Nip/Tuck"Rachel Ben Natan"
Original Air Date: January 15, 2008
Tom R - TwoCents Staff Writer
In a show known for bizarre surgery plotlines, this takes it to a new level. Matt’s rehab counselor, introduced in the last episode as the victim of a suicide bomber, finds a tooth embedded in her cheek. As the episode progresses, she reveals how much of the bomber’s remains infiltrated her body after the blast. It’s an interesting metaphor that leads Sean and Christian to forgiveness and reconciliation as Rachel returns the remains to the bomber’s family. Wow.
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[Photo: Michael Becker / FX]
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Nip/Tuck
ReplyDelete"Rachel Ben Natan"
Original Air Date: January 15, 2008
Tom R - TwoCents Staff Writer
In a show known for bizarre surgery plotlines, this takes it to a new level. Matt’s rehab counselor, introduced in the last episode as the victim of a suicide bomber, finds a tooth embedded in her cheek. As the episode progresses, she reveals how much of the bomber’s remains infiltrated her body after the blast. It’s an interesting metaphor that leads Sean and Christian to forgiveness and reconciliation as Rachel returns the remains to the bomber’s family. Wow.
Before that, however, we see Christian tempted away from Julia by the new receptionist. He accuses Sean of hiring her to sabotage his relationship with Julia. After a tryst in his office, Christian fires her. Sean makes an interesting choice for her replacement: Gina Russo, the mother of Christian’s child and the only woman he would not want to sleep with. Welcome back, Jessalyn Gilsig. You have been missed,
In the meantime, Freddy gets incredibly excited about being invited to a gay pride parade, even though Dawn is adamantly against it. Her appearance at the parade results in being run down by a lesbian on a motorcycle. After Sean and Christian work on her face, her homophobia and talk of lawsuits reveals her true fear, namely that Freddy would realize his true sexual nature, which of course is exactly what happens anyway.
As Sean struggles with his jealousies, he is haunted by his vision of the bomber, and at one point imagines himself about to blow Julia, Christian and himself to bits. Jealousies and aggravations build to a head as Sean and Christian have an all-out brawl and have to be hosed down by Liz.
While it’s not an episode with any blockbuster emotional moments, it’s clearly one of the top episodes of the season, especially the ending, where Sean and Christian reconcile and work together to rebuild Rachel’s face. Not every episode has to make your jaw drop. Sometimes just a little sweetness and heartfelt resolutions work perfectly. And Rachel’s reconciliation with her tragedy is without a doubt one of the most unique storylines in the history of television, and it’s handled brilliantly on all levels…writing, acting and directing.
Quotable:
“If I want your opinion, the topic will be bad teeth.”
Dawn, to a British TV director
“No man of mine is riding on a fruit float!”
Dawn, as Freddy breaks the news about the Gay Pride Parade
“He’s human shrapnel…Please take him out of me!”
Rachel, begging Sean to operate
Nip/Tuck is created for mature audiences.
The show airs Tuesday nights at 10 PM on the F/X Network.
Repeats air immediately and over the following weekend.