Battle Lines signed with first nominations

Things suddenly look very familiar “Big Brother All-Stars” as the Houseguests begin to arrange their new graves, everyone is looking for the new Head of Household Cody and he sets the tone for the season with his nominees.

Unfortunately for Cody, he had to set that scene twice after the first major twist of the season, the Safety Suite, unleashed it all. It also showed how smart some of these people are and how he is not nearly as good at the social game as his ally Derrick was at their season.

We also got to see the first grains of forming alliances, and it’s interesting to see which pre-existing relationships still seem to hold weight and which do not. As an example, Nicole F and Cody seem to click away right away after playing season 16 together.

But when Nicole F tried to honor the same connection with Da’Vonne over her time together in Season 18 (which Nicole F won), Da’Vonne did not. This, of course, because she finally saw Nicole F betray her during the season.

Other connections that are not there, at least so far, including Nicole A and David, who played season 21 together, and Keesh and Memphis from Season 10. In fact, Memphis was busy trying to make Cody sociable , because they both play the power duo game in their seasons.

Meanwhile, Janelle and Kaysar found themselves digging into each other again after playing Season 6 and 7 together, but it’s also because they knew that bond was known in the house and they were probably targets.

In fact, she to know they were targets and they were spot-on with that prediction. Kudos to the old-school players for knowing exactly how big of a goal they went into the house, and more importantly, for reading Cody like an open book.

He’s just not that good at subterfuge and cheating. Cody seems like a really decent guy wrestling with some of the harder aspects of the game – we’ve certainly seen this with one of his nominees – but he’s gonna have to work on his poker face if he wants to last.

Especially after he basically drew the battle lines this season. Although Cody may not have told the house his first goals, they both knew exactly where they stood. And so they were the only two people who went for Safety.

A new twist this season may have been introduced to combat this painfully obvious divorce, and yet there is only so much it can do. The way it works is that every Houseguest has a VIP Pass to the Safety Suite.

Each week it will open for a limited time and they can decide if they want to participate. It’s only good for the first three weeks, and you can enter it only once … ever! So it’s a huge risk and could potentially put a target on your back as you walk into it, or at least that’s what the house has decided.

With seconds to spare, though, both Janelle and Kaysar knew Cody was gun for them. They came in with big goals and his wish-wasy, by-the-book, say-nothing conversations with them in the HOH room made it clear that he would put them on again.

Brilliantly, even though Kaysar won the league, he got the chance to extend safety to a plus-on and he opted for Janelle. With one move, he murdered Cody’s entire plan. And it was here that Cody exposed a potentially enormous problem for an entire segment of the players in the house.

Just like we saw in “Survivor: Winners at War,” it seems we are dealing with a generational part in the house. Cody replaced the two old-school players he could not target with two other old-school players.

He seemed to be scurrying about, especially after Kevin tremblingly opened up to him about his own insecurities, but it did not do much in the end. For no other reason than those from previous seasons, Kevin and Keesha are the first two nominees of the season.

That here is the problem as it is now. Daniele, Janelle, Kaysar, Keesha, Kevin, Memphis and Enzo represent the old school. They squared off against nine “new-school” players. And though, the old-school will probably go to six.

If Kevin or Keesha gets the Power of Veto and saves themselves, then the chances of Cody targeting someone in the “news school” seem pretty slim. Maybe he will surprise us. Maybe the old-school players will.

We already see Enzo’s corners working with Cody, but these players have cut out their work for them to infiltrate the younger clients and break this direction before it first becomes a trend and then their destruction in this game.

It’s still a bit early to rate the players, as so many of them have yet to make an impact. But we can certainly offer our first impressions for those who have not yet made that kind of impression. If you do not see a name – well, there’s a reason for that.

Cody Calafiore has proven himself a formidable competitor, as well as a friendly hearted individual. That said, he is also ready to put that along to play the game. But he does not do so much to treat everyone equally in his HOH government, as to make them all feel welcome. He needs to get this better if he wants to last when he’s out of power.

Daniele Briones lies down and stays out of the limelight, which is absolutely her best move at the moment. It is good to adapt them to the house as it is. Now, she needs to work on solidifying relationships.

