Thursday, September 28, 2006

Nip/Tuck: Season 4, Episode 3: Monica Wilder Review

Monica Wilder
Original Airdate: September 19, 2006
Writer: Brad Falchuk
Director: Elodie Keene

We do a lot of things to fit into our surroundings. Whether it be to keep up an appearance necessary for our lifestyle or profession; to fix a deformity to keep yourself or someone you love from being an outcast; or to avoid standing out because of insecurity. That’s what this episode is all about and it works well as the season arc begins.

It was clear from the onset of this season that things between Julia and Sean weren’t as fine as they wanted and that this baby wasn’t going to be the solution they need if this is going to survive. Sean flirted with phone sex in the premiere, and now it has expanded into a full blown affair with Monica. Unlike Megan, Sean went to bed with Monica more because she provided a support that he needed, as opposed to genuine love. He wouldn’t be crying at Monica’s deathbed for sure. Regardless, this will likely prove disastrous for them.

Monica, the cute small town girl who beds Sean, appears to have some issues (surprise!) She’s already done this before with another dad. She doesn’t seem to have a sense of self, instead immersing herself in night nursing and guys who are remotely nice to her. Knowing this show, Monica’s going to be the Glenn Close character in “Fatal Attraction”. Annie should keep an eye out on her small pets.

Monica’s nose job, in hopes of fitting in with the beautiful people of Miami, works well with the overall theme of the episode, changing appearance to better suit your surroundings. Sean and Julia are now second guessing their decision to fix Connor’s hands. Also Christian is dealing with the fact that his body can’t be in the shape that he wants as a man over 40, a difficult fact for a man in the vanity business.

Christian has always been vain: he’s a plastic surgeon and as he said, letting himself go would hurt business. With his homemade porn (there’s no way that would’ve been just a sex tape considering how exaggerated and funny it was) a public spectacle online, whatever insecurities he had were bound to explode. This narcissism comes at a bad time, as he spends more time trying to cover up these flaws than being there for his best friend as Connor’s birth is eminent. This could be considered out of character, but considering his sexual confusion, it may make sense that he not allow Sean access to that much vulnerability.

Hamoui’s (special guest star #7, Mario Lopez) philosophy on physical perfection is rather disturbing. He punishes his body through excessive exercise and starvation. Also there is his disgust over anyone who doesn’t fit his body type. Hamoui is the anti-Quentin. If he ever returns from the European leg of his “Beauty is a Curse on the World” tour, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Hamoui shows up at McNamara/Troy with a few slashes on his face.

Some may think that Christian questioning his sexuality should’ve been what caused him to separate himself from Sean, but this journey through his self absorption works as well, especially with Connor’s birth imminent. Hamoui in the gym shower was practically gay porn. Maybe Christian will experiment with him to see if he is actually gay before confronting Sean.

There is a brief follow up with Matt’s journey into Scientology under Kimber’s wing, but it could’ve easily been integrated into the story as a subplot. As it is his new philosophy, he would likely have to change things about himself to fit into this new group.

Michelle (who is getting hotter by the week) is a different type of adversary. Unlike Ava or Quentin, who got off manipulating and hurting the McNamaras and Christian, Michelle’s antagonism comes from her desire to cover up her own secret, one she obviously feels trapped in. Trying to fire Liz was a terminally stupid idea and that will likely lead to the truth being revealed, since now Christian and Sean are aware that something is wrong with their new boss.

Marlowe Sawyer feels like bad news, but maybe that’s just because his name is a combination of the young sociopath drug dealer on The Wire and the smooth talking con man on Lost. For now, he offers some perspective for Sean and Julia about how to deal with Connor. Unlike everyone else, he has first hand experience at being different than everyone else, but he’s OK with it because of what it ultimately made him.

Minor nitpick, but did Connor look like a robot? Perhaps this is just because they couldn’t put gloves on a baby to make it look like it had ectrodactyly, but it looked fake.

