Episode 37 recap: Judges hand out first perfect score - but furious rival claims they have ‘different rules for different people’
Updated . First published
It’s our last episode inside these homes before heading outside for landscaping, can you bloody believe it?
But first, the teams need to finish their kids’ rooms, their non-kids’ rooms, and redo spaces.
And fight! Nine
That requires lots of painting and in Rick and Tayla’s case, lots of arguing too.
She tells Rick they’re too far behind so he needs to paint faster, which is the final straw for him.
Asked if he’s a bit over it, Rick says it’s more than that.
“I’m over her,” he reckons.
Sunday morning arrives along with a top-tier distraction, Dan and Dani’s four-week-old son Fletcher, and our weekly last-minute dash to tools down.
To celebrate the finished interiors, Scott Cam lists off about 200 new additions to his Plungie prize pool, including a kitchen and flooring and best of all, snacks and wine.
And our final budget award winners for inside are Chantel and Wyatt.
Adam and Jolene
It’s been an incredible week for House 1, and they’re hoping the feedback keeps the good times coming.
However, the trio is immediately confused that the kids’ room brief has resulted in … not a kids’ room.
Either way, the wardrobe choice is terrible.
There are too many shelves and space to hang “three blazers”, Marty Fox reckons. This is how I learn people own more than one blazer?
“Darren said if you were an adult living in here, you’d be super pissed off,” Scotty reads.
Darren thinks it’s “meh”, while Marty straight up thinks it’s a bad room.
And Shaynna Blaze thinks their Domain Buyers Jury win is surprising “because this feels a bit lazy”.
She also doesn’t like hand cream as a styling item beside the bed. Because, uh, you know.
BEHAVE. Nine
Adam and Jolene’s redo room was their Week 1 guest bedroom, and the feedback only gets worse.
“Well they’re saving that for plants because they’ve done pretty minimal,” Marty says of the $10,000 they were given to update this space.
However, Shaynna does give them a special award … for the worst flower arrangement of the season. Oh.
“The two rooms that they’ve shown us today could both be, still, redo rooms,” Darren concludes.
Chantel and Wyatt
Chantel and Wyatt have not changed the judges’ biggest concerns in their redo living room and they’ve also delivered a room that isn’t to brief.
This should go well then.
“Is there an allergy to children?” Shaynna asks.
Despite missing the brief, House 2’s layout is a lot better than House 1’s.
And that’s really the only positive they have.
Darren points out 20 reasons why their chest of drawers is a bad choice, Marty thinks it’s all “so forgettable” and Shaynna rubbishes literally everything.
The laziness of the room leaves them wondering if Chantel and Wyatt instead put all their energy into changing their living room design to highlight House 2’s view.
Hmm. No.
“I’m sorry, these guys are so stubborn it’s ridiculous,” Shaynna fumes.
She is “so beyond frustrated” at their advice being ignored each week.
“If I could get them in front of me I would shake them and just say ‘What are you doing?!’”
Marty calls them “askholes” – people who ask for advice only to ignore it.
Chantel and Wyatt think that’s unfair. You see, they don’t actually ask for the advice!
Lisa and Rosco
It’s do-or-die for House 3, whose budget is in desperate, desperate need of a boost.
They may be in luck because they’ve actually delivered a kids’ room – and a damn good one at that.
The judges love the nook and its kangaroo wallpaper, which could very easily be converted with a mirror for an older child or adult.
Shaynna jokes it’s the first time they’ve smiled all day.
She loves the colour palette and the fantasy, and thinks it completely sells the dream.
“Lisa and Rosco are pregnant with their second child and that’s why you can feel the love in the room,” she tells her colleagues.
From the lighting to the finishing to the furniture, Darren says “they’ve knocked it out of the park”.
Lisa and Rosco also made significant changes in their redo guest bedroom, updating the wallpaper and swapping out furniture.
“The success continues,” Darren says.
He reckons if they had finished painting the bedroom skirting, it would be a 10/10.
“But you don’t need to paint skirtings to get 10s,” Lisa fires back.