Da’Vonne Rogers proves anew just how cunning and conscious she is in the house, and unlike the present HOH she is a master at lying directly on your face, as she did with Nicole F. That means her greatest weakness, her mouth, in Check now immediately, which can fine her very well in this game.

Janelle Pierzina maybe this competition has not won, but she is a beast. She is also an enormous threat and has an enormous target on her back. Now that she has used her security shot, she will need friends and allies and bigger goals. She does nothing wrong per se, but she’s in the hardest place in the house just because she’s the legend she is.

Kaysar Ridha came here to play and he does not play around. We are so impressed with his spirit and conviction in this game. If he can turn that mental force into building alliances and create a safety net around himself, he could be a real supporter this season. Janelle could be his saving grace as his downfall, though, simply by her union of past.

Keesha Smith must find out she’s in the ‘Big Brother’ house again. Most of these newer players are unfamiliar to her, but instead of being intimidated or acting out of sorts, this is her chance to find out which game she wants. But she has to figure it out fast – if she lasts.

Kevin Campbell is emotional all over the place, and acts like he’s not sure he belongs in this house. He is able to have an unbelievable social game if he can gain control over himself. Hopefully, nominated lights get that fire and he gets it together.

Nicole Franzel should open her eyes and see this game a little better. The fact that she was so easily let down by Da’Vonne is not a great sign of where her head is in this game. She was one of the most intuitive players over two seasons – where’s that girl?

Memphis Garrett is wise to try with Cody. The downside, however, is that when they are very public, the rest of the house knows that this is their modus operandi in this game and breaks them down before they are too powerful or too far together.

Enzo Palumbo seems to think he and Cody can ride that Italian Jersey thing, but we have not seen Cody buy it exactly as Enzo thinks. We think he’s a little more on the outside of the house now than he might realize.

• “So how long does it take for people to start fighting?” –Kaysar
• “I have to be honest, I did not want to come in and put the goal on my back immediately, but I had to win this Head of Household. It’s ‘All-Stars’, I did not want to go home. Week 1. There is no way I would leave this one to someone else and leave my fate in their hands. “- Cody
• “I’m officially the first four-time player in ‘Big Brother’ history, which is cool. Kaysar and I have played back-to-back two seasons and we were both tuned in.” –Janelle
• “I honestly feel like I’m kicked out of my couch, stepped into my TV and I’m watching ‘All-Stars.’ – Nicole A
• “When Nicol and I were playing ‘Big Brother 18’, we made a deal – we were in two alliances together – so I thought she would be my ally. Come find out she’s fighting for me. No, you will never get me crossed twice. “–Da’Vonne (private rejection of Nicole F’s statement of thanks and support)
• “I’m not worried about Cody as HOH. I think we’re going to be a duo … is it to be reckoned with? Is that a thing?” – Nicole F
• “To have two people in the house who have played multiple times; both are good in leagues; it’s something I have to reckon with.” –Cody (see Janelle and Kasyar for nominations)
• “Well, this sucks.” –Cody (after Safety Suite unveiled)
• “It sucks. I never thought I would be on the side like where I’re not trying to hang out because I can not fit in … to get older.” –Kaysar (to Keesha)
• “I literally never played this game where I was not one of the main characters being targeted. I do not want to do this season. I want to chill, I want to lie low.” –Dani
• “Cody gave me the script template answer. That was a direct red flag. Honestly, I found it insulting. This is ‘All-Stars’ and I do not feel crazy for you.” –Kaysar (after talking to Cody about possible voting)
• “Kaysar and Janelle. Are you crazy about me?” – Cody (saw his goals go for the Safety Suite)
• “We just put a goal on the back.” – Kaysar
• “Mine was already pretty big, so I have nothing to lose.” –Janelle
• “Now I have to go in and re-evaluate and pick two more nominees.” –Cody (after Kasyar wins Safety and gives Janella his Plus One)
• “I just feel like I have to teach these kids a damn lesson. They do not understand with whom they are knives. When you use the bull knives, you always get the horns. I will take them all off. And I will enjoy of every moment of it. “–Kaysar (after winning Safety)
• “This girl now looks like a bootleg Teletubby.” –Enzo (after Janelle puts on her mascot costume)

“Big Brother” airs every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday at 8 pm ET on CBS.

Do you have a story as a tip for us? Email TooFab editor at [email protected].