The Big Leap Season 1, Episode 7 recap: What’s going on with Paula?

This week, The Big Leap worked in a tried and true favorite: a dance battle. The real war, however, was an emotional one, with the repercussions of Brittney’s betrayal of Gabby coming out full force. Meanwhile, Monica found her zen (before becoming decidedly more unchill than ever), and Reggie and Paula both got some bad news about their health. (Though thankfully, they have some good people to push through it with.) Read on to learn what else happened in The Big Leap season 1, episode 7: “Revenge Plot.”

The Big Leap season 1, episode 7 recap: Doctors and diamonds

Everything seems to be working out for Reggie — not only is he finally officially together with Gabby, but he also meets with one of his old coaches, who is interested in having him back on the team. There’s just one little catch: his doctor worries about officially clearing him to play again. Reggie ignores the doctor’s advice, opting instead to get Gabby a diamond necklace in order to celebrate him being in the NFL again.

And he’s not the only one not heeding medical advice. Though the doctor encourages Paula to get a biopsy, as a few of her symptoms have her worried her cancer might have come back, Paula refuses, pushing it out of her mind and everyone out of her life. She rejects Mike again, telling him they need to just be friends, and she attempts to push away a concerned Julia, too.

But Julia is persistent, going to great lengths (like dancing on a bartop) to get Paula to admit what’s wrong. Paula is adamant she doesn’t want to deal with doctors, instead going homecoming dress shopping with Julia and her daughter. When she sees the two of them embrace, however, she breaks down, not ready to die yet.

Julia convinces her to go get the tests, driving her to the hospital. She tells Mike what’s going on — that Paula doesn’t want him to have to deal with all of her health issues. When Paula wakes up from the tests, Mike is there, telling her that he doesn’t want her to be alone. This touches Paula, and she admits she loves him, too, as the two cuddle in the hospital bed together.

The Big Leap season 1, episode 7 recap: Getting high and going low

Facing a pesky creative block, Monica finds a unique way of coping in a local shaman, who gives her drugs that turn her into a much more laid-back, enlightened version of herself. She starts thinking deeply about the beauty of ballet, even giving Justin an emotional speech about how he’s her protégé. Not only that, but she admits to the entire crew that she and Nick are sleeping together and has a blissful epiphany that this show is going to work out.

Justin’s journey in this episode starts off calm, too — he’s now happily together with Simon. But when his brother calls and says his father has had an accident, things come crashing down. He tells Monica he has to leave the show in order to help with his dad’s gutter cleaning business, and Monica’s cold, disappointed (and now drug-free) reaction leaves him feeling even more upset.

The Big Leap season 1, episode 7 recap: Revenge is a dish best served with fake rain

Though Gabby tells Brittney she wants to move on from the mess at the live show, she’s secretly out for revenge — and Nick loves it. She demands that she get to play the White Swan while Brittney gets kicked off the show entirely. Nick orchestrates an elaborate dance-off competition, complete with lifetime supplies of shrimp and some light manipulation of Brittney, who’s desperate for everyone to stop hating her.

However, Gabby is adamant that she win the competition fair and square without cheating, which is where things get complicated. Miriam comes out of nowhere, blowing every other contestant out of the water and winning the coveted “challenge card” — the key to having the chance to steal anyone’s part you so choose.

Desperate, Gabby trades her new car for the challenge card and tells Brittney she wants to battle for the White Swan role. With a new fire under her and all hope of peace gone, Brittney gives it all she has. The two gather teams behind them, upping the stakes, and dance it out under a fake rainshower.

Gabby ultimately wins, but not everything works out the way she’s planned. Because Justin has to leave to help his dad, Brittney must stay — they can’t have two principals going home back to back. Gabby feels betrayed, reminding Nick he promised her this, but Nick has no choice. He’s a producer — not Gabby’s friend.

What do you think the future holds for Gabby and Brittney? And were you happy to see Paula finally let Mike in? Comment below!