We pick up from the previous show with the ski slaloming endurance competition. Hanging up on a wall, grasping ski-pole handholds, standing on a platform with skis jutting out, all of the House Mates except Rachel (as outgoing HoH) weather fake snowstorms and blizzards. The first five to drop will choose from a snowball. Adam is the first to fall and now has to wear an elf costume for the week. Lawon drops nexts and draws a “Have Not”, which Brendon also draws as the third one off. After 51 minutes, Jeff gives up with the idea that he has a 50/50 chance of getting the $10,000 snowball, which he does! It’s not half a million, but nothing to sneeze at either. Jordan drops fifth as a “Have Not” and suddenly all of the veterans are out of contention.

The others still up top continue to hang on and talk amongst themselves, with Daniele complimenting Kalia. After Jordan drops, Daniele hopes that Shelly (as the last of the potential vet allies) will fall, leaving only newbie allies in the comp. Kalia says “I’m going to play and they’re going to have a biiig uphill battle with me for the rest of the game.” The vets cheer for Shelly, which only makes Daniele and Kalia that much more determined to stay up. Finally, after 1:26, Shelly falls and Kalia drops soon afterward, making Daniele the HoH winner! Woot, woot!

Once in the house, Daniele and Kalia do the Snoopy happy dance! Meanwhile, Rachel goes back to being her brooding self, snubbing Kalia after Kalia tells her that she has “no beef” with her. After this snub, Kalia says outright that “I know that a lot of people come into the game to be asses…” and privately, “Kiss my butt!” Whoah, suddenly Kalia is gettin’ spunky and Rachel ain’ likin’ it one bit! Meanwhile, Daniele reassures Jordan that she and Jeff are safe. Jordan goes to see Jeff in the padded cell that passes as the Have Not room and then Brendon and Rachel drop in for a vet reunion in a setting that seems to suit them well. The vets reason that they still have Shelly, but it doesn’t take a mathematical genius to realize that they don’t have the numbers yet. And this in spite of the fact that three newbies have already been shown the door.

Daniele calls the gang together to have a look at her HoH room. Jeff likens it to “Death Row… not a good place to be.” Daniele gives Lawon the HoH robe and he’s diggin’ it! Daniele, judging by her childhood photos, looked really cute as a young kid. Later on, Lawon has a lot of stories to tell with Jordan and Shelly. This guy has a sense of humor! Jordan grows to like him (not romantically, of course!).

Knock, knock, Jeff and Jordan visit Daniele in her HoH room. Daniele reassures them that they’re safe and in exchange she’s asking them to cover her back the next week and they strike the deal. It’s clear that Daniele is playing her strategy a week at a time making only those commitments that she thinks she needs to make and that she can honor.

Meanwhile… Adam dances around the house in his elf costume (a requirement coming out of falling off early during the ski slaloming comp). We also get some shots of Rachel and Porshe jogging around in front of Jeff and Jordan, and Rachel takes a spill (ouch!), but she just jumps back up and keeps running. Now, we find out what the result of America’s vote for the Have Not food is — it’s seaweed and sardines! Otherwise known as the Anorexic Mermaid Diet! The poor Have Nots are probably going to have some gills growing out of their necks before the week’s over.

Now Brendon and Rachel visit Daniele in her HoH room. Rachel lets Brendon start with his reasoning why Daniele should keep them in the game, and then Rachel says, “if we are all fierce competitors, which we are… there’s no reason not to work together.” Well, you should have thought of that earlier Rachel, ya think? Daniele patiently listens to Brendon and Rachel as they try to convince her to work together grovel at her feet, begrudging her status as HoH.

At last comes the Nomination Ceremony! As expected, Daniele nominates Brendon and Rachel for eviction. She says that it is “nothing personal” and that it’s the best move for her own game. Rachel says it’s personal and it’s “full-fledged war” if someone comes between her and her man! Brendon says that if he wins PoV, he’ll save Rachel, while Daniele says it doesn’t matter if Brendon or Rachel win the PoV, as the other will go.

So, who will win the Power of Veto and will it be used to save either Brendon or Rachel? Stay tuned!