TV Review: The Biggest Loser - Episode 7

This week Biggest Loser was in high drama.

Episode 7 begins with some pseudo-therapy for Dan whose mother, Jackie, was voted off last week. He has some real trust issues with his teammates and his trainer (Bob Harper) has to talk him down. Dan decides to tell his team (Blue) that he forgives them even though he is still seething inside.

During this week’s challenge, two sets of people from each team had to balance their combined total weight lost thus far over water. Bernie, having won the “biggest loser” title last week only had to balance half his lost weight.

During the challenge, the audience gets to hear Dan’s internal monologue about having to work cooperatively with his rat bastard teammate who betrayed his mama. Let it go, Dan.

The Black team cried over Dan’s predicament and vowed to help him somehow. However, after they won the water challenge, they were allowed to give one player from the Blue team immunity and they did not choose Dan. Interesting.

The next big moment of drama was when Jillian Michaels brings on a “psychotherapist” to find out what’s eating her team. She decides that they won’t be able to keep the weight off until they find out why they began overeating in the first place. She introduces their therapist as “Mommy” and says that her mother is “to psychotherapy what I am to fitness training.” I’m guessing she didn’t mean to imply that her mother was a self-important, narcissistic, ball-busting hard-ass.

There was no indication on the official website or at any point in the show, about this therapist’s name or credentials. Still, we got to hear about childhood physical abuse (Paul), not knowing one’s natural father (Brittany), and fearing expression of emotion (Kelly). I truly hope that there was more therapeutic intervention than what was aired on national television. It is unethical to open up wounds like this and not follow through with therapy.

Article Author: Alexandria Jackson

Alexandria Jackson is a psychologist by day and a Blogcritic by night. She is the author of Don't Take it Personally: Keep Your Self-Esteem in a Relationship.

Visit Alexandria Jackson's author page — Alexandria Jackson's Blog