The Block 2025 Episode 49 recap: Britt and Taz’s dry riverbed fail, Sonny and Alicia’s win

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And so what might have been the friendliest Block ever comes to an end.

If not for the odd skirmish and arson threat this entire season would have been a recappers’ nightmare, delivering as it did on Scott Cam’s launch promise of more renovating and less hysterics.

The teams are finishing up their front yards and entry ways and for once the judges have almost nothing but praise for the contestants.

As usual, Han and Can’s run up to reveal is bumpy – literally. Their landscaper has not finalised their meandering path properly, meaning the concrete is rough and doesn’t match their driveway.

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Han and Can’s front yard with enormous torii gate and meandering Zen pathway.

And Can has installed a weird looking mini-temple, or bus stop in some people’s eyes, as the entry through their front fence.

Sitting next to the giant torii gate it looks like the Spinal Tap version of Stonehenge.

They’re also unimpressed at the leftover pool fencing that the site’s official builders insist must go around the top of their retaining wall for safety reasons.

Still, they manage to overcome the issues by pressure spraying the concrete with acid, removing the bus stop and planting fast growing ivy at the base of the ugly fencing.

Their neighbours Britt and Taz are relived to rip off the fake wallpaper of their faces on their garage door to reveal the real façade of an indigenous art work they commissioned from local artist Troy Firebrace.

WA cop Taz is visibly moved and talks about his own indigenous heritage for the first time in the series.

Taz is teary talking about his heritage and desire to be a role model for young indigenous men.

“Without sounding too full of it, there’s going to be a lot of young fellas watching at home seeing me do this and me at work doing what I do and someone like Troy at work doing what he does and really looking up to that, and that’s the example I want to set for my kids and the example I want to set for my community,” he says.

“And my community isn’t just back home, it’s all around.”

It’s a beautiful moment of acknowledgement and pride and easy to understand why both he and Britt are tearful.

And then, with a final group hug, it’s on to the judging on what it turns out, is the 1000th episode of The Block.

Scott Cam begins with a straight to camera thank you to the audience that has made the show such an Aussie reality TV success story, joined by Shelley Craft for the first time in the judging barn.

First up is Ben and Emma with their ramped entry way with batten ceiling, guestroom deck area and puzzle sculpture.

The judges note the lack of gates, unaware the black paint had slid off the previous night in a heavy frost.

Ben and Emma’s front yard with mounds on either side of the driveway.

Other than that there’s not much to criticise with Marty Fox saying “They’ve left off two gate so it can’t be a 10 but they’ve given it a good nudge.”

Han and Can’s Japanese Zen garden with boulders, meandering concrete path, raked sand and that giant torii gate is acknowledged as polarising, but most of the judges are on the right side of the pole.

“It could be Quentin Tarantino’s house because it looks like it’s from Hollywood I reckon,” landscaper and guest judge Dave Franklin says.

“The number of buyers you meet who really want a Japanese garden is slim,” Marty notes but Shaynna Blaze says “I absolutely adore that arbour as a grand entrance and I admire their commitment to it”.

The judges are initially thrown by the pool fencing above the retaining wall, until Dave assures them by the time the house goes to auction it will be nicely covered by ivy, and Marty notes it will provide perfect screening for the guest suite, which now has a de facto private courtyard.

Britt and Taz’s front yard.

Next door one side of Britt and Taz’s front garden gets tonight’s harshest criticism.

Concrete has been poured right up to the house, meaning there’s no garden beds to soften the space.

“I think it’s a missed opportunity,” Dave says.

“This looks like an industrial shed,” Marty agrees.

They’ve also installed another dry riverbed outside the guest room which Marty calls “essentially a large kitty litter covered with mulch”.

“It’s barren,” is Shaynna’s view.

Luckily there’s some turf and greenery on the other side, and then the judges discover the outdoor cinema, with seating around a fire pit and retractable screen mounted between posts in the garden.

Britt and Taz’s outdoor cinema.

The judges love the concept but question why they took money from the all important front of their house to deliver it.

Sonny and Alicia on the other hand barely cop a harsh word.

They’ve spent the last of their money on three mature trees and a striking sculpture of a full-sized reclining kangaroo and the judges love every inch of it, including the extra driveway.

“This is pretty faultless,” Darren says. “And this is a great point to hit your stride.”

Mat and Robby’s money troubles are reflected in what they present.

Sonny and Alicia’s ‘faultless’ front yard.

There’s no issue with the design, but they haven’t been able to afford anything but juvenile plants.

“I’m underwhelmed,” Darren says. “You can see once it’s done it’s going to be breathtaking and beautiful but right now there’s not enough in here. The fact is, they ran out of money.”

And so to the judging and to the relief of apparently everyone, Sonny and Alicia finally get a victory, meaning they miss out on the ignominious honour of being the only team in Block history to go home without a room win.

And as wins go, it’s a beauty. They will have $50,000 knocked off their reserve, a car to auction as part of their house, plus another car to take home, which they promptly give to

Mat and Robby ran out of cash and could only afford small plants.

Alicia’s mother to thank her for taking car of their three kids for the past three months, as well as supporting them financially in the past.

They also score a perfect 10 from Marty Fox, and because there’s no more renovating to be done, they get to keep it.

Even the other contestants seem genuinely happy for them.

And that’s the penultimate recap of The Block 2025.

The Block auction airs next Sunday, October 25. Keep an eye out for our final recap, as well as our story on all the action behind the scenes at the auctions.

FINAL SCORES

Ben and Emma 37

Han and Can 35.5

Britt and Taz 31

Sonny and Alicia 38

Robby and Mat 34.5

MISSED AN EPISODE? HERE’S ALL OUR RECAPS SO FAR

Episode 1: Why no NSW applicants were good enough for The Block

Episode 2: The worst day on The Block

Episode 3/4: ‘Tear them off’: teams forced to rip tiles from walls

Episode 5: Judges feedback leaves one contestant vomiting

Episode 6: Dan and Dani’s heartbreak