The 19th season of the US version of the hit reality show Big Brother just ended last week and the boy from Miami - Josh, was declared the winner this summer with a vote of 4 votes to 3. He bested runner up and returning veteran Paul and 15 other house guests. So why did Josh won?
Let's see how the pros and cons of Josh's and Paul's game play and strategy and how each jury member voted to see why they chose Josh to be the big winner.
JOSH
Josh a trainwreck this summer. He was an easy target when he chose to get the golden apple for safety in week 1 head of household competition since he felt he was the target which was not the case. He was very emotional, he cried a lot in the house. He is most popular this season by playing havoc in the house by banging pots and pans and annoying everyone.
The most strategic game move he had was when he aligned with Christmas. Everyone is playing in pairs this season and finding a more logical player to balance an emotional player like him is ideal. Christmas was able to control Josh and bring him to his senses everytime he would go ballistic.
Josh also did his part in winning challenges and getting the blood on his hands. He was head of household 3 times and it was on his HOH weeks where 2 of the fiercest competitors this summer was evicted - Jessica and Alex. Also, he won the last HOH challenge where he was able to choose to evict Christmas and bring Paul to the final two - which was a bit risky knowing how the Paul played the game.
One flaw I think Josh had in the game was he never had the courage to take a shot at Paul. He was the only person in the house in that final 8 that realized that Paul was doing things behind their back - orchestrating chaos between the pairs. But despite this, he remained loyal to Christmas and Paul and did not nominate Paul. I think if he took that shot, he would have gotten more jury votes.
PAUL
Paul entered the game with a big target behind his back. He was a returning player and was able to reach final two without a solid alliance midway through the game. He was able to enter the house after Kevin took the temptation of $25,000. Unlike last season, Paul really dominated this year's show.
As he have said, Paul has a hand on each and every nomination and eviction this summer. He made the impossible happened - people throwing challenges left and right, people not using veto on themselves and even getting a one legged Christmas win a foot race challenge. Almost everyone trusted Paul and he had a great social game and was able to manipulate almost everyone in the house. He had alliance with all the pairs in the house without them getting suspicious of him.
Paul also won 3 head of household competitions - eliminating Cody on week 3 and Kevin on week 11. He almost evicted either Jessica or Cody on week 5 if not for the halting hex of Jessica. But I think he worked more behind the scenes this season, not getting much blood on his hands. He might have been orchestrating the things happening in the house but he hid behind others' backs to much and he did not own up to the lying he had done until the end.
JURY VOTES (in order of how Julie read the votes)
Christmas - voted Paul because she respected Paul's game more over Josh. Remember she said she will not bring Josh to final 2?
Kevin - voted Paul bacause he really thinks Paul looked after him the entire game but in reality he was a pawn in Paul's game.
Alex - voted Josh simply because Paul did not use the Veto on her which lead to her eviction. Paul was really the reason why she was eliminated.
Raven - voted Paul because they were the puppetmasters of the game which everyone did not really see.
Jason - voted Josh because he is a sore loser - which he himself said during the jury interview. Paul was the one who blindsided him.
Matt - voted Paul because Raven voted for Paul. And because he loves cereals.
Mark - voted Josh because Elena voted Josh, And also he simply does not like Paul.
Elena - voted Josh because she said Paul has no jury management. He did not own up for his gameplay. Also, she said it before - she is a bitter jury.
Cody - voted Josh because he had said this before - he will not vote for Paul.
Over-all, I think both Paul and Josh deserved the final 2 spots this season but Paul deserved to win more. Everyone thinks this season is Big Paul since Paul is orchestrating everything that is happening in the house but I think he played too hard. Josh on the other hand played with heart and emotions never fail. This has been the worst season so far that I have watched mainly because only Paul did awesome game moves and I am looking forward to a better Celebrity Big Brother this winter.
