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Episode Recap: "Magda & Jeff"
I'm going to cut to the chase and say that this was one of my very least favorite episodes since the series began, but that ending was one of the best ever. How's that for running the gamut? Let's start with that ending: Ding-dong the witch is dead! Just when I thought I was happy to see Gina back because I thought she changed her wicked ways, here she was being more sadly pathetic than ever. So pathetic that I grimaced every time she was on screen after that scene when she paid the Gina-look-alike (Ali Raymer) to have sex with Christian while she watched...and then begged Christian to "Kiss me!" Then when she morphed further into Alex Forrest and lied by manipulating Julia into thinking Christian could be HIV positive because she was having sex with him, I cringed even more. I wanted the bee-yotch to get punished for her craziness. I was so glad to see Christian hand her the restraining order towards the very end. How many of you were thinking (or perhaps screaming): "No way! He is not going to have sex with her on that roof, even with that condom"? When she fell off the roof after he, umm, stuck it to her, I literally screamed: "Yes!!" Awesome ending to an otherwise mostly sucky episode. Did I just type "sucky"? Never thought I'd describe a Nip/Tuck episode that way, but let me count the ways, I mean, reasons why this one was "no bueno" to me (besides Gina returning to her psycho persona):
The Magda & Jeff storyline was one of the most disgusting and hateful plots I've ever witnessed on this show and as you know, there have been many over-the-top and out-of-control weird-ass patients on this show. But come on. I was actually intrigued when I read the description in advance: a May-December relationship deals with an aging issue after twenty-one years of marriage when the older (female) partner wants her younger husband to get surgery to undo his earlier electrolysis procedures so that they'll appear closer in age. Did they have to cast a little old lady in the role? I was hoping to see a seasoned actress, someone in her sixties or even early '70s that still had sex appeal (Rue McClanahan would've been perfect), especially since this show usually casts some of the very best guest stars. But Selma Stern was simply too old for the role. I kept waiting for her to yell: "Where's the beef?" How about that visual of her straddling Jeff so vigorously that it gave him a grand mal seizure? Lovely. At least I can say Robert Gant from Queer as Folk did a fine job as the unfortunate Jeff (I'll get to the few other things I liked about the episode later). Why have such meaningful lines come out of such a hateful character in her final scene when Madga came to McNamara/Troy with her Jeff replacement? "It's time to move on. You get nothing from the past and who knows what the future is? It's the present, boys...you gotta take a bite out of that apple and have fun while you can. Nobody's keeping score." Liked the speech. Wished it was given by someone other than her. Imagine Rue giving that speech!
Speaking of former QAF cast members, Sharon Gless began the hour as a welcome addition to the show as Colleen, Sean's new talent agent. But why do so many of the female characters on this show end up psychos or stalkers? I was loving the Colleen character until she began overly drinking at dinner with Sean. When Sean drove her home and she asked him to touch her (real) breasts, I thought "Oh, gee, another pathetically weak female character." No female power agent in Hollywood would be caught dead pleading to one her new male clients to touch her boobies. Luckily Sean laid the ground rules with her to not visit the "Hearts 'N Scalpels" set unless he asked her to. We need more powerful female characters like (this week's MIA) Liz.
While I mention "Hearts 'N Scalpels" and pathetic female characters, can the next one to be killed off please be Eden? I guess it was inevitable that he'd be attracted to her after Aidan eyed Eden at that party a few episodes back. But do we need to have her stalk Aidan by showing up at the set, sleep with him in his trailer and then miraculously have a video of their sexcapade and put it on YouTube? Cut to the scene with Marlee Matlin as network president Barbara Shapiro watching the video (what, no closeup shots?) with Freddie, Aidan, Sean and Colleen. Suddenly, Aidan is suspended for three months and must go to rehab while Sean takes over as temporary star. Yeah, right. Sean didn't waste time taking over for Aidan when he flirted with the blond extra (Erin Cort) and then...showed her around.
How much longer does Julia have to suffer post-tainted-fruitcake? Even the doctor (Kevin Cooney) can't figure out what's wrong with her, so she just must have AIDS. Good thing Christian showed Julia the negative results to both of their HIV tests, plus she was able to spend a tender moment with Sean. I bet a lot of you were in agreement with Christian when he said to Julia: "There's always something wrong with you!"
