Nip/Tuck, F/X, Airs Tuesday 10pm E/P

Episode: “Allegra Calderello” (Season 5, Episode 21)

Synopsis: Christian finds his replacement for the practice who turns out to have one very strange special interest. Liz fights to live out her dream wedding, despite Mama Cruz’s constant digs at her life and past choices. Meanwhile, Allegra Calderello, aka “Pussy Lips”, returns to McNamara/Troy seeking a physical remodel at the request of her dying husband.

Review: Another filler episode on the way to the end of the season. You’d think with only 2 left, they could pull all the stops out and give a more story-licious example of Nip/Tuck fare, but sadly no. In-jokes regarding a previous patient and her clueless (and somewhat idiotic) husband, an interfering mother and a guy who gets off on furniture make up the second last episode in season 5. Perhaps we should be grateful that this season’s almost over, if this is what it’s reduced to.

There were some good points to the episode, but they were few and far between. The close bond between Liz, Christian and Wilbur was seen and felt briefly, and Liz’s emotional breakdown at her own bachelorette party was touching, not to mention her explosion at dearest Mama Cruz. Also, the parallel between the husband of “Pussy Lips” making executive decisions about his replacement and Christian’s own behavior was not shoved in our faces, a refreshing change. Usually things are so spelled out that having some subtlety and layers is a strange experience. Finally, Sean’s reflection on his video of happier times at the episode’s close, along with Teddy’s touching promise (a promise that smacks of lies as she was ready to pack her bags in the previous episode) showed that the impending loss of a friend is weighing on the other half of McNamara/Troy. Sadly, those good points are embedded in a 42 minute long episode, the remainder of which is filled with fluff and furniture molestation. This lackluster affair does not bode well for the quality of the finale, but this season has been nothing if not patchy, so perhaps next week will be contain the emotional payoff we’ve been waiting for. Or at least a more entertaining episode.

Up Next Week: “Giselle Blaylock and Legend Chandler” – In season 5′s finale, Christian and Liz continue the wedding preparation while he battles on against cancer. Meanwhile, Ram trades Kimber in for a younger model, causing her to look back towards a big relationship past.

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Did you watch Nip/Tuck this week? What was your take?