People watch Big Brother for a variety of reasons. Various aspects of the show have garnered consistent praise, but one of the most important is undoubtedly the strategy. Fans flock to Big Brother to watch the strategic gameplay, and the seasons with the worst critical reception also happen to be the ones with the least amount of strategy.
Big Brother is an interesting game, and its gameplay can be very complex. It also takes an emotional toll on its players, as it forces them to constantly lie and cheat in order to come out on top. So what are the best seasons for pure strategy?
Big Brother 3
Will Kirby of Big Brother 2 may have changed the game's strategy forever, but Big Brother didn't get heavily strategic until the next season. Big Brother 3 is where the show begins in earnest, and it really helped solidify the basics of Big Brother strategy.
This season introduced the Power of Veto, which brought a whole new element of strategy to the game that wasn't seen in the first two iterations. It also saw a great finalist in Danielle Reyes, who brought a competitive edge to the show and helped elevate Big Brother over simple reality TV fare.
Big Brother 4
Big Brother 4 introduced many elements to the fray. It not only brought in the Golden Power of Veto (which allowed nominated players to veto themselves off the block), but it also introduced the concept of a sequestered jury after the controversy of Big Brother 3's conclusion.
But it's most notable for winner Jun Song, who perfected the floater strategy. It doesn't make for the most exciting television, but Jun helped change the game forever by proving the value of social skills, likability, and keeping things on the down-low.
Big Brother 5
There is a very high level of play throughout the entire Big Brother 5. The entire cast came to play the game, and even though some contestants weren't very good at it, they still made for exceptional television. Big Brother 5 is when Big Brother really came into its own, perfecting the structure of the game and introducing a cast with a high degree of strategic manipulation.
Perhaps its greatest addition to the franchise is the backdoor plan, which was created by Nakomis Dedmon. It was a brilliant strategic play that quickly became a Big Brother staple.
Big Brother 7
Big Brother 7 was the first to feature an all-returnee cast, and as a result, the level of play is extraordinary. These are all-star Big Brother players playing an all-star caliber game. The season is notable for a few things, including nine straight uses of Veto -- a record that still holds to this day.
It also featured one of the most dominant Big Brother alliances of all time in Chilltown, as both Will Kirby and eventual winner, Mike Malin, completely ran the house through manipulation. Big Brother 7 showcases the perfection of the Big Brother formula.
Big Brother 10
Big Brother 10 is one of the best Big Brother seasons for fans who like strong alliances. The season was entirely run by The Renegades, which consists of Dan and Memphis and their three affiliates, Keesha, Libra, and Renny.
Dan Gheesling played an exceptional game throughout the season, and it's still heralded as one of the greatest Big Brother performances. He's a strategic mastermind who made bold and exciting moves, and he became the first player on the American version of the show to play a perfect game.
Big Brother 12
Big Brother 12 is remembered for introducing The Saboteur twist, which is one of those maligned twists that Big Brother fans hated. But the mediocre twist doesn't detract from the overall quality of the season and its high degree of strategic gameplay.
This season saw the creation of The Brigade alliance, which is arguably the greatest alliance in the history of Big Brother. Watching them work the house is nothing short of magic, and it makes Big Brother 12 an exercise in flawless Big Brother gameplay.
Big Brother 14
Big Brother 14 saw another dominant alliance in The Quack Pack, and it contained two stellar players in Dan Gheesling and winner, Ian Terry. Dan became runner-up to Ian, making him the first Big Brother player to make it to the final two twice.
Both played spectacular games throughout Big Brother 14, and both failed to receive a single eviction vote throughout the entire game. It also saw four double evictions - an exciting twist that saw plenty of stress and strategizing (and which also happens to be a Big Brother record).
Big Brother 15
Big Brother 15 was unfortunately marred by many controversies, with numerous houseguests being accused of racism, sexism, and homophobia. It tarnished the legacy of an otherwise strategically strong season.
Andy Herren is a memorable winner with a very strong penchant for lying and backstabbing, and his strategic gameplay proved masterful. It was also a great back-and-forth season, with a staggering 11 uses of Veto (which remains a Big Brother record to this day).
Big Brother 16
Big Brother 16 introduced the controversial Battle of the Block twist, which tends to overshadow the dominant gameplay of The Hitmen. Derrick Levasseur is a masterful player, and both he and Cody Calafiore dominated the season with strong gameplay and stellar social skills.
Neither received a single vote against them, and Levasseur was crowned victorious in a near-unanimous 7-2 vote. The season is also notable for its incredibly strong cast, with Levasseur playing alongside future winners, Cody Calafiore and Nicole Franzel.
Big Brother 17
Big Brother 17 saw a dominant and memorable winner in Steve Moses. Moses was a very strong social player, situating himself well within multiple alliances and riding the middle of the house.
He played a perfect floater game before bursting to victory in the final weeks of the game, winning three of the last four HOH competitions and evicting Vanessa Rousso. It's an extension of the floater gameplay that Jun Song helped perfect all the way back in Big Brother 4, proving that it is just as practical as ever.