Episode 46 Recap | Fans have erupted after Emma and Ben’s controversial gnome win, with accusations of copying and favouritism lighting up social media.

It’s the final Monday on The Block 2025, and emotions are running as high as the scaffolding once did. After eleven grueling weeks of building, budgeting and body corporate battles, the teams are staring down the last major hurdle – Front Yard and Façade Week – with one huge prize up for grabs.

Emotions are running wild on The Block as final week tensions spill into tears, tantrums and fiery fan reactions. (image – Channel 9)

Whoever wins this week will drive away in two MG cars – one to sell with their house and one to keep – plus score a $50,000 reduction off their auction reserve. In the words of Scott Cam, the stakes have never been higher.

The mood on site, however, is anything but celebratory. Contestants are still fuming over Emma and Ben’s sneaky use of their secret gnome to steal the Backyard and Pool Week win from Robby and Mat by just half a point. The salt levels have gone full anchovy.

Alicia doesn’t hold back, saying “It does what it needs to but I don’t think it deserved to win.” Britt chimes in with “Underwhelming.”

Meanwhile, Robby adds that the winning couple “copied us – the whole room,” after spotting similarities between their wine cellars.

Even Emma and Ben admit others had them beat, declaring Robby and Mat’s garden “epic” and “elite.” Emma even confesses, “Oh my god, this is so much better than ours. I reckon the boys will be devo that we won.”

Robby and Mat agree. “It kills me to know we won and somebody else has reaped the glory,” Mat admits, likening the experience to “having 50 lemons and trying to smile.”

While the boys are still tasting bitterness, a bigger problem lands on their doorstep. Their landscaper Paal casually drops a $34,000 bombshell for “unforeseen engineering” costs in their backyard.

“We always had the budget of $70,000 and we’ve paid $70,000,” Mat says.

“He said it’s from unforeseen engineering but at no stage was that communicated to us until this morning after it was completed,” he explains.

Robby adds, “We were pretty shocked because he was almost 50 per cent over the money allowed.”

The discovery leaves the pair contemplating firing Paal and tackling the front yard themselves. Mat admits he’d rather Robby handle negotiations, but knows his mate’s approach would be a shrug and a “the money will come from somewhere.”

True to form, Robby later tells Paal, “He’s going to say if you quote $70,000, here’s $70,000 but I’m real, I understand,” before wandering off – hardly a power move for the ages.

Across the cul-de-sac, Han and Can are battling both budgets and each other as they try to finish their Japanese-inspired front garden, complete with a Torii gate. The retaining wall that haunted Can from the beginning is back to test her patience once more.

When tensions hit breaking point, builder Shan steps in as a surprise relationship counsellor.

“You’re both getting overwhelmed and you’re both becoming non-productive,” Shan tells Han.

“Just trust me. Everyone is right from their own point of view. You stay outside and she does inside.”

The advice earns him a nod of approval from Han’s dad, Lee, who seems impressed by the builder’s calm wisdom.

As if emotions weren’t already stretched, Scotty throws in one final challenge – the Arnott’s Biscuit Tower. The rules are simple: build the tallest tower, win $10,000.

After several crumbly collapses, Emma and Ben once again take the prize, leaving Alicia and Sonny empty-handed and crushed. It’s Alicia’s birthday, but celebration is far from her mind.

“I don’t know why we’re wasting our time,” she sobs in her caravan.

“We should have just walked out. It could all be for nothing. I don’t want to come out today at all. I want to be here by myself. It’s the worst birthday ever.”

Meanwhile, Britt and Taz score the final $5,000 McCafé Award, handed out by baristas Tina and Shayla for their wellness area complete with spa, sauna and cold plunge. The pair also tease a creative surprise for their garage door – an Indigenous artwork they’ve decided to keep hidden until the final reveal.

Even the foremen are feeling the pressure. Dan returns as “Defect Dan,” inspecting each home and handing out thick files of fixes. Houses 1, 2 and 5 get off lightly, but Houses 3 and 4 have some serious patch-ups to complete before Sunday.

