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Episode Recap: "August Walden"
That ending was a real bang, wasn't it? Oh, Julia. If you're going to buy a gun for self-protection, protect yourself by hiding it from others. All Eden the skank needed to do was find that damn gun in Julia's bedroom. I knew that as soon as Julia told Eden that she figured everything out that Eden was the one who was the cause of her mysterious illness Eden wasn't going to react in a good way. How about the timing of Julia receiving her follicle lab results that clearly included words like "exposure to high dosages of mercury" and "contaminated foods" at the exact same time that Eden was serving her yet another piece of fruitcake? Bingo! Julia: "I'll take it to my room." Julia's inner thought: "I'll send it to the lab in Virginia." Olivia sure was an understanding lover earlier, sending Julia's hair sample to the lab, even after Julia told her she was having an affair with Christian. I was expecting a different reaction. There was Olivia, all happy and peppy and bursting with love with her "You're my angel" line to Julia, which Julia followed with the oh-so-romantic reply: "I've been having an affair with Christian." Olivia's non-reaction was kind of Stepford Wives-esque. But if Olivia hadn't come up with the idea of sending Julia's hair sample to the Virginia lab, Julia would still be clueless.
We'll have to wait until next week to find out how serious that gunshot was and whether Eden will need to go to target practice. While I'm mentioning Eden, can we talk about her look, specifically in this episode? Why the hooker eyeliner, hoop earrings and '80s hair? She looked like she was a leftover extra from an old Pat Benatar video. I was waiting for Julia to sing to Eden: "Hit me with your best shot...fire away!"
Speaking of next week (and no, this is no spoiler), I saw page one of the new TV Guide magazine before watching this week's episode so I had it on my mind while I was watching. It's a photo of Christian and Sean with the caption: "Tragedy strikes the McNamara/Troy family in the shocking fifth-season ender." So, obviously, the tragedy is Julia's shooting. Notice how I say "shooting" and not "death" we've already seen the future and we know that Julia is in it. So is Matt. But I kept thinking, as the hour progressed and Matt kept morphing further and further into Bad Luck Schleprock, that next week's tragedy was going to be a suicide attempt by Matt. Perhaps not. Just when we thought Matt's luck was bad enough, he gets dumped by burn victim Rachel (Matt: "You're not attracted to me?!") and then has sex with a gal he doesn't realize is his sister. When they showed the "previously on Nip/Tuck" scenes and included four of Matt's ex-lovers, it was inevitable that his bad luck streak was going to continue.
Nice curveball towards the end when not-a-virgin-anymore Emmy (Jeannine Kasper), after Christian made her beautiful by removing her humongous facial birthmark, had sex with Matt and said: "These last few days have just been amazing. First, I met my father. Then, I got my face fixed and then I met you." Matt: "You met your father? Who is he?" Emmy: "My plastic surgeon Dr. Troy." So I'm guessing that she knew all along that Christian was her father but never told Christian since he didn't freak out when Matt asked him for an "emergency prescription" even before the morning after. Christian was just happy Matt was being safe. Safe, but incestuous. I should've seen the Christian connection coming when Emmy mentioned that her mother told her she was the product of a one-night-stand and referred to Emmy as "The Scarlet Letter." How perfectly Matt for him to consider continuing the relationship after going on the Internet and visiting a blog devoted to couples that are related. As long as they don't try to breed. Seriously, how f---ed up is Matt? I'm surprised Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" wasn't played during their sex scene.
One song that was heard during this episode was Danny Kaye's "The Ugly Duckling," played in honor of August Walden (Steven J. Oliver), the Entertainment Weekly critic that gave Sean a scathing review for "Hearts 'N Scalpels." In a scene reminiscent of Entourage's Johnny Drama arriving at the offices of Daily Variety and yelling at the critic who gave him a bad review, Sean did the same thing, but a more toned-down version and at a local coffee shop. Now, I've heard of ugly, but that man was beyond unfortunate. What a perfect arrangement: Sean gave August corrective surgery in exchange for August doing some "corrective surgery" via a new, positive EW review of Sean and "Hearts 'N Scalpels." Road Rules fans may have recognized David Giuntoli as the ex-NCIS recurring actor who also got a horrid review from August and paid him back with scalding coffee in the face. Ouch.
