The Final Cuts of the so Sexy ‘Nip/Tuck’
The Final Cuts of the so Sexy ‘Nip/Tuck’
“Nip/Tuck” has challenged audiences – and the ratings system – for six incredible seasons, along with its “Final Nine.”
The FX hit show reached its pinnacle in the fifth season, and probably should have ended there; but they kept going, they kept writing, and they kept the creativity flowing. The show, without a doubt, lost much of its original flare after the fifth season, but “Nip/Tuck” fans couldn’t be more thrilled to have the season return.
Quite simply, the show is a guilty pleasure. Like chocolate cake at midnight. You just cannot stop watching. And I must admit that I was upset to hear the show was ending its run. Four episodes remain, including the series finale, and I am counting down until the day my favorite television show goes off the air. Counting down because, well, what will ever be able to replace this addiction? I can’t wait to see how it ends, though I will be rather upset to see it gone.
This season has consisted of ups and downs in all areas, and, with every down, Sean (Dylan Walsh) and Christian’s (Julian McMahon) lives get a little messier, a little crazier, a little sexier, and a lot harder.
As the “Final Nine” unravels, Christian’s long, drawn-out frustration, which has been building up for a whole decade, toward his best friend and partner Christian begins to explode. He resents Christian for ruining his shot at Harvard. He can’t stand Christian for treating others so poorly. A few times, Sean decides to leave the practice and do something more meaningful and humanitarian, by his standards, with his talented surgeon skills. Of course, a sexy woman gets in the way and Sean’s plans to travel to Africa to help the needy there fail.
Christian still cannot make up his mind about Kimber, but he knows one thing: “no babies.” The two are so wrong for one another that they are absolutely perfect as a newly, and finally, married couple. But, as always, their relationship hits a rough patch, and becomes incredibly detached and strained. Kimber even fakes an orgasm! Yeah, Christian was pretty pissed.
And, what would “Nip/Tuck” be without cheating and lies? Kimber and Sean fall into a sex-driven adulterous relationship. It ends just before Kimber commits suicide by jumping off Mike’s (“Saved By the Bell’s Mario Lopez) yacht. I must say that I miss Kimber. At times, I couldn’t decide whether I hated her or loved her; in the end, I know I have loved her. Her character was so well-rounded, with all her perfections and flaws battling one another. Beautiful on the outside, ruined on the inside. And that’s the last we’ve seen of scrumptious Mario Lopez, always parading with his shirt off, abs rippling. He fit his role well.
Speaking of characters gone astray, where is Wilbur through all of this? And Jenna, who you only see maybe once? The little ones seem to be forgotten. Though they wouldn’t add much to the series, they are a part of it, and it is a put-off to see them simply written out of the scripts without so much as a one-line explanation.
Matt has been living life on a clean slate now, something new for him. After his odd mime phase, the writers might have agreed to give him less of a prominent role, for the mime days were too strange, even for Matt.
Julia is too be missed as well. But rumor has it that she will return for the closure to deliver shocking information about Annie and Connor (Sean’s other two children).
The cinematography is as great as ever. The lines are clever. The stories of the patients who visit MacNamara/Troy are as both touching and strange as always, with each tale tying into the lives of the main characters in a beautifully haunting way.
A huge downfall is, well, less sex and provocative scenes in “Nip/Tuck”. Fans of the show love those down-right dirty scenes. Christian bending a patient over his desk, for example. Although there has been some sexy lines and scenes, the last season and the last few episodes do not live up to the show’s reputation. Not even close. Where is that “Nip/Tuck” fire? Where is the passion, or the lack-of (in Christian’s case)? Where is Christian snorting cocaine off Kimber’s ass? Where is Julia turning lesbian, but not getting off from her female lover? Where is Christian and Kimber going to a swinger’s bash and Kimber getting into an all-female threesome to turn on her lover? They all live on DVD, if you can afford it.
If you’re a “Nip/Tuck” guru, keep up with the final four episodes. What ending do you predict? It seems Christian has to die, because what the hell will he do after their practice ends? Other than be a 45-year-old trying to get with 21-year-olds?; or, perhaps, Sean, with his huge heart, will die for the man who he both hates and loves. Maybe there won’t be any more deaths. Maybe they will all live happily ever after. Doubt it. That is not Nip/Tuck-ish. Something shocking, totally surprising, and completely… weird… must happen.
And I sure cannot wait to find out how my favorite series, a huge FX hit, ends its successful era.