Big Brother 13, Episode 9 recap: Power of Veto competition, alliances break down

The episode opens with the houseguests' reactions to Rachel's decision to nominate Adam and Dominic for eviction. Adam is not concerned as he previously made an agreement with Brendon and Rachel and says that he believe he is "just a pawn" to get Adam out. However, Adam believes the same and thinks that he may be safe from elimination. Daniele sees the nominations as an opportunity to get Dominic off the block and also to try and convince Rachel to make a "big move", though she does not clarify what that might be.

Adam and Dominic then speak privately in the 'Have Nots' room as Dominic wants to figure out where Adam's head is at. Dominic questions if their nomination is to "backdoor" someone, but Rachel is listening outside the door and soon interrupts the conversation. She offers to make a deal, which angers Dominic as he believes they had already made one. Later, he goes to speak privately with Daniele to see if she can help his case.

Upstairs in the Head of Household room, Daniele speaks to Brendon and Rachel about "getting this game on the road" and suggests that they backdoor Jeff and Jordan to get one of them out. Daniele is pleased that Rachel is finally receptive to the ideas she has been trying to plant in her head. However, Rachel is still unsure and weighs her options in the bath with Brendon later that evening. Brendon says that they should "focus on their game" rather than worrying about maintaining the veteran alliance, though both question whether or not now is the right time to do it.

Dominic approaches Rachel later that night, telling Rachel that he definitely wants to work with them. He also questions where Adam stands with the pair, though Rachel lies and says that Adam has not made any deals with them. Brendon then suggests that Dominic should throw the veto competition, which he seems receptive to. His willingness to go along with them makes Brendon feel that maybe now is the right time to get rid of Jeff.

Daniele asks Dominic to come out into the garden to spot her while she works out. She jokes that they have a love/hate relationship because he loves her and she hates him. Jeff and Jordan are sat in the garden as they come out and their close relationship makes Jeff question what's happening between them as Daniele is meant to be in the veteran alliance.

The next day, Rachel announces the Power of Veto competition, which will be played by herself and Brendon, Dominic and Adam and Jeff and Jordan, who were randomly selected by drawing. Porsche is also chosen as the host of the competition. Before the task, Jeff and Jordan talk privately about their desire to get Daniele out sooner rather than later and Jordan admits that she knows their path in the game will be harder if Dominic is allowed to stay this week.

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Daniele is upset when she learns that Brendon has told Dominic to throw the veto competition as she really wants Jeff to be blindsided. However, Rachel later questions whether the move is better for her and Brendon's game or for Daniele's game. Jeff and Jordan also question Brendon and Rachel over their plans for elimination, with Jeff accusing Daniele of "riding the rails" and not playing. Brendon also says that he thinks that Daniele is looking for a partner in Dominic as she wants to take him to the final two. The choice is a difficult one for Rachel and she admits that she is still confused about what the best course of action will be.

The houseguests file to the back yard for the day's Power of Veto competition, where they are greeted by a giant bathtub containing a giant plastic woman with hairy legs. The task will require them to jump into the tub and pluck one of the hairs, each of which will contain a letter on the bottom. They must collect as many letters as possible to create the longest word they can. The pair who can create the longest word will then win the Power of Veto.

Jordan manages to spell "little", while Dominic goes with "standings", putting him in the lead. Rachel tries for "moisturizing" but spells it incorrectly, taking her out. Jeff then takes the lead with "expresses" but is beaten entirely by Brendon, who's managed to piece together "understanding" and take home the PoV for the week.

Later, Rachel asks Daniele what she thinks about taking out Lawon, but she points out that the move would be "pointless" and still thinks that they should take out Jeff as he is one of the biggest threats in the game. Rachel considers this but still seems hesitant. Dominic also tries to have a heart-to-heart with Shelly, who becomes defensive when it seems as though he is going after Jeff and Jordan as they are the people that she trusts most in the game.

Shelly reports the conversation back to Jordan and the two women figure out that Dani is trying to start a new alliance which will push Jordan and Jeff out. Jordan and Shelly immediately visit the Head of Household room to tell Rachel and Brendon about what they've learned. Rachel privately admits that she can't believe that Dominic has the audacity to try and form a separate alliance. They then agree that they must keep it quiet so that Daniele doesn't know that everyone is on to her.

Later, Brendon goes to talk privately with Jeff to tell him everything that has happened with Daniele and how she suggested that he and Rachel 'backdoor' Jeff. The two men then renew their intention to stay loyal to their alliance but say that they want to vote Daniele out next week and get rid of Dominic this week.

At the Power of Veto ceremony that evening, Brendon announces that he has decided not to use the Power of Veto on Adam and Dominic and wants to leave nominations the same. Dominic is angry as he felt assured that he would be safe as he held up his end of the bargain.

Big Brother 13 continues on Thursday at 9/8c on CBS.

> Big Brother 13, Episode 6 recap: Power of Veto competition, alliances in doubt
> Big Brother 13, Episode 5 recap: 'Have Nots' suffer, nominations revealed