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