Director: Nelson McCormick
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| Shari Noble | ||
| Original Airdate: September 26, 2006 | ||
| Writer: Jennifer Salt Director: Nelson McCormick |
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| So far this season has been alright, as they're trying to shake off the problems that bogged down the third season.� Thankfully, this episode is what good Nip/Tuck should be: crazy things going on, but at the center is that human drama that works very well on the show.� This show is all about excesses, so it's appropriate that they deal with temptation often.� It's the theme this week, as Sean got deeper into an affair that he doesn't want, Christian got forbidden fruit he'll possibly regret and Shari, who found a bizarre way of dealing with her husband's military time away. | ||
| The title character's (#8, half pint Melissa Gilbert) story went from being slightly risqu�, mostly because of what the dog bit off, to flat out crazy, which is just what this show should be.� They did a good job hiding that reveal, even when the initial story didn't work within the theme of temptation.� When Mr. Noble comes in with the duffle bag, you think at first he's a control freak.� But in the end it is far more disturbing and memorable. | ||
| Elsewhere at the office, we learn that James is a madam who hired Michelle, but still holds her in her ruthless clutches. �It is a bit anticlimactic, but forgivable since it was only revealed a few weeks ago.� It seems that she is set up to be the real villain this season instead of Michelle, who is merely a pawn.� Perhaps Michelle will side with the doctors to bring her down by the end of the season. | ||
| Christian once again gets to show just how awful he can be, extorting sex out of Michelle in exchange for keeping quiet about her past to her husband.� Despite his conflicting feelings about which "team" he'll play on, there was no way he wasn't going to pursue the gorgeous woman who he sees every day at work.� It also plays into the theme of temptation.� This decision, as many where Christian places his desires over telling Sean the truth is setting James up to take even more power in their lives.� It adds to the rift last week, which would add to why Christian acted as he did. | ||
| Marlowe's character is developing rather well.� There is clearly some connection between him and Julia, as he manages to calm her to breast feed Conor (which apparently is the way they're going to spell it).� Although I think he'd be too professional to sleep with a client, this is Nip/Tuck, so he must have something to him.� He does have an unusual ability to cut to whatever psychological problems are facing the other characters. | ||
| I'm undecided about the hot organ thief seducing Liz and stealing her kidney.� For those who don't know, this is a play off a popular urban legend advising against picking up people in bars.� Granted, the show has always done bizarre things like this, but reaching into urban legends for story material doesn't feel like a good omen.� It reminds me a bit of when Boston Public did an episode where someone was attacking people in the parking lot by slashing their ankles. | ||
| I am glad they have given Liz a little more substantial material this season as she usually acts as a reactionary character to what the docs do.� So is this kidney ordeal going to be an ongoing story?� Was she targeted?� Considering this was a bar, it may not be the best place for healthy kidneys.� Was this an elaborate sting operation where someone managed to get Liz's medical records?� This also could be shaping into another multi-episode storyline, which may be a bad decision unless it is only a few episodes.� They briefly tackled organ thieves back in season one with Escobar blackmailing the docs to operate on a mule, so could this connect back to Escobar's crew, finally out to get revenge?� | ||
| Although having Robert Lasardo and Julie Warner in the credits spoiled the surprise of their appearance, having them appear in Sean's hallucination worked so well.� Escobar was great as the "devil" back in "Joan Rivers" when Sean was figuring out how to deal with The Carver that they should've done that more since then.� It was also great to see Megan reappear, both because she represents the "angel" and as a remembrance of the last woman Sean had an affair with.� As for what these hallucinations meant, I'm not sure, but man did Sean screw himself over by saying he loved Monica. | ||
| Speaking of which, Monica is going full speed down the road to Alex Forrest territory.� She has no self esteem and is placing everything into Sean, who clearly is only into her because she doesn't argue with Sean the way Julia does.� It's no coincidence they picked "Obsession" for her to dance to instead of something romantic.� So what is going to happen when Sean finally cuts those ties for good?� And what happened to the first dad? | ||
| When it comes to temptation, no one stands to gain from yielding to it.� This is what sets Nip/Tuck apart from mere titillation for its own sake.� It is a welcome return to form for the show, and hopefully indicative for where the season is heading. | ||
| Overall Score: 8/10 | ||
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