On the art of being an asshole

[chani]

I've just watched Nip/Tuck 3x11 in which everybody was an arse!

First I must say that I was disappointed by the letter final supposed "twist". Like fraidycatsx3  pointed out in my last Nip/Tuck entry, when there was that knock on the door, before Kimber's leaving, the way it was done reminded of similar thriller scenes, and called the Carver to our minds, but I didn' t think they would go that road because it was too obvious. I thought it was a red-herring like Joss used to do in BTVS. I was wrong. They did go that road. Nip/Tuck isn't as sophisticated nor as refreshing as BTVS was. Too bad.

I got it, at the beginning of the episode, when Sean mentioned her disappareance and Christian insisted that she was simply gone. From then on, it was a blatant lie and I saw the Kimber scene coming in. Not  a good twist at all, compared to what they did last season when Christian was attacked. So Kimber was abducted by The Carver. And The Carver want Christian to move on...Mmmm. It has to be a woman! Yeah I'm stubborn about that.

Now about the good stuff.

I giggled when I heard the first notes of Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls" ! That definitely suited the lipo-suction surgery!

Quentin was a marvellous manipulative little bastard in that eppy. And he knows how to take it up the ass when it's necessary, just to achieve his plans about Julia. The Quentin/Sean fight and their declaration of war reminded me of Merteuil/Valmont in "Dangerous Liaisons". I didn't like Quentin until now, but the way he played everybody (Sean, Julia, the corporal) was great.

Christian crying is always beautiful. I liked how Abby said that "according to a web site", she was a masochist and he was a sadist. Virtual truth...patent lie. Truth is that Christian is the big masochist of the series, as the last shot showed.

If he's the actual masochist, could she be the true sadist...as in The Carver?

Comments

[fraidycatx3.livejournal.com]

That's the first thing that popped into my mind last week when there was that knock on the door. I wonder if the Carver isn't that weirdo doctor that carved his own face off last season? I dunno. No spoilers of any kind for me since there's no more Spike on TV. I like your idea of it being a woman though.

I really think I must be out in left field where this show is concerned though. Your journal is the only one where I can find discussions of the show and I find my opinions are far different than yours and most of the folks that comment here. First of all I prefer Sean to Christian. I really feel he tries to do the right thing. But often falls short because of that whole being human thing.

Secondly, I'm really not into Christian. Not the actor that plays him or the character that much. I find he can be extremely cruel as he was in his treatment of this patient last night. Now where the actor is concerned, I know he has a large fan following although he just doesn't do anything for me, much like David Boreanaz, although I'm warming up just a little bit where both actors are concerned. I do find myself feeling sorry for Christian as they develop his background, but for me it does not justify his cruelty to others.

I do agree that Sean can be sanctimonious and insufferable at times but I do think he tries very hard to do the right thing.

And good on you for pointing out that Quentin was manipulating things to his advantage. I didn't get that. I still can't believe Julia ignored Sean's warning though. I know she thought he was jealous but this is so far fetched you'd think she'd realize there was some truth to it.

And if Matt was my kid.... you really don't want to know.

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

I'm completely unspoiled too. Wasn't Bobolit dead or something? I assumed after the self-surgery he did, that he didn't survive...

I think that when Christian behaves like an asshole or is cruel to others it's often in order to hurt himself, to push people away. Besides he often tells it like it is. As for the patient of the last episode, there was something about her that called for shock treatment, and I think that Christian felt it. I didn't manage to feel sorry for her, even when he was such an asshole.

Sean can be very cruel too, sometimes even more but in a very different way (when he had that affair with a woman dying from cancer for instance, or lately), especially when he gives up.

Most of time Sean has a good image of himself while Christian has a bad image of himself, and they both trie to fit in that image. That's why both often end up doing wrong things. Morality-wise none is better than the other IMO. But I find Christian more moving. The actor playing Sean has always the same facial expression, so actually he would be the one I would compare to Boreanaz! LOL

As for Julia. I really didn't like her. The way Quentin played her (telling that he wouldn't have had sex in the office knowing that Sean could catch him) reminded me again of Valmont telling Mme de Tourvel that he wouldn't have kept a mistress around knowing that Mme de Tourvel was coming in...And she bought it!

I guess that Julia couldn't imagine something that twisted, she couldn't think that Quentin got buggered on purpose in the office, just to be caught by Sean (and to screw a pseudo-hero at the same time) so that way Sean would tell her something that Quentin could refute afterwards with mere common sense, making Sean look like an horrible person! It's grand art. Either she was fooled because like Mme de Tourvel she's too good to realize the stratagem, or she didn't really buy it and chose Quentin as her lover because she kept following her own hidden agenda...

Of course in my twisted mind Julia is evil and Quentin would be the biter being bit at the end of the day...;- )

[prophecygirrl.livejournal.com]

I hated this episode, actually. The scene with Abby and the paper bag was so disturbing to me, I almost changed the channel and never looked back. Even if she did enjoy it.

And I'm pretty sick of the Carver, anyway. I think they've dragged this on much longer than they needed to, and if it is Quentin, as they are suggesting, it will be hard to make it pay off emotionally. I actually think it would be the last person you would guess - maybe their anesthesiologist (forgot her name)???

I do agree about the Dangerous Liaisons similarites, though. And Christian continues to break my heart. Very insightful about him being the true masochist of the show. Even martyr, perhaps -- after all, you pointed out his name is "Christian".

Julia used to be a wonderful character. Now I find her vain and pompous. But I haven't given up on her, or any of them, quite yet. Let's see what the next episode holds.

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

I agree the Carver buisness is getting old. They should either drop it or reveal the face behind the mask. Given to that last episode I don't think they are suggesting it might be Quentin anymore. Quentin is playing a part concerning Julia, he's there to spread the seeds of Chaos like an evil little Puck. And he won a big victory in that episode.

Liz? Oh no please, I like Liz. And could they deal with the consequences of THE lesbian buggering Christian, thus playing a male role (what a cliché of dykeness)and being evil? I can already hear gay associations screaming!

But yes it has to be the last person you would guess, hence my theory it's a woman, so it has to be Julia!

*veg*

The thing is that if they want the Carver to be a main character, they can't neither drop it, nor unveil the truth too soon. Can the show go on without Liz or Julia? Unlikely.

Did they sign for a 4th season? Will the series be renew anyway?

If they want to solve the mystery while carrying on the show for another season, they have to pick a minor character...Abby would fit in (or Bobolit, if he's dead). But that would be a bit weak IMO.