While the quote of the episode may have beenChristina Haacksaying, “Joshgot rid of the trash. I got rid of Josh,” the headline of the episode was about the special guest stars. It’s time to sway the grandmas! The rules ofThe Flip Offare as follows: each week, the teams engage in renovating one room of their flip. Flipping each week ofthe reality series, Team Christina andTeam El Moussaalternate and decide on the week’s guest judge. For Christina’s week,she brought in some very familiar faces in hopes of earning the week’s victory.
WhileLaurie HaackandDominique El Moussawere there to give guidance to their kids, their time onThe Flip Offbecame greater than their appearance.Their presence served as a reminder that family is at the core of this show.Through laughter and strife, the most important team is the one formed by family. Despite a stark tonal shift following the premiere’s dramatic unfolding events, the joy ofThe Flip Offwas finally celebrated.
There’s a Battle of the Bedrooms on ‘The Flip Off’
So far,The Flip Offhas shown that everyone involved is very competitive. It’s human nature. But, with the stakes being what they are, it makes sense to see the passion coming from Christina,Tarek, andHeather. Bragging rights are important,especially when it’s something that will likely be brought up at every family function.Nevertheless, this week, the family was at the heart of the fun.
After a tough battle in the kitchen, this week turned toward the sleeping quarters. Both homes had their pros and cons when it came to the master bedroom and bathroom. While many prospective homeowners feel that the kitchen is the soul of the home, the bedroom truly can be the make or break when purchasing your forever home. If you’re not in love with the place you’ll spend the majority of the time, why even consider the home? With Tarek and Heather having an advantage after the kitchen victory,Christina was eager to even the playing fieldby inviting judges she thought would side with her.
The 5 Biggest ‘Flip Off Moments That Hinted at Christina Haack’s Break Up With Josh Hall
Did you see it coming? We sure did!
This week, the teams took on the primary suites, but the story was all about the special judges: the moms! Tarek and Christina’s moms came in to share their opinions on the respective spaces to see who won this week’s battle of the bedrooms.Christina’s initial game plan was interesting as she seemed to cater her design toward her mom’s preferencesrather than a potential buyer. It is an incredible risk, especially since the goal is to win overall. But, in a war, this is only one battle. If you questioned Christina’s decision, it wasn’t as perplexing when her competitors were told that Mrs. Haack was entering the homes. Once Heather and Tarek learned who was judging, they, too, felt it important to throw in elements that would sway Christina’s mom. All it took was photos of the grandkids. Christina did play slightly dirty by not revealing that Mrs. El Moussa would be joining as well. Tarek would have changed up his game had he known. But it didn’t matter. Despite her plan, Tarek and Heather were the overall winning design for the master suite.
The Moms Make a Dream Team
Now that the competition element of the episode is over let’s talk about Laurie Haack and Dominique El Moussa. The moms had such great chemistry. They were naturals! They had so much fun playing judge, putting their kids’ flipping experience to use. The special part of having the moms present was the ability to learn a bit more about their relationship with their kids and how, despite Tarek and Christina being separated, they are still a family unit. Now that they are a blended family,both Christina and Tarek have love and admiration for one another’s mother.There is a deep history between them that spans nearly two decades.
Through this episode,the docufollow element ofThe Flip Offsheds light on the family dynamic of the former El Moussa couple.After agreeing to judge this week, Dominique teased her former daughter-in-law that if Tarek loses the challenge, she would have to adopt her. Christina, in turn, joked that Tarek’s mom didn’t want her to marry Tarek initially but the dog instead. They still have a close bond because of her children. In fact,we’ve seen how the loving grandmas spend holidays together to be with their grandkids.
There’s a bigger picture we can analyze that goes beyond what’s on-screen. Since losing Josh Hall, Christina doesn’t have a partner inThe Flip OffChallenge, she has a team. Sometimes, art imitates life.Just like how her mother and ex-mother-in-law are part of her team.Flipping homes requires the creation of a solid foundation and building up from there. Essentially, that’s what a family is, too. The mothers are very much the foundation for Christina and Tarek’s blended family. The love and joy they brought into this episode show a softer side to the dark headlines that have dominated through the years. This was a special episode for the participants andFlip or Flopfans alike. While no drama from the outside world was brought in, family is truly the focus of this episode.
The Flip Off - Season 1
The Flip Offairs Wednesdays at 8:00pm on HGTV. All episodes are available to stream on Max.
