'The Biggest Loser' Season 10, Episode 9 Recap

['The Biggest Loser' - '1 of 8 Eliminated']

It's getting down to the wire for these contestants, so this is usually when gameplay escalates. In a season where it has been a dominant force almost since day one, I fully expected it to become nearly intolerable. Instead, I was surprised by one of the most genuine and moving displays of simple friendship we've ever seen on the show.

Don't get me wrong, it was definitely game on. With Alison announcing that it was every man and woman for themselves from here on out, it was time to get serious. And if these women want to prove they can hang with the big boys and aren't just placeholders for Frado, Brendan and Patrick, they're going to need to really step it up.

Throughout this season, only Ada has performed at, or above, the levels of the men. We've never seen a gender divide so strong as we have this season, though part of that has to do with the way the aforementioned Power Trio has been manipulating the eliminations. It may be more that the weaker female contestants are being kept around than it is that the women can't compete in general. Placeholders.

The challenge this week had an inbuilt disparity that ultimately backfired on Lisa. When the balancing challenge got down to Lisa, Ada and Mark, Lisa kept targeting Mark. As part of his strategy to win, he kept challenging her right back, figuring rightfully that by keeping Ada out of the game for several rounds, she would be off her game. When Lisa finally took a tumble into the pool, the time they had to balance had jumped from five seconds to 25 seconds. Ada didn't make it.

Ada had another blow this week as the contestants were rewarded with videos from home. Throughout the season we've heard stories that Ada comes from a very harsh family that has seemingly been cruel and emotionally abusive to her. She's been blamed for the deaths of her brothers, and told she's not good enough and that they wished she had been the one to die. Then to pile on the misery, Ada was the only one to not get a video.

She opted out of bringing down the mood in the viewing room by not being there, but her absence allowed the other seven contestants to put together a very touching video for her. They took on the role of her surrogate "family" and took turns talking about how much they valued her and were proud of her. It was the kind of boost Ada needed, and was one of the most genuine and moving moments in 'Biggest Loser' history.

For a single moment the intense strategy and gameplay of the season didn't matter. They saw a fragile and damaged girl getting yet another slap in the face from a family that's done nothing but hurt her emotionally, and they banded together to reach out to her. Did Ada need it? Probably not, as she's proven she can channel anything into being amazing in the gym and on the scales. Did she appreciate it? Absolutely, and it will help her be stronger when she goes home. Family isn't always made up of those tied to you by blood. It's those tied by love that matter the most.

On the scales, several milestones were achieved, but unfortunately the women yet again failed to impress. Except, of course, for Ada. She took the emotional turmoil of her week and translated it into a loss of eight pounds, which was the biggest percentage of weight loss in the house for the week. Frado hit 100 pounds lost exactly, joining Mark at this milestone, while Patrick was tantalizingly close at 99 pounds.

Lisa even found a sudden drive and desire to stay on the campus and for the first time she was above the yellow line all by herself. That left Elizabeth, who's always below the yellow line, and Jessica, who faltered terribly with only a single pound lost. Elizabeth seemed to have a great and aggressive week in the gym, but at only four pounds lost she continues to struggle on the scale. It's a mystery as to why some people's bodies simply refuse to let go of that weight while others seem ready to throw it away.

We never even got to see all the votes, as the first three were for Jessica. Elizabeth's displayed passion to be there may have been the reason Patrick and Frado voted for her, but I'm sure her consistently low numbers on the scale were a factor as well. They're never going to stop seeing the game, though if she ever does figure out how to lose weight, they might be in trouble. They're already going to have to figure out what to do with Ada as she doesn't look like she's headed below that yellow line anytime soon.

Next week is "Makeover Week," and since Jessica didn't get there, she gave herself one. She went home and made plans to get involved in her community and dropped another 27 pounds from when she left the Ranch. With the Power Trio sending so many strong competitors home, the real challenge this season may be winning the $100,000 "At Home Prize."

'The Biggest Loser' airs Tuesdays, 8PM ET on NBC.

[Follow Jason @ultraversion21 on Twitter.]