The Birthday Present

Season 2, Episode 1, Aired

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8.8
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114 votes
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Six months have passed since the events of last season. Even as Lisa and Nick plan to celebrate his birthday privately and quietly, Tripp and Letitia Darling decide to throw a lavish party for Nick on their yacht. Nick helps in reconciling Tripp and Patrick, who is still burdened with his troubled marriage and missing transgendered lover. Brian is reunited with his illegitimate son, while Karen and Simon Elder escalate their relationship. Jeremy reveals his feelings for Lisa to Nola Lyons. Amidst the Darling drama, a death occurs within the family, and someone is arrested for murder.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (9)

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  • It's a new start to a new season. Leave everything behind and let's start thinking that it is a new series.

    5.5
    "Mediocre"
    By icanrule, Aug 11, 2010
    The Darlings are back with a new season. It looks like they are going with a new spin. This episode does not continue directly after the way the last season after. A little time has passed and everything you new in the series has changed. The family is still in ruins however an unexpected twist of morales by the lawyer has left more torn on the series. His unbreakable morales are what kept me interested in the series. His morales were tested in this episode and he failed. His wifes morales were also in Jeopardy. Given the option to date one of the Darlings or stay with her husband she would choose to be with the Darlings. That is really going against the person she showed herself to be in the last season. She had nothing but contempt for them in the last season but now she would have no trouble having an affair with them.

    The writers are trying to switch plots. I'm not very happy but will see further episodes to see where this takes up.moreless

  • Dirty Sexy Money Returns with all its glamour and the writers and their teams have pulled out their aces.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Heroes-Awesome, Mar 09, 2009
    Fast, Clever and scandalous Dirty Sexy Money's return to the UK Screens is only dampened by the fact that its cancelled. Howevewr the scenes are wonderful: the writers showed they're not afraid to write scenes that are often hard or push the characters to breaking point. I.e lying about the death of the wife. The episode really allowed a new or returning veiwer to enjoy the strength and dignity of Nick George: while it facing bruding challenges. The flawed characters are thoughtful presented to us. After the effects of the Writers Strike the writers needed to wrap up the events of Season One, bring in new veiwers, and allow it all to make sense to all veiwers. They acheived it superbly. The directing and acting were of high levels, the themes and ideals of the show were shown to perfection. The fast pace of the episode allowed the dark drama to move forward while allowing strong character developement. Its a sad fact that thoughtless, continually using the same jokes or themes, monkey writen shows like Two And A Half Men or Kath & Kim get masses of veiwers in America when shows that drive to the perfection of TV are cancelled.moreless

  • A barely above average. But what a spectacular ending.

    7.5
    "Good"
    By AvatarBlue, Mar 09, 2009
    SOME SPOILERS may be ahead....



    The story is framed in the first act by showing what is essentially the final scene. It is only played out to the point just before the actual ending, leave a healthy dose of expectation to keep one watching.

    The element of foreboding provided in the 1st act, doesn't really get into gear in the 2nd act. Most of it is your basic run-of-the-mill setup of the situation chronicalling more of the internal strifes of the Darling's. While Nick just does his best to stay afloat. All of this is fair screenplay, while not presenting anything new. Highlights for me consisted of Jeremy still chasing after Nick's wife, Brian finding out why he should keep on the good side of his father, Helen (Pat's wife) falling into a spiral of alcoholism and anger, at Pat's continual search for Carmelita. Though I was disappointed at her demise. Essentially, becoming an inconvenience to be dealt with. Though Nick's reaction was a good change. Other plot strands include the intrigue and subtefuge bettern Trip, Karen and Simon Wester. While Nick martial problems also provide a few punchy scenes. Especially where Jeremy kisses Nick's wife. Go Jeremy!!!!

    All in all most of feel, theme and tone could have been stripped out of any of the episodes of season 1. I was disappointed that things didn't move along as much as they could have and maybe should have.

    The ending does stand out, head and shoulders above the rest of the episode. Which actually surprised me. I bet you too, will find an ending that you werent expecting. Which provides the perfect hook to watch the next episode. (I wont spoil it for you)

    A barely average episode, maybe done as a cost cutting exercise (writing on the wall perhaps?!), which is saved by the spectacular finale!moreless

  • Review

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By cavanagh15, Oct 20, 2008
    Dirty Sexy Money returns with a terrific first episode to open up the new season. The tone and direction of this season is much different then the first season. I loved the beginning of the episode - starting in media res. This is likely my favorite television tactic of all time. Those 3 minutes revealed everything we needed to know about the entire episode and we had no idea the first time around. I actually didn't mind them reshowing the first scene just about in its entirety at the end because we got to experience all of the little clues that the writers through in there. Without the entire thing we maybe would have only gotten a small portion of the reveals from the beginning. The end of the episode was obviously a shocker, with Mrs. Darling getting arrested for the murder of Dutch Geroge. Now Nick looks to be the lawyer defending Mrs. Darling from this accusation which she claims to be false. Overall, one of the better comeback epsiodes to start a season this fall year.moreless

  • good episode

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By Fwirrel, Oct 13, 2008
    I was confused when I started watching the episode, but it all made sense in the end. I liked how they started with a scene at the end of the episode and then backtracked. It was Nick's birthday and his wife wanted a dinner with him while the Darlings wanted to throw him a party. In the end, Nick was late to his dinner with Lisa and saw Jeremy kiss Lisa... and left... I actually think that Jeremy and Lisa are cute together. Interesting love triangle...or square. I still want Karen and Nick to be together. At the end of the episode, Letitia is arrested for the murder of Dutch. Wow, I wasn't suspecting that. Interesting twist... overall, great character development episode and continuation of the story arc.moreless
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