The Block on Channel 9 – When it comes to The Block, this episode is a big one.
One room is completely smashed by a relentless storm, as the judges serve up straightforward truths about the teams’ work from home spaces… leaving Leah in tears.
But let’s start on a high, shall we?
Because Sunday nights and incredible renovations are what we are here for. And tonight’s a corker. Amazing rooms, savvy judges… and a cyclone.
Yep, Tropical Cyclone Ilsa is the official name for that heavy rain Dan was warning everyone about. It’s also the official reason House 2’s Leah and Ash are now quite possibly re–thinking their laidback attitude to tarping.
Everyone has taken a different approach to the storm. Some have employed solid extra measures to ensure zero rain gets into their homes.
Not Ash.
“She’ll be right,” he says… but she is not right. She’s not even close to right.
But before we see things fall apart, there’s some (typical) frantic room finishing to be done.
Eliza and Liberty are sticking with their artwork choice, despite it being the same as Leah’s… and despite someone inevitably being deemed the ‘art victor’ by the judges.
As night falls… so does the rain.
“I don’t think anyone realised that it was going be this bad,” Liberty admits as the Blockheads watch it bucket down.
And suddenly, tarping seems like a very good idea. Leah and Ash are forced to watch as the rain starts pouring into their home.
The group chat starts going off as the pair share the disastrous state of the room they’re planning on revealing in mere hours.
“You’ve got to be actually joking me!” yelps Leah, as the rain begins flowing throughout their home. “It was just disintegrating before our eyes,” she adds, watching their hard work be destroyed. “It was gut–wrenching.”
“The judges can’t turn a blind eye on the entire room,” she adds, as Ash stoically attempts to roll paint on the ceiling, while water literally drips through a hole at the same time.
“It’s just so unfair,” Leah sobs, tears flowing just as heavily.
It’s not long until House 5 cop the effects of Ilsa, too. Their wallpaper peels off, their paint lifts and their prized artwork suddenly looks a whole lot less appealing.
The very prepared houses quietly continue their work, as Leah and Ash focus instead on bucketing water out of their home. By early dawn, the ceiling completely cracks.
“Never seen anything like it in my life,” says Ash, now resigned to the fate of the room.
The morning reveals water damage in Houses 1 and 5 too. Eliza and Liberty are determined to control what they can and ignore the rest. They start popping post–it notes around the water damage, in a desperate attempt to explain the room’s shortcomings.
Leah and Ash however, are not at the post–it stage. “There’s a lot of feels here,” Ash says, his eyes red–rimmed.
Arriving at HQ for judging, Eliza has lost her voice. “That’s perfect,” host Scott Cam quips. He’s also got some reassuring news for the heartbroken Leah and Ash, noting that the storm was ruthless. “That was brutal,” he expresses, confirming ceiling repairs would be undertaken by his site team.
For those impacted by the water, Scotty explains, “Consider those rooms complete, don’t give them a second thought. I’ll handle that.”
The judges flip their usual order while Leah and Ash’s room is being mopped up, and Eliza and Liberty couldn’t be more thrilled to get feedback about their room first (artwork included).
Eliza and Liberty
Having taken on the blunt advice served up last week, the pair are hopeful the judges are able to see their growth.
Good news: They can. Marty Fox acknowledges immediately that the sisters have listened… and changed. “These girls have got spunk,” Shaynna Blaze says.
The flexibility of the space is commended and the judges are delighted they have chosen to turn the zone into a bedroom, making their dwelling a five bedroom home. The two popped a desk in the corner, just in case they needed the room to pull double duty but that is panned by the judges, who think they should have stuck to a single purpose.
Their colour palate is admired, but the judges reserve their criticism for the wallpaper, which Darren Palmer declares simply isn’t at a high enough standard. “In this market, to a luxury buyer, you don’t want the replication of something,” he notes.
When it’s time for the all–important art judgement, the judges remain unconvinced that it’s right for the space. In fact, they’ve got a better idea. “This could go in the pool house!” Shaynna says excitedly. “It changes that… it changes this.”
Scott finishes by revealing the judges declared the room a “massive improvement” and the girls are delighted.
Steph and Gian
Steph and Gian have persisted with beams throughout their home, despite copping flack for it. This time around, the pair get the thumbs up from Shaynna, who appreciates the commitment to their concept. “I really am sold on them,” she admits. Darren still isn’t on board but likes the rest of the room. “Everything else is cracking,” he says.
The judges appreciate the sophistication and slickness of the room. “I love everything about it,” agrees Marty.
Shaynna also admires the consistency of the pair’s design and styling. Darren notes their build standard has improved dramatically.
Kristy and Brett
Kristy and Brett admit this week has pushed them hard, but they’re extremely proud of their work from home space. Kristy says it’s exactly what she would want her own home office to be like.
The judges, however, debate whether they should have presented an office at all. Marty ponders if it is the best use of space. “This is really valuable real estate,” he notes. “For me, they’ve just missed the whole mark.”
He admires their craftsmanship, but is also concerned the rooms the couple are styling aren’t seamlessly connected. “This is a bag of Skittles,” he says. Darren quips that at least the room is the right flavour. Shaynna concurs but notes, “It doesn’t sell [the] dream.”
