Nip/Tuck

Abby Mays

Season 3, Episode 11, Aired 11/29/05

Episode Summary

Sean wants Quentin out of the practice after finding out that he's dating Julia. Christian seems to be ok after Kimber leaving him, but his actions indicate otherwise.

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Cast & Crew

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Dylan Walsh

Dr. Sean McNamara
Julian McMahon

Dr. Christian Troy
John Hensley

Matt McNamara

Fan Episode Reviews (24)

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only mildly entertaining part was the surprise ending

6.0

"Fair"

By nairhart01, Jul 26, 2009 Report Abuse

I thought this was actually a terrible episode, which is surprising to me, because I am such a huge Nip/Tuck fan. I just finished watching this episode (I'm buying them off iTunes and can't wait to figure out who The Carver is! Only a couple episodes away. I think it might be Kit, but I'm not sure. Don't think it's Quentin. If it is, that'd be weird and just upsetting) and was extremely disappointed. Most of my disappointment came from Christian's whole "put on the bag" and how he was so unlikeable. The ending was a huge surprise when we saw that Kimber had actually been kidnapped by The Carver, and hadn't actually just left Christian at the altar. Can't wait to find out what happens next! XDmoreless

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Ice

9.0

"Superb"

By napen, Dec 26, 2008 Report Abuse

Christian hace lo que es fcil: encerrar el corazn bajo custodios icebergs y hacer de la crueldad un acto de desesperacin. Se acuesta con la fea para hacerla sentir miserable y as (para as) dejar de serlo l, dolido todava por la partida de Kimber. Matt est en el horno (debo confesar que el personaje se est perdiendo en esto de soy un teen problemtico).
Me enter que Quentin es the carver junto a la polica juguetona! Bueno, era bastante obvio. Julia obvio se acuesta con l para hacer ms dramtico el descubrimiento del malo y Kimber fue secuestrada por el binomio maldito, vieron...moreless

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Going Out with a Bag

9.4

"Superb"

By maxpower03, Feb 08, 2008 Report Abuse

The "paper bag scene" has gone down in Nip/Tuck history as one of its most shocking moments, and it's undoubtedly disturbing. Throughout the story, your immediate impression is that it's exploitative and cruel, only included to make the audience uncomfortable. But it's only in the final scene where you realize how tragic the entire situation is. Abby is a masochist, somebody so full of self-hate that she lets herself be degraded in every way possible. She actually thinks what Christian put her through was a good thing. You feel terrible for her, and she seriously needs psychiatric help. Meanwhile, Christian breaks down in tears in the final scene and you can't help but feel terrible for him too. Thanks to Julian McMahon's flawless performance, you completely forget his cruelty throughout the rest of the episode, and realize how screwed up his life has become. He was raped, accused of being a murderer, got abandoned by his birth mother and then ditched at the altar. And to feel something again, he resorts to becoming as cruel as possible and taking out all his anger on the weakest person he can find. It's just sad all round.

I'm becoming increasingly tired with the Sean/Julia/Quentin triangle. The corporal storyline left me uneasy. Are we supposed to side with Sean, despite he and Christian sleeping with patients too? Or are we supposed to side with Quentin, despite taking advantage of a man in a clearly confusing personal situation, and then probably ruining his life after. Julia isn't much better, completely ignoring Sean's warnings over Ariel and her influence. Hello, she has swastikas in her ears! Yeesh! Gah, all three people in this triangle suck.

And we haven't even started on my beloved Kimber, who's revealed to have been kidnapped from her wedding by The Carver, and being held captive in a warehouse. It's yet another twist in a ridiculous story, but it's depressing to see her all bloodied and carved. Kelly Carlson was amazing in her small scene... that scream! Shivers!

A very dark episode that completely changes your mind over the sanity of Nip/Tuck's writers in just one scene, which makes everything seen before suddenly understandable.

Director: Michael M Robin
Writer: Hank Chilton
Rating: Amoreless

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Full of the shock value that makes me love Nip Tuck!

9.5

"Superb"

By Roninboxers, Jul 19, 2007 Report Abuse

I'm amazed that I never tire of Nip Tuck. This episode is a classic example of the scenes that burn into your mind. It has clever foreshadowing of events, its starts you guessing. Though I think even the most seasones TV watchers will get a surprise and chuckle at least once in this episode. (I did! and I don't just think its my gutter mind) The final scene with Abby and Christian in thise is THE most delightful thing I've seen on TV!! Christian is naturally my favourite character, but poor thing, I see dark times ahead for him. So hard to portray the fun without spoiling it...moreless

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Sean: “If you’re looking for a declaration of war Quentin, you’ve got!”

9.0

"Superb"

By Tim_Bronx, Sep 17, 2006 Report Abuse

The hostility between Sean and Quentin reached its peak today. Sean of course has been out to get Quentin since he started dating Julia, but his ammunition was only fueled even more after catching Quentin having sex with a male patient.

Sean is never going to be happy while Quentin's with Julia, and Julia did have sort of a point when she asked Sean if nobody else could love her just because he doesn't. For Sean to storm into her house and vulgarly shout at her just made him appear uncontrollably envious, and it's not surprising that Julia didn't believe him. If Sean really does want Julia back he needs to honestly tell her his true feelings, but if not he needs to let her move on with her life. While Quentin's certainly not the best person for her, Sean's motivations are fueled a bit selfishly.

