Last episode of the eighth season of “Sommerhaus der Stars” (Tuesday, 8:15 p.m. on RTL and on RTL): After Aleks Petrovic (32) and Vanessa Nwattu (23) move out – both still damaged by his unsuccessful love letter in the last episode – there are only four couples left in the race. But only two are allowed into the final. All interpersonal battles have been fought, now it’s primarily about games, games, games.

In the first battle, the first couple is eliminated. First, two couples compete against each other. The winners of the direct duels are in the semi-finals, the losers fight for third place. The challenge: Blocks have to be stacked on a swing that is kept balanced by the celebrities using a pulley. It sounds complicated, and it is.

Serkan Yavuz (30) and Samira Klampfl (29) engage in an exciting, tactical duel at eye level with Maurice Dziwak (25) and Ricarda Raatz (31). Serkan and Samira are in the lead and just want to save their stack of blocks over time. But then Maurice and Ricarda catch up, Serkan and Samira have to react. But they break the bar. Ricarda and Maurice are the first in the semi-finals.

Similar picture in the second duel. Hanna Sökeland (29) and Jessica Huber are ahead for a long time against Justine Dippl (35) and Arben Zekic (28). You could start the hourglass after seven stacked blocks, but Hanna can’t get to it. Your tower falls. Justine and Arben push each other over time with shouts of “I love you.”

So probably the biggest underdog couple of the season is in the semifinals. Back in the house, Joey Heindle’s ex-wife (30) and her bus driver can hardly believe it: “We two Ottos are sitting there.”

The losers of the duels fight in the same arena for the last ticket to the next round. Samira and Serkan prevail. Hanna and Jessica have to go. The first women’s couple in “Sommerhaus” history missed their minimum goal of winning at least one game.

Before the semi-finals the pressure increases again. Maurice in particular burdens himself with his entitlement as a self-proclaimed lion. The proud worker’s son from the Ruhr region primarily wants to win for his parents. He bursts into tears during the interview because of the pressure he has built up.

In the semi-finals, the three couples are put into grotesque fat suits. They have to soak them in basins of water and then squeeze them out on a table designed like a sieve. The two duos who are the first to fill a water trough are in the final.

Serkan and Samira are once again doing the best, moving into the final with a big lead. Things remain tight between the other couples. Justine and Arben finished a second earlier.

Losing so narrowly is devastating to Maurice. “One second, I’m fucking my life” and similar things he complains to himself while packing. The narrow defeat in the final was probably the nail in the coffin for his and Ricarda’s relationship. Even if Maurice blames himself this time. He even apologizes to Ricarda for his behavior as he moves out. But as we now know, their partnership did not survive the summer house.

So the final is: Serkan/Samira against Justine/Arben. The role of favorite is clearly distributed here. As in previous seasons, this time the couples have to assemble their faces from puzzle pieces. They first have to fumble the pieces out of a cage and then transport them through a rope maze. The outsiders Arben and Justine hold their own for a long time, it’s a fight on equal terms. But then Arben gets caught in the ropes and loses valuable seconds. Serkan and Samira lift the suitcase with 50,000 euros into the air.

Even if you, as a neutral observer, would have preferred the underdogs Arben/Justine. Serkan and Samira are the logical winners. In addition to athleticism and cleverness, both bring enthusiasm for the cause and healthy ambition.

The big reunion show with all participants will follow on Wednesday (November 15th, 8:15 p.m. on RTL), as Frauke Ludowig (59) promises after the finale.