Over the 9 seasons, Big Brother Canada has become one the most popular reality shows on television. Every year, the producers have fans clamoring for more as they have watched iconic houseguests clash in explosive arguments or witnessed several shocking moments. However, the one thing that stands out the most are the twists.
Each season of the show features twists, most engineered by the producers but some inadvertently caused by the houseguests themselves. The twists are often some of the best parts of the show and they can either help or really hinder houseguests' games, which can inadvertently increase tension everywhere. But which ones would viewers say stood out the most?
Topaz's Voting Mishap (Season 1)
One of the earliest twists in the show was actually created by a houseguest's mistake, rather than producers. During season 1, Topaz Brady was a member of the jury but there was some confusion when her vote was announced. She had voted for Jillian to win instead of her former ally, Gary but insisted there'd been a mistake.
Topaz stood up and announced she had actually voted for Gary; but, when the tapes were checked, it was clear Topaz had voted for Jillian. With the finale being live, fans couldn't have predicted this awkward blunder and it was an amazing and unforgettable TV moment.
The Instant Eviction (Seasons 1, 2, 3, 7 and 9)
The instant eviction twist has been used over several different seasons of Big Brother Canada. Although the mechanics of the instant eviction have changed, the main element of this twist is the lack of The Power of Veto.
The nominees don't have a chance to save themselves from The Block, which means their fate is completely in the hands of the other houseguests. Contestants, such as AJ and Naeha, have fallen victim to this twist over the years. Fans sometimes see this twist as unfair, especially if it appears later in the game and involves fan favorites. That being said, the instant eviction is definitely an effective way to shake up a season and has the potential to change the direction of the game.
Sindy Fights Her Way Back (Season 3)
Usually, being evicted from the Big Brother house spells the end of a houseguest's game. However, a big twist in season 3 allowed the first five evicted houseguests a chance to fight their way back in. Sindy won her way back but as soon as the chance arose, her fellow houseguests evicted her again.
On the US version of the show, the early evictees can be fan favorites so it made sense for Big Brother Canada to try this twist. Sindy returning definitely shocked the houseguests and caused a stir within the house, which are the best elements of any twist.
The International Houseguests (Season 4)
For season 4, the Canadian houseguests were joined by two international players: Tim Dormer from Big Brother Australia and Nikki Grahame from Big Brother UK. Tim soon got to grips with the format of the show and took to the tactical nature of the game, while Nikki provided many hilarious one-liners and iconic meltdowns.
Some of the houseguests were put out by the international additions, thinking it was unfair to have non-Canadian players on the show. For die-hard fans though who may watch multiple versions of the show, the twist was certainly rewarding. Tim and Nikki became two of the most memorable players of the season and Canadian viewers soon took them into their hearts.
The Fake Eviction (Season 4)
The fake eviction has been used several times on the show but was first used back in season 4. A double eviction saw Kelsey and Loveita evicted and moving into a secret room to watch their former houseguests.
After a week, the houseguests voted Kelsey to return to the show, which certainly had a big impact on the game. Kelsey was the eventual runner up so she may have gained some advantage during her time watching the other houseguests. Her return to the house was certainly a hindrance to many of the others' games as it allowed houseguests to believe they've removed a huge threat, only for them to return later. It is certainly a great way for producers to create drama.
All Stars VS New Stars (Season 5)
Right from the off, season 5 had a very different setup to other seasons and started off with a big twist. While half of the houseguests were new to the game as usual, the other half were returning players from previous seasons. Some of the strongest players returned for another chance at the crown and while there was a clear divide at the beginning, it was exciting to see alliances forming later between new players and old.
Some of the new players may have been intimidated by the all-stars but a few of these veterans let their previous record go to their heads. Big Brother US has had many surprising romances and all-star Ika and new player Demetres continued that tradition here. Ultimately, it was great for fans to see some of their favorite players return to the game and the twist really sets this season apart from others.
Neda's Time Runs Out (Season 5)
While Neda may have been one of the best Big Brother Canada players in season 2, her stint on season 5 wasn't as successful. Neda was awarded immunity from the Canadian public at the beginning of the game. However, as soon as her immunity was up her houseguests turned on her and she was evicted.
Up until that point, Neda and her alliance seemed to be controlling the game, which was a little dull and predictable to watch. Seeing a powerful all-star like Neda shown the door so suddenly was a great twist and allowed other houseguests to step to the forefront.
Top Level Clearance (Season 7)
On the first night of season 7, Damien was given top-level clearance, where he was allowed to watch the other houseguests enter from a secret room. This was a solid opportunity for Damien to get an advantage in the game, assessing which houseguests would make good allies. While Damien didn't exactly use this power to his advantage, it was a fresh way to start off a new season.
A twist like this had an opportunity to really shake up the game and while the outcome here wasn't the greatest, it could certainly be used again. Giving a houseguest instant power has the ability to change the whole game and decide which alliances are formed.
The Invisible HOH (Season 9)
In a first for the show, season 9 had an invisible HOH. Only the winning houseguest, Victoria, knew they were the HOH and nominated in secret - away from the rest of the house.
Victoria certainly made the most of her time in power, enjoying every moment of it. It was hilarious to see Victoria pretending she wasn't the HOH and even nominating her own allies. During this first week, paranoia was rife within the house and everyone became a suspect. This is a twist that Big Brother US could steal as it was certainly fun to watch the chaos and drama unfold between all the houseguests.
Tera Wins Her Way Back (Season 10)
Tera was a bit of an underdog during her time on the show and had very few allies within the game. While she flew under the radar for most of the first half of the season, she soon became a target in the second part. Tera managed to save herself a few times but it seemed like her time finally ran out in double eviction week.
However, this eviction was 'fake' and Tera was given the chance to fight against Jed for her place back in the house. Most of the other houseguests believed Jed would win his way back so it was a nice surprise when Tera managed to get her place back. As a big threat in the house, Tera's return rattled the others and provided a powerful and unexpected moment for the season.