The few things I enjoyed about this episode (besides that ending):
As usual, the song choices by P.J. Bloom were perfect. The two best ones were "Pretty Boys & Pretty Girls" by Book of Love (which already samples "Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield) played during the Exorcist-like storyline of "Hearts 'N Scalpels" and even better, hearing Minnie Riperton's classic "Lovin' You" during two back-to-back unpleasant scenes (Colleen's drunken touch-my-breasts plea and Magda on top of Jeff in the hospital bed). Hearing that song got my mind off the unpleasantness. At least for a moment.
Anytime they feature portions of a "Hearts 'N Scalpels" episode, I smile. Especially Aidan's character operating while blind. How funny was Bradley Cooper when Aidan was talking to Marcus (Rick Boggs) the blindness consultant and telling him he wanted to cry to "prove to everyone that blind people cry like normal people"?
Nice to see Paula Marshall back as ("I'm dating a black guy now") Kate, albeit briefly.
Although they weren't shown, at least Wilber (twice) and Conor (once) were both mentioned.
Great insult lines from Christian to Gina: "I'm not going anywhere near that saber-toothed snatch" and Christian to Julia (about Gina): "She's got the gate to hell between her legs."
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, right? Let me know if you agree or disagree with me about this episode.
Be sure to check out Michael Ausiello's interview with departing cast member Jessalyn Gilsig here. And you can check out Nip/Tuck-related videos in our Online Video Guide.
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Jan 23, 2008 7:07 AM
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Rue would have been great to see, but wouldn't have worked in the role. The storyline obviously wanted to have the older female partner be hateful (otherwise he wouldn't have called her the devil). I think the visual was disturbing mainly because the character was so malicious and manipulative. You'd almost agree she WAS the devil the way she smiled when she convinced him to stay and THEN with the age difference between them you'd expect her to die not HIM have the grand mal! I loved when she said "I won't live forever" and he said "you promise?". I cracked up! She reminds me of a line I heard once on a movie or tv show. "She's so mean she'll live forever, they won't ever find a grave that won't spit her back up".
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Jan 23, 2008 8:55 AM
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I really hate how every older woman on this show may be depraved, crazy or sex starved. Given Jacqueline Bisset from last season was only mercenary, that looks like an upgrade. Must every woman who's not a size 0 and over 25 be pathetic on this show?
Liked the episode other than that.
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Jan 23, 2008 9:12 AM
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not my fav ep but not a bad one to me. I think the older lady did well..tho disturbing to watch..she did a good job portrayin the evil old woman who just mite live 4ever
The best part was when she seemed 2 have sweetened up a bit when tryin to keep jeff from leavin. Then she turned bak to her wicked ways.
This Julia thing is draggin waaaay too long. Come on & tell us whats wrong w/ her!
Glad Gina's gone & agree totally Eden shuld be next!
Loved seein QAF alumni 
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Jan 23, 2008 10:28 AM
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I, too, loved the Julia/Sean scene. These two always seem like soulmates...except...when they're actually together. Maybe they should try being together without being married. Like at the end of season 3, when Julia and Sean reconciled after she found out she was pregnant. They seemed sooo happy then.
And Christian and Julia can't be together. They are both too antagonistical. I always loved Christian best with Kimber.
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Jan 23, 2008 12:18 PM
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Awesome recap, Dave! I totally agree with you about this episode and the irony is that throughout it, I kept thinking "Wow, this one kinda sucks" and then pow! Gina falls off the roof and all things are good. I laughed hysterically when it happened so I was glad to read you liked that part.  But yes, I, too thought the Magda role should've gone to someone a bit younger and less crochety. Next week looks better, thankfully.
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Jan 23, 2008 12:33 PM
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khia213, it isn't just older women (Annie's flirtation with anorexia and disfiguring her dolls to resemble her baby brother, the nanny Sean was banging who got hit by a bus, Eden, Kimber, Brooke Shields' psychotherapist, Mrs. Grubman, Dawn Budge, the transsexual who was banging Matt). Just about every female character is substantially damaged, broken or demented, as Dave pointed out.
