Big Brother 28began with a crazy twist by having three reality TV idols in its cast:Big Brother 26alum Angela Murray and two ofSurvivor’s greats, Dee Valladares (winner ofSurvivor 45) and Rick Devens (Survivor: Edge of Extinction). Valladares and Devens both competed earlier this year onSurvivor 50, where they served on the jury together.
The icons, alongside newbies Drew Campbell and Barrett Pfeiffer, created The Crossroads alliance and dominated most of the season alongside the Red Corner alliance. Despite a few bumps, bruises, and questionable gameplay, the icons reached the jury phase almost unscathed.
However, their bonds with the outsiders were crumbling, and theSurvivoricons lost Murray in Week 9. Using their wits, charm, strategic knowledge, and social capital, Valladares and Devens survived the Week 10 double eviction by the skin of their teeth.
Unfortunately, in Week 11, during another double-eviction of sorts, both Valladares and Devens couldn't clutch safety for themselves or each other. After finalist Taylor Brown won Head of Household and Campbell won the final Veto of the season, the elimination came down to theSurvivoricons. Campbell ultimately chose Devens to stay, sending Valladares to the jury in fourth place.
Despite the icons having a leg up in week 1 because only they could compete before Head of Household, and both Devens and Valladares earning a power, it is indisputable that bothSurvivoricons left their mark on the season, as both repeatedly ran strategy circles around most of theBig Brother 28cast. It is also undeniable that if Valladares had remained in the house, she likely would have become the nextBig Brotherwinner.
In anexit interview with Mike Bloom for Parade, Valladares was asked how it felt to play with Devens again, since we saw them clash back onSurvivor 50. Valladares replied excitedly, “Devens is the best person in the world. I’m the biggest Devens fan. I have never played with someone like him...he is the smartest ally that I have ever had.“
Valladares went on to praise Devens, describing him as goofy and extremely caring, and said that, in her opinion, Devens deserved to winSurvivor: Edge of Extinction. Valladares added that she also confessed the only time she actually thought about getting rid of him was when Devens volunteered to be on the block during Campbell’s Head of Household in Week 8, as he not only jeopardized his game but hers as well, since they were a duo.
Valladares also expressed that she wouldn’t have been able to cut Devens at the Final Four. Valladares said Devens was her person in the game, and she also wouldn't have been able to live with herself if anyone else had won the season.
Valladares was also asked if she thought the icons had an advantage over the other players when they were the only ones able to compete for safety at the beginning and because they had powers. Succintly, Valladares said the icons did have an advantage at the beginning, but it wasn’t up to them who ultimately got the powers (the public decided via a vote), and others (like Mallory Aurichio and Melody Morris) still had the opportunity to get power, but they lost their competitions and got the punishment instead.
Their prowess in the game also came down to what Valladares and Devens did with their respective powers, which came down to their strategic gameplay and used them to their full ability. She also remarked that having the icons label attached to them made it more difficult to manoeuvre at times.
Funnily enough,Survivorlegend andBig Brother 25houseguest Cirie Fields warned both of them not to doBig Brother, as it's well known that Fields would rather live on a deserted island for several consecutive lifetimes than go back to theBig Brotherhouse. After Stephen Fishbachwrote on Twitterthat being onBig Brotherlooked like hell, Becca Devens (Devens’s wife) replied, “[Cirie] warned them.“
While Valladares might have lost, her name will always be part of theBig Brothergreat players' halls. Plus, if Devens manages to outlast Campbell and Brown and win the season, then it’s good that he didn’t heed the advice.
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