(S06E10) "Besides, we've seen people die before. I mean, hell, we've thrown them in a swamp." - Christian

This deep into Nip/Tuck, it's hard sometimes to remember the original sin that took place in the pilot episode all those years ago -- Sean and Christian wrapping a body in spiral hams and dumping it deep in the Everglades. The two of them, they're not innocent -- not by a longshot -- and it always creates an interesting dichotomy when they try to elevate themselves ethically (Sean, especially).

Within the final moments of last night's superb finale (I mean it -- best episode of the season), it's easy to make the argument that all has been forgiven, but with nine episodes remaining (the seventh and final season premieres in just a few weeks on January 6th), it's probably a safe bet that we just witnessed the calm before the storm.

As Christian pointed out, It's not like assisting in a man's death is entirely foreign to him and Sean. So for Sean to have so much abhorrence to operating on Wesley Clovis came as a bit of a surprise -- especially once we learned that it would guarantee Matt's release from prison.

For Sean, who continually claims to act in the best interest of family to then turn on his own son wasn't necessarily out of character, but it instead signaled a drastic shift in who Sean is. He seems to finally be realizing that the only thing he can control, is himself and his reputation -- something that Christian has known for years but chooses to ignore by having the time of his life.

By episode's end, watching Wesley die from lethal injection brought forth all sorts of metaphors, the most obvious of which being Jesus. Wesley lay there, arms outstretched on the the cross-shaped surgical table, bloodied from the staples in his stomach (his own crown of thorns), an innocent man, slowly dying for someone else's sins -- Matt's, Sean's, Christian's, and the guy who actually perpetrated the crime Wesley was accused of. It was an extremely somber but well played moment for what it set up.

Kudos to Eric Stonestreet. He may be a long way from his jovial role on Modern Family, but as we saw in the closing moments, Sean and Christian have created a modern family of their own. The only problem? Something's gotta give.

As the warden pointed out, Matt isn't rehabilitated. Can he really change? Kimber won't be able to put up with Christian, knowing that he pushed her into a situation where she can never have children again. Christian isn't just going to start being nice to her either. And Sean? More than any character on this show, he's perhaps the most far gone. How can someone as jaded and cynical as he's become turn things around?

It was such a quiet moment as they all shared Chinese food together and in some ways, the simplicity of that scene is what makes it arguably the best cliffhanger Nip/Tuck has ever had. Something isn't right here.

In the meantime, while you wait for the next season, FX has released the artwork for the final run of episodes. Pretty cool, huh?


[Watch clips and full episodes of Nip/Tuck over at SlashControl.]