Anyone else notice that Colleen didn't go into the house Sean dropped her off at? I don't think that was her house. I suspect she's fallen on hard times, which is why she glommed onto Sean as a client then spent so much time on the set.
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Jan 23, 2008 12:37 PM
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I think Im the only one who thought this episode was waaayy to funny. The old lady and her young had me rolling. I think my favorite part was when Jeff called her "belsabubba" I had to rewind that part twice.
As for Gina, Im glad that she is dead. I never did like her. I thought her death was going to be more disterbuing. But it wasn't....I just shrugged my shoulders. And what was that business of her seeing Wilbur? Her parental rights were revoked and there was a restraining order against her.
I also screamed at the fact that Christian went ahead and "stuck it" to Gina. Afterall she did have the gateway to hell between her legs.
Im also getting sick and tired of wondering what is wrong with Julia. I don't know but couldn't they do a toxicology on Julia? That could figure out what is wrong with her. But as usual Christian is right, everything is wrong with Julia.
My other favorite lines of the night was the ones you mentioned "I'm not going anywhere near that saber-toothed snatch" and "I won't live forever" and he said "you promise?",from Magda to Jeff.
I agree Dave this was a good Post.
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Jan 23, 2008 12:52 PM
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Dave,
I totally agree with every single one of your comments about last night's episode. The only thing I liked about last night's episode was the ending. That old lady creeped me out, she looked so sweet and said such disgusting things. That story line was really over the top. I also couldn't stand Sharon Gless's character as the agent. She was so desperate!! She usually plays strong and quirky women but this role is absolutely disgusting!!
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Jan 23, 2008 12:56 PM
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Did Gina bite Christian's lip @ the end?
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Jan 23, 2008 1:10 PM
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I thought this episode was great.
I have two points to make about your comments. Yes, the Sharon Gless/Colleen character turned out to be damaged/pathetic is true, but it is wrong to say that little proclivity of Nip/Tuck only applies to women. The most basic premise of the show is that everyone is damaged and in need of repair.
Secondly, your comments about Selma Stern seem ageist. Does your dislike of the character come from the fact that such an elderly woman would be so up front about sexual desire? Great actress Rue McClanahan is, she would have been miscast (too young) as a woman knock, knock, knockin' on heavn's door. I thought Stern did a terrific job with such a difficult character.
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Jan 23, 2008 1:48 PM
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I can explain why Liz wasn't on last night: she got promoted to a judge on Boston Legal, which was on at the same time.
Also, I can see how Aidan would think Sean was behind the video - - what other point was there? Did Eden do it just to be on YouTube? What's her beef with Aidan (i.e., editing it to make him look bad)?
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Jan 23, 2008 2:00 PM
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Thanks to all of you for your comments. I figured there'd be a difference of opinions. Bluesp, I also figured someone was going to think I was being ageist with my dislike of the casting of Selma Stern. That wasn't my intent at all. I just think there are so many other older actresses that could've played the role more effectively with more sex appeal and less "crochety-ness." Betty White is another example of who would've been better. I do agree with you that it is not just the female characters who are in need of help on this show. It just seems like too many of the female ones are psychotic and weak. Sheldon, excellent point about Colleen walking on after Sean dropped her off and yes, lrt1, I bet Christian freaks out next week because Gina bit his lip. We shall see...
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Jan 23, 2008 2:19 PM
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for the most part I agree with you. Except about the agent story line. I think there's something more to her than just being an agent. Did you notice how, when Sean dropped her off she walked up towards that beautiful house? And then when he drove away she turned and went back down the steps and went somewhere else?
Maybe she's not really an agent...
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Jan 23, 2008 3:03 PM
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"> )
. If you think about it, Sean is always complaining how Christian is too self-absorbed, vain, and too much into the social life/popularity in LA. While you can see more and more that Sean himself is becoming like him, especially, the last few scenes where he told off Colleen and then hit on the blond extra similar to how Adian was acting towards Freddy. 
. I really liked the character because she was honest and told people off without thinking twice. She and Christian were really a good couple in a twisted way.