Big Brother will celebrate 25 years on air this year with the release of its 27th season. This summer, a new batch of players, more commonly known as “houseguests,” will enter the BB house in the hopes of walking away $750,000 richer. The upcoming season has me reminiscing about previous BB seasons. They weren’t all winners, but a number of seasons fulfilled viewers’ high expectations.
Top 10 best Big Brother seasons
A great cast, electric gameplay, the absence of a majority alliance. These are the elements of a top-tier Big Brother season. There are quite a few seasons that fans reference when engaging in the “best season of all time” debate. In honor of the upcoming season, let’s take a look back at some of the contenders.
10. Big Brother 4
Big Brother 4 ushered in many firsts for the competition show. It was the first time the jury was sequestered, which meant Alison Irwin and Jun Song were free to annihilate their fellow houseguests in confessionals without the threat of losing jury support. It was also the first time viewers witnessed two players having sex in the house. Shout out Amanda and David for showing no concern about your digital footprint! In addition to the milestones, Season 4 featured the insane “exes twist,” which placed pairs of exes in the house together. The twist was a bit sadistic, but it made the season fascinating. The eliminations felt more personal, and the drama in the house was plentiful.
9. Big Brother 5
The Season 5 cast came to play. The group wasn’t interested in biding their time with meaningless small talk or spending the summer by the pool. They were schemers from day one. Season 5 featured a lot of great gameplay, most notably Nakomis Dedmon’s brilliant Six Finger Plan that sent competition beast Jase Wirey out of the house via the “backdoor method.” Nakomis’ method became a staple of Big Brother. Every year, at least one HOH tried to eliminate a physical threat through the backdoor rather than nominating them from the jump. Her impact on the game is unmatched.
8. Big Brother 24
Big Brother 24 is my pick for the best winner’s arc of all-time. Taylor Hale was supposed to be the first boot, but a player’s unexpected withdrawal from the game saved her from elimination. She was given a second chance, but her road to victory was far from easy. She faced a great deal of bullying in the house. Players excluded her from alliances, whispered behind her back, and blamed her for Paloma Aguilar’s sudden exit from the game. Fans rallied behind Taylor, but doubted her survival in the game. She was at the bottom of the totem poll, making her chance at victory slim. However, her luck changed about halfway through the game when a group of players decided to include her in a majority alliance. “The Leftovers” dominated the game and gave Taylor her power back.
7. Big Brother 2
Season 1 of Big Brother was bizarre. It was pretty much a popularity contest where fans at home controlled who stayed in the house. Thankfully, the show revised its format after a disastrous first season. Season 2 felt like a whole new show. The players decided who left the game, transforming the series from a likability contest to a cutthroat, competition show.
6. Big Brother 14
Big Brother 14 had all the elements of a great Big Brother season. The cast was fun, the gameplay was smart, and there were countless dramatic moments. BB14 turned out to be one of the greatest seasons of all time, but it was a slow burn. The game heated up once a twist allowed the returning players, also known “the coaches,” to enter the game. Unleashing Dan Gheesling on a group of newbies made for great television. He used his charm to manipulate his competitors, making false deals left and right. His broken promises came back to bite him in the end when a scorned jury elected to reward newbie Ian Terry with the grand prize.
5. Big Brother 17
The “new era” of Big Brother receives a lot of criticism from viewers. Fans complain that new players are too skittish, opting to hide within a majority alliance rather than making a big move. While I agree Big Brother has lost a bit of its magic, I believe there are few seasons that defy the “new era” curse. Big Brother 17 is one of them. The season was wildly entertaining. Alliances and power dynamics were constantly in flux, making it impossible for one player to control the game. Most of the houseguests weren’t beholden to loyalty, which prevented a huge alliance from taking form. Season 17 also featured my favorite agent of chaos, Vanessa Rousso.
4. Big Brother 20
Season 20 is also a great “new era” season. In fact, it’s probably the best season released in the last ten years. The season featured a split house, which viewers always love. The power shifted from one alliance to the other, keeping fans on their toes. The lack of a majority alliance was enough to make BB20 stand out, but that wasn’t the only great about this new era season. The twists were good, which isn’t always the case with Big Brother. They added to the gameplay rather than hindered a player’s ability. The season also featured some great strategic gameplay, mostly thanks to robbed king Tyler Crispen.
3. Big Brother 6
Big Brother 6, like BB20, featured a divided house that loathed each other. The Friendship alliance vs. The Sovereign Six alliance is one of the best feuds in BB history. BB6 was pretty much perfect. The cast featured heroes and villains, the challenges were brutal, and the gameplay was masterful.
2. Big Brother 10
Season 10 follows all the rules that make for a great Big Brother season. The cast is kooky, the twists are minimal, and the winner is a G.O.A.T. Dan Gheesling’s historic win in BB10 is unforgettable. He played a damn near perfect game, making it to the end without a single eviction vote cast against him. He became the first winner to receive a unanimous vote, solidifying his reputation as the best big brother player of all-time. Also, Keesha’s birthday!!
1. Big Brother 7
In my opinion, BB7 will always reign supreme. There are a few seasons that have come close to dethroning the beloved first all-stars but to me, Season 7 cannot be topped. The gameplay was top tier, which is no surprise considering the cast was comprised of Big Brother greats. I cannot think of a single flaw. Oh wait, Mike Boogie wins. Ok, yeah, that’s one. But aside from that, it’s perfect!
Big Brother is available to stream on Paramount+.
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE WITH OUR RANKINGS? WHICH SEASON OF BIG BROTHER DO YOU THINK REIGNS SUPREME?
