Fight for Your Right To Party
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'Nip/Tuck' - 'Dr. Griffin' Recap
by Jonathan Toomey, posted Feb 11th 2010 12:42PM
(S07E06) "It's not like we're a couple or anything." - Sean
Saving the best for last, the final season of 'Nip/Tuck' is firing on all cylinders right now and 'Dr. Griffin' easily stands out as one of the final run's, and possibly the series', finest episodes. Highlighting the symbiotic, and often parasitic, relationship that Drs. McNamara and Troy have shared over the years, 'Dr. Griffin' could have been a boring romp as our two favorite plastic surgeons sat on a therapist's couch and laid their feelings bare. Instead, what resulted, was a charged exploration of how these two people really feel about each other.
On many levels, Sean and Christian's dialogue trudged thorough familiar territory but the key was that it was familiar to fans -- not them. While we knew about Christian forging Sean's signature for the loan or Sean's affair with Kimber right before her suicide, they didn't. Seeing them react to these revelations that have been simmering in the background for weeks was nothing short of riveting. Hats off to Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon for injecting a burst of energy into two characters that have grown stale because we know them so well. Seeing Sean and Christian like this is a reminder of what made 'Nip/Tuck' so good in the first place.
On top of their individual discussions, it was great to see Liz and Matt brought into the fold as well. Liz held a mirror up to both of them, though what they saw only seemed to shock Sean. For as smart as he is, to still think that he's somehow above Christian is comical.
Matt's appearance was less shocking as his decision to cut ties with both his fathers for good was a long time coming. Not sure what value there was in introducing his new fiancee though -- walking away from his family was proof enough that he's starting over. That being said, nothing regarding Matt's future is set in stone with Ava (Famke Janssen) set to return in a few weeks. The only missing piece here was Julia, but there's sure to be a final confrontation with her involved before the season is out. With the history she shares with both Sean and Christian, she deserves more than a therapy session.
A few more thoughts --
- 'Dr. Griffin' was shaping up to be the only episode where the title character wasn't a patient in some form of McNamara/Troy. Then he got shot in the face. So much for that.
- I mentioned how charged the episode felt and most of Christian's dialogue was the source of that. Everything he said had so many double meanings, like "I know where all the bodies are buried."
- "Nobody is totally without blame." So... when is Sean going to realize that?
It was interesting that the episode ended with Sean and Christian seeing another therapist. In a way it makes sense. Like Liz said, without each other, neither Sean nor Christian exist. More therapy just continues to keep that circular truth alive.
[Watch clips and full episodes of Nip/Tuck over at SlashControl.]
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