Comments on: The Block 2021 Winners, Plus The Season’s 10 Best & Worst Moments Revealed

By: Lynne Minnaar

Lynne Minnaar — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 16:27:54 +0000

I love watching The Block! I live in SA, so we have just viewed the 2021 series now. I didn’t particularly like Mitch and Mark’s home. It was marketed as a family home, but their pool had far too many plants around it and not much space for children to play. I wondered if the leaves and stems would be pulled into the pool??? – I know children, I teach! I thought that Kirsty and Jesse built the perfect family home and agree that the money they are allocated, should be per square m. I also agree about the cladding on R and G’s home, plus the bee hive – “cute” idea, but not practical for anybody living in the area with a bee sting allergy…could be fatal! I thought their staircase was stunning, BUT how do you move furniture in and out of the house if you decide to move? Not easy at all, unless you have access through a large window upstairs. You couldn’t move anything from the basement back upstairs. We saw the problems that Kirsty and Jesse had when they had to get those wine fridges into their basement!

By: Jose Ribeiro

Jose Ribeiro — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 17:16:37 +0000

In reply to Wendy Smith. i think ,the producers were very unfair to K&J open its the last Block e ever see . the judges should judge themselves . they are useless .

By: Jinan Daher

Jinan Daher — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 03:14:06 +0000

In reply to Robbie Dickenson. I can't agree with you more! Going to miss these weekly reviews. Is it sad to admit I used to look forward to them?

By: Robbie Dickenson

Robbie Dickenson — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 13:12:24 +0000

The thing that makes me most sad about the block ending is that these reviews end. The best bit of the block has been your reviews and witty commentary. Thank you for making me laugh weekly. You are a star! Thank you for being you.

By: Leigh Schneider

Leigh Schneider — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 12:04:59 +0000

Hello. Long-time enjoyer of the commentary, first-time poster.

There’s nothing particularly interesting in my thoughts but I just wanted to test out some of them with those of you who might feel like sharing your takes.

(1) The auction order. I think R&G’s gamble was worth taking and their agent’s getting a lot of unfair heat retrospectively. At the time, there wasn’t much reason to hope for a lot of bidding. As already mentioned, and as with 2020, sales were going to depend almost completely on the whims of Danny Wallis (I think Jimmy and Tam would have barely scraped past reserve without Danny and the con artist). So why wouldn’t R&G go first in the fear that Danny wouldn’t lIke their house and in the hope of picking up maybe the only other serious bidder on the day?

(2) For all the comments here about wanting to see more reno and less melodrama, does anyone else feel that Nine and the show-makers are actually scared that a “nice” version of The Block would die in the ratings? Even after satisfactory numbers using non-contentious teams, they just can’t stop diving back into the muck of tantrums and egomania. Not to mention never gambling on skilled pro-level contestants (who would surely produce fewer mistakes, more eye candy and more dollars on auction day). Do you reckon they don’t believe that we’d turn up to watch a Block without train wrecks?

(3) Would The Block be different, in a good way, if they went back to their old houses and did a proper reckoning of what owner-occupiers do to them after purchase? If I were auditioning for the show, I’d love to know how many owners ripped out that “stunning”, “on trend”, “must have”, “10 out of 10” feature because nobody other than the judges and the sponsors loves it!

(4) Which brings me to my vote for Worst Feature: every study nook ever put on the show. Who ever made the millions to afford a Block house by working at a desk the size of a card table with a drawer and two powerpoints? I bet that Shaynna has a home office the size of a bowling alley: give her an acting Logie for drooling over a broom cupboard that’s “just what a home-based professional worker is looking for”.

Thanks for your time, and thanks for the interesting opinions and debates during the season. Take care, everyone!

By: Margaret Maguire

Margaret Maguire — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 04:52:06 +0000

Congratulations on nine years Chris. Thank you for your entertaining comments throughout the season.
I think each house had some attractive elements to offer. However, I wouldn’t buy any of those properties myself. I liked the facade of J and L’s house by far. But the interior of G and R’s house was overall more appealing, (albeit safe) to me. Oh and I think they had the best front garden.
I’m sorry everyone, but I just don’t get M and M’s front yard. It’s so busy !!! In fact, I think their entire house is over worked. Sorry Chris, but I can’t stand their guest bathroom. It’s far too prissy. But hey, they won didn’t they?? So what would I know??
I’m glad we share an appreciation of the brown tiles in T and V’s bathroom.
Well done to everyone. I’m so pleased that everyone gained some well deserved cash for their effort.
Does anyone else think the T and V scandal was a setup ??? It kept us watching didn’t it LOL ??
Look forward to many more years of your blogs Chris.

