It makes sense that Big Brother houseguests who get along and have similar methods in the game would decide to team up. Sometimes, it's because they complement one another – some might be good at physical competitions while others have good social games. Sometimes, it's just a matter of being in the same room at the same time.
Whatever way alliances are formed, however, not all of them are great. In fact, there have been terrible alliances on the show that petered out before they even accomplished anything. Thankfully, they are balanced by some of the best alliances on Big Brother. However, best doesn't always mean most entertaining.
The Committee (Season 22)
Tyler found himself in a second dominant alliance in the All-Stars season that included all strong-minded, dominant returning players, with Christmas, Cody, Dani, Memphis, and Nicole. While fans didn't like to see returning players controlling every move and picking off new players one by one, it's hard to deny that their combined power was entertaining to watch. That's especially true since many of them also had to balance other fake alliances within and outside of the alliance, like the Slick Six.
The Committee won every competition the entire season but for two and the season was rife with controversy over the rumor that the alliance was formed pre-season. Nonetheless, this very fact led to lots of social chatter about the goings-on through the season. Fans were also secretly waiting for the moment when Cody would inevitably turn his back on Nicole, who believed the entire time that he would take her to the final two.
Level Six (Season 20)
Even though he was running the Level Six alliance, Tyler remains one of the best Big Brother players to have never won the game. With that said, it was Kaycee's social game combined with Tyler's ability to win competitions (though Kaycee went on to win plenty near the end) and convince others to trust his decisions that made this alliance so great.
As the alliance name implies, there were four other to make up the numbers: Angela, Brett, Rachel, and Winston. Even though Tyler was the clear head of the snake, the alliance was full of strong personalities, which made them entertaining to watch. The highlight was when Rachel's paranoia forced them to let her get evicted.
The Quack Pack (Season 14)
The name alone of this alliance is indicative of how entertaining they were. Consisting of Danielle, Shane, Dan, Britney, and Ian, four of the five made it to the final 4, which is a testament to their success. But what made them entertaining, along with the silly duck sounds they made whenever rallying together, was the inclusion of some powerhouse players, including Dan and Ian.
At the time, Ian was just a young protégé. But watching him rise up the ranks, quietly making moves behind the scenes, toe-to-toe with one of the best players ever on Big Brother, was thoroughly entertaining for anyone who roots for the underdog.
3 A.M. (Season 15)
Named for the fact that the – Aaryn, Amanda, Andy, and McCrae – often met quietly in the wee hours of the morning to discuss their plans, this alliance was entertaining because of how fractured it was right from the beginning.
In his most iconic scene from Big Brother, Andy was integral to the alliance's shining moment when he quietly jumped ship to the other side of the house and set out to evict Amanda and McCrae. As the saying goes, "nothing good ever happens after 3 a.m., " and this alliance is proof of that as, while they were entertaining, they had plenty of weak spots right from the get-go.
The Pinky Swear Alliance (Season 5)
The name was adorable, reminiscent of an alliance a group of grade-schoolers might make. And while this alliance wasn't as strong as others, it is responsible for inventing one of the most genius strategies employed by winners on Big Brother, which has now become known as the backdoor.
Member Nakomis called it a Six Finger Plan, suggesting the alliance nominate two of their own who would each pick other alliance to play for the Veto (this was before these names were picked by random draw.) Once one of their own inevitably won, they could take down one of the two allies and put up the real target, who was guaranteed to go home. Watching their Six Finger Plan materialize much to the shock of the house remains the original, and one of the best, backdoor evictions. The alliance also included Adria, Diane, Karen, Natalie, and Will.
The Hitmen (Season 16)
Sometimes, all an alliance requires is two people, and that was the case with The Hitmen. Derrick and Cody had a plan to control the entire house and it worked. With Cody's brawns and Derrick's brains, they took their enemies out, one by one, week after week, and made it to the final two where Derrick won.
If someone didn't fall to their side, one or the other would find a way to convince them to flip, often with the person not realizing they were being manipulated to change their mind. The secret meetings where they blatantly discussed how they were dominating everyone were hilarious. Yet in front of other houseguests, Derrick and Cody were favorites.
The Cookout (Season 23)
A historic alliance, The Cookout formed in Week 1 and remained loyal to one another right to the end when they made the final six. Tiffany, Hannah, Xavier, Kyland, Derek F., and Azah, the six Black players on the season, devised an infallible plan. Each had their own "person" outside of the alliance who they would agree to sit beside on the Block when the time came.
It was never a scary experience to be on the Block since they knew they had the numbers to keep the alliance intact. Watching week after week to see if anyone would waver, then seeing that they were steadfast in their mission, was a testament to loyalty and trust for a greater purpose.
The Brigade (Season 12)
With like Enzo, it's tough to imagine this alliance would be anything but entertaining. While Hayden was steering the ship and went on to win the game, they used crafty side alliances to control every eviction.
With only four – Enzo, Hayden, Matt, and Lane – they didn't have the numbers to pull off control. Yet they managed to do just that, even when they had to cut Matt loose after believing he might flip. One of the saddest moments, however, was when they had to break the news of the alliance to Britney, who delivered some of the most memorable quotes on Big Brother, when she was the last person standing who wasn't a member.
The Renegades (Season 10)
The Renegades were only entertaining to watch because of Dan's many moves that were so clever, cunning, and strategic. Memphis was merely along for the ride, working as Dan's plus-one. But together, they made a lethal pair who was able to get what they wanted through competition wins, careful manipulation, and controlling votes.
Much like with Derrick and Cody, these two made it to the finals where Dan won by unanimous vote and Memphis was runner-up. It remains one of the tightest, most loyal alliances ever on Big Brother, likely since it was only two people, which meant less drama.
Chilltown (Season 2)
The first alliance in Big Brother history still remains the best, mainly because everything was so new – there were no previous seasons to base their actions on. Innovators when it comes to Big Brother strategy, Mike, Shannon, and Will did what they had to do each week to get out their intended target. But the most entertaining part of the alliance was the diary room sessions where the pair animatedly gloated about their actions and deceptions.
The fact that Will, the brains behind the operation, managed to win without ever actually winning a competition, is a testament to how entertaining and effective his social game was. The Chilltown alliance was so entertaining, in fact, that Mike revived it in season 14, aligning with Frank Eudy in place of Will.