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Episode Recap: "Candy Richards"
Back on November 14, 2006, when we saw the future lives of the Nip/Tuck characters, I mostly praised the episode since it was such a pleasant change of pace. What I wasn't thinking at the time was how unfortunate it would become as a viewer that we know exactly what will become of the characters. So Julia got shot last week — so what? We know that she survives since she was in the future episode. So Christian and Annie got in a car crash caused by paparazzi this week. We knew immediately that they'd be OK since they're also in that episode. And now, even after multiple knife stabs in his back by crazy Colleen at the very end, even though blood was gushing out of his mouth, Sean can't be dead: he, too, was in that damn futuristic episode. Of course, one can argue that the episode-of-the-future could've just been someone's dream, but it wasn't presented that way when it aired so I guess I have the right to bitch about it, right? Imagine how shocking and suspenseful that stabbing scene would've been had we not experienced the shape of things to come. This was the season finale so now we have to wait, perhaps as late as the fall, to find out what happens. Nip/Tuck does like to trick us sometimes, though. That closing scene also could've been a nightmare of Sean's. Who knows? Besides this frustration, I wasn't completely unsatisfied.
Highlights:
— Jennifer Coolidge could read the phone book and I'd laugh. Every time she was on screen, she was hilarious as D-lister and "legend in her own mind" Candy Richards, McNamara/Troy's first patient of the hour. Candy represents a lot of actresses in Hollywood who are both addicted to being famous and to plastic surgery. If only more actors and actresses made visits to better plastic surgeons and fixed the bad surgery they had received as Candy did: "I look like Liza on crack!" Second best post-corrective surgery line of Candy's was when she thanked Sean after she got a guest spot on Ghost Whisperer as a Russian ballerina with a brain aneurysm: "She dies during a very tragic pas de deux."
— The Candy character, in her yearning to be in the limelight, pulled a Kathy Griffin and called the paparazzi, tipping them off before making her big exit from McNamara/Troy. Her best line (after Sean said: "I thought you didn't want anybody to know"): "Ya know, doctor, if a tree falls in the woods and two dozen nerds with cameras aren't there to put it online, does it really make a sound? I don't think so. You know why? Because that tree doesn't know what it takes to be famous, and I do!" Too bad it bit Candy in the ass when she walked out and they were more interested in getting shots of Sean.
— Even though Colleen turned out to be a crazed lunatic, Sharon Gless gave it her all and then some. It was about time they acknowledged Colleen's self wrist-slitting and the MIA status of CAA agent Bob Levitz. Nice twist having seemingly straight Bob's life partner Gary (Paul Fitzgerald) show up asking Sean about Bob's whereabouts. That was a great expression on Sean's face once he figured it out that it was probably Colleen who was responsible for Bob's mysterious disappearance. I just knew that when Sean came home and was on the phone checking on Julia with the hospital, something relating to Colleen was going to happen. Why, hello, dead-Bob-with-teddy-bear-stuffing-and-button-eyes popping out of the closet. So, in case you're keeping track, Bob came out of the closet to Sean twice in this episode.
— I loved that, once again, our dear Liz (Roma Maffia) was the voice of reason to Christian and Sean, neither of which want to be famous anymore. Her advice to both of them was fabulous: stick with plastic surgery and quit the showbiz end of it all. So no more "Hearts 'N Scalpels" for Sean and no more Playgirl pictorials for Christian. Liz: "Do what you do best and screw the rest!" I was glad we got to see one more "Hearts" scene, though. I can just picture Russell Crowe embedding a camera into a paparazzi photographer's rectum, can't you?
— Speaking of the Playgirl spread, I liked that it was the cause of Christian's spring break fling from 25 years ago, Darlene (Lisa Darr), hunting him down after all those years. Too bad she didn't get to Christian before her daughter Emmy (Jeannine Kasper) did. If she would've introduced Emmy to Christian as the daughter he never knew he had (equipped with the medical records to prove it), f---ed up Matt would never have had sex with his sister. Christian to Matt: "You can't sleep with your sister again!" At least Matt got smart and broke it off with Emmy. It was the horny and even more f---ed up Emmy who wanted to have sex with her brother again, even joking about the two of them being inbred: "I could pull out all of my teeth." You're a regular riot, Emmy.
