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Last week’s episode of The Biggest Loser left us with a big, fat cliffhanger. Patty had just been sent home by her teammates on the Blue Team and then Alison informed everyone that the Biggest Loser campus would be shutting down for a week. Puzzled expressions followed and then……”To Be Continued.” Those are three of my least favorite words, after “Dry Clean Only.” Thus far, the contestants have lost a total of 539 pounds. Because I hate cliffhangers, let’s get right to it and find out what the big deal is.
We pick the action up where we left it last week: at the elimination ceremony with Alison telling them all about the campus shut-down. Why is it shutting down? Because they’re all going to Jamaica. Everyone foolishly cheers like they’re actually going on vacation. I’m sure there won’t be anyone lounging on the beach sipping Pina Coladas. David is very excited: he’s never been to Jamaica. Ali tells them they’re going to be staying at the Grand Lido Resort and Spa where, I’m sure, they’ll become familiar with the gym and the pool and NOT the bar or the buffet. Alison breaks the news to them that this won’t be a relaxing vacation: the trainers are going with them. The Black Team is sure that Jillian will be able to come up with suitable torture for them in Jamaica. Some of the guys laugh that their plane will be very heavy. Jez jokes that, if the plane goes down, they can use each other as flotation devices.
Ya Can’t Eat Any of This, Mon
The teams arrive in Jamaica and we’re treated to beauty shots of all the things they won’t be seeing while they’re there. Alison welcomes everyone to the resort. She knows they’ve worked hard and now they deserve a break and some fun in the sun. Jillian is quick to inform us that this is not a vacation. Bob says that one of his Blue Teamers could be going home as early as next week, so they need to be able to make the right choices in the real world. How a resort in Jamaica qualifies as the real world, I don’t know. The Red Team is one member short in Jamaica: Bryan began having chest pains during a work out, so Kim sent him to the doctor. Kim says the Red Team is freaking out without him.
We then see Bryan getting lots of diagnostic tests at the hospital. The doctor says Bryan was right to be scared about his chest pains. They’ll be doing some more tests and we’re left hanging about Bryan’s diagnosis.
It’s dinner time in Jamaica and the teams all head out to eat. Everyone is clearly worried about eating out in the real world and dealing with the temptations of the giant buffet. Jillian coaches her team about what they should and shouldn’t eat. She says being in Jamaica has posed a lot of challenges. As they all sit around and eat, Nicole talks about how hard it is for her: she’s been overweight her whole life. Ali sympathizes with her because she’s had weight problems too. She says she’s never been as skinny as her co-stars. Alison tells them the hard thing is to realize the struggle with weight will never be over. Oddly, that seems to comfort Nicole.
While everyone else is eating and bonding, Jillian pulls Jez aside to give him a little talking to. He seems to think Jamaica means party and wants to throw back a few drinks. Jill’s position on the drinking is a bit different. She’ll let him drink over her dead body. Jez whines about how hard this is and she acknowledges his feelings. Still, they need to learn some restraint and discipline, she lectures.
Torture in Paradise
The next morning, all is beautiful in Jamaica. The Red Team is in the pool, where Kim is showing them that even a seaside pool can be used as a torture device. They may be on vacation, but they still need to get a good workout, Kim says. She tells them it’s best to get a workout done in the morning so it’s out of the way. Kim says they shouldn’t be thinking about being on vacation: they can do that another time. As Kim leads them all through a tough workout in the pool, they are all hoping Bryan will make it in time for the challenge.
Meanwhile, Bob is putting the Blue Team through a yoga session near the shore. It’s all very smurfy. Bob praises Neil’s progress: as they do Downward Facing Dog (I think – not a yoga expert here), Neil is able to hold up his body weight with his hands. He couldn’t do that when this show began.
On the beach, Jill leads the Black Team in a torturous workout. Since they spent much of the beginning of the season rolling around in the sand while Jillian screamed at them, this is old hat. Jill says she’s still going to beat them, but the locale while make it slightly more enjoyable …..but only very slightly. When they finish their torture session, everyone runs into the ocean à la Baywatch. It is not pretty. I know it’s not p.c. for me to say it, but I just do not need to see some of these guys with their shirts off. I don’t particularly enjoy seeing those man-boobs flopping about. I mean, I’m sure Jez is a lovely fellow, I’d just prefer it if he kept his shirt on.
