The Anonymous Episode 7 Recap: No One Is Safe

Marcel Cunningham for The Anonymous
Photo Credit: Rico Torres/USA Network via Getty Images

Just when we thought we knew what to expect from The Anonymous, here comes DANI throwing a wrench into everything. Our favorite AI hostess just can’t stop being chaotic. In The Anonymous Episode 7, “Plot Twist,” the players got thrown for a loop, as suggested by the title.

After a high-profile player got cut from the competition, DANI told the surviving players there wouldn’t be a regular challenge this week. Instead, they got thrown right back into Anonymous Mode for more undercover, cutthroat gameplay, and we’re here to break down all of the shady strategies that went into motion.

The Big Brother takedown

Xavier Prather for The Anonymous
Photo Credit: Rico Torres/USA Network

Last week, DANI left us on a cliffhanger and teased that either Dillian or Xavier would get the chop. Either way, we were going to be heartbroken. But, it really seemed like the axe was about to fall on Dillian because, in Anonymous Mode, Xavier chose to nominate himself. That powerplay should have given him a clear path to winning the power of The Anonymous. Somehow, it didn’t work out that way.

With everyone on the edge of their seats, DANI announced that Xavier, the winner of Big Brother 23, had been kicked out of the game. Shocker!

“Took y’all long enough,” Xavier said without missing a beat.

In a flashback, we learn that it was Lilly who won the power of The Anonymous this week. She got her first taste of power, and she’s come a long way from crying about constantly being up for elimination. In her hideout, she explained her reasoning behind taking this shot at Xavier was to split him up from Jack. That duo is a little too dangerous.

Back at the dial, Xavier shared some parting words with the other players. When he announced he was Scissors, no one seemed shocked. That explains why he didn’t get The Anonymous under that avatar. They all knew. However, when he said he was playing as Fish earlier in the game, that reveal got a big reaction out of everyone.

On the way out, Xavier wished everyone the best of luck. He also reiterated that if he hadn’t gone home this week, he felt confident that he would have won the entire game. That’s what they all say.

Back to the drawing board

Andy King and Victoria Vesce on The Anonymous
Photo Credit: Rico Torres/USA Network

Obviously, Xavier’s elimination sent a shockwave through the house. Getting such a strong player out of the way was a win for everybody. But now, the next question: who is going to be next?

For most players, they decided to pivot back to the previous targets of Victoria and Christopher. They know they have to split up that showmance, one way or another.

Meanwhile, some of the other players settled on a new target—Jack. In an eye-opening side conversation, Marcel and Christopher agreed that Jack might be the most powerful person in this game. Everyone watching at home knows they are 100% correct.

In a confessional, Nina said she was also fully aware of Jack’s power in the game, but her goal was different. She wants to play both sides of the fence. On one side, she wants to keep Jack close to her since he is so powerful, but she also wants to go along with the “herd” to ensure she has numbers on her side.

All of this strategizing is good in theory, but with all of the tricks up DANI’s virtual sleeve, it’s nearly impossible to get too ahead.

The nonstop Anonymous Mode

Marcel Cunningham on The Anonymous
Photo Credit: Rico Torres/USA Network

The first plot twist of the week arrived when DANI revealed there wouldn’t be a challenge this week. There wouldn’t be any weighted puzzles and no colorful balls. Instead, the contestants got thrown right back into Anonymous Mode. Let the messiness commence!

Once again, the Anonymous chat immediately popped off thanks to Dillian as Popsicle. He gets the party started every time. Casually, he dropped into the chat, “Jack you’re going up for elimination this week.”

With that out in the universe, Jack couldn’t just sit back. He replied suggesting Christopher get up for elimination. Bismah agreed.

Although Jack and the lovebirds were the primary targets in the chat, hardly anyone got out of this round unscathed. Once the votes got tallied, there were more players up for elimination than not. Here’s a look at how everyone voted:

  • Robot voted for Nina, once again for no clear reason.
  • Eagle voted for Marcel.
  • Cactus voted for Bismah in another betrayal from within the girls’ alliance.
  • Flamingo voted for Christopher.
  • Popsicle voted for Jack, as promised.
  • Fire voted for Lilly.
  • Lipstick voted for Lilly.
  • Snake voted for Dillian, like he always does.
  • Lightning voted for Dillian.

That means seven of the nine players are at risk of elimination. It could be anyone, right? Wrong. DANI had another twist for them in the form of a face-off challenge. Yes, another one.

Face-off gets a facelift

The Anonymous Episode 7 recap.
Photo Credit: Rico Torres/USA Network

When DANI announced that the group would be doing another face-off, there was definitely an impulse to hit the fast-forward button. Although this show is wildly entertaining with its fast-paced gameplay, this shtick of watching players sit in a circle and open boxes isn’t great. It slows everything down. To do it three times now? That’s a choice.

Fortunately, DANI raised the stakes this time around. With so many players up for elimination, she revealed there would be three boxes with safety, leaving four players with the “at risk” boxes. On top of that, the players wouldn’t reveal the contents of the box. DANI decided to save this information for later. She’s sneaky like that.

After the players got their boxes in the face-off, DANI sent the players right back into Anonymous Mode to try to match each other to their handles. That meant that whoever got the power of The Anonymous would have no idea which player won the safety. They might take a shot at someone and then have it nullified.

What’s in your box?

Jack Usher and Victoria Vesce on The Anonymous
Photo Credit: Rico Torres/USA Network

The players took their test, someone got picked to be The Anonymous, and DANI reassembled the players at the dial to learn their fates. This whole time, the players up for elimination have been carrying around their little face-off boxes. Finally, DANI revealed who had what inside of their boxes.

She started with the at-risk players. In a flashback, we see that Nina, Dillian, and Bismah all had at-risk boxes after the face-off. Jack and Lilly won the safety. Lucky ducks.

That left Marcel and Christopher’s fate up in the air. One of them had safety while the other remained at risk. Normally, this is the point when the credits would start to roll, but in a change of format, DANI dropped the news that Marcel had been chosen by The Anonymous to go home. However, don’t think we’re getting out of this episode without a cliffhanger.

As the credits started to roll, DANI had Marcel open his face-off box. If there’s safety inside of the box, he’ll be immune from elimination and this “plot twist” of an episode would have been all for nothing. We’ll see what happens next week.

The Anonymous airs new episodes on USA Network, Mondays at 11/10c. Catch up by streaming on Peacock.

TELL US – WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE ANONYMOUS EPISODE 7? WERE YOU SURPRISED TO SEE XAVIER GET CUT FROM THE COMPETITION? DO YOU THINK MARCEL HAS THE SAFETY IN HIS BOX?

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