— Just when we thought we'd seen Christian have sex with just about everything imaginable, there came the alcoholic and legless-due-to-diabetes Darlene having sex with Christian after they got drunk and there came the requisite Julian McMahon butt shot. But, that was after some very sweet dialogue between the two. Darlene: "I'm an 8, but because half of me is gone, I'm a 4." Christian: "You're beautiful, Darlene." Cue the drunken makeout, followed by the drunken sex, followed by the complimentary plastic surgery to get Darlene's face back, but not her legs.
— Luckily, Eden didn't hit Julia with her best shot, she just caused Julia to have retrograde amnesia. It gave Joely Richardson and Dylan Walsh the opportunity to play a tender scene together with Sean telling Julia they were still married and that "everything is just perfect." Did anybody else think of Marcia Cross as Kimberly on Melrose Place when Sean checked out Julia's scar? Click here to refresh your memory. Hopefully Julia will remember who everyone is, including herself, and that Eden shot her. But how much you want to bet Julia forgets she was ever a lesbian? Sorry, Olivia.
— The best song choices were two oh-so-appropriate tunes with the same title: "Fame" — first the ditty by Irene Cara played during Candy's corrective surgery towards the beginning, then the David Bowie classic heard towards the end during Annie's post-car crash surgery.
Another lowlight (besides what I mentioned in the first paragraph):
— You've probably noticed that I've been writing some fairly negative things about the character of Eden, rarely blaming it on the actress who plays her (Annalynne McCord), but rather on how one-dimensional the character has been written. Well, it's time for me to talk some smack about both the character and the actress. If you still have it on your TiVo, please go back and check Annalynne's facial expression after Eden (who lied and told everyone Olivia shot herself) is told by Olivia that Julia was awake. Prime example of bad acting. Yikes. Trust me: go back now, think of me and laugh like I did. That was followed by Eden's "Help me, mommy!" plea to Olivia. We'll have to wait forever to find out what that plea consisted of. Probably another lie coming out of the mouth of a skank.
So what did you think of the season finale? Let me know below and thanks for all your comments throughout the season. You can check out Nip/Tuck-related videos in our Online Video Guide.
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Feb 20, 2008 6:28 AM
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I don't think Julia really has amnesia. Isn't Olivia a hypnotist or something? The look on her face says she is up to something.
Interesting take on the episode with the previously aired "future episode". That didn't even factor into my mind while I was watching it.
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Feb 20, 2008 7:57 AM
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YESSSSS! Just when I thought Nip/Tuck had jumped the shark, it comes back with a stellar episode to end the season.
The "future" episode is the one bone of contention throughout this whole season. However, I belive that it was the "future" at that particular moment in time. Circumstances and life changes in the blink of an eye and therefore, the future can be changed. Kind of like "It's a Wonderful Life" in reverse. Take the character of Annie for example. In the future, she was a messed up wreck, blaming both Sean and Julia for neglecting her. In this episode, I saw that change.
I knew Colleen hadn't taken off to Mexico and also knew as soon as Liz left Annie's surgery following with Sean's dialogue that Colleen would be behind him. Even though you saw it coming a mile away, it was still dramatic to say the least. Sharon Gless deserves to be lauded for her performance as the deranged Colleen.
As for the characters of Eden and Olivia. If Eden told Olivia what she had done ("help me, Mommy") - is it possible that Olivia might have influenced Julia's retrograde amnesia? Also, who on Earth is taking care of Connor? Not one sight or mention of him at all.
I also felt that Christian's morning after reaction to Darlene was typical Christian Troy however, their following conversation showed that soft spot that the character tries so hard to hide.
Matt and Emmy, I believe that Matt really didn't think she was his sister until presented with the evidence. It's really sad though that Emmy is more screwed up than Matt in wishing to continue their relationship.
Again, stellar episode. Looking forward to the return!
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Feb 20, 2008 8:01 AM
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I found this episode to be very surprising. I thought that maybe, just maybe Eden was finally going to be fried for what she did to Julia, only to be very disappointed. And I loved how they showed the paparazzi as these vultures, preying on Sean's daughter like she was really a great story. I am a little weirded out by the fact that Olivia was there before anyone else, and that she just seemed supicious; especially since moments before, Eden needed Mommy to help her.
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Feb 20, 2008 8:18 AM
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I liked this episode for the most part -- was icked out by Emmy wanting to continue the relationship and irritated with the tired amnesia storyline, but I thought it had some of the best things about Nip/Tuck: humor, drama, relationships. However, here is my big nitpick: GET SOME SECURITY!!
