Episode 15: Christian Troy

Christian needs surgery for his nose, which was broken during the usual water cooler worthy oral sex mishap. But why was she holding a pillow? It’s most likely due to them needing the shot without having to worry about exposed breasts and to give something for her to sneeze at.

From this accident we start an exercise in trust and the fear of failure among the 3 male leads: Christian, Matt and Sean. It was a good exercise, but overall wasn’t one of their better episodes.

The surgery to remove the growth from that man’s neck feels like Nip/Tuck is trying to up the extreme factor this season in regards to how much gore they’re allowed to show on basic cable. Seeing Sean’s yip cause blood to burst forth like a massive pimple was a moment that made me squirm a little, while most of the surgeries on the show don’t bother me as much. Sean’s yips are starting to cost McNamara/Troy money, at least as far as the growth patient is concerned, having to stay for a day extra for Sean’s error. Sean has lived on the idea of being perfect and this error affects him deeply.

Liz once again becomes the fall guy for the problems of her bosses. She is similar to Rico from Six Feet Under, in that both provide a crucial service to the business of the main characters, yet they can be treated as inconveniences. Liz has put up with a lot that it makes me wonder when she’ll quit. Sean has trouble in trusting Liz and Christian with information his worsening yips and both feel the results of that.

Seeing Sean’s yip return after he says they’re gone makes Christian apprehensive placing his trust in Sean to operate effectively on his nose. His turmoil is the centerpiece of the episode. Going over for a consultation by a sexy surgeon irks Sean because this is not only Christian not trusting him with his surgery but Christian is choosing his carnal preferences over their twenty plus year friendship.

Sean’s secrets and lack of trust to tell his co-workers also plays an important role. He’s trusting himself as a surgeon much less than he has been. Last year, while he had troubles, he was always great at what he did. Sean can’t deal with his imperfection and that anger is coming out, most memorably this week during the parking garage scene. Even though he was able to operate on Christian later, Sean will need more help to keep these problems under control.

Christian’s choices are another part of the ongoing story between Sean and himself. They have been friends for most of their lives and they both trust each other deeply. But Christian’s betrayal of that trust by seeing the other doctor backfires, and following a substitute moment sleeping with Gina while thinking of the doctor leaves him alone to try surgery on himself. As we saw Matt attempt self circumcision in the second episode, this practice isn’t a smart one to do, but it makes for shocking, cringe worthy television. The incident makes him realize what a mistake it was to betray his best friend like that. No matter what happens, he learns, Sean will be there for him. Both Sean and Christian learned in this episode that neither of them can go it alone and trusting each other is how they can keep their practice strong.

Matt however, was not as willing to put his faith in his father and the system that things would turn out okay for him following the accident with Cara. Matt hit her while he was high, so he was clearly worried that coming clean would destroy any possible future he had. It’s understandable since he is only sixteen years old. This also goes back to Erica’s speech earlier in the episode about the stress the baby boomer generation has placed on their children to succeed. Especially for something as serious as this he keeps quiet for the sake of his future.

It’s clear that he won’t be able to keep his secret for much longer. Henry’s silence only caused his guilt to intensify during season one and it boiled over this week when he raped Cara. Henry argued that Cara rejecting him sent him over the edge, but it was really the realization that this substitute for redemption would never completely satisfy him since there was no way to say that she would accept. Even if she did, how could there be a possibility of a life for them together? Sure, Nip/Tuck is a soap, but it doesn’t seem like they would venture into that territory. While Henry was sent over the edge, Matt has remained calm about the whole incident. Matt’s lack of faith caused him to betray his friend. This is very much like Christian, who has been known to act with his interests ahead of those around him. His behavior is either a foreshadowing or a red herring of who is Matt’s true father. It makes the viewer wonder what it will take for Matt to come forward. Henry, unglued in more than he can handle, is not going to be able to adjust to prison life well. Will Henry be raped or murdered in prison before Matt realizes what he has to do? Or will Cara commit suicide? This secret and following betrayal is going to cause serious harm as the season progresses. For what once was a regrettable storyline, it seems to have improved dramatically with this episode.

Overall score: 7