Big Brother 27 Week 5 opened with Rachel Reilly on an island after losing her closest allies, Jimmy Heagerty and Amy Bingham. With the Hotel Mystère setting still dealing out curveballs, Rachel’s slimmed-down side of the house—Ashley Hollis, Ava Pearl, and Will Williams—needed a break heading into the Head of Household contest. They got one, just not in the way most expected.
Episode 16 (Sunday, Aug. 10, CBS) picked up after Jimmy’s eviction, 9–2 over Kelley Jorgensen. Rachel and Ashley cast the two votes to keep Jimmy, though Ashley tried—unsuccessfully—to flip her vote on live television. Julie Chen Moonves shut that down in real time. That stray second vote immediately became the house’s favorite mystery, with most assuming Ashley did it because Jimmy hugged her on the way out. Only Rachel and Will knew the truth; Will kept Ashley’s secret, allowing paranoia to simmer as players wondered if someone had tried to frame her.
The “Jack the Dipper” knockout HOH brought fast matchups and faster mistakes. After a string of eliminations, Ava and Will met in the final round. Will buzzed too early with a wrong answer, handing Ava Pearl the HOH key and shifting power to a player who made her intentions clear: no informal campaigning. “No one-on-ones, I’ll call you,” she told the house, a rare move that immediately put the other side—especially Vince Panaro and Keanu Soto—on notice.
Ava worked quietly but decisively. She assured Rachel she was safe, gave similar comfort to Zach Cornell and Morgan Pope, and initially floated Vince, Keanu, and Ashley as nominees, calling Ashley a “chatty Catchy.” That raised eyebrows for Mickey Lee, who hadn’t expected Ashley to be in danger. Meanwhile, Vince attempted damage control with Rachel and Will, complete with tears; neither was moved. Sensing Ashley could be spared, Will nudged Ava toward Vince and Keanu as solid options and suggested Zach as the third over Ashley. Trusted by both Will and Mickey, Ava recalibrated.
At nominations, Ava put Keanu, Vince, and Zach on the block, saying she’d chosen the players most rattled by her win—people who, in her view, didn’t trust her. Keanu, chasing a fourth straight Power of Veto, took it in stride. Zach bristled at Ava backtracking after offering him safety, but he still has the $10,000 power he won earlier to potentially buy his way off the block. Vince, already on thin ice, has to find a new pitch after the “soap opera tears” fell flat.
Where things stand
– Rachel’s outlook improved significantly. Promised safety and no longer the obvious backdoor target, she has time to rebuild and reframe her game after losing Jimmy.
– Will quietly proved his influence. Steering the target away from Ashley and toward Zach as a third nominee suggests he’s gaining social capital across alliances.
– Ava’s “no one-on-ones” policy is a double-edged sword. It projects control and reduces chaotic campaigning, but it also risks alienating potential allies who feel shut out. Her nominations—especially after reassuring Zach—may test her long-term trust equity.
– Zach’s $10,000 safety lever is now in the spotlight. If he uses it, the veto and renom phase could become even more volatile.
– Keanu remains the comp wildcard. A veto four-peat would scramble Ava’s week, forcing her to reveal a backup plan.
Why Ava’s move makes strategic sense
Targeting players who visibly panicked after her win is a read on social tells: people who are shaken often have competing loyalties, hidden deals, or untapped power (in Zach’s case, literally). It also sidesteps a full-on shot at the other side’s perceived leaders, which can keep options open for next week while still weakening a coalition.
Hopeful angle
For underdogs like Rachel and Ashley, Ava’s HOH is an unexpected lifeline. With fractures forming over stray votes and perceived betrayals, this week offers space for new alliances to take shape—and for players on the bottom to flip the narrative through relationships or a well-timed veto.
Quick summary
– Jimmy evicted 9–2; Rachel and Ashley voted to keep him. Ashley’s attempted live-vote change was denied.
– Ava Pearl wins HOH after Will buzzes in too early in the final round.
– Ava promises safety to Rachel, Zach, and Morgan, then rethinks initial targets after input from Will and Mickey.
– Nominations: Keanu, Vince, Zach. Ava cites trust concerns and visible nerves as her rationale.
– Keanu eyes a veto four-peat; Zach is frustrated but holds a $10,000 safety power; Vince’s attempts at reconciliation fail to land.
Additional comment
If Zach spends his cash for safety and Keanu wins veto again, Ava will need a replacement nominee who doesn’t inflame the house. How she manages that moment could define her HOH not just by the result, but by the relationships it strains or strengthens.