Why the old-school Big Brother ideology is the best gameplay

Modern Big Brother could learn a few things from old-school players

It’s been 14 years since Big Brother aired its first All-Star season, with six seasons of casting choices and some of the most unforgettable moments in the game. Now that we’re on week two of the new All-Stars, it’s become clear that the old school players like Janelle, Kaysar, and Keesha are being targetted for refusing to partake in the recent trends of the series.

Here’s why that resilience is what Big Brother needs.

Lines are drawn

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Yes, Big Brother requires a level of deceit, backstabbing, and betrayal, but most of the most beloved seasons had one thing in common. Loyalty. From the unwavering unit of Chill Town to Janelle and Kaysa’s Sovereign Six, loyalty is a major asset in a true ally and it almost always makes things more interesting.

After clear bonds begin to form and a natural house separation occurs, watching the clash between powers and the inner-alliance struggles to determine who of their own should go appeases a preference to loyalty and those who enjoy a little chaos.

If every single person continues to form an alliance with anyone passing through a room and dozens of fake names, there’s not much to really enjoy as a fan of the strategic aspect.

Bigger risks mean bigger rewards

In modern Big Brother, players like Tyler criticize old-schoolers techniques. However, Tyler came in second place as a direct example of how “evolved” modern Big Brother has become. Pretending to have strong interpersonal relationships may get you far, but your fear of stepping out and making a move that changes the dynamics doesn’t earn you a win. Just an unhappy jury.

In the original All-Stars season, the idea was to remove the weaker players and battle it out in the end. Along the way, we were able to see some of the greats emerge like Janelle, Danielle, and Kaysar, with massive moves that saw the eviction of Big Brother godfather Will Kirby.

At the time Janelle came in third, but only because of a competition win, not because she was too scared to solidify herself as an All-Star. That level of gameplay isn’t seen anymore which is why it’s rare that modern players earn that same level of respect.

The ‘mob mentality’ can destroy a season

Since the controversial Big Brother 15, it’s been all too popular for people to join the numbers and make fun of, target or isolate a person to appease their peers. It’s definitely something that you would hope returning cast members would learn from, but here we are again with 13 people against two because it’s just easier than having their own opinion.

People like Nicole Franzel, Nicole Anthony, and Daniele Donato have already made personal jabs at the expense of Janelle and Kaysar, which can instantly pull viewers from the all-around entertainment of Big Brother and transition into somewhat unsettling for those who have felt like outcasts, dealt with social anxiety or realistically, anyone with a heart.

So in closing, let’s hope that giving newer viewers a taste of classic Big Brother is enough to bring back the game we love.

Big Brother All-Stars airs Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays on CBS, and check out the 24-hour live feeds on CBS All Access available now.