Nip/Tuck: Walter and Edith Krieger (6.18)

Ava Moore always represented the long-lasting message of the series. No matter how much you alter your physical appearance, it can't fix your inner self. Ava at one point believed that becoming a woman would help correct her sadness and anger, only to find herself wrapped up in incestuous, abusive horror post-surgery. As a character, Ava was the feminine doppelganger to Sean and Christian: all characters who occupied that moral gray area and were just as sympathetic as they were repulsive. Ava is damaged, ruthless, horrible, calculating and cruel, but at the same time badass. Famke Janssen has always been consistently strong as this character, and the show was correct in bringing her back for the final two episodes. They spent so long trying to replicate Ava's femme fatale evilness with other recurring characters that it wouldn't have been right to not acknowledge how influential she was.

Baby Raphael reflected Ava's desire to fix the outer shells of those around her, insisting his flaws are only skin deep. At the same time, Ava's interaction with both Sean and Matt bristled with intensity. She goes to Sean in order to play on his neuroses, while she wraps her little finger around Matt just like she always has. I loved how she almost looked straight through Ramona at the carpet store, while Matt really did become a pre-programed robot in that final scene as he was seduced into the back of Ava's limo.

A less showy return occurred with Julia. Hinting at how useless she's become as a character, she once again drifted between Sean and Christian, who both played for her affections. When I first saw this episode I suspected that her mystery fiancée Edmond didn't actually exist, Julia inventing him to put an imaginary wall between her and the two doctors in her life. That didn't happen, but whatever. It's still a blah storyline. We needed Julia there for the finale, but it's unfortunate that the writers didn't give her anything interesting to work with.

I was less invested in the McNamara/Troy patients than usual, since we're so close to the end. It was, however, pretty moving, and I liked the symmetry between Edith forgiving her husband and Sean (presumably) forgiving both Ava and Christian for their actions. Life is too short to throw emotions and feelings away like that.

Unsurprisingly, this was a strong episode. Ava's return was eventful and intriguing, while I appreciated that undeniable sense of the writers winding down to the end. This season has been problematic, but it feels like they're going out on a high, right? B

Credits
Guest stars Famke Janssen (Ava Moore); Harold Gould (Walter Krieger); Hildy Brooks (Edith Krieger); Amy Pietz (Allison Krieger); Melonie Diaz (Ramona Perez); Kelsey Lynn Batelaan (Annie McNamara)
Writer Brad Falchuk Director Dirk Wallace Craft