The first two episodes served to introduce us to the character dilemmas this season. This episode develops the story. Cracks are forming between the characters and now the baby is here, which should amplify things even more. Things are about to get messy, which is just what this season needs.

Overall Score: 7/10

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Status Report - 9/26/06 - Art is gettin' its ass kicked

Hello everyone,

Busy week, more than usual. Happy fall everyone. Temps are dropping and I have to find my jeans before it gets too cold. Lots of school work, my part time job and of course, TV taking up my time. Unfortunately, Damn That Television’s premiere sucked big time, but I promise you this one will suck less, maybe even not at all. Anyway, on to the status report:

Watching – The Wire, Nip/Tuck (bit behind on my “Monica Wilder” review), Stewart/Colbert, The Office (damn you for making me feel sorry for Roy!), My Name Is Earl, Prison Break (They got Tweener, and Haywire seems to be the smartest person of the Fox River 8), Simpsons, Desperate Housewives (premiere didn’t suck), gave up on Vanished, but am taking a shot at Heroes (flawed, but has potential) and Studio 60… (really good, smart TV). 8 Days til Lost!

DVD – My Name Is Earl, The Office S2. Besides 24 in December, I don’t think I’ll be buying more TV on DVD (who am I kidding with that one?) Unless there’s a good sale.

Music – New computer, randomly playing stuff, trying to get into the samplers I got free off iTunes.

Also, a sad note, my car, the Crown Victoria, was pronounced DOA earlier today. May it rest in peace. So a quick farewell a la Six Feet Under

The Crown Vic
1997-2006

I assure you guys tomorrow’s episode will be way better. Tune in if you can (I hope to maybe throw something on YouTube for those who don’t live on campus). Until next time, the remote is yours.


Matt

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Status Report - 9/19/06 - Let the fall season begin!

Hello everyone!
I'm still getting used to school and work, which is a lot to balance. But I'm still plugging along. Now after a few weeks, looks like the fall season is close to full swing. Thursday sees the return of My Name Is Earl and The Office, which I can't wait for (that kiss has been on my mind for the last four months!) And in a few weeks, LOST returns, and you bet you can expect new reviews for season three. Nip/Tuck reviews are coming along smoothly, although that may be pushed aside for school. Now the big ones.

What I'm watching - Prison Break, Nip/Tuck, The
Daily Show, Colbert Report, The Wire, The Office and My Name Is Earl.

On DVD - Finished AD S3. Now that I got a new computer, I'll be able to watch from my room again.

Reading - LFNY - (553/600) Summing it up. I'm also reading a ton of books for school, which are kinda starting to blend in together as one big book.

Music - Random stuff. Is the new Beck album out yet?

Well, that's it for me. I hope to have Nip/Tuck 4X3 "Monica Wilder" up soon. I'll also be doing much needed updates for my website. Oh and tomorrow is the premiere of Damn That Television! my cable access television critique show. I can't wait. Until next time, the remote is yours.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Nip/Tuck: Season 4, Episode 2: Blu Mondae Review

Blu Mondae
Original Airdate: September 12, 2006
Writers: Lynnie Greene, Richard Levine
Director: Michael M. Robin

Following last week's somewhat disappointing premiere, this episode is a step in the right direction, although it gets the same rating. It helps fill in the blanks that were left open with the last episode. This episode could've been edited together with the premiere and perhaps the result would've been better overall. By the end, all the character arcs are set up well, which is good for the sake of the overall story this season.

The McNamaras are still having a hard time dealing with Connor's impending ectrodactyly. Sean deals with it by trying to and failing to fix the man whose face has been deformed by Treacher Collins with the hopes that he can fix his son's hands before he's old enough to realize what they are. Annie tries to empathize with her unborn brother by seeing what it is like, and neither Sean nor Julia can handle this now. I can't blame them for their reaction, but they need to be supportive of their daughter and try to understand where she's coming from instead of yelling at her for her way of coping. That only leads to remarks like Annie's parting words at the dinner scene.

