Nip/Tuck Ricky Wells
Original Air Date: Feb 3, 2008
Tom R. - TwoCents Staff Writer
tom@thetwocents.com
For a show packed with celebrity guest stars, Nip/Tuck always manages to find one outstanding unknown. Last year, Maggie Siff had her turn as the survivor of a suicide bombing. Since then, she’s scored two major series, Mad Men and Sons of Anarchy. We can only hope that Adhir Kalyan (Raj Paresh) gets the same kind of career bump. (You can’t exactly call Aliens in America a breakout series.) Granted, it’s a little more difficult for an Indian actor, but after this episode, he deserves it.
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[photo: FX.com]
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For a show packed with celebrity guest stars, Nip/Tuck always manages to find one outstanding unknown. Last year, Maggie Siff had her turn as the survivor of a suicide bombing. Since then, she’s scored two major series, Mad Men and Sons of Anarchy. We can only hope that Adhir Kalyan (Raj Paresh) gets the same kind of career bump. (You can’t exactly call Aliens in America a breakout series.) Granted, it’s a little more difficult for an Indian actor, but after this episode, he deserves it.
ReplyDeleteThis week, Raj becomes a surrogate son for Sean, as Matt prepares to drop out of college. Before that can happen, Sean gets Raj to tutor Matt. Since his father arrives looking for him to perform a genital enhancement, Raj jumps at the chance to do anything else. The tutoring session consists of Matt getting stoned and drunk with Raj, at which point the 17 year old prodigy decides that the only way out from under his father’s tyranny is to lose his hands. In a gripping scene, he begs and goads Matt into slamming the car door on his hand. We’ve seen Raj as a confused boy and a talented surgeon with little social skills. In this scene, he shows a desperation that has obviously been building for years.
There’s an interesting angle to the Ricky Wells storyline. Instead of facelifts and vein stripping to look younger, Ricky is an 18 year old newlywed who wants to be aged. His bride is his former teacher, who has had a crush on him since he was 8. She has served two separate prison terms for their relationship, but as soon as Ricky turned 18, they got married. He feels that aging surgery will take some of the stigma away from their marriage. But of course, as soon as he looks older, his wife’s attention turns away from him and toward his underage younger brother.
As Liz decides to get a makeover, Christian goes under the knife for a pectoral implant. He emerges as his old self, picking up women until he is caught in the act by Liz. A slight turn in Christian’s character allows him to offer a brief apology. Showing up at Liz’s door later in the episode, he finds that he wasn’t the only one cheating. After some soul-searching, Liz gives Sean her resignation and heads back to Miami.
Two nice song choices during the episode, each of which provides both texture and irony to the story: As Christian goes under, the team plays “I Am Superman” by REM. Initially an obvious reference to the enormous Troy ego, it runs under scenes that show Raj as a prodigy, Sean’s disappointment in Matt, and the surgery requested by Raj’s father.
The other is “Steppin’ Out” by Joe Jackson. It starts as Sean treats Raj to his first taste of chicken wings and beer. The music continues as Christian resumes his escapades. It stops as his partner notices the effects of the botched implant surgery.
Oh by the way…The celebrity guest star angle has its own share of nice choices…Rose McGowan is about to join the cast.
Music:
Two noted above, plus
“Happy Afternoon”, APM
“Oh Yeah”, Yello
“Suspicious Character”, The Blood Arm
“Gymnopedie”, Margaret Lang Tan
“Perfect Lie” (Theme), The Engine Room
Quotes:
“Make me beautiful.” Christian, about to go under anesthesia
“Has the chemo killed every bit of class you ever had?” Liz, as Christian explains his cheating.
“At least if it was a man, I’d know I could win.” Christian, as Liz explains her cheating.
So there’s my two cents...What do you think? Drop them in the comments or drop me a line at: tom@thetwocents.com.