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(S01E05) Is there such a thing as too much money? That was the question under debate on this week's Dirty Sexy Money. Believe it or not, Nick and the twins had similar thoughts in this episode. Each of them had to decide how to handle the Darling fortune, and each took a different approach after three eye-opening evenings.

Gallery: Dirty Sexy Money: The Bridge

I wondered if Nick's charity work would get sidelined due to his packed schedule as the Darling's lawyer, and that turned out to be the case. While he was quick to judge everyone else's spending habits, Nick had trouble putting his own millions to good use. This is probably the first time that Nick has learned anything from Juliet and Jeremy's example. When you have big money, sometimes it's better to spend big. The truth is that Nick doesn't have time to be as hands-on with the less fortunate as he wants. In order to make a major difference in people's lives, he will have to become the "guy who just signs the checks."

Nick's embrace of excess carried over into his family life as well. After Lisa's speech about the $1,200 shoes last week, I wasn't expecting her to buy the most expensive insect art in all of Chelsea. It was about time that the couple had a discussion about how money has changed their lives. They're not the same ordinary middle-class family that they used to be. Nick's income gives them a new set of opportunities as well as a new set of problems.

Jeremy and Juliet learned a similar lesson about the pressure of wealth. Neither of the lavish million-dollar birthday parties managed to make the twins happy. They ultimately decided that they needed someone that they could trust more than they needed their trust funds. Their scenes are always good for a few sweet moments, and it's nice to know that not all the Darlings have dysfunctional relationships with one another. Jeremy's entry into the work force should make for some priceless moments, too.

Natalie wasn't using Jeremy to hurt Juliet after all, but she did have something to hide. I'm glad that the pregnancy plot is out of the way--there's too much going on right now to waste time on that. Now it's another character's turn to fulfill the show's promise of sexiness. Please let it be Blair Underwood!

The Freddy storyline didn't do much for me, but it did show that the Darlings threaten and blackmail each other on a regular basis. Patrick was wrong to underestimate his sister, Karen. She might have a pile of failed marriages, but at least she owns her mistakes. She was also smart enough to call Patrick on the hypocrisy of pretending to be a loyal family man while keeping a mistress on the side. Karen is definitely more than a lovesick ditz; I can't wait to see what else she's capable of.

Who could have guessed that a children's Bible story would be Brian's downfall? After hearing the "Honesty" story, Brian Jr. caved and told Mei Ling Hwa the truth. Brian's reaction to being thrown out of his house was equal parts touching and hilarious. At first he was determined to destroy his wife in the divorce proceedings, but his anger gave way to genuine remorse. I wouldn't mind if Brian ended up bunking with his son at the Darling compound for a while. As I said last week, the Darlings are the most entertaining when they're all together. Having everyone living under the same roof would make for some memorable dinner conversations. Mei Ling Hwa can take her time deciding whether or not to take Brian back.

Anyone hoping for a resolution to the Darling DNA storyline left this episode dissatisfied. We learned that Letitia and Tripp are keeping the test results from Nick, but that's about it. At first I thought that Tripp's comment about the twins being "different" was a slight hint. Tripp's conversation with Jeremy about being proud of him (another tearjerker) didn't support that idea, though. Why would Tripp take such an interest in the twins if he just discovered that they aren't his? It's likely that Donald Sutherland's cryptic remarks will keep me guessing for the rest of the season.

Simon Elder gave Nick a lot to think about. Was his father about to turn over a new leaf when he was murdered? Will he lose himself "one day at a time" if he keeps working for the Darlings? Would Tripp have killed Dutch just to prevent him from working with Simon? At the moment, I like Simon Elder. Blair Underwood has made this character as complex and inscrutable as Tripp Darling. Simon is obviously a generous man, but he has to be doing more in Haiti than showering schoolchildren with computers and bringing wireless internet technology to the masses. A few episodes back, Nick mentioned that Dutch's dossier on Simon indicated that he might have stolen the idea for a lucrative invention. What other secrets does the "techno-philanthropist" have (I still love that term)?

I was a little bummed at first when it looked like the Darling ringtones were gone for good, but we got another one. "It's My Party" was a great choice for this episode, and I hope the ringtones keep turning up occasionally. Any ideas, viewers?

Funniest lines of the night:

• "I never thought you had much of a taste for the average member." --Karen, to Patrick
• "Is that really the way they painted women's toenails in 1789?" --Juliet
• "As far as your campaign goes, I like New York the way it is." --Karen, on Patrick's political aspirations
• "Note to self: crush her." --Nick, on Brian's possible divorce
• "You are kind of insufferable, though, with your happiness." --Brian's apology
• "Justin Timberlake? Ethan Hawke? Who are these people?" --Tripp

Next week, Jeremy gets a job, Tripp and Simon do some high-stakes gambling, and Karen gets tempted.