Christian's questioning his sexuality gets a major push when Arthur (guest star Richard Chamberlain) and his boy toy Mitchell arrive for a consultation. Not that there is anything wrong with being gay, but Mitchell is nothing but a possession for Arthur and the surgery he wants for him is indicative of that. However, this subculture adds to Christian's dilemma; if Mitchell can be "gay for pay", couldn't the line between gay and straight be blurry for Christian as well?

It's still too early for Christian to act on his possible homosexuality, I would guess that'll happen midway through the season. Instead, we get hints. Christian watching Mitchell's lapdance is reminiscent of Quentin watching Sean receive oral sex from the co-ed last season. Instead of politely refusing Mitchell when he arrives at his apartment later, he punches him and kicks him out, while he is still naked (he must've had a pull cord on his clothing because no one can get undressed that quickly).

Kimber had a very rough season. On her wedding day, Quentin abducted her and locked her in a remote storage unit, where she became subject to his worst Carver attacks, reversing a dozen procedures without anesthesia or proper treatment, in addition to his trademark rape and slashes to the mouth. So it makes sense that a major part of her story would be coping with that. Since Christian was still in shock at the start of last season, it makes sense for them to find a different way to tackle her own trauma.

Matt, like Kimber, has always been one looking for a purpose. That pursuit has lead him to dark roads in the past, often running into the arms of sociopaths like Ava and Ariel ready to exploit his weaknesses. It seems like Scientology, with its suspicious and sometimes alarming practices would be a good fit for that. This may be the experience that will lead him towards self-realization when the show, or his tenure on it, ends.

I am glad that they had Mr. Alderman survive Cherry's gunshot. While Alderman was a loathsome individual and Cherry a sympathetic victim, the implication that she murdered him was tough to swallow, even from a revenge angle. Plus it would be tough for Matt and Cherry to hide the truth from Ariel considering that they would've been the last people to see him alive, even as Matt betrayed his friend over Cara in season two.

It makes sense that they would eventually tackle Scientology. Nip/Tuck prides itself for going where few shows would dare to go. It is a bit like South Park, which spoofed the controversial church in a highly publicized episode last fall, in that respect. This episode isn't nearly as critical toward them, but that could easily change as the season progresses and Matt is shut off from his family who doesn't agree with their teachings. Remember, this season Brooke Shields, who found herself in a highly publicized feud with Tom Cruise over Scientology, appears as a psychologist. Christian and Sean have a problem with it obviously, but Christian's feelings must be amplified because of who recruited him.

Matt is swayed into the religion rather easily, but it seems that the writers are also planting seeds for Julia to become involved. Since she left her job at the spa (which, by the way, did they ever mention why Liz left? Or did I forget something from last season), this could result in further frustration and desperation as she puts aside her dreams to raise another child. There is a conflict between the three parents (didn't they learn last year that raising Matt between the three of them isn't a good idea?) and that could be a major problem down the road if she adapts their philosophies.

It was clear that having the Landau's running a majority of McNamara/Troy would pose problems. Unfortunately for Sean, he doesn't have the freedom to schedule pro-bono work the way he ultimately wants. Also, Christian can't swap surgeries for sex. This is more of a nuisance for them now, but it should get a lot worse as the season progresses.

Certainly Michelle's secret woman, played by the 5th special guest star this season (Jacqueline Bisset), will play a role in making things a nightmare for the doctors. Initially, she could've been just Landau's first wife (she could still be), but extorting money from Michelle and the lesbian thing shows that the docs have opened a world of problems for themselves. And what does it mean that the openly gay Liz happened to see this transpire from the stairs in the parking lot?

The patient of the week doesn't quite fit the criteria. Mitchell would've probably been a better choice, although he didn't go under the knife. Her procedure, removing her implants, making her flat chested and more boyish, served more to further Christian's questioning sexuality. But we don't see him enjoying her dance in the end particularly, mostly because she is interchangeable from the countless bimbos he beds.

