by David McAlpine

Last week on The Biggest Loser, it was the last week for the final four contestants on the ranch. After months on campus, they were sent home to work by themselves for 30 days, during which time they faced temptation, had some emotional discoveries and ran the now-traditional Biggest Loser marathon. One month later, they weighed in and Daris and Koli fell below the yellow line, putting them up to America's vote for the third spot in the finale.

After several long months, tonight we finally find who exactly is The Biggest Loser. Though this season hasn't been short on drama, it hasn't been as high-emotion as seasons past. But that's a good thing! Finally, NBC didn't try to milk every tear they could out of us by exploiting these people's situations. Another change: the normally three-hour-long finale was shortened to two--something I am not complaining about. Anyway, back to the episode:

Ali warmly welcomes us (as always) and tells us we'll be seeing the "transformations of a lifetime." I think that's already a given seeing how far some of the remaining contestants have come, but I'll still take her word for it. After a montage of the season, it's time to reveal America's Vote, which is always a little awkward, because it essentially spoils two reveals that should be saved for the end. Granted, these reveals sometimes aren't as spectacular as people who left at the beginning (like Jerry from Season 7--that one was a jawdropper), but still, I like to have a little suspense in my finales, you know?

Daris and Koli come out on stage both looking fantastic and, when you compare them with their "former selves," they really are unrecognizable. Daris says he has a new girlfriend named Heather (who is hot, hot, hot!) and Koli says he's not cocky, just…very excited. Hm. Let's just say it was no surprise that Daris got America's vote, putting him in the final three.

Before we got to anyone else, some former winners came back to check in with the show: Danny (Season 8), Bill (Season 4), and Erik (Season 3), who had gained back over 100 pounds and came back earlier in the season to serve as a warning to contestants. Now, however, he looks fantastic again! And, honestly, happier than I saw him back on the Season 3 finale.

But wait, there's even more business to take care of. Michael may have been the heaviest person on campus this season, but he wasn't quite as big as Shay (Season 8), who failed to make it to the end of her season. But, Subway offered her at last season's finale that, for every pound she lost between that finale and this finale, they'd give her $1,000. She steps up on the scale and is down from 304 to 252--that's 52 pounds!

But the check didn't say $52,000 when Jared (yes, the Subway guy) brought it out. Instead, he offers to double it for her next season when she runs a marathon with him. Ok, remember what I said about exploitation earlier? Yeah, you can scratch that.

Finally, we start getting to the good stuff. Bob and Jillian roll out and share some of their favorite moments from the season. Bob loved seeing O'Neal climb the stairs and conquer a goal. You know, warm, fuzzy things. Meanwhile, Jillian loved seeing people confront their fears head on…AKA scaring them into oblivion before they can get over that hurdle. A slightly more dark, twisted path. But I still love them both all the same.

And then (drum roll, please…) it was finally time for the weigh-in. Some of these went so fast, contestants didn't get a chance to say anything, but a couple got some words in. Melissa (of course) said she yells at someone when she loves them. O….k? Again, I'll just have to take her at her word for that one. Also, Stephanie and Sam gush over each other and Stephanie talks about who friend who wanted her to do well so bad that, when her friend broke her arm, she wore a purple cast. Awww! The total amounts of weight lost were as follows (from lowest to highest, this time…for some suspense):

Migdalia: -52 (-19.62%)
James: -128 (-26.39%)
Andrea: -84 (-28.19%)
Patti: -73 (-30.04%)
John: -149 (-30.79%)
Cherita: -91 (-32.85%)
Cheryl: -76 (-33.48%)
Lance: -128 (-35.07%)
Stephanie: -99 (-37.50%)
Miggy: -91 (-37.92%)
Victoria: -136 (-37.99%)
Sam: -142 (-38.17%)
Melissa: -90 (-38.63%)
Maria: -114 (-40.57%)
O'Neal: -159 (-40.87%)
Sunshine: -114 (-41.45%)
Sherry: -99 (-45.41%)
Darrell: -189 (-45.76%)
Koli: -215 (-53.35%)

As if it wasn't obvious when Koli walked out on stage earlier, he was clearly the at-home Biggest Loser and walks away $100,000 dollars richer. As for the best transformation? I'm going to have to go with Sherry or Melissa, both of whom actually look unrecognizable from the beginning.

Then it was time for the final three reveal (and my suspense is back!). Daris looks good, but Ashley looks great!! I can't say I'm not rooting for her, but I'm trying to stay partial. But I also love Mike who…woah. WOAH. Are you serious? Mike is looking amazing, kind of a mix between bigger and built…but wow. Now that I've put my eyes back in my head, here are the final results (again, in reverse order):

Daris: -168 (-48.55%)
Ashley: -183 (-48.93%)
Mike: -264 (-50.19%)

Confetti! Lights! Hugs! This season of the Biggest Loser has finally finished and the gentle giant (and underdog from the very beginning of the season) Mike took home the grand prize. Wasn't it obvious when he came out? I call it a…winners aura. That wraps it up (you know, trying to be healthy and all…ok, bad joke)--until next season, Biggest Loser fans!

(Photo courtesy of NBC)

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