Biggest Loser, Survivor-Style
You know, I really do hate the challenges on this show, if only because they are often so odd and convoluted that I have trouble describing them. This week’s challenge is no different. Alison greets everyone on the beach. They all came here to cut calories and lose weight, but they still have to take in enough calories to fuel their bodies. It’s all about balance, Ali says. This challenge is also about balance. She directs everyone’s attention to three platforms floating offshore. The teams will all begin the challenge on those platforms. One member of each team, using a rope, will pull themselves to shore while standing on an inflatable raft. We see the trainers demonstrate this feat and it looks pretty easy. After the first team member reaches shore, the empty raft will be pulled back to the platform and, one by one, the remaining members of the team will be pulled to shore on the raft. Seems simple enough, right?
Alison reveals that the reward for the winners of this challenge is an afternoon of pampering: the winners will be receiving massages while the other teams work out. There is a special reward for the Red Team: they will be getting four massages because Bryan is back. Bryan bounds across the sand to join his teammates. His doctor says the chest pains were a result of stress and not related to any heart problem. He’s been cleared to compete in the challenge. Because the Black Team has two more members than the other teams, Hollie and Isabeau will be sitting this one out. Jim (or is it Bill?) tells us that they’re strategy was to stock with strong pullers and short people.
Everyone is suddenly out on the platforms. The first players for each team are Phil, Ryan and Bill. Each of them gets on a raft and begins to try to pull themselves to shore. I said “try” because, really, they’re much more successful at getting themselves soaked. All three of them fall off their raft again and again. Finally, Bill manages to figure out a way to stay on the raft and he makes it to shore. He then begins pulling Julie in. At this point, both the Blue and Red Teams are rolling around in hysterics as Phil and Ryan continue to tumble off their rafts. Bill pulls his brother to shore, followed by Jez, whose pants are falling down. He moons the Blue and Red Teams as he stands, practically bent in half while trying to stay on the raft. The Red Team’s challenge winning streak is broken and the Black Team wins this week’s challenge. Alison says goodbye, reminding them she’ll be seeing them at the weigh-in.
Last Chance Torture Device
With the weigh-in looming, the trainers lead their teams through the last chance workouts. Jill has the Black Team in the pool. She wants to make sure they all get a good workout in before their massages. They all whine, saying they thought the pool workout would be fun. Yeah, not so much. As the Black Team heads off for their massages, the Red Team is on the beach. Kim is nervous about the weigh-in and wants to make sure they do all they can to avoid elimination. She has them in the water doing resistance training, pulling against each other. Then they carry Kim around on a surfboard like she’s Cleopatra. They also tote around a small boat for a while.
As they get their massages, the Black Team can hear Bob yelling at the Blue Team. He tells us that the best thing about this last chance workout is that it won’t end. He plans to keep them moving right up until the moment they get on the plane. Bob has his team run in the ocean and then gets them into kayaks for some upper body work. He’s determined to keep the Blue Team out of the elimination room this week.
Later, Bob meets with Neil and Ryan for the gratuitous product placement portion of the show, This week’s sponsor is Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs. Bob lectures that they should not rely on the food that the airline provides. Really though, how much weight can you gain on the nine pretzels they give you?
In no time, everyone is on the plane heading back to the Biggest Loser Campus. They all worry about what will happen at the weigh-in…..while eating 100 Calorie Packs. The Black Team is hoping to win the weigh-in again so they can prove again that they should have been chosen for the teams in the first place. Man, talk about holding a grudge. That was weeks ago, people. Let it go.
The Mighty, Falling
Back at the Biggest Loser Campus, it’s time for the weigh-in. Jez comments that it was nice to get away for a while, although it was hard not having control of his diet and surroundings. Alison asks everyone if they found the trip challenging and the first “yes” comes from Jillian. She is clearly still upset over the way her team was playing. It’s obviously a slam at Jez and the alcohol conversation they had. Bob says he told his team that they shouldn’t even think about having one drink. In the real world, one drink might be okay, but on this show, every drink and every minute count. Kim says she didn’t care if her team drank but that, if one sip of alcohol was going to put a damper on things, it’s not worth it. She says she told her team they could drink if they wanted, but that she would be getting them up at the crack of dawn to work it off.
Black Team
Isabeau: 264 (8 lbs / 34 lbs total)
Bill: 279 (6 lbs / 55 lbs total)
Jez: 302 (6 lbs / 43 lbs total)
Julie: 199 (4 lbs / 19 lbs total)
Jim: 307 (14 lbs / 61 lbs total)
Hollie: 228 (8 lbs / 27 lbs total)
Black Team totals: total pounds lost: 39 / total percentage of weight lost 2.41%
Jillian says she knows she did everything she could do this week.
Red Team
Ali informs the Red Team that they must lose more than 31 pounds in order to avoid elimination.
