by David McAlpine

Last night on The Biggest Loser, it was the first live episode that wasn't a season finale! Of course, the way it was billed was that it was all live, but you can't fill two hours with Bob Harper revealing contestants, right? So instead, we flashed back to the filmed week and what happened.

And what a week it was--a cold, cold-hearted week. Ever since this show started, it's been all about the support and the losing weight. But this season, it's so competition heavy, you can feel the tension in the room every time it's a weigh-in. That leaves room for the alliances (Brendan, Frado, Patrick) to trounce all over the other people looking for a genuine support system.

It didn't help that Ali dropped several bombs on the contestants this week, either. One, the teams were no more. Two, the winner of the upcoming challenge would put everyone in pairs. Three, two people would be going home this week. Think the stakes were high before this week?

Even worse, it's a temptation challenge involving gorging themselves on food. Brendan takes the cake (literally) by eating 3,500 calories and makes the teams: Aaron & Jesse, Lisa & Elizabeth, Frado & Mark, Brendan & Patrick, and Ada & Jessica.

Not only was it obvious that he made himself a powerhouse with Patrick, but he left Lisa and Elizabeth out to dry, since they've shown they're no competition. The trainers weren't happy, either, with Brendan's picks, knowing that he put the women in an awful position. Lisa continued to waffle on whether she actually wanted to be here, and Jillian pounded on everyone for playing a game, not wanting to become healthier.

This week's second challenge was building a tower out of sugar cubes. The first team to reach five feet tall (almost as tall as some people on the show) would win a 2-week vacation for themselves and three other people on the Biggest Loser Fitness Ridge resort.

All the teams struggled with making a sturdy tower, but eventually Ada and Jessice figured out a strategy and quickly broke the 5-foot mark, giving them the win. But the workouts only intensified from there. Jillian and Bob continued to give the women hope and confidence, while Frado, Brendan and Patrick struggled to keep their hold on the house. At the weigh-in, it was the moment of truth:

Patrick: -19
Brendan: -18
Total: -37 (-5.89%)

Mark: -12
Frado: -18
Total: -30 (-4.82%)

Jessica: -12
Ada: -6
Total: -18 (-4.05%)

Lisa: -8
Elizabeth: -8
Total: -16 (-3.52%)

Jesse: -16
Aaron: -4
Total: -20 (-2.94%)

So it was Lisa/Elizabeth vs. Jesse/Aaron. One would think that the logical decision would be to send Lisa home, who clearly doesn't want to be at the ranch, while Jesse and Aaron have been working so hard to stay. But you could see the hunger in the trio alliance's eyes when they saw the opportunity to get rid of 2 guys over the 2 weakest girls here.

Mark and Frado voted for Jesse/Aaron, while the girls voted for Lisa/Elizabeth. Patrick and Brendan break the tie sending the pair of guys home, which left a bad taste in Jesse's mouth.

Back home, both Aaron and Jesse say they're learning how to be more independent and taking back control of their lives. Then, it was time for the live reveal (as awkward as it was). Bob steps into Aaron's house, who looks completely different and (dare I say it) several years younger. Jesse comes into the picture who looks great, too, and they share a mini-reunion.

The Biggest Loser airs Tuesdays and 8/7c on NBC.

(Photo courtesy of NBC)

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