Just as Quentin quits the practice, and it looks like he might be out of McNamara/Troy's lives forever, he drops the bomb and tells Sean (clearing enjoying breaking the news) that Julia has hired him to work for her. The song during that scene, "Love to Hate You" fit perfectly, and Sean and Christian's shocked faces as Quentin walked away were priceless.

If Quentin's a character you're supposed love to hate, then Ariel's a character meant for audiences to just plain hate as her overbearing hypocrisy and self-loathing became even more unbearable today. She certainly is not a good influence on Matt, and is only corrupting him even more then he already was (if that is even possible). I couldn't believe Julia was just submitting to Matt's behavior, letting him storm around the house half-naked and having sex right under her nose. Yes, it's better then Matt secretly sleeping with an older woman, but just because it's not the most screwed up thing Matt could be doing, it doesn't make it right.

I found Christian's coldhearted attitude towards the patient of the week "Flabby Abby" overly cruel, but when he had sex with her, telling her to put a bag over her head was, he reached a new low even for him. I feel for Christian, I really do, because like Liz said: "After being attacked, accused of murder, rejected by your mother, and dumped by your bride who wouldn't be angry?". Christian still shouldn't be taking out his pain on Abby; he treated her more like an object instead of a human being. I found it pretty pathetic when Abby came crawling back to Christian, labeling herself as a masochist and arguably Christian a sadist. While Christian is known to take out his pain on others, his silent tears after Abby left showed that he isn't heartless.

Final Notes and Quotes

- It's been confirmed that Kimber was kidnapped by the Carver. I don't even want to know what horrible things he was doing to make her scream like that.

- It was nice having Liz back for old time sakes. Of course, she and Christian had to get in an argument during surgery. Things wouldn't be right if they hadn't.

- Business seems to be booming for De La Mer.

- I found it interesting that Quentin and Julia haven't had sex yet, considering that Quentin has always appeared to have a playboy status. (Note from 2006: Foreshadowing! Foreshadowing!)

- Hate crimes are being performed at school on patients from McNamara/Troy. I'll give you three guesses on who it is (cough, cough, Ariel, cough).

-Christian: "You know, the ugly ones are usually the best lovers; real givers to make up for their shortcomings."
Abby Mays: "Just because I am ugly, doesn't mean I'm attracted to ugly, Dr. Troy. I get all the magazines. I watch MTV. I'm as affected by the media as anyone else."

Final Rating: 3 out of 4 stars.

- Tim Bronxmoreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Music: 'Fat Bottomed Girls' by Queen, 'War' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood and 'Love To Hate You' by Maria Lee Carta are played during the various surgeries in the episode. Other songs heard during the episode: "We come in peace" by Sam Black Church (Sean and Julia discuss outside Matt's room; Matt argues with Sean; Matt tells Ariel that she loves her) "Paz" by Troubleman (Quentin and Julia are together at De La Mer) Edit
- The Soldier being consulted by Sean should be wearing a "Combat Action Ribbon". Edit
Notes
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- International Air Dates: Czech Republic: October 15, 2008 on TV Nova Edit
- Guest star Bryce Johnson previously starred in the show Popular, which was created by Nip/Tuck creator Ryan Murphy Edit
- Brittany Snow is credited as a Special Guest Star Edit
Quotes
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- Christian: Did you finally find an ounce of respect and come to tell me what an asshole I am? Abby Mays: You and I are very similar, you know? I know you hate me. But I'm OK with it. Cos I hate me too. Christian: You couldn't be more pathetic. Abby Mays: Yeah, I know. You made that pretty clear. But, Christian, that's cool with me. I like that I don't have to worry if you'll ever love me. I don't have to try to please you. It would only waste my time. Don't you get it? Last night, those won't tears of humiliation you saw. They were tears of joy. I had the first orgasm of my life with you. I went online to try and get information about my feelings. According to the websites, I must be a masochist. And you... you're definitely a sadist. We're made for each other (takes a paper bag with her phone number on it out and puts it on the desk) Anytime you want me, just let me know. And I'll wear the bag again. I don't mind. Edit
- Kimber: (voice-over; her letter to Christian) Dear Christian, I've thought about you reading this letter ever since the day I left. For your sake, I hope you've moved on and barely remember my name. Please know that leaving you on your wedding day was the last thing I wanted to do. I tried to say this to you so many times before but couldn't do it, so I just left. But the words still need to be said. We were never meant to spend our lives together. There is one thing I thank you for: forcing me to choose between you and my career. You helped me realize that my career gives me everything I need. Individuality, empowerment, autonomy. While being your wife would only strip me of my dignity and sense of self. So I chose me over you. You probably hate me for it and, for that, I'm sorry. Don't try to find me. I never want to see you again. It would be too painful and nothing would be gained. Goodbye. Kimber. Edit
- Sean: We don't need you for this surgery, Quentin. Why don't you just go home? Christian: Or why don't you head down to the docks? I hear there's a whole bunch of sailors just arrived with three-day passes. Edit
Allusions
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