This comment, coming off the back of this week’s drama over Courtney and Sev’s controversial rumpus room 10s, leaves her pissed.
AWWWWKWARD. Nine
Courtney and Sev
Hot off that dig, it’s House 4’s turn – and there’s that “copycat” drama in their redone living room to worry about too.
But first, the judges are delighted they’ve also delivered a proper kids’ room.
It’s the most colourful space we’ve seen this year, and “perfectly executed” in the judges’ opinion.
As Scotty reads Marty’s praise of their attention to detail, Lisa makes a shocked face. She’s getting unpainted door flashbacks.
Just like House 3’s room, the judges are impressed by how well this can age up with the kids or be transformed for an adult.
“There’s nothing childish about this room apart from the way it’s been styled and the things that have been included,” Darren says.
Praise continues in their updated living room – especially the mirror and the fireplace additions, which are the same as House 1.
“Darren says, ‘You do really wonder how House 1 is going to feel about this redo room…’” Scotty reads.
They’re thrilled! Nine
Darren thinks it’s better in every way.
“It’s one of the best living spaces in Block history,” Marty agrees.
Rick and Tayla
Rick and Tayla have delivered a room meant for an older teen, but with a teddy bear.
“I’m a bit confused,” Marty reacts.
Darren’s more positive. Firstly, there’s no plant under the desk!
There is a big plant on their wallpaper, but he likes that.
“This is probably a successful tween room because they do aspire to be bigger kids,” he says.
But the styling is off. Shaynna points out the small table and ottomans in the corner, and the pendant lights with lamps directly underneath them.
Tayla’s left a note to indicate the mirror will be fixed to the wall, but Marty says this time he doesn’t mind it leaning – because that’s exactly what this one is designed to do.
Oops.
They hope for better in their updated living room but are left disappointed.
The judges love the new couches, but find it pretty underwhelming after seeing all the effort House 4 put into redoing their same space.
Scott Cam tallies the scores and, before we even get to Shaynna’s, Courtney and Sev find themselves $20,000 richer.
And then it’s official – they get the first perfect 30 of the year and end the night $50,000 up.
The final scores are:
- Adam and Jolene: 21.5
- Chantel and Wyatt: 17.5
- Lisa and Rosco: 29
- Courtney and Sev: 30
- Rick and Tayla: 21.5
Lisa and Rosco also receive a 10 from Marty but it seems to only rub salt in the wound for Lisa.
She’s devastated.
“It just seems like there are different rules for different people,” Rosco agrees. “So what’s the point?”
Lisa defiiiinitely thinks the judges are playing favourites. Nine
Tomorrow, we’re finally heading outside!
The landscaping weeks begin and the drama continues. See you there.
See The Block 2026 homes
The Block 2026 houses are live on market! Take a closer look at the full home listings here:
House 1: Adam and Jolene
Adam and Jolene’s house is officially on the market. Nine/Domain Supplied
Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 3 | Car spaces: 4 | Price guide: $3.6 million to $3.9 million | Reserve price: $3.45 million
View the full listing on the Domain website here.
House 2: Chantel and Wyatt
Chantel and Wyatt’s house is up for sale. Nine/Domain
Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 3 | Car spaces: 4 |Price guide: $3.6 million to $3.9 million | Reserve price: $3.45 million
View the full listing on the Domain website here.
House 3: Lisa and Rosco
Lisa and Rosco’s build is on the market. Nine/Domain
Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 3 |Car spaces: 4 | Price guide: $3.6 million to $3.9 million| Reserve price: $3.45 million
View the full listing on the Domain website here.
House 4: Courtney and Sev
What will buyers think of Courtney and Sev’s vision? Nine/Domain
Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 3 | Car spaces: 2 |Price guide: $3.6 million to $3.9 million| Reserve price: $3.45 million
View the full listing on the Domain website here.
House 5: Rick and Tayla
Has Rick’s building experience given him and daughter Tayla a competitive edge? Supplied
Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 3 |Car spaces: 2 | Price guide: $3.6 million to $3.9 million| Reserve price: $3.45 million
