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