Big Brother 28: Devens Drops Four, Taylor Falls Short, and LaLa Falls Out

Thursday night’s live eviction episode of Big Brother 28 was all about whether one of the season’s biggest power players could save himself when his game was finally on the line. After Drew won Head of Household and Yash claimed the Power of Veto, Yash removed himself from the block, forcing Drew to name a replacement nominee. That replacement was none other than Rick Devens, putting him on the block alongside Taylor and LaLa. For the first time all season, Devens wasn’t controlling the action from a position of safety. Instead, he had to compete for it.

Devens

Before the BB Block Buster, the house was full of paranoia and shifting loyalties. Melody, Yash, and Taylor discussed the possibility that Barrett might be willing to turn against Devens, while Angela became increasingly worried that the house could actually take the shot. Even Dee was beginning to question exactly where Drew and Barrett’s loyalties truly lay. Devens, meanwhile, knew that his relationship with Drew and Barrett could become a problem if the rest of the house decided it was finally time to break up the Icons. For a player who has spent much of the season making big moves and holding powerful cards, this was a very different position to be in.

BB Block Buster

Then it was time for the BB Block Buster, and everything came down to Devens, Taylor, and LaLa. Only one of them would earn safety, leaving the other two at the mercy of the house vote. It was a frantic race that looked deceptively simple. The nominees had to dive into a ball pit and search for the spheres they needed. Once they had one, they had to scramble up onto a platform and carefully try to drop it into their cylinder. The catch? They had to get four spheres completely into the cylinder before either of their opponents could do it.

That meant constantly bouncing between the ball pit and the platform, grabbing spheres as quickly as possible while trying not to waste precious seconds on missed drops. With only four successful drops separating victory from another trip to the block, every sphere mattered. Devens and Taylor were neck-and-neck for much of the competition, but Devens managed to get his fourth sphere into the cylinder first, narrowly beating Taylor and earning the safety he desperately needed. Just like that, the man who had volunteered to sit on the block went from potential first juror to completely safe!

Winning the Competition

Devens came through when he needed it most, winning the competition and narrowly beating Taylor. Just like that, one of the season’s biggest threats had saved himself and escaped the block. I have to give the man credit: when his game was truly in danger, he fought for it and delivered!

Unfortunately, that left my girl Taylor sitting next to LaLa as the final two nominees. Both women had their reasons for wanting to stay, but the house ultimately had to decide which player posed the bigger threat…or which one they simply wanted to keep around longer. When the votes were revealed, LaLa was evicted by a 4–2 vote. Angela and Melody were the only two houseguests to vote to evict Taylor, meaning Taylor survived another incredibly stressful night in the Big Brother house.

LaLa’s eviction

LaLa’s eviction is a tough one because she brought so much personality to the season. From winning the iconic Wall competition at age 58 to navigating some of the season’s messiest alliance drama, she proved she was never someone to be underestimated. She also found herself increasingly isolated after the shifting votes and betrayals of the last several weeks. Still, she fought hard, and I hate seeing her go. I was absolutely not ready to say goodbye to one of my favorite houseguests!

Player of the Episode: Rick Devens. When you’re on the block for the first time all season and know the house may finally be ready to take a shot at you, there is no better response than winning the competition that guarantees your safety. Devens absolutely earned this one.

Oops Award: LaLa: I hate giving this award to someone I genuinely liked, but the numbers weren’t there when she needed them most. After fighting so hard throughout the season, LaLa’s game finally came to an end.

With LaLa gone, Taylor still fighting, and Devens surviving what may have been the biggest danger of his season so far, the house is officially entering a new phase. The Icons are no longer as untouchable as they once seemed, alliances are shifting, and everyone is starting to realize that the endgame is getting closer. And as for Taylor? KEEP FIGHTING, GIRL!

Photos: TRT Image Team