(S04E04) Talk about a great episode, one of the best Nip/Tuck's in a while. So much happened, it's hard to recall it all. But before anything else, I have to give the writer's a high-five with this episode because Shari Noble may be the most unique (and disturbing) patient that McNamara/Troy has ever treated. If you missed the episode, I don't want to give too much away but it did involve peanut butter and her dog. Use your imagination. Fortunately, Shari played a small role in this episode and plenty of other bigger stories unfolded.
For starters, the biggest lingering question we've had so far got answered. Who the hell is the crazy fashionista (Jacqueline Bisset) that Liz saw groping Michelle in the parking garage? Well her name is James and she runs a high-end escort service. Michelle used to work for her and as compensation, James put Michelle through two years of med school. Michelle dropped out when her mother got sick though. Now that Michelle is raking it in with her husband Burt, James has come back to collect.
To me, this a very safe storyline. It was a little predictable, but if done right, the writers can have a lot of fun with it I think. Besides, I'm sure there's still plenty about James that we don't know yet. Christian started to pry and Michelle finally gave in too. She came clean (again, I'm sure there's more to this) with Christian and basically admitted that she married Burt to get a piece of the good life. Then her and Dr. Troy had sex while Burt sat in the next room. Now this is the Christian I remember. Something tells me the homosexual storyline hasn't gone away though.
I'm really liking Peter Dinklage as Marlo, the McNamara's night nurse/mural artist. Quite the painting her put on the wall, huh? He and Sean don't really see eye to eye and that seems like it'll continue to be a source for Sean to act out on. As long as he still feels guilty about the Monica thing anyway. Which brings me to the next scene. First off, I didn't expect to see Monica back. But when Sean went to see her and munched on some of her hash brownies? What came next was brilliant and it went back all the way to season one. Really well written. The hallucinations! Escobar on one shoulder trying to get Sean to rip Monica's clothes off while Megan came at him from the other side, telling Sean that this wasn't what he wanted. Seriously, fantastic scene. And if you don't know who either of those characters are, go rent the first season of the show. It's still the best season if you ask me.
Anyone have an idea about Liz's storyline? Beyond the fact that she was drugged and had a kidney removed, is there a point to this? I know that sounds harsh (what happened to her was terrible), but where's it going because it came out of nowhere if you ask me. Her big thing was that she has no one to take care of her. I'm going to guess that this is how they weave Alanis Morissette into the show? I'm thinking that the organ thieves (whoever they are) will be back too.
So as I said, great episode. Even better since Matt wasn't in it. I'm really not liking his character this season. We got plenty of hilarious quotes though. My favorite?
Christian (sarcastically commenting on Michelle's breasts): "Your chocolate cupcakes are looking very tasty this morning Michelle."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-27-2006 @ 10:21PM
Jeremy Lacey said...
supposedly as the dr. at the hospital hinted at, they're going to be dealing with some kind of chinese triad who are into the organ harvesting business and will use mcnamara/troy in the same vein that esocobar did.
its an up and down roller coaster as to who i love and hate more! first i love christian, he's flawed, but at least he knows it. sean pretends to be so godly even when he's cheating on his wife.
then christian has to go with the whole blackmail thing. i like christian being a man-whore too but that seems to be crossing the line a bit even for christian.
something else i realized after tonight's episode, i think i enjoy the interaction between liz and christian the best. while every one else has these deep seated issues and cheating and two dads and stuff, its nice to see liz and christian squabble like brother and sister.
oh oh, and how about matt? poor poor matty.
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9-29-2006 @ 10:10AM
Jay Rubenstein said...
I actually knew a women (a vocational school teacher) who used to spread peanut butter on her vagina to entice her dogs to bring her to orgasm. She had a matched pair of Dobermans! She confessed this to me at a drunken party we both attended about 20 years ago. Makes you wonder if some of the seemingly far out situations depicted by such shows spring not from fertile imaginations but from life's experiences.
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9-27-2006 @ 10:21PM
Will said...
I'm sure the organ harvesting storyline will play out throughout the season. I just hope it doesn't end up being another Carver-type storyline.
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9-27-2006 @ 10:21PM
rvkey said...
I've always wondered if seeing a guy get kneed in the crotch was really that hard for another guy to see. You know, the way they cringe and say "ohhhhhh". Well I had the exact same reaction after seeing Laura Ingles' nipple bitten off! That was painful to say the least and she just sat there having a conversation like nothing ever happened. I guess it was part pain pills and part crazy dog molester! Great episode!