It would've worked better if they had spent more time with her dealing with her back problems the implants were responsible for. All the characters are dealing with a lot of emotional baggage that they are unable to shake off. From Christian's sexuality to Connor to Scientology, it is dragging them all down. This places all the characters in interesting places, which is where it should be for the seasonal arc to commence.

Score: 7/10

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Status Report - 9/12/06 - Handling the Recoil on This MF

Hey everyone, hope things are going well. This week I should get back to my show, which I have been looking forward to for a long time. A lot to discuss. But for now, here's the status report:

What I'm watching - Prison Break, Nip/Tuck (4.1 Review online now), The Daily Show, Colbert Report, The Wire (back with a vengeance). You've probably heard plenty from people extoling the virtues of the gritty, realistic portrayal of urban decay and corruption, so I will leave it to them.

On DVD - Watched a good chunk of Arrested Development S3, which is still brilliant. The Office S2 is also out today, which means I can relive the booze cruise, Christmas party and the gut-wrenching climax to the finale.

Reading - LFNY - (539/600) Post 9/11. I'm going to miss this book when I'm done.

Music - Pretty much putting my iPod on random. Seeing what will come up.

That's it for me. See you again soon. Until then, the remote is yours.

Nip/Tuck: Season 4, Episode 1: Cindy Plumb Review

Cindy Plumb
Original Airdate: September 5, 2006
Writer: Ryan Murphy
Director: Ryan Murphy

It is a tough task to follow up a disappointing season. Granted, I wasn't as harsh towards seasons three as other critics, but it was clearly lacking in the elements that made the first two seasons so much fun. Continuity was off (remember when Sean was a cutter for a whole minute in "Rhea Reynolds"? Or Julia smothering a woman she thought was her mother but it turned out not to be?) and it hurt the narrative. However, the worst offense was The Carver story. While it was good that they didn't do a quickie resolution to it at the end of season two, stretching it out through the fifteen-episode season was too much for the story they told. Something had to be done to keep the show on track so it wouldn't collapse under the weight of its shortcomings.

So, this episode is like a co-pilot for the show, a reinvention of the show. It reintroduces us to these characters (except for the noticeably absent Matt and Kimber), like the opening with the doctors prepping for surgery almost like they're prepping for the show itself. We get the basics for these characters again, from Julia's desperation, Sean's desire to do more helpful than vanity surgeries and Christian's womanizing, which is helpful for the fresh start. The style is also a good guide for novice viewers as to what they could expect.

In the opening there is also a parallel between the sexual practices of these doctors. Things have gotten better between Sean and Julia, as there is some tenderness as he kisses her pregnant belly. However, there are still problems, as they can't find a way to comfortably make love. Unlike a similar scene in "Escobar Gallardo", the pregnancy sex isn't really played for laughs, but to show a growing discomfort between the two of them. Julia looks better than she has in a while in this episode, but that mother's glow subsides as the episode progresses to reflect the rifts.

The mother/daughter thing with Christian was incredibly disturbing, essentially incest. It also helps emphasize just how sad this womanizing really is (or just gives Julian McMahon another reason to disrobe). Mothers and daughters, if you're doing this together, get some help. Although it is screwed up, it is a connection, which probably shows just how lonely and empty Christian feels after Kimber left him.

Considering this episode, only Julia's pregnancy and Kimber and Christian's estrangement is discussed. While it may make sense for them to put some distance between themselves and last season's excesses, ignoring them altogether may be a bit much. However, as this episode takes place six months after "Quentin Costa", The Carver fall out may have blown over.

On that note, there are many time discrepancies. The end of the season could be pinned to around January 2006. Yet in September, Julia's only six months pregnant, which also interferes with the timeline of the assumed conception in "Derek, Alex and Gary". As the show is trying to make up for past mistakes, these errors in the time line are rather obvious, but hopefully they will iron them out as the season progresses.