I mean, come on, they have famous patients (some of whom really don't want to be seen by paparazzi); Sean is now a star, who is being stalked by paparazzi; AND he is being stalked by an actual psycho who has committed murder. Yet, it just seems like anyone can walk in, not only in the building or office suites, but into the operating and recovery rooms. Did they every think about installing locks or hiring security guards??
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Feb 20, 2008 9:19 AM
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After reading other posters' comments that Olivia may have hypnotized Julia into having different memories, I agree. Actually when Eden was about to confess to Olivia, I was thinking she'd tell her about her porn career (and find a way to blame Julia for it occurring).
Wasn't there a body bag scene that had been in the promos? Don't remember if we saw Bob wheeled out in one.
Loved seeing Colleen in H&S but wish she didn't have to pop up at the end--although, like Christian sleeping with Darlene, I saw it coming two miles away.
I wish that car accident had caused more serious injury--#@$**!! airbags! It looked like no more than an hour had passed before Christian and Annie were in Sean & Christian's O.R.
And please give an Emmy to Nip/Tuck's makeup artists--the pre-op Candy was a perfect vision of plastic surgery gone wild!
I agree with the other posters who say that the "future" episode of Nip/Tuck makes it hard to believe any of our players die or will be horribly disfigured for long. Ryan (Murphy)--please don't insult our intelligence by making that the equivalent of Pam's dream!! 
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Feb 20, 2008 10:46 AM
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the past few weeks when everyone has been complaining about the plot development becoming too ridiculous, i never quite agreed. it's meant to be a ridiculous show and a guilty pleasure. however, during last nights episode i found myself saying "you have got to be kidding me", one too many times. julia having amnesia was pretty predictable i thought, i guessed that would be the result after last weeks episode. i wonder what exactly eden admitted to her mom though. especially if she mentioned she had been poisoning her with mercury. she still is suffering from mercury poisoning and was stupid enough to confront eden alone before letting anyway else know what happened with that, and now she doesnt even remember that shes been poisoned!
i was also looking forward to sean finding out colleen killed bob, but it was pretty anticlimatic after what had happened to julia. you just knew something bad was gonna happen when sean told christian he wanted to be alone in surgery with annie- i was actually scared of sean doing something crazy after hearing him tell julia they were still married (another moment that was too much in my opinion). colleen being able to get in their office makes me wonder if she did something to liz and christian on her way to the operating room.
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Feb 20, 2008 11:27 AM
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Sean can't be dead: he, too, was in that damn futuristic episode
Come on - do you really think that Sean could be dead regardless of the future episode? What would Nip/Tuck be without Sean? The show might be able to survive without Christian but never without Sean.
I think that Olivia is knee deep in the Eden cover-up! She knows what her daughter did and she is trying to protect her. My question is: Will anyone else notice the elevated mercury levels? She is in a hospital!
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Feb 20, 2008 11:29 AM
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I am a huge Nip/Tuck fan and have been from the beginnig. I thought this was a good episode. The only problem I have is why don't any of the doctor's know that Julia has mercury poisioning? Wouldn't they have taken many blood tests and found the mercury when she was admitted to the hospital.I know that they took my blood every 5 minutes when I was in the hospital for ear surgery and she had a gunshot to her brain I also think that they would have searched her room after the suicide and found all of the test results from the labs about the mercury. I also agree that the whole amnesia story line is tired. I knew automatically that was going to happen. And I was also thinking that maybe Darlene and her daughter were lying to get plastic surgery, I don't know just something that crossed my mind after her and Christian slept together and the next morning that's what she starts talking about. Is how she wants plastic surgery. remember he doesn't remember sleeping with her. So I won't be suprised if that comes up next season.
I knew Colleen was behind sean also but I still jumped when she stabbed him. Can't wait till next season
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Feb 20, 2008 11:55 AM
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While I didn't like the future episode since now we know how everyone is in the future, I really hope they don't do a voiceover thing whereby they change the course of history. They made their bed with that ep. For artistic integrity purposes, I hope that they stick to that, no matter how anti-climatic it is for fans.
I will say that based on the future ep, I too don't know if Liz is going to make it! =(
That said, I remember Sean asking Liz to get him some gauze and stuff and Liz stepped out. Whether she had to get past Colleen is a totally different story!
Oooohhhh! I just hate that Eden! What's more, I really hate Portia de Rossi's character. I don't have kids so I can't even imagine what it would be like to constantly have to stick up for them, but I have hated Eden ever since she started calling Annie fat! Ever since then Olivia has been on the defensive! Surely she must know there must be some truth to what her daughter is capable of. She did put Eden in rehab, so that's what I would think would be a red flag. Now this! Seriously, what's she going to do?!
