The Block 2021 episode 16 recap: ‘Entitled piece of trash’ — The Block becomes Jerry Springer

If you prefer your Block with a little more Jerry Springer, then this is the episode for you.

To be honest, it’s all quite distasteful, as Luke, Mitch and Tanya throw some pretty foul insults at one another at a body corporate meeting that is meant to be about pools but descends into screeching and walk outs.

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How The Block cheat flushed by hidden cameras

It begins with the contestants finding out that Tanya was the person who sent the photo of the building works schedule to Luke. She’s still claiming it was sent to her anonymously, but not a single contestant believes her.

Her story keeps changing for a start. After telling Mark and Mitch she panicked and deleted the photo after sending it to Luke, she later admits to Kirsty and Jesse that she had it on her phone for 24 hours. Must have a been one of those slow-building panic attacks.

“I worked in psychology for 30 years. I know BS when I smell it,” Mark tells her when she does her apology tour. “I’m really angry about this, and hurt.”

Tanya also claims that Luke asked her to send him the schedule when she told him she’d received it, which outrages Mark and Mitch further.

“You’re all part of it. You guys are mates. You didn’t show it to Kirsty and Jesse, you said you didn’t look at it. I’m sorry, I don’t believe you,” Mark says.

He and Mitch then tell Tanya that the twins are nothing more than party boys who aren’t respecting the show.

“OK! Next couple,” Tanya chirps before heading to see Ronnie and Georgia, hoping for a better reception.

“So, it was a tradie who broke into Scott’s office and took it?” Is Ronnie’s reaction to her dubious claim.

And it’s no better at Kirsty and Jesse’s.

“I don’t believe it. I feel I can tell when someone lies to my face,” Kirsty says.

Kind-hearted Jesse is slightly more naive, and is unwilling to believe that lying to someone’s face is even possible. He’s also worried for Tanya and Vito’s welfare.

“I’m genuinely concerned when this comes out how it’s going to affect Tanya and Vito,” he says.

He’s the only one willing to extend even an olive twig though.

“It’s a family show,” Ronnie says. “At the moment it feels I’m on the set of Married At First Sight.”

And he’s right. This is a family show. The cheating itself is a terrible lesson for the multitude of kids who watch the it, and it only gets more family-unfriendly from here.

Luke and Josh, blithely believing that Tanya’s apology tour has put the matter to rest, call a body corporate meeting to ask for a vote on whether they, and everyone else, should be allowed to begin excavating a hole for their pools ahead of landscaping week.

They know that Mark and Mitch aren’t happy because an outraged Tanya hotfooted it back to report back on Mark and Mitch calling the twins party boys. She was clearly expecting for all to have been forgiven and is still, unbelievably, trying to paint herself as the victim of the cold and unforgiving other contestants.

“I’m trying to be integral by saying my truth,” she tells her partners in crime. Sure, Jan.

So Luke and Josh are prepared for Mark and Mitch to be cranky, but don’t realise Kirsty and Jesse and Ronnie and Georgia feel the same way.

They think they can have a discussion about the pool excavation without addressing the cheating issue, but their victims are having none of it.

As the discussion about the excavation begins Tanya decides now would be a great time to try a bit of comedy.

“We’ve been digging a hole all week so we should be good at it,” she says.

“Joke, but for some of us it’s not actually funny,” Mark says before he and Mitch note that Josh and Luke haven’t apologised for gaining three weeks of advantage through the stolen schedule.

The twins protest that they apologised at the winners’ dinner but given the words of that apology were “It is what it is. Obviously we’re sorry” that doesn’t cut the mustard for the other contestants.

Josh accuses Mitch of being passive aggressive before taking a further shot.

“You guys tried to diminish our character by saying we’re party boys and not taking The Block seriously. Funny, because we’ve beaten you boys two weeks out of three,” he says.

“You had an advantage though,” Kirsty very reasonably notes.

Mitch has had enough.

“You disgusting, ignorant young piece of filth,” he spits.

“You two-faced bitchy grandpa and rude rich snob,” Josh retorts.

“You are an entitled piece of trash,” Mitch fires back.

Vito has had enough, and walks off as Mitch and Mark reveal that Tanya told them Luke had requested she send him the schedule.

Luke denies it, and then Tanya, incredibly, denies saying it, for the 47th time forgetting that on this reality show, they are, in fact, being filmed.

Her next contribution to the imbroglio is to tell Luke and Josh “don’t fight pigs, because you get dirty and they love it.”

“Is she calling all of us pigs?” Kirsty asks, confused.

“How dare you, you piece of crap,” is Mitch’s response before he storms off.

Luke is next to storm off, breaking down in a corner of the site and asking the cameras be turned off.

“I’m not getting involved in bullshit,” Tanya says.

“You started the bullshit, Tanya,” Georgia points out.

Tanya seems utterly bewildered by the fact not a single person believes she has even the slightest claim to a skerrick of any high moral ground.

She even has the audacity to tell a producer of the other contestants.

“You’re grown men and women. You’ve got children. Grow up.”

But while Mitch’s language and behaviour was nothing short of vile, the person that has set the worst possible example for children in this scenario is the one who cheated and lied about it.

MISSED AN EPISODE?

Episode 15: Block cheat flushed by hidden cameras

Episode 14: What caused Block’s biggest cheating scandal in TV history

Episode 13: Master bedroom reveal marred by cheating controversy

Episode 11 & 12: Georgia threatens Block foreman for ruining plan

Episode 10: Serious Block accident leads to walkout

Episode 9: ‘Atrocious’ bathroom stuns Block judges

Episode 7 & 8: Block contestants worried about ‘novice’

Episode 6: Absolute bulls***: Fury over judges’ ruling

Episode 5: Boozy night lands one Block team in hospital

Episode 3 & 4: Love Island twins accuse Mitch and Mark of copying

Episode 2: Love Island twins stick boot into country singer

Episode 1: Shocks, showdowns and soup-inspired style

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