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

Episode: “Giselle Blaylock and Legend Chandler” (Season 5, Episode 22)

Synopsis: In the season finale, there are tears, tantrums, discoveries and even vampires. Teddy’s revealed to be a big ol’ pathological liar with a whole other life down in sin city, a life which may have ended in murder. Christian chases after a dream of immortality rather than succumbing to time and his cancer, but ultimately time with his bride and his son is more important to him than chasing a science fiction fantasy. Meanwhile, Kimber feels the sting of rejection as Ram kicks her out of his bed, making her finally realize who she should have been with all along, but is it too late? Finally, the lure of freedom from pain and woe leads Sean towards a darker place, while Christian gets some shocking and confusing news.

Review: So that’s it for season 5. A season that began way back in 2007 has finally come to rest in 2009, after many ups and downs, and this week’s episode served as a good representation of the whole season, despite feeling completely untethered to at least half of it. Yes, the episode was patchy, but this is also true of the entire season, with some excellent moments and story lines marred by a cycle of weak fluff-filled episodes.

Not only did the season feel uneven, it also felt disjointed, a complaint which probably shouldn’t be lobbed at the season as a whole but sadly is deserved. The writers’ strike had an effect on many shows, and Nip/Tuck’s curse was to have its season cut apart. However, this also happened over on Battlestar Galactica and unlike Nip/Tuck, that show handled it exceptionally well, proving that cutting a season in half does not mean the audience must feel the separation. Unfortunately, that was definitely the case here.

A good season finale should be representative of the entire season, as after all it is what the season has been building towards for the past 22+ episodes. However, it should also make you look to the future of the characters, eager to know more about where they are headed and what’s next in their lives. Nip/Tuck’s finale may have been patchy, but as always it delivers on the final pull back to see what happens next. From Christian’s discovery of his remission to new addition Teddy’s secret life in Las Vegas and all that entails, we want to know more. Just like at the truncation point midway through this season, with Sean’s blood all over Colleen Rose’s hands and his life slipping away, we’re hooked. There’s a need to see how it turns out, despite the niggling knowledge that the execution may not be the best.

Unfortunately, that need won’t be met any time soon. That’s it for Nip/Tuck until January of next year, when the first section of season 6 will air on FoX before going on hiatus until January 2011 when the final public hours in the lives of Sean McNamara and Christian Troy will be shown. It’s a strange way of airing the final season, but if they can keep the audience from 2007 into 2009, then they’re sure to get them back in 2010 and 2011. As for what will happen next season? Only time will tell, but if I were a betting woman, I’d put money on Liz divorcing Christian due to his womanizing ways, along with Sean becoming a devious and deceitful drug addict. Oh, and if I’m lucky, Eden will get her comeuppance! Yes, the sight of her in last night’s episode gives me great hope that we’ll finally see her getting her just desserts for Julia’s attempted murder, so here’s hoping. Until next year, try to keep the scalpels to yourselves.

That’s it for Nip/Tuck this season, but for coverage of other great shows, check out the TV for Movie Lovers Archive.

Did you watch Nip/Tuck this week? What did you think of the season finale?