Leah and Ash
It’s time for the beleaguered Leah and Ash to hear exactly what the judges make of their water–logged room.
“This week was the highest of highs and the lowest of lows,” admits Leah.
The effect of the storm was so bad that the room was repaired and styled (under instruction) by Scotty’s team. Observing the damage, the judges immediately give them credit for their resilience.
Leah is chuffed to hear the judges say her prized artwork is a great fit for the room. The warm, bold space also wins their admiration, but much like some of the other homes, the judges are concerned the pair are now possibly heading to market with a three–bedroom house. They shrewdly point out that their neighbours will have more – potentially lifting their market value.
“It’s quite a big risk to take,” says Marty.
The couple explains their cabinetry choice allows for things to be easily reconfigured as a bedroom. Ash defensively claims the judges should have been able to understand that. “We will convert those wardrobes free of charge,” says an exasperated Leah.
Kyle and Leslie
Kyle and Leslie’s room has also been affected by weather conditions, which is immediately apparent when the judges enter.
As rain continued to drop mournfully into buckets, Darren notes, “It’s just the sound of tears.”
Despite that, the light and bright space impresses the judges. Shaynna says the space feels “elegant and classy, but relaxed at the same time.”
“They really get it,” agrees Marty, marvelling at the pair’s consistency.
All three judges agree the styling could use work but concur that the space could easily transform into another bedroom.
Marty notes the pair cleverly chose not to build anything that couldn’t be easily removed out of the space, making the room super flexible.
“It just shows how smart these guys are at marketing to the buyer,” he says. Darren agrees, noting that it appears Kyle and Leslie are playing the long game.
Shaynna adds the room is selling the dream but ponders why Kyle and Leslie are omitting skirting boards from their home.
The scores are revealed…
When it comes time for the scoring, the teams are stunned to see a slew of 9s roll out from Darren Palmer… but the rain–affected Houses 2 and 5 both earn a 7.5.
Overall, it comes down to the wire for Houses 1 and 4, with Steph and Gian winning by just half a point.
The scores are:
Kyle and Leslie: 26
Leah and Ash: 22.5
Kirsty and Brett: 24
Steph and Gian: 26.5
Eliza and Liberty: 22.5
Steph and Gian are absolutely thrilled… but Leah and Ash are not.
“Losers again,” says Ash.
As they depart HQ, Leah breaks down In tears, the feedback and rain damage proving all too much.
The Block airs Sunday 7.00pm and continues Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now. Catch up on all the latest episodes on 9Now.
This recap has been used with permission from Channel 9
Special thanks to Lulu Wilkinson at Nine.
Link to 9Now HERE
Link to Lulu’s full recap including with extra video content and info HERE
About The Block
Get ready, Australia. The Block, the number one renovation reality program, returns for an incredible 19th season on Sunday, August 6, at 7.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Set in the family-friendly Melbourne suburb of Hampton East, the new series features five houses designed and built in the 1950s and located on the aptly named Charming Street. These grand old dames are now aged in their 70s and way overdue for a contemporary update.
For the first time in Block history, host Scott Cam will be providing contestants with the full renovation schedule ahead of time this season. So get your cameras out, Blockheads, it’s photo time.
Adding to the year of Block firsts and amping up the stakes at play during the 48-hour House Decider Challenge, contestants will be seeing all finished designs of the houses on Day 1. Who will prevail and get the house of their choice?
Not only will they get the schedule and designs up front, but in another first, they’ll receive their entire budgets as well.
However, the Blockheads will soon find out that it’s not all smooth sailing when renovating an original 1950s home – structural issues, extreme weather events, and a mountain of demolition will test our five keen couples every step of the way.
Plus, The Block’s state-versus-state rivalry will be amplified by the sheer closeness of the houses this year. Who knew being able to peak into your neighbours builds would cause such tension?
The couples in contention are: sisters Eliza and Liberty Paschke (personal assistant, 37, and integration producer, 34, VIC); parents Kyle and Leslie Cottone (firefighter, 36, and teaching aide, 34, WA); parents Leah and Ash Milton (first aid officer, 31, and builder, 36, QLD); married couple Kristy and Brett Beames (project manager, 34, and safety officer, 34, SA); and newlyweds Steph and Gian Ottavio (architect, 27, and start up worker, 27, NSW).
Real estate expert Marty Fox isn’t the only new addition to the lineup this season. The formidable foremen Keith Schleiger and Dan Reilly will be joined on site with the fan favourite from last year, Tom Calleja.
The nation fell in love with Tom and his wife Sarah-Jane because of their work ethic and relatable marital bickering, and he jumped at the chance to work with Scotty and come back as this year’s official Block plumber.
The designs of the amazing homes in this series again come from The Block’s resident architect, Julian Brenchley.
At stake is $100,000 for the overall winner of The Block, on top of any profit the five couples can all make on the critical auction day. Plus bragging rights for the winners’ state.
Since premiering on Channel 9 in 2003, Australia’s richest reality program has awarded a total of $32,592,807.65 in prizemoney.
The Block – on Channel 9 and 9Now
Media Release – Nine
TV Central Nine content HERE