As the on-site village begins to pack down, Chemist Warehouse donates $100,000 worth of goods to the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre, ensuring nothing goes to waste.

For now, though, the focus is on survival. Emma and Ben take a brief breather from the chaos, heading to Crown Towers for a celebratory dinner and shopping trip with Mr Fabulous after their backyard victory. The rest of the teams are left juggling budgets, tempers, and paintbrushes as the finish line comes into sight.

Tomorrow night promises laughs as Britt and Taz’s garage door prank is unveiled – but financial woes and relationship strain could make this one of the most dramatic weeks yet on The Block.

Viewers React: Fans Sound Off After Monday’s Block Episode

Online reaction to The Block’s final Monday episode was fast and fiery, with viewers divided over everything from Emma and Ben’s secret gnome win to Alicia’s tearful breakdown. Many were quick to side with Robby and Mat, describing the landscaper’s surprise invoice as “dodgy” and “unprofessional.” Several noted that “$30,000 in unforeseen engineering costs is a total scam,” while others argued that proper communication should have happened before the work began. One viewer summed it up neatly, saying the pair were “completely right to be angry – no one should get a bill that big without warning.”

The mood towards Emma and Ben wasn’t exactly warm, either. Dozens of comments accused the couple of “copying ideas” from Robby and Mat, particularly the now-infamous bottle tree. “Do they come up with a single idea of their own?” one viewer asked, while another claimed their Domain Open entry was “false advertising” because the rooms didn’t match the promo signs. Still, a handful defended them, saying the competition’s stress makes everyone “a bit sneaky.”

Han and Can’s on-screen arguments also struck a chord. Some found their dynamic uncomfortable, calling for the pair to “get counselling, stat.” Others praised their builder Shan for stepping in with calm advice, joking that he “deserves counselling rates and builder’s rates.” A few fans said they enjoyed Can’s dry humour and wanted to see more of it, though others felt Han “sucked the joy out of every scene.” One summed up the mood bluntly: “Han and Can have built more tension than their retaining wall.”

Meanwhile, Alicia’s birthday meltdown divided audiences completely. Many sympathised, recognising how fatigue and pressure can push contestants over the edge, but plenty showed little patience. “Crying over losing a biscuit tower? Grow up,” one user wrote, while another said the outburst “guarantees a sympathy win next week.” Still, a few viewers admitted they’d reached similar breaking points themselves, noting “we’ve all cried over something small when the week’s been rough.”

Several fans took issue with the program’s growing focus on sponsors and cross-promotions. Comments about the McCafé challenges and Chemist Warehouse pop-up ranged from eye-rolling to applause. Some complained the show now feels like “a giant ad with extra ad breaks every five minutes,” while others praised the $100,000 donation to the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre, calling it “the best thing Chemist Warehouse has done all season.”

Even Scott Cam’s fashion choices at Crown Towers got a mention, with one fan laughing that he “knows his brand – jeans and a puffer vest no matter the venue.” The lavish dinner sequence itself drew mixed reviews; some loved seeing Emma and Ben rewarded, while others grumbled that “producers keep spoiling the favourites.” The slow-motion pool push scene, however, was widely praised as “cinematic gold.”

Discussions about defects also took over the comment threads, with many viewers curious about how so many issues could appear so late in the build. Seasoned fans reminded newcomers that “defect lists are normal at this stage – it’s part of the process.” Others weren’t convinced, calling the sheer volume of faults “proof they build too fast.” A few joked that House 2’s real defect was “their relationship, not the plasterwork.”

And finally, predictions were flying. Fans are certain Alicia and Sonny will take out this week’s win – not because of their design, but because “no one finishes The Block without at least one room victory.” As one viewer put it: “The minute someone cries on camera about not winning, you know what’s coming next week.” Whatever happens, it’s clear audiences are watching closely — even if some are fast-forwarding through the ads to do it.