Glad the Emmy storyline is over! Can't say that I'm surprised about Christian bedding her mom ... again.  I will say that it was really interesting to hear that Christian was taking acting classes!
It sounds like Sean has at least taken Liz's advice about being famous for plastic surgery. Let's hope that Christian follow suit! Although the way they started at Hearts and Scalpels with their original publicist (Lauren Hutton??) makes sense for getting more patients in the plastic surgery-crazy Los Angeles!
Gripes:
* No mention of Connor or Wilbur or Jenna
* What's up with Eden's porn career? On hold? Granted she just went batty, but since she was now in the "family", you would think that she would have ALSO turned to Ram and Kimber for help. :-\
* I'm not a legal expert, but after THAT many public violations of a restraining order, wouldn't Colleen have been locked up for at least a day or something?
* How many times have Sean and Christian been stabbed/shot/hurt now? Plastic surgery is more dangerous than I thought.
* Like other posters have said, the mercury poisoning! First we have a bunch of doctors not being able to diagnosis it, then she has her hair follicle shipped away to experts. Wouldn't this have been caught early on much less when she's in the hospital?!
When oh when is this show coming back?! I can't wait until September for more episodes!!!!
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Feb 20, 2008 12:16 PM
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I definitely agree with everyone who thinks of the future episode as a sort of what would happen if everybody continues down the path they're on type episode as opposed to a set in stone future. This is usually the case when shows do a mid-series future episode, unless it's the shows series finale, for example, Will & Grace, the future episodes usually serve as more of a warning. I had never even thought about the restrictions everyone is imposing on the show because of it and I have to think the writers didn't look at it that way either, why hasn't one of these TVGuide workers asked them about that yet?! 
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Feb 20, 2008 12:33 PM
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One thing's for sure - Colleen is the most evil, the least sane, and the most despicable/unlikeable character in the history of this show, and by a fair margin.
And that's saying something, given this thing's history!
Thanks for doing the blog, even though your Eden (who served as kind of Colleen Lite this season) bashing was waaay over the top still a good weekly read.
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Feb 20, 2008 12:54 PM
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No Eden bashing could ever be enough. It was a trifecta: Awful character, awful actress, awful writing. This season Nip/Tuck officially became a bad 80s nighttime soap (how fitting that they featured Z-listers from that era this season). That literally no storyline had an resolution except for the patient of the week is beyond shoddy. Ryan Murphy can talk all he wants about non-linear storytelling being the end all, but once you bring in amnesia, I think you've gotten beyond lazy. I'm officially off the wagon.
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Feb 20, 2008 1:35 PM
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I don't think it's so surprising that Emmy wants to continue her sexual relationship with Matt. He was her first. Not only that, but up until then, she'd never been attractive to anyone else and here's this guy who showers her with attention and affection. And did I mention, he was her first?
I was a little surprised to find, when they showed those shots of the outside of the building, that the name of the practice was "McNamara/Troy". I thought they sold not only their practice in Miami to Michelle Landau, but the name as well. I remember her making a very specific point of buying the name.
What effect does alcoholism have on diabetes?
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Feb 20, 2008 1:50 PM
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I was pretty impressed with the season finale, they did a wonderful job and keeping most of us guessing until next season! That's what a season finale is meant for I guess. It was very climatic, but it was almost too much for me. Julia's amnesia, Colleen's killing (attempted & such), Eden and whatever she may have told Olivia, Matt & Emmy, and the car wreck!!!! Definitely an action-packed hour. However, I see the season premier next season opening up with a funeral.. hopefully not since Nip/Tuck has already done that.. and then it end up being a dream. Maybe this whole last season was a dream?? They like to do that to us sometimes. I agree with most of the past comments how Eden actually told Olivia what happened and she's using her "voodoo" medicine to mess with Julia. Right away, however, I assumed she would come clean about the porn career.
I hope Matt doesn't change his mind and move to the mountains with Emmy.
Even though the show is not real I can't help but wonder also where are the children???? I liked Christian's wise crack about out of his three children he only takes care of the one that's not actually his.
Well, now I have to watch lame shows that I could give less about until next season. I'm sure Sean will be all right and perhaps rekindle his love with Julia.
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Feb 20, 2008 2:00 PM
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