Other random observations:
How typical of Christian to get all excited when Liz was reading him the bad Sean review.
The post-mercury poison "sick" makeup that they gave Joely Richardson didn't really make her appear sick, just older. Therefore, she was the spitting image of her mother, both on the show and off: Vanessa Redgrave.
Good thing Julia's now officially over Christian. All it took was arriving at his place during one of his nooners. Christian (post-anonymous sex): "I'm sorry I can't change who I am. I tried." Julia will forgive but never forget. And notice how Julia called Christian "ugly" for his behavior. There's that ugly word again.
I found it quite realistic that even McNamara/Troy couldn't fix Rachel's face, even after six attempts. You can check out Maggie Siff without the accent and all the burn-victim makeup on repeats of the fabulous Mad Men on AMC Sunday nights at 12am ET.
It was funny to hear Kate (Paula Marshall) relate to Sean after his bad reviews and tell him he'd be eating lots of junk food real soon.
I thought it was odd that there was nary a mention of Colleen (Sharon Gless), or as I'd like to now call her, Colloon, in this episode. At least she's back next week, looney tunes as ever, so maybe then we'll get to hear more about the aftermath of last week.
Next week is the season finale, or as the promos say: "An FX special event." See you then. In the meantime, let me know what you thought of this episode below. Was the incest storyline even too over-the-top for Nip/Tuck or was it simply par for the course? Remember, we don't have proof yet that Emmy is really Matt's daddy Christian's daughter. And something tells me you Julia-haters were loving that she was shot at.
You can check out Nip/Tuck-related videos in our Online Video Guide.
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Feb 13, 2008 5:19 AM
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Good recap. Show was ok alot better than last week. I actually watched the show instead of flipping channels. Hope Julia survives. Hope that this whole Mat storyline is ended. I realize the show has jumped the shark several times. I put up with it through the carver and other horrible storylines, but I draw the line at incest. Its the reason I can't watch soap operas now. I find the growing trend of shows writing incest storylines really sick and disturbing. .
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Feb 13, 2008 6:29 AM
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Don't forget that the show has painted itself into a corner with the "future" episode from last season. Julia was in it.
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Feb 13, 2008 7:46 AM
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In theory, I can see how the future episode was a good idea, but really, it kind of takes the fun out of some episodes! The upcoming season finale is no exception. :-\
We know that Julia survives! So no surprises there. I am intrigued to find out what happens with the Matt-Emmy storyline! I can honestly say I didn't' see that one coming! I knew something was up, I just figured it had something to do with Rachel.
Thank you Nip/Tuck for giving Sean a critique! While I have no doubt that there is such a thing as natural acting ability, to go from plastic surgeon to television star seems like a stretch. Again, I do believe in natural ability, but to make Sean a star was just a stretch.
I think it makes sense for Eden to look the way she did. She IS an amateur p*rn star now! 
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Feb 13, 2008 7:47 AM
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Two shark jumps in one episode (The incest storyline AND Eden going psycho on Julia)... Fonzy would be proud
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Feb 13, 2008 8:30 AM
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OMG- Who wants to see Julia killed off?
Joely must have wanted off of this soon to be trainwreck of a show.. She's too talented for this.
And then, we find out that Christian has another love child? Come on already.
Next season is only supposed to be 8 episodes according to recent news reports...I see why.
This used to be such a cute show..Now it's sudden popularity has destroyed it.
Shame.....
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Feb 13, 2008 9:16 AM
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A terrible episode! Matt should sign up for match.com. He clearly needs help finding appropriate women. Instead we will get another "Matt falls for the wrong woman" storyline.
Was anyone surprised when Eden shot Julia? Why would you confront your attempted murderer alone? Will she die? I don't really care. But Christian will think she tried to commit suicide 'cause he broke up with her. And no one will think to call in CSI (Gil Grissom in a guest appearance) that will prove that psycho Eden did it.