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9-27-2006 @ 10:21PM
Elliott said...
The whole peanut butter thing will take some time to set in. I'm still going, "WHA!!!!???"
The organ harvesting was quite surreal. It's been such a cliched urban legend, that it came off as very un-Nip/Tuck.
As far as Christian's "curiosity" goes, I think there is more to come, but he's starting to deal with it a little bit. He still seemed very upset when the lesbian referred to him as a "fairy", but he didn't fly off the handle like he might have a couple episodes prior. Who knows?
The references to season 1 at the end have me hooked all over again. It was a little reminder of why I started watching in the first place, and if there's even a chance that it will be that great, then I'm going to watch every Tuesday.
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9-27-2006 @ 10:21PM
Omar said...
i had a feeling some sick stuff was going on with that women and her dog. and the second the husband said peanut butter, i knew i was right. its clearly one of the strangest things this show has done and while i thought it was ok, im worried this show has resorted to just pushing the limits in leiu of actually having good writing and character development. if they keep the oddball stuff to the side like they did in this episode i think it'll be fine but they need more story lines like the "who's father is matt" and even "matt sleeping with a wo(man)"
jacqueline bisset's scene where she clocks the escort with the ball from the desk was awesome. her facial expressions were amazing.
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9-27-2006 @ 10:22PM
Matt said...
I could tell from the start there was something sexual going on with the dog. Any other show, no way, but in Nip/Tuck there's always a deviant twist.
The literary depth of this episode floored me with all the Garden of Eden allusions.
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9-27-2006 @ 10:22PM
Sadie said...
About the organ harvesting. I think the Bisset arc may actually be related to that. Considering the situation in the bar--Liz gets picked up--hard, like how a professional would do it. And consider that Michelle was going to med school *while* working for James. A perfect combo for someone who lures and then may need to participate in an organ harvest. And we know that Michelle wasn't too happy with Liz so perhaps she may have been set up.
And when James was explaining why the other girl needed face work, for "compromising" a client, that doesn't make sense if you're just a call girl. But if you were doing something really horribly illegal, that's another story.
Anyway, I do think the Bisset arc will get much more interesting. There has to be more involved, and IMHO, somehow linked to Michelle.
And as an aside, Bisset at 62 remains the most astoundingly beautiful woman out there, in addition to being a fine actor. And not to dismiss the talent of the other women on Nip/Tuck, but Bisset eclipses all of them in both categories. That said it seems odd Christian isn't making a play for her, but there's still time. I hope they keep her around for a while.
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9-28-2006 @ 10:18AM
Geoffrey M. said...
The organ harvesting surprised me and felt sorry for Liz but once I heard "peanut butter" out from the husband I like major WTF!! Christian still annoying playboy this episode. Highlight of night was Sean hallucinations. Hopefully next week will see more of Matt and Kimber.
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9-29-2006 @ 8:26AM
themby k. said...
does anybody know the title of that song that played last episode? it went "louie louie louii... you know you're gonna cry.." when christian was kissing michelle. something about the girl being darker than night and louie whiter than snow. thanks.
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9-29-2006 @ 8:26AM
Student of The Game said...
"He and Sean don't really see eye to eye."
I get it, because Peter Dinklage is a midget, right? Right? Anyone?
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10-04-2006 @ 12:25AM
Nip/Tuck Fanatic! said...
I couldnt agree more with you! I loved this particular episode... (not as crazy about tonight's 10/4).
I havent been a fan of Julia's character this year as she is getting on my last nerves. I wish I knew why Sean won't stand up to her. He's a pushover... I love Escobar's appearance and how they're using him and going to continue to use him as Sean's evil conscience.
Marlo is an interesting character... he grew on me a little this episode so we'll see what direction they take his character. I agree with you on the Liz storyline... they never seem to continue with her character... she just is a tie between other storylines (blackmailing, organ harvesting etc.).
I cant wait for next weeks (2 weeks from this particular post, 1 week from today)!
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10-11-2006 @ 2:47PM
allison said...
I thought this was one of the better episodes in awhile - although the whole peanut butter thing was a bit disturbing. I think this episode will set the stage for some interesting plot twists to come. Plus it featured two songs from Bitter:Sweet, my current favs! i haven't had to watch ep. 5 yet, but i cant wait to find out what happens. thank god for tivo!
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