By David McAlpine

Last time on The Biggest Loser: Couples, Tara continued her domination of the competition. She won yet another competition, securing her spot above the yellow line, while Aubrey and Filipe fell below it. Aubrey made an unsuccessful last ditch attempt to save herself, as she was sent home from the ranch.

After the elimination ceremony, Filipe finds out from Sione that Ron and Mike were fighting for Aubrey to stay, which bothers Filipe. According to the brothers, they and Mike and Ron made an alliance at the beginning of the game, but now it's over. Maybe we'll finally see some interesting moves be made, rather than everyone whine about who deserves to stay and who deserves to go.

Before their first challenge, the contestants realize Allison is missing because she's having her baby. Instead, they find Ali Vincent, the first female Biggest Loser (season 5), who tells them their next drama-filled twist: three previously eliminated contestants will be returning for a second chance at the title of "Biggest Loser." The three contestants, Nicole, Estella and David were all eliminated because they were sent home the first week and their partners failed to stay in the game. The one of the three who had lost the most percentage of weight at home would re-enter the game and get immunity for the first week.

Nicole, David and Estella all enter and everyone is shocked with how much weight they lost (as am I--they all truly look amazing). The surprise weigh-in results are as follows:

Nicole: 269 pounds - 87 pounds = 182 pounds (-32.34%)
Estella: 242 pounds - 45 pounds = 197 pounds (-18.60%)
David: 393 pounds - 46 pounds = 347 pounds (-11.70%)

Nicole obliterates her competition and wins a spot back in the game, while everyone is shocked at how much weight she managed to lose at home. Ali mentions that Nicole is currently in second place overall, setting off alarm bells in everyone's heads.

As soon as Nicole sets foot in the house, everyone starts to corner her and tells her how much she needs to focus and how pressure can get to her in the house. Instead of sounding like good advice, most come off as slightly obsessive with this mysterious "consuming" element of the game, which has Nicole worried.

Nicole joins Bob's team the next morning to a warm welcome. Tara, on the other hand, is very worried about Nicole's weight loss at home and voices her concerns to Jillian. Jillian tries to calm her down and stop her from becoming manic. Bob's team isn't without their share of drama, however, as Kristin and Sione complain to bob about Ron's "betrayal" of Filipe. I'm sorry, since when did this not become a game?

Worried about Nicole, Jillian talks to Laura and Helen in private to discuss how she'll affect the game. Or not! Laura feeds Jillian a well-placed line about skipping breakfast and Jillian gives us all a brilliant tip about Multigrain Cheerios, even managing to hold the box straight at the camera. Happy April Fools, NBC, that was a good one!

On his way to the gym, Ron starts experiencing chest pains, which he brings to the attention of Bob and the show's medics. Ron is sent to the hospital, where they discover he's bleeding in an unknown place. After surgery, the doctors determine Ron has a reoccurring ulcer from his gastric bypass surgery that requires medication to keep from bleeding.

At the challenge, the contestants are greeted by Michelle Aguilar, winner of The Biggest Loser: Families (season 6). Each contestant will stand on a platform atop 40 ropes suspended over a pool, with only a rope to hang on to with one hand. The ropes will start to fall away one by one until only one contestant remains standing. The winner gains a one pound advantage at the next weigh-in or, in Nicole's case, a one pound handicap to give anyone.

All the players last a lot longer than I thought they would, as the ropes start to fall at a faster pace. Mike takes the plunge, followed by Filipe and Laura. Tara falls next, then Helen quickly thereafter. With only 16 ropes left attached, Nicole, Sione and Kristin are in a standoff until Nicole falls, leaving it up to Sione and Kristin, who had trained together with Bob shortly before the challenge. After an hour of standing, Kristin falls and Sione wins the advantage.

As if NBC weren't overloading this episode with different things, Bob gets to make his own product plug, this time for Ziploc containers (a great thing to put 100 calorie snacks in!).

Bob takes his trainees to the beach for an intense, sweaty last chance workout while Jillian uses Nicole and Sione to scare her contestants into pushing themselves harder. Mike and Ron are concerned about Ron's performance this week, since he has been sidelined due to his surgery and the hospital gave him fluids.

At the scales, Allison returns to her hosting gig (quick turnaround for maternity leave...really, NBC?), making one small amendment to Nicole's immunity: she can only get immunity if she doesn't gain weight. The results of the weigh in are as follows:

Mike: -11 (-4.17%)
Helen: -6 (-3.39%)
Tara: -6 (-3.08%)
Sione: -6 [and an added -1 advantage] (-2.63%)
Kristin: -4 (-1.57%)
Filipe: -4 (-1.52%)
Laura: +1 (+0.47%)
Ron: +3 (+0.95%)
Nicole: +5 (+2.74%)

Nicole (and everyone else, including me) is shocked that she gained five pounds. Per usual, the explanation is stress, and since she let it get to her, her body gained weight. With Nicole's loss of immunity, the devious grins start to spread across everyone's faces, plotting on what to do in the elimination room.

Knowing she needs to play the game, Nicole reminds everyone they told her her return inspired them and that they welcomed the competition. Ron just asked to be saved if they thought he should, but Mike amplifies that message tenfold, claiming his dad can't do it at home. Honestly, the day I stop hearing that excuse, I will be a fully satisfied viewer.

Mike (obviously) votes for Nicole, while Filipe votes for Ron to give Nicole a chance. Mike and Ron scoff and call Filipe a liar, but Filipe disagrees. Laura votes for Nicole because Ron "needs to be at the ranch more" (insert vomit here), and Sione votes for Ron, saying he doesn't want anyone becoming depending on the ranch (finally, someone speaks up!). Tara votes for Nicole for strategic reasons (at least she's being honest) and Helen votes for Ron. It all comes down to Kristin, who votes for Nicole because Ron needs The Biggest Loser more.

So, the producers' attempt to stir the pot fails as Nicole, the returnee, is sent home after spending barely a week back on The Biggest Loser campus. Back in New York, she's gone from a size 24 to a size 12 and aims to be in a size 8 wedding dress by the finale. In total, Nicole has lost 105 pounds since starting The Biggest Loser.

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

(Image courtesy of NBC)

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