David: 328 (9 lbs / 40 lbs total)
Bryan: 308 (11 lbs / 38 lbs total)
Amy: 268 (10 lbs / 29 lbs total)
Phil: 346 (12 lbs / 57 lbs total)
Red Team totals: total pounds lost: 42 / total percentage of weight lost 3.25%
Jillian just looks disgruntled.
Blue Team
Ali tells the Blue Team that they must lose more than 28 pounds to avoid elimination.
Bryan: 331 (10 lbs / 43 lbs total)
Nicole: 252 (6 lbs / 27 lbs total)
Kae: 184 (7 lbs / 41 lbs total)
Neil: 365 (10 lbs / 56 lbs total)
Blue Team totals: total pounds lost: 33 / total percentage of weight lost: 2.83%
The Red Team wins the weigh-in and the Blue Team is safe this week as well. The Black Team will be going to elimination. Because Hollie lost the greatest percentage of weight on the Black Team, she is safe from elimination. Jillian says these are the moments she hates about this job. Julie is shocked by an actual display of emotion from Fembot Jillian.
Scheming and Weaving Webs
The next morning, the Black Team hits the gym. Isabeau says this is tough for them – no one can decide who to vote for at the elimination ceremony. Hollie thinks that she and Isabeau have bonded and that either of them could win the whole thing. Isabeau and Julie talk and Isabeau attempts to persuade Julie that they should vote together. Julie tells us she doesn’t trust anyone on her team. Julie also says she believes Isabeau is the biggest female threat. Hollie believes that the twins are the biggest threats on the team. Really though, no one is sure who they’re going to vote for. Jim and Bill know they will vote together, but that’s about all that is certain. Julie goes to Jez in an attempt to persuade him to vote with the girls. Julie doesn’t want things to go to a tie, which would mean the Red Team (as winners of the weigh-in) would decide which one of them would go home.
Various members of the Black Team tell us why they need to stay on the show. Isabeau says she’s the biggest female contestant in the history of the show. Bill is not close enough to his goal weight and needs to stay. Jez doesn’t know what will happen with his weight loss if he goes home now. Jim wants to stay, not for the money, but for his health. Julie is concerned that people look at her and think that she’ll be fine if she goes home since she’s has the least amount of weight to lose. She needs to stay because she doesn’t know if she can do it at home.
Power Twins Separate!
As the Black Team files into the elimination room, everyone pretty much looks like they want to be anywhere but there. Alison wishes the twins a happy birthday – their birthday is tomorrow. They tell her they’ve always celebrated the day together. The Black Team, Ali says, has been a team of underdogs since day one. However, since they began training with Jillian, they’ve lost a total of 232 pounds. Ali reminds them that Hollie is safe from elimination this week, but everyone else is vulnerable.
Bill is the first to reveal his vote. He starts out by saying he is so proud of the whole team and that bottom line is they all did their best. He votes for a person whom he feels doesn’t have as good a reason to stay as the rest of them: Isabeau.
Isabeau claims that this is the hardest day she’s had since the first day on the show. She didn’t want to send anyone home and possibly be setting them up for failure. She knows this person won’t fail. She votes for Jim.
Jim says this team has become like a family, He is voting for a person he feels is overconfident at times in this process and, by doing so, has made him uncomfortable. He feels that this person’s elimination will make the team stronger. He votes for Isabeau.
Hollie is looking at things as a game. She is voting for the person she sees as a threat and as someone who could become the Biggest Loser. She was thinking of strategy when deciding to vote for Jim.
Julie claims her decision was about her and not anyone else. She feels that, as long as this person is still in the game, the threat is too great and she won’t be able to stay as long as she needs to. She votes for Jim.
Jez says knew this day would come. Yes, because eventually, you do actually have to eliminate people, Jez. That’s how the show works. Jez says he is voting for a person who has been an integral person on the team. He prays he made the right decision. His vote for Jim had everything to do with strategy.
With that, Jim is eliminated. Alison comments that Jim seems shocked. He clearly is. Jim says he’s disappointed to be leaving, but hopes to shock them all when he returns for the finale. Jim says goodbye to his brother and the rest of his team and then he is gone.
In a follow-up, we learn that Jim has lost an additional 69 pounds since leaving the Biggest Loser Campus, bringing his total weight loss to 123 pounds. He says that he spends more time with his family now because he has more energy. The most important thing he brought home is the knowledge he gained about living a healthy lifestyle.
Next week: One trainer goes too far and it’s not Jillian…looks like maybe Barbie Kim goes a little agro on the Red Team.
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Originally Posted by Critical;2606402; 
It's my first attempt at using paint, so it's rather crudely done, but it's the best I could do. 
