By David McAlpine

Last week on The Biggest Loser: Couples 2, the producers attempted to spread drama on campus by bringing back Nicole, who had lost almost as much weight as Tara, the current leader, and giving her immunity. Nicole gained weight, lost her immunity and was sent home in a split vote, drawing lines between Ron and Filipe.

Back at the house, Mike and Ron voice their thoughts about Helen, Filipe and Sione, saying they felt betrayed. Ron keeps mouthing off, while Sione makes it clear that the game is on and he's playing for himself, as should everyone else. Ron starts to fight more about what Filipe said to Ron and whether or not Filipe lied to him, but Filipe refuses to fight back, focusing on this week's weight loss, instead.

Finally, people start to realize how manipulative (and annoying) Ron is, but not before Ron and Mike start to strategize about Ron playing the "father figure" on the ranch. Honestly, if people start to believe Ron's charade from now on, they really deserve to go home. Seriously.

For their first challenge, the Biggest Loser contestants walk into their gym filled with 100 covered silver platters. Alison explains that under some of the platters are cash prizes with sugar free gum, while most of them have caloric treats. Under one platter, however, was a golden ticket, which would enable the winner to have the single vote at elimination--a prize everyone wants. Each contestant much select a platter and see what is underneath it, then completely finish it before they can select another platter. Each contestant can eat as much or as little as they wanted, which made it a temptation challenge.

Everyone hesitated to start, but soon platters were flying and pretzels, chips, cupcakes and donuts were being scarfed down. On his first two trays, Ron finds gum and $1,500. Laura finds $5,000 after several trays (and quite a few calories), but that doesn't slow down anyone. SIone starts to feel sick, Kristin stops eating because she doesn't want to fall below the yellow line and Filipe finds another $500. With the number of trays dwindling, Laura reigns supreme, finding the golden ticket and giving her the sole elimination vote this week as long as she stays above the yellow line.

Kristin starts getting worried that the power is going to get to Laura's head and Laura and Tara start scheming about how to best use the power. Laura asks Tara to fall below the yellow line this week so Laura only has to beat one person in terms of weight loss, securing her prize of the sole elimination vote. Tara is hesitant, but also open to the idea.

The contestants are stuck with clean-up duty when Bob and Jillian walk in, all judgmental, asking the contestants how much they ate. Surprise, surprise, we get the usual "shame on you" talks from Bob and Jillian (which, I mean, were well deserved, especially with Tara eating 4,600 calories). Then, together, they decide to give everyone a tough work out, after which the contestants can notice the difference between eating healthy and eating junk food.

Now our favorite Biggest Loser moment: product placement! This time, the selected brand is Subway. Colleen and Jerry (Season 6) show the contestants the healthiest Subway sandwiches, giving them alternatives to eating bad food when they eat out. Looks like they can eat healthy and "eat fresh," too!

For the challenge, the contestants meet Alison at the Rose Bowl stadium, one of the largest college football stadiums in the nation. Each person has to race up and down the rows of steps in the stadium to reach a colored flag, then bring it back to the 50-yard line. In total, each person will have to walk 2,156 steps to complete the course. The male and female with the fastest time will then race against each other with the winner getting a two-week vacation to the Fitness Ranch Resort and Spa, an upgraded version of the Biggest Loser campus in Utah.

Sione and Tara start to blow through the course, leaving everyone in the dust. Mike starts to catch up to Sione, but then falls behind as Tara and Sione finish the course neck and neck. Tara and Sione run the course again, matching each other step for step. Sione starts to run out of energy and Tara bursts ahead, winning yet another challenge.

Sensing the drama, Bob takes his team outside to discuss strategy. Kristin refuses to vote for Ron even though she acknowledges he's controlling the game. So that's smart because...? Filipe and Sione pressure her about voting Ron, but she refuses to give in and leaves the conversation...ouch.

Meanwhile, Helen tells Laura that she can't let Tara fall below the yellow line, because she know it will backfire. Helen wants both Laura and Tara to stay, but doesn't know if she'll be able to keep Tara safe if she is in danger of going home, which scares Laura.

The strategy talk continues on Bob's side, with Ron placing the blame on Helen for his 3 votes last week. Bob is confident that Tara will take the chance to slack off and fall below the yellow line, which scares everyone. Jillian catches wind of Tara's plan and warns her not to do it, since she's only sabotaging her own goals.

Product placement number two...Marley & Me, the movie! It looks like The Biggest Loser is really trying to stretch its ad sales, since Bob stretches it to talk about healthy snacks at the movie theater. Plus, he fails at making the movie sound exciting.

Bob and Jillian really crank up the heat during the last minute workouts for both teams. Laura is desperate to stay above the yellow line and keep her power, while Sione and Filipe want to be safe because they know they've made enemies.

Before Laura weighs in, the results are:

Ron: -8 (-2.84%)
Filipe: -7 (-2.70%)
Kristin: -6 (-2.39%)
Mike: -5 (-1.98%)
Tara: -3 (-1.59%)
Sione: -4 (-1.54%)
Helen: -2 (-1.17%)

Jillian is angry that Tara only lost three pounds, but Tara claims it wasn't on purpose. Laura steps on the scale and loses a whopping 8 pounds (-3.76%), making her this week's Biggest Loser and securing her power. She speaks to Sione and Helen individually, asking them to plead their case. Sione asks her to vote with who she wants to be on the ranch with her, but throws in that he'll help her stay. Helen says she considers Tara and Laura her daughters and she wants to see them all finish. Laura confronts Helen about being a threat, since she is the lightest person on the Biggest Loser campus. Sione tells Filipe he has to win if Sione goes home tonight.

Laura, Sione and Helen join Alison in the elimination room, where Laura notes that her power was more of a burden than a wish. She respects both the contestants, but she has to make a decision that will benefit her. Laura ultimately sends Sione home, leaving seven left on the Biggest Loser ranch.

At home, Sione makes a goal to be the next Tongan Brad Pitt. As of today, Sione is down to 235 pounds from 256 when he left the show. He has begun his training to be a certified trainer and shows how much he's promoted health and wellness within his family.

The Biggest Loser: Couples 2 airs Tuesdays on NBC at 8/7c.

(Image courtesy of NBC)

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