Previous episode: Excess Baggage Season One – Endurance Challenge #7
Since eliminations kicked in on this show, things have gotten better. Take this week for example; we’ve seen harder challenges, and more pressure; leading to record-breaking bust ups. But tonight; all that effort goes into the check in. One HAS to go; but who will it be? And who will improve the most?
We begin the episode by recapping the season that has been. Only two weeks remain before the finale.
The contestants meet Christian for the Kangaroo Island-fitness test. He knows it has been a big week but reminds them how crucial the fitness test is to their final result. We recap the close scores for this week. With that, we begin the fitness session.
During the session, we recap Nathan’s difficult week. We see how Nathan gives his all in the session and how he really doesn’t want to go home. How convenient to say that JUST before elimination. Gameplay I tellsya.
Christian admits that this was the most intense fitness session he has conducted this year. Ajay manages to beat her run time by over a minute. Renae manages stage seven in the abs test, which is an achievement for her and the blue team. Kevin thinks the rest of them are looking in the rear view mirror for them.
The bridge test is next and they have to remain in the bridge position for 2 minutes. Despite much commotion, Nathan, and the rest of the group, made the two minute mark. Christine cries about it in a cutaway and Christian is so happy for him.
Opinion point: How important is it for a contestant to succeed at a fitness test?
After the break, the contestants head to the hangar, where Kate waits for them on the tarmac. It’s the third elimination and only five teams will remain at the end of today. She tells them that someone is waiting inside for them.
Andrew Garlic will be on hand today, and he has brought a few people along to ‘shock’ the contestants. He tells them that week in week out they’ve done the bod pod. Darryn then seems to advertise the use of a bod pod.
So, to help celebrate the weeks of success, they want to introduce them to two people- cardboard cut-outs of Sarah and Dipper. Umm…what a bit of a coincidence! I think The Biggest Loser beat them to it. Andrew reveals that Dipper has lost over 18kg, with Sarah losing 17kg.
He then brings out a rack of clothes- those of the contestants when they were more overweight. They are falling off of the contestants. Lisa has lost the most waist circumference- 30.5cm off her waist. It’s a happy and positive visual experience, but it is now time for the hard stuff!
We are reminded by the scoreboard, which has that three way tie for first place. Tim announces the orange team to go first and it is kind of muffled by claps.
Dipper’s BFP was 22.7%. It is now…21.8%. He is now under the 22% average. His WC was 109cm. It is now…105.5cm! Dipper is over the moon. His FTS has gone to 7.8! His check in score is 11.9! Now for Lana.
Her BFP has dropped by 0.8% and 3.5cm off of her waist to 100.5cm. Her FTS was 5.7. It is now…5.9. Her check in score is 10.1. Their combined score is 35.0.
Opinion point: What did you think of the visual session?
After the break, it is the purple’s team to check in. Matt’s BFP was 30.6%. It is now…29.5%. His WC has dropped by 2.2%. His FTS was 5.2. It is now…5.3. His score is now 8.6. Ajay’s BFP was 40.2%. It is now…39.5%. Her WC was 86.5cm. It is now 84.5cm. Her FTS is 5.2. It is now…6.5! That is massive!
Her check in score is 9.5; and their combined score is 31.1, and puts them in second place.
Next up are Kate & Sarah. They discuss their problems and their improvements. Sarah’s BFP was 38.8%. It is now…37.2%. Her WC drops from 90.5cm to 88.5cm. Her FTS was 5.7. It is now…6.2! A good job. Her score is now 10.0. She has never gone below double digits.
Kate’s turn now, and she hasn’t done well for the past two check ins. Her BFP was 36.8%. It is now…36.2%. her WC was 94.5cm. It is now…94.5cm. Her FTS was 6.9. It is now…7.3. Her score is now 7.9 and brings their final score to 25.9 and into third place, giving Dipper & Lana a safe pass to the next week. They are both worried and Kate is trying not to take the blame.
Opinion point: Are you surprised by any of the results so far?
After the break, it’s time for the reds. Darryn’s BFP was 27.9%. It is now…26.2%. His WC remains the same at 93cm. His FTS now gets to 8, giving him a 9.7! Now it’s time for unbeatable Lisa. Can she keep her run going?
Her BFP was 41.4%. It is now…40.1%. Her WC was 112.0cm. It is now…106.0cm. Her FTS was 6.2. It is now…6.7. Her check in score is now 13.4 and an overall team score of 35.1 and puts them into a safe first position! Go Lisa!
The blue team are next to check in. They’ve had quite a good week this week.
Kevin’s BFP was 30.2%. It is now…29.4%. His WC has dropped by 0.5% and his FTS has gone to 8 from 7.6. This gives him a score of 9.3.
Renae’s BFP was 40.7%. It is now…39.8%. Her WC was 97.5cm. It is now…97.5cm. Her FTS was 6.4. It is now…7.7! Huge! This gives her a score of 8.6. The blue team’s overall score is 40.9, putting them fourth and saving team purple. Team pink are now in the bottom two.
The yellow team are left to check in. They are on seven points; so they need a combined 24 points or more to stay out of elimination. They need a miracle.
Opinion point: Do you think Kate & Sarah deserve a bottom two position?
The yellow team finally check in after the ads. Nathan’s BFP was 31.8%. It is now…30.0%. His WC was 117cm. It is now…112.5cm. His FTS was 5.5. It is now…6.7. This gives him a score of 12.3. That is amazing. The team embraces and the judges remind him how good that is.
Christine’s BFP was 30.7%. It is now…29.6%. Her WC was 94cm. It is now…89cm, a change of 5.3%. Her FTS goes to 7.1; giving her a score of 13.5- they’ve done it!
This gives them a score of 32.8, putting them into third position.
This leaves the pink and blue teams in the bottom two. It is time for the contestants to plea to stay. The girl’s heartfeltedly plea to stay and Sarah talks about how far she has come. Kate says she has a long way to go despite her changes.
Kevin & Renae have learnt so much but Kevin wants to win this thing for Renae. Renae says she has learnt that she is important and that people need her.
The judges then discuss who is the best to send home.
Opinion point: Which team should be sent home?
After the break, it is time for the verdict. Let’s get to it:
Joanna chooses to keep the blue team.
Tim decides to keep the blue team.
Christian doesn’t have to reveal his vote- Kate & Sarah will be sent home. I can’t help but feel as if this has anything to do with Kevin’s presence in the blue team. Still, with the show now on GO! it may be cheaper to send him home now.
The judges give them some inspiration and positive points before the two girls walk out the door.
We see their best bits before Kate congratulates the blue team before Darryn and Lisa are pronounced as this week’s winner.
So, where are they going now? The scoreboard is reset to zero before Kate says they are moving to the Southern Highlands!
With that, the episode comes to a close.
A pretty good episode in my books. Again, that check in routine is still just a little annoying to keep up with, but I did enjoy it more this week than last. At times, like when they entered the hangar ‘wondering who was inside’, things seemed a little scripted due to a lack of enthusiasm.
This show also loves its recaps, which gets a bit repetitive, but other than that, awesome night tonight!
Excess Baggage next airs Mar 19 at 6.30PM on GO!
Production Values (visual and audio techniques, overall ‘bling’ of the show):4.8/5
‘Sell-out’ factor (Cross-promotion and product placement free?): 2/2
Entertainment Value (emotional feel, storyline, eventful?): 2.9/3
Courtney’s Verdict: 9.7/10
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