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Feb 13, 2008 9:34 AM
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*** Warning *** Soapbox rant ahead
The writing on this show has become truely awful. Forget about the ridiculous plots and completely over the top stories; the writers have no idea how to fit in a cast with interlocking story that involves everyone. Colleen ends last week bleeding on Sean's couch and she isn't even mentioned this week? Come on. These past few seasons make me wonder if the show really was as awesome as I remember it in Season 1 and 2 or if I was just snowed by the pushing the envelope subject matter. I compare this show to The Wire, where there are over 20 castmembers and somehow the writers are able to include them all in the season without it feeling forced.
End of rant. I watch the show because I like the characters and I am invested in what happens to them, and of course I will be watching next week to find out how it all wraps up. This show is definitely on its last legs though.
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Feb 13, 2008 9:39 AM
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So I'm guessing that she knew all along that Christian was her father but never told Christian since he didn't freak out when Matt asked him for a condom to have sex with Emmy. Christian was just happy Matt was being safe.
Dave...I always love your N/T recaps, but I'd like to point out...I believe Matt asked Christian for a prescription for a "morning-after pill" not a condom. The condom comment was when Christian thought Matt was having sex with Rachel.
This episode was better then I thought it would be since it was Julia & Matt centered. It was fun to see the women of Matt's past in the "previously on N/T" segment. I was very disappointed that they made no mention of Colleen whatsoever...I even thought maybe my Tivo had started recording late and I missed something.
Julia, please, did you really believe that Eden was going to go quietly and confess to the police? She should have high-tailed it out of there when she had the chance!
It will be interesting to find out if Emmy really is Christian's daughter.
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Feb 13, 2008 9:52 AM
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I agree with the others who point out that Julia's death would make last season's episode set in the future irrelevant. Obviously Eden was not going to go away quietly--I was hoping for the Jump the Shark moment of killing herself and setting it up so it appeared that Julia did it. (Teri Austin's character on Knot's Landing anyone? She tried to make it look like Gary killed her, when she offed herself.)
I also liked the Rachel storyline--no surprise that Matt would turn out to be such a nasty prick! I think it will turn out that Emmy isn't Christian's daughter but they will play out the "incest" storyline for a bit next season.
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Feb 13, 2008 10:00 AM
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Regarding the "ignore Colleen" writing of this episode...the writers have done this before...remember when Anne Heche's character was killed - there was no mention of her the next week either. Someone supposeably gets killed in my bedroom...I'm talking about it for a while! Whatever...
I kinda expected the fudged up storyline with Matt - he's so mentally warped...sleeping with someone he thinks might be his sister is definitely in keeping with his damage. I want to see Christian's reaction when he finds out...more concern for himself or his son...we'll see!
And based on the preview...someone gets taken out in a body bag - my guess is it's Eden. If they kill off Julia - forgetting about the episode that foretold the future - then I'm done. I can deal with the outlandish story lines...but I don't like it when they treat us like we're stupid and think we won't remember details like that!
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Feb 13, 2008 10:06 AM
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Well I thought that this weeks episode was very good. Much better than last week. I was pretty captivated by the whole Sean and the critic story line!
"Hit me with your best shot...fire away!"
Very funny!
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Feb 13, 2008 11:27 AM
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I agree with Ranger99! That "hit me with your best shot...fire away" line was a great one, Dave. Eden did look like a refugee from the '80s. But I'd like to point out a few of the '70s references you made & I am showing my age by totally getting them! I am loving that you made the Bad Luck Schleprock comment. Hello: "Pebbles & Bamm Show" anyone? "Wowzee wowzee woo woo!" And the "happy and peppy and bursting with love" song that Felix sang on "The Odd Couple" was one of the best episodes ever. Thanks for taking me back to my childhood. Can't wait for next week's episode & your recap.
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Feb 13, 2008 11:52 AM
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I know Julia was sick but come on, how retarded was that for her to comfront Eden right there? Clearly the girl is psycho, she should have left the house and went to the police with her evidence.
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Feb 13, 2008 12:29 PM
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Hmmmm only 13 comments for N/T, That's not good. Last nights show was amusing, somewhat. The show is missing something, I just can't figure out what exactly it is. Now that the writers strike is over---more interesting story lines for next year would be a plus. Still loving the show.
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Feb 13, 2008 12:56 PM
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