Erica makes an interesting point at the start of this episode, where she criticizes Sean and Julia for repeatedly making the same mistakes over and over, without learning anything in the process. It's one of the few bright spots of wisdom in a final season full of people making the same dumb choices that they've always made. And considering Erica's fate, I'm not sure what the show is trying to say. Erica isn't a nice person. She's rash and arrogant and judgmental, but generally her heart is in the right place. And while she did endanger Annie, I don't see why she deserves to be falsely imprisoned yet Sean, for doing the exact same thing just a couple of weeks ago, gets off scot-free. I guess it's another amusing example of Nip/Tuck's fractured morality, and the same questions remain. Is this intentionally batshit and unfair, or is it just poor writing?In the end, the A-story of this two-parter doesn't have a huge amount of impact. Erica is written off as a mad genius desperate to cling onto her youth via adopting her grand-children, while Julia ultimately, regardless of Erica's emotional abuse over the years, is still a crazed nutcase who planted cocaine on her mother so she can rot in a jail cell for however many months or years. It's all a little clumsy and scatter-brained.
Matt's subplot was straight out of Oz, with sleazy bisexual sociopaths, prison rape and fake breasts. It was uncomfortable, bleak and depressing, but I guess that's the tone they were reaching for. Besides certain elements of trashiness, the story was played straight, and I liked seeing Christian go out of his way to protect his son, even if it did mean making him a killer in the process.
The Alexis Stone story kind of falls apart here. It feels more of an after-thought considering the time given to the other two subplots this week, and parts of the script for these scenes felt like they were shipped in from a transgender PSA. Alexis' monologue about 'make up your mind, lady!' being comparable to the 'N-word' felt especially awkward. And, to be fair, she probably does need to make up her mind before rushing into surgery. She's a man who wants to become a woman who then wants to become a man again but then wants to still have breasts. I'm not sure this storyline was beneficial to the LGBT community at all.
Alexis Stone II isn't as impressive as it's predecessor, and the plot relies too heavily on contrivance. Vanessa Redgrave's comeback was well-performed nonetheless, and she reliably added an element of class to an otherwise trashy show. It's also admirable that the show didn't allow Erica to remain among the numerous other unresolved stories and characters which weren't given a decent exit. C+
Credits
Guest stars Vanessa Redgrave (Dr. Erica Noughton); Candis Cayne (Alexis Stone); Gilles Marini (Renaldo Panettiere); Kelsey Lynn Batelaan (Annie McNamara); Patrick Kilpatrick (Denny Kessler); Matt Roth (Frank); Tina Lifford (Warden DeMarco)
Writer Ryan Murphy Director John Scott
Love your reviews Adam, been reading them religiously as I go thru the show but it is ridiculous that you would say Erica's heart is in the right place--she's an utter monster intent on constantly undermining Julia and envious of her youth and family, who she tries to steal so callously!
ReplyDeleteJeremy (Ireland)
First of all, thanks for visiting and reading. It's great to hear that people are out there.
ReplyDeleteAbout the Erica thing, maybe that was the wrong term to use. I meant that even if she did want to undermine Julia and destroy her by taking away her children, she had an important point about how awful Sean and Julia are as parents. Being Nip/Tuck, she goes for full custody instead of getting to the actual root of the problem, but in general she was correct about her beliefs. It's something she's exhibited throughout the years. She makes sense, but she's also an awful, awful person at the same time. Hopefully that all made sense. Heh.
Alexis didn't compare'make up your mind, lady!' with the 'N-word', but the expression "chick with a dick".
ReplyDelete