There were hints at the end of last season that there was something wrong with Julia's baby. The initial guess would be some type of mental retardation, but instead the baby is going to be afflicted with ectrodactyly (I had to look that up to spell it right). This condition doesn't devastate Sean and Julia's stability as much as the fact that she didn't tell Sean the truth immediately. Since learning of Matt's true pedigree, the trust issues between Sean and Julia have been difficult. If they are going to last, they need to reestablish this trust, and this appears to prove that a baby isn't going to be the solution to it.

Sean's anger eventually spills over toward harshly labeling his unborn child a freak. Since Matt and he have grown apart, Sean can see this new child as a way to continue his practice, turning it into a family business. Unfortunately, this birth defect will render his baby's hands unable to function the way a normal person's hands would, making it impossible for him to play ball with his father, much less become a surgeon. Sean's anger appears to be more about Julia keeping a secret though. It does tie into what Sean ultimately wants to do with his gifts as a surgeon: reconstruct people who have been scarred somehow.

There are several major guest stars in this episode. The first is Kathleen Turner as the eponymous phone sex "artist" who seeks help returning her voice to its sexy glory days. Some may consider it an act of desperation to get these casting choices, but they usually are very successful for the show, even when the plot didn't quite live up to expectations (sorry Anne Heche). Although she isn't the sex symbol she was in "Body Heat", she still has that husky voice and that need to connect adds to the growing problems between Sean and Julia.

A good casting choice is the introduction of Landau, played by Larry Hagman. While I remember watching him in "I Dream of Jeanie" repeats when I was a kid, his other major role was as JR Ewing on Dallas. Everyone knows or remembers the "Who shot JR?" storyline, probably the most popular storyline in the history of prime time soaps. Hopefully, 20 years after that, he can work some magic on this show now. Landau's trophy wife Michelle has an unusual interest in McNamara/Troy. What they hope to do with the practice isn't clear now, but it's clear that the doctors placing their faith in them is a big mistake.

The third guest star doesn't gel with the others as well. Brooke Shields' guest spot as the psychiatrist Christian eventually has sex with is inconsistent, but that may be hinting at an overall storyline. She harshly criticizes Christian's lifestyle and alludes to him being gay, but even she has him. Her comments about Christian's favorite sexual position early in the episode, when seen after the brief sex scene, hint at some major intimacy issues for her as well, as would be the case if she's sleeping with clients during business hours as others wait outside. This subplot feels underdeveloped and out of place. Perhaps there was a deleted scene or two to better detail the build up to the pay off at the end. A better use of time could've been to include something with Matt or Kimber.

So, where were Kimber and Matt in this episode? Matt was in the garage and apparently stayed there for the whole episode. Hell, we saw Annie. It could be assumed that he's interested in weight lifting judging by the set when Sean calls Cindy's phone sex line. Considering where they were last season, with Matt being an accessory to Mr. Alderman's murder and Kimber recovering from The Carver's most brutal non-lethal attack, there is clearly a lot to do with them.

The show is at heart the love story between two heterosexual men. They are the love of each others lives, but it isn't romantic. This episode takes that premise and asks what if one of them is romantically interested in the other. However, not much is done about it this week, instead focusing on Christian trying to "butch up" his style. Christian has had a lot of sexual trauma in his life, from his time with his molester foster father to being raped by The Carver. Using my amateur psychology, that would distort anyone's sexuality. Whether Christian is going to come out or settle down with one woman is unclear, but he'll need to come to terms with it if that will ever happen. This season will probably be a good place to explore that.

This is probably the most disappointing Ryan Murphy penned episode to date. Perhaps some of the critical lashing season three received provoked him to overcompensate with this episode. There is simply too much going on and it isn't consistent. I don't think we needed all the celebrity cameos in this episode. Each one of them could've been expanded into an each episode, whereas in this one it feels mashed up. The direction and style made up for some of that (although I'm disappointed by the absence of AC/DC's "Big Balls" during Landau's surgery). Hopefully it'll only take an episode or two to smooth out so the show can shine again.

Score: 7/10