Ep 1. Rock the Kitchens

Rock the Block is a competitive home renovation show where four of the most skilled and famous designers from previous seasons of HGTV's hit renovation television shows are pitted in a battle to remodel four homes in the same neighborhood over four weeks. In season two, Alison Victoria, winner of Windy City Rehab, has joined the competition, challenging Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt of 100 Day Dream Home,Gregg and Tiffany Pritchard of $50K Three Ways and David Bromstad of My Lottery Dream Home. These designers will be taking on the biggest challenge yet - complete kitchen makeovers.

In episode one, 'Rock the Kitchens,' the contestants are given their first challenge to remodel the outdated kitchens of their assigned homes and to impress three guest judges, including Benjamin Bradley, Eddie Jackson, and Karla Davis. Each designer must show their vision for a modern kitchen in under four days with a budget of $200,000. The competition is on, and tensions are high as the designers race against the clock to become the first champion of season two.

Alison faces her challenge head-on with a plan to remove everything from the old kitchen and start from scratch. She revels in the idea of a more open space, with a custom island to help transform the look. Mika and Brian decide to add backsplash to their kitchen but run into difficulties with the installation process. They also add new appliances to the space, including a wine fridge, and they make a bold decision that could pay off in the end. Gregg and Tiffany encounter challenges with their remodel, including the incorrect order of cabinets and not receiving all of the necessary appliances for the kitchen. This forces them to improvise and work outside of their comfort zone for the first time ever—will they be able to handle the challenge, or will they crumble under the pressure? David, on the other hand, goes all-out with a massive oven, a custom range hood, and a stunning, eye-catching backsplash.

Throughout the week, the designers realize they need to work together to succeed. Alison helps Gregg and Tiffany, and Mika and Brian assist David in stages of his kitchen. Everyone shares their vision for their kitchens and tries to help each other where possible. With keys to success lying in creativity, functionality, and exception design, the judges are tough on their critiques. One designer takes the lead in terms of impressing the judges but falls to the wayside when it comes to functionality, while another produces a beautiful kitchen, but their lack of creativity costs them valuable points.

The winner of the competition is announced at the end of the episode, and with a prize of $225,000 in upgrades for their own home, the stakes are as high as ever, leading to the question - who will be eliminated after this tense battle? Rock the Block, season two, episode one is a test of all the designer's skills with extreme time constraints and a dynamic cast, resulting in twists and turns throughout.