by David McAlpine

 

Last time on The Biggest Loser, the contestants headed to the nation’s capital, not only to work on themselves, but to work on America. After a giant workout in front of the Washington Monument and a whirlwhind tour of every tourist spot in the city, it was finally (and sadly) Tracey’s turn to go home.

 

But, there’s always a twist on The Biggest Loser, and this week is definitely no exception. Not only are two people are going home this week, but there will be a yellow line and a red line. The person with the least percentage of weight lost this week will fall below the red line and will go home immediately—no voting, no making inspiring speeches to get saved. The next two lowest fall under the yellow line and will be at risk for elimination.

 

The first pop challenge begins with a board and 50 tennis balls for each contestant. Each player has to jump up, grab a tennis ball, then put that ball into their own container. First one with all the balls in gets a 1-pound advantage at the weigh-in. Simple enough, right?

 

Liz and Amanda are sidelined because of medical reasons, and it quickly becomes a race between Rebecca, the quasi-leader of the Orange/Pink alliance, and Allen. Finally, Allen is able to pull out a win and gets the advantage for later in the week.

 

In a rare Jillian and Bob moment, they voice their sadness that Tracey is gone, then they start talking about how concerned they are for Shay. They know she’s the biggest at the ranch and she’s obviously a threat to everyone else, so this double elimination could be the thing that sends her home. Bob says he feels uncomfortable playing God, but Jillian doesn’t seem to care, she wants to give Shay the best chance at succeeding.

 

The contestants break from the game play for an intense workout—no one is taking any chances with that red line looming. Danny starts to struggle and Shay starts to break down, both getting yelled at by Jillian.

 

Rudy, Allen and Liz get together and realize that they may have to start playing the game to survive. Liz seems to have a renewed sense of confidence, because she keeps talking about how vulnerable she doesn’t feel anymore. Is that code for an anti-Pink/Orange alliance?

 

Then contestants sit down with each other and share stories. Rebecca tells Amanda how she struggles to get out of bed sometimes, and Danny reminisces with Bob over pictures that show a much younger, thinner Danny. Jillian reassures Rebecca and Shay that the benefits of the ranch can be replicated at home, which raises a red flag in my head. Again: anti-Pink/Orange alliance?

 

For this week’s immunity challenge, the contestants are going to have the jump through hoops…literally. In a circus-themed event, each contestant has one hoop. Everyone can jump through anyone’s hoop they want, but once someone’s hoop has been jumped through 100 times, they’re out. The last person standing wins immunity.

 

Liz is out first, followed by Amanda and Daniel. Shortly after them, Allen and Rebecca are out, leaving Rudy, Shay and Danny. Danny and Rudy team up on Shay’s hoop, which leaves her with a really bad taste in her mouth. Shay keeps attacking Danny’s hoop, which makes it easy for Rudy to win once Shay is out. Shay gets pissed because she thought she had an alliance with Rudy (as if she doesn’t have one with everyone else).

 

The Pink/Orange alliance gets even more devious when they reveal to us that they snuck equipment from the gym into Shay’s room so they can work out at night without anyone else knowing. Honestly, I think that’s a little too far. This game is supposed to be about encouraging people to better themselves both inside and out—I think the game play has reached an uncomfortable height.

 

After a trapeze lesson and an intense last chance workout, it’s time for the weigh-in. The results are as follows:

 

Rudy: -8 (-2.14%)

Liz: -12 (-5.5%)

Danny: -17 (-5.11%) – hit the “100 pounds lost” mark

Rebecca: -10 (-4.57%)

Allen: -10 (-1) = -11 (-4.35%)

Shay: -17 (-4.33%) – hit the “100 pounds lost” mark

Amanda: -5 (-2.42%)

Daniel: -5 (-1.92%)

 

It’s a happy night and a sad night. Both Danny and Shay hit a total of 100 pounds or more lost, Shay getting the record for fastest time a woman has done that. Because of the twist, Daniel is automatically eliminated.

 

Now it’s down to Shay vs. Amanda, both on the same side of the Orange/Pink vs. everyone else battle. Shay gives a tearful plea to the rest of the contestants, and it seems to hit home for some. She’s trying to use her “I’m the biggest person here” card, but I’m not really sure that’s going to work because of how little a threat Amanda is.

 

Rebecca votes for Shay (shocker—she can control Amanda) and Allen votes for Shay, too, saying that she knows what she needs to do (therefore she can do it at home). Danny seems to feel sympathetic for how big Shay is, so he votes for Amanda because he thinks Shay has a longer road. Liz flat out says she’s playing the game this week and votes Amanda, too. In all comes down to Rudy, who votes for Shay, sending her home from the ranch.

 

Daniel returns home to lots of love and cheers, as well as a familiar face: David, his partner for last season. Sadly, David looks even bigger than when he started the show and he even says his health isn’t a priority now. Daniel is down to 239 pounds and plans to have lost the most weight ever by a Biggest Loser contestant by the finale.

 

Shay’s house is also happy to welcome her home, and she’s also determined to lose the most weight. The highest total weight loss is 212 pounds, so Shay vows to have lost 213 by the finale. However, Shay’s story is left kind of incomplete—there’s no transformation photo. Could there be a big shocker coming at the finale?

 

Tune in next week to The Biggest Loser to see who’s the next to fall under the yellow line—only at 8/7c, Tuesdays on NBC.

 

(Photo courtesy of NBC)

 

Follow David on Twitter: @DavidMcAlpine

 

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