By: Kirsten Ivosevac

Kirsten Ivosevac — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 01:31:27 +0000

In reply to Jan. Solar panels are placed based on which orientation is the best. Yes they are ugly but most people take that into consideration when buying a home these days. My kids play out the front and I don’t sit and watch them. Not everyone is a helicopter parent.

By: Janis Mcminn

Janis Mcminn — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 01:15:49 +0000

R & G have always been my faves, especially Ronnie with that bemused expression he gets at times. Have to agree about the facade of their house. Looks like a big barn. Pity, as I loved the interior.
M & M’s living room is just plain scary.
Agree about T & V’s bathroom. Any colour looks better than the white. So blah. I always detested that curved bed head with the inbuilt lights as well, yucko.
Agree with all your comments Chris, you should be a judge.

By: Wendy Smith

Wendy Smith — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 00:58:08 +0000

I was surprised at some of the Auction results. Take Danny Wallis out of the picture and how many buyers did the buyers agents really have at the prices that they were expecting them to go for. As for K&J it was very unfair that their reserve was $700k more as I am sure they didn’t get anymore in their budget to finish a house and garden twice the size as the others. The budgets for these houses should be so much per sqm metre.
R&G’s staircase was amazing but you should look at Kyle & Kara’s staircase in their home that they built on the NSW Central Coast. I loved the brick paved floor in R&G’s cellar.
I really hope that the next season has more contestants like K&J on it that are hard workers and not wanting drama and camera time.

By: Cait Eves

Cait Eves — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 05:45:47 +0000

I’m glad they all won money. I feel R&G mainly got stooged on their location. On the end of the court on a very busy road. Obviously never going to be as valuable real estate as other houses.
I think K&J had it rough with that reserve but in the end they all won some solid cash. I’m guessing R&G mainly disappointed that their sponsorships and ambassador ranking won’t be as high as they’d hoped for after the show?!?! Well done to all the teams. Next year can we do it without the drama?!?

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 03:28:41 +0000

Enjoyed your comments Chris.
I am so happy the twins did not back down. Their determination payed off. As far as the others go they were hit n miss for me. Some of the gardens just didn’t make sense to me. Why let kids play in the front yard so someone has to sit out and watch them. They are family houses but some of the back yards only catered for couples sitting in bad seats. Why have stupid pergola looking poles front and back with no all weather protection for doors, seating and steps. I wouldn’t buy a house with so many skylights visible from the street they are as ugly as solar panels. I have 22 solars but they face the back. They should all be happy with what they got at auction, even a $100 k would set anyone up.

By: Kirsten

Kirsten — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 01:36:05 +0000

Whilst I feel for Ronnie and Georgia I don’t think it was the front of the house that out off buyers it was the auction order. Which they chose.

I think you’re wrong about Tanya and Vitos lounge. People are clearly not digging cookie cutter contemporary and Hampton’s home. It was the unique homes that stole the show at auction. Ronnie and Georgia’s and Kirsty and Jesse didn’t seperate themselves from the market. The homes look beautiful but they are a little bit same same.

By: Ingrid

Ingrid — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 23:01:46 +0000

What a pity we had to wait for more than an hour for the actual auction. Mitch and Mark were deserving winners. They had the best street appeal of the five homes, both their front and back yards were fabulous.
The interior of Ronnie and Georgia’s house was immaculate but the colourbond facade and location of their house did them no favours. From the outside it looked like an expensive shed.
It was good to see that Tanya and Vito’s house was bought by Danny for a children’s cancer charity. I can imagine kids loving that sunken lounge room and games basement.
The twins house actually finished up looking beautiful. Looking at the Domain listing, I like the lounge dining room. Their sectional sofa is on my wish list.
It was great to see all the teams win money, as those reserves did seem high.

By: Michi

Michi — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 21:27:05 +0000

Excuse me, Ygritte, whilst I change my name to Jon Snow. Because I know nothing.
Never saw that auction result order coming.
Never imagined Ronnie and Georgia would opt to go first. (Apparently it was on the advice of their real estate agent. Que? Did they momentarily lose the ability to look back at the history of Block auction order versus result?)
Is there anyone else beyond Danny Wallis who can afford to buy overpriced real estate in Melbourne?
All I can conclude is that the awful tractor shed facade on R&G’s place must have really put people off.
Although I am still shocked/confused/bewildered by the turn of events, I’m happy for M&M having a win this time around. They endured a lot of flack, yet still maintained a sense of individual style. No Scotty, their win could not be placed squarely on the inclusion of a pantry on the advice of the judges.
At the time of reveal, I didn’t like the brown tiles in Tanya and Vito’s bathroom but I am 100% on board with you here, the changeover to white was a mistake. I also think they didn’t need to be THAT shade of brown, any colour would look better than the white.
And yes, that is the stairway to Heaven at house number one. What a pity the facade was right out of Hell.
Thanks for your incredible insights and hilarious words through this season of The Block, Chris. Cheers.