it might be smart for him to play in the wildcard competition and secure his safety.

Not wanting to leave week one, Christian took Sarah Beth’s advice and played in the Wildcard competition, alongside Kyland and Hannah. Things went from bad to worse for Frenchie when Christian snagged the win in a hangover-inspired comp, securing his safety for the week and taking another potential nominee off the chopping block for Frenchie. Left with dwindling options, Frenchie spiraled, making several conflicting alliances (ballooning up to include 11 houseguests at one point during the week) and running around the house looking for a new reason to nominate someone.

Along the way, he started a rumor that Derek X (who until that point had been lying low and not doing all that much) was attempting to start alliances and rally numbers – a lie which quickly spread across the house like wildfire and put little Derek on a number of houseguests’ radars. Come nomination day, though, Frenchie ended up nominating Christian’s perceived showmance partner Alyssa (calling her the “bait” to snag a big fish), and Kyland, who he promised was a pawn –  breaking not just his promise not to nominate any POC or women, but his personal promise to Alyssa that she was safe.

Big Brother: Little D Snags a Veto Win

Upset and blindsided by her nomination, Alyssa rallied Christian and the duo confronted Frenchie about why she was nominated, and he folded and explained that he thought the two were in a showmance. Christian and Alyssa both denied the accusation, prompting Frenchie to question his decision to go back on his word with Alyssa.

Heading into the veto competition, he kept several houseguests in mind for a possible backdoor, including physical threat Travis and Derek X, who was already in hot water with the rest of the house thanks to the lies Frenchie had spread earlier in the week.

The veto draw didn’t shake out in Frenchie’s favor, though, and Tiffany, Travis, and Derek X were picked to play. In a cocktail-themed competition, Derek X pulled off a win, saving himself from a possible backdoor and securing safety for another week. Derek X, who at that point had developed somewhat of a friendship with Kyland, agreed with Frenchie that he would use the veto, forcing Frenchie to name a replacement nominee. At the veto meeting, Derek X saved Kyland,  prompting Frenchie to put Travis in the hot seat come eviction night.

Big Brother: Bye Bye, Bro

Neither Travis nor Alyssa pitched significant campaigns to stay, leaving the decision up to the houseguests – many of whom had yet to form any solid alliances. Though Tiffany and Derek F both threw hinky votes (Tiffany at the whim of Frenchie, who intended to pin the outlier on Derek X), it was Hawaiian surfer bro Travis who got the chop at the end of the week – leaving by a vote of 11 to 2.

Neither nominee dropped any major bombshells in their final plea speeches (Alyssa plugged her swimsuit line and Travis made an off-color joke about masturbating), but Travis revealed in his post-eviction interview with Julie that he made an attempt to blow up Frenchie’s game before the show went live.

Big Brother: King Kyland Takes Control

Immediately following Travis’ eviction, the houseguests headed to the backyard for a crapshoot HOH competition, where Kyland narrowly snagged a victory over Brent, securing the safety of his other two teammates, Tiffany and Claire.

Heading into week two, it’s difficult to tell where Kyland’s targets lie – he could nominate house target Derek X, put up Frenchie for nominating him the previous week, or take a shot at a more strategically/physically intimidating player. A wrench may be thrown into his plans, though, as Julie revealed the winner of this week’s wildcard competition would be forced to chose to switch teams in order to secure their safety – as the house’s gambling theme says: there’s no risk without reward.

Were you glad that Travis was evicted? Who do you think Kyland will target in week two? Sound off in the comments below.