Shaq's Big Challenge, Episode 2: It's Boot Camp Time!

The second episode begins with a review of what happened in the first. You can get caught up on what happened in my recap of that episode.

Shaq is clearly upset that the kids have been lying to him. As he drives in his car to the gym to confront them, he explains to the camera how hard he's been fighting for them. Dr. Colker wanted a trainer from the beginning, but Shaq thought he was being nice by letting them do the work on their own. He now realizes just how wrong he was, as three weeks have passed and nothing has been accomplished. He is disappointed in them and in himself.

The kids and their parents (uh-oh) are waiting at the gym for a meeting with Shaq. When Shaq arrives, he starts taking all the balls away from them and pops them with a pocket knife. This causes a variety of reactions in the kids. Walter couldn't think of any reason why Shaq would do this, James thinks he's popping the balls to give them new ones, but Kit is the only one who knows something is wrong.

Shaq sits all the kids down and reads them the riot act. He tells them how disappointed he is, how they put him in a bad position and that he can't help them anymore. He informs them that he knows about all the lies and tricks they have been pulling because Dr. Colker was watching them. He also points out that he is suffering too because he is on the same diet that they are on. Kudos to Shaq for doing that! He didn't need to diet but he wanted to give the kids a sign of solidarity. The kids definitely would have pointed it out eventually if he hadn't joined them on the diet. It certainly serves Shaq well here as he throws it in their faces that he's been working hard and they haven't.

Shaq then tells the kids that it's boot camp time. He says that Dr. Colker is in charge and that he's found a "crazy trainer that don't like kids." The kids look apprehensive, to say the least. Imagine a sweet, wide-eyed group of fawns caught in the headlights of a oncoming semi. That sums up the kids’ situation pretty well.

Before the kids get smashed by the semi, they get read the riot act again. Only this time, the lecture comes from Dr. Colker and the kids have to listen to it with their parents. He tells the group that in all of his years of working with athletes, he has never seen such a terrible effort. He calls them all out for the liars they are, then points the finger right at Chris for being the ringleader. Chris starts to cry but Shaq leans over and tells him to pick his head up. Gosh, I like this guy. Dr. Colker also points out that Ariel only came to work out six of 15 times, that James treats everything like a joke, and that Kit quits at the first bit of discomfort. The parents are up next, as Dr. Colker tells them that they aren't doing their kids any favors by letting them slack off on these workouts.

Dr. Colker then introduces the kids to the "semi." Dr. Colker says he is a tough-as-nails trainer and that if they think he's bad, they haven't seen anything yet. As Shaq goes to get the new trainer, the parents jump down the kids’ throats. While I can appreciate that the parents are upset, I feel like they should have known some of this already. I mean, if Ariel is only 14 and she only showed up six times, how could her mom not know that she wasn't there? It's not like Ariel could drive herself. When the kids came home from the gym and weren't even sweaty or stinky, didn't the parents ask any questions? Maybe I'm splitting hairs here but I feel like the parents should have at least had a clue that this was coming.

Enter the "semi," trainer Tarik Tyler. James says he looks like Mr. T, only smaller and uglier. Tyler is shocked when he sees just how fat the kids really are. He wonders what we have become as a society. Tyler starts in with his own lecture and at this point, not that we see any evidence of this, the kids should be wetting their pants. Tyler tells the families that he's there to get a job done and that he's not going to waste any time. He says that his program is simple: do what he says and they'll get the results they want. In interview, Tyler says the kids have been coddled enough and they need to be put back to work. I like the fact that he points out that the parents are just as responsible for the kids success or failure as the kids themselves.

Tyler points out that the five-day-a-week workouts are now mandatory instead of voluntary. I am a little confused as to why the workouts were ever voluntary in the first place. How can you expect these kids to attend workouts sessions when you give them the option of bailing out? I like Tyler and I am glad they brought him onto the team. These kids clearly need a big push to show what they can do and Tyler seems like just the guy to do it. We get the chance to see just how tough of a cookie Tyler is when he puts the kids through their first workout, right then and there. Tyler says, and I'm quoting here, "Don't worry, you'll survive... some of you." Holy Moly, these kids are in for it.

The kids are given some simple relays to do at first but they really struggle. Tyler says he is hard on the kids but it doesn't mean that he cares less – if anything it means he cares more. Almost immediately, Kit breaks down. She begins breathing heavy and kneeling on the ground. Kit's mom starts to cry as she watches Kit in agony. Tyler points out that she's not exhausted, she's panicking. He says she just doesn't want to be there. Dr. Colker leaves Kit's mom to check on Kit and tries to give her a pep talk. He states that anxiety is a huge part of Kit's personality and because it is also that way with Kit's mom, the outlook for Kit's success is not good.

Dr. Colker takes Kit's mom out of the gym and tries desperately to make her regain her composure. He tells her that Kit will only be strong if her mom is, that her weight is out of control and that if left unchecked, it will be her death sentence. Unfortunately, all of Dr. Colker's efforts are wasted as Kit's mom continues to cry and Kit cannot bring herself to continue with the workout. Dr. Colker calls in the paramedics and has Kit taken to the hospital. Both Ariel and her mom are shaken by Kit's departure, with Ariel's mom hoping that this will prove to Ariel how important this is.

Dr. Colker and Tyler both seem to agree that Kit is not having a heart attack, she is having a panic attack. The paramedics confirm this and Dr. Colker is confident the doctors at the hospital will have he same findings. Kit has been crippled by her fear and Tyler points out to the families that anxiety affects everyone. It is their choice if they want to overcome it.