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Nip/Tuck

Dawn Budge II

Season 5, Episode 4, Aired Nov 20, 2007

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A series of unfortunate events unfold for an unlucky Dawn Budge, who seeks reparative surgery from Sean and Christian. Annie and Eden start to form a sisterly bond, which unnerves Sean.

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Claudia Christian

Gwen
GUEST STAR
Michael Monks

Mr. Blunt
GUEST STAR
Jack Plotnick

Dr. George

Dylan Walsh

Dr. Sean McNamara
Julian McMahon

Dr. Christian Troy
John Hensley

Matt McNamara
Roma Maffia

Dr. Liz Cruz (Season 2+)
Kelly Carlson

Kimber Henry (Season 3+)
Joely Richardson

Julia McNamara

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Fan Episode Reviews (10)

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Annie Get Your Nun

8.2

"Great"

By maxpower03, Apr 12, 2010

I'm loving this season, but it pains me to admit that the Eden storyline is completely dragging the show down. I can see the issues the writers were trying to get across, but somewhere along the line the ideas got all derailed, resulting in a storyline that's both unbelievable and unnecessarily disgusting.

I'm a liberal guy, and I've never had any problem with the sex seen on this show before, but the Eden storyline as seen in this episode was gross. Eden herself is such a ridiculous character, taking the word "tramp" to a whole new level, like a silicone-enhanced robot from a stupid porno movie. Nobody is like Eden in reality, and I had trouble with references to Annie being taught how to give oral sex and showing her sticking her fingers down her throat to induce vomiting. If the writing was particularly clever, I wouldn't have an issue, but the story is so ridiculous that any sense of interest from me has gone out the window. Julia would never stay in her relationship with Olivia and keep Annie around Eden after being shown so much evidence of Eden's badness. And Sean's struggle with his own attraction to her was more stupidity. Eden has gone beyond the sexy teen temptress that a middle-aged guy on this show would naturally be attracted to. For the audience to believe that Sean would still be struggling with his sexual urges for this girl despite witnessing the corruption of his young daughter at her hands is not just stupid, but also lazy scripting. On a similar note, I also had problems with Freddy's scene with the Ass Bandit. FX probably wouldn't have shown the scene if it was a woman appearing to enjoy getting raped by a sexual predator, so why the offensive double standard? Phew. Now that's out of the way, let's concentrate on the good parts of the episode...

It's an unpopular opinion, but I loved Dawn last season, so I naturally loved having her back. Her attack at the hands of the crazy eagle (complete with Hitchcock-like claws that went all slash-happy on Dawn's paraglide!) was hilarious, and having her mouth sewn shut was an ironic in-joke to Rosie O'Donnell's own controversy in the past.

Christian's storyline was the best of the episode. His transition to male escort took an even more tragic turn with the introduction of Gwen, the woman who requested dangerous sex in an effort to "bring her sister and mother back to life". Claudia Christian (best known for all the sci-fi roles she did in the '90s) was truly amazing in the role, making what could have been an over-the-top sex story completely brutal and devastating. Christian's faith was also intriguing. How can he ever believe in God and his plans when the almighty was never there to save him from his stepfather as a child? It was an interesting dilemma, and I hope both the story and Tamara Craig Thomas (as the nun) return.

A complete mixed bag of an episode which showcases both the good and bad aspects of this season so far. I really hope they ditch the Eden storyline as soon as possible though, as it's seriously undermining a so far perfect season.

Director: Charles Haid
Writer: Jennifer Salt
Rating: B-moreless
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Holy Crap

10

"Perfect"

By Neo2TX, Apr 12, 2010

Wow what to say what to say about this episode right here. hmm it was very very very interesting. we got to see dawn budge again, ( the flash back of her attack was just HILARIOUS ) We got to see Sean talk to "Himself" for the very first time! We Had Annie Drama! - I hope there's a lot more where that came from. And my favorite part of the episode was when christian was freaking out about the state of his new client. Brilliant performance by Julian in that scene, just brilliant. overall this episode ran very smoothly. A +moreless
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Disasters Waiting To Happen Written by Jennifer Salt Directed by Charles Haid

7.0

"Good"

By shawnlunn2002, Apr 12, 2010

Sean (to Eden): "I do not lust after you. The harder you try, the more you turn me off".

Don't I wish that the above statement was the honest to God's truth. Sean can protest until he's blue in the face because unless you have your head buried under the sand, it's annoyingly obvious that Sean is hot for Eden. Now all I need is a sick bucket while this revolting storyline continues.

It's already been established that Eden is a complete and total monster and this week only furthers that general belief when we see just how evil to the core Eden can get. Bring in an impressionable Annie and Eden's tips on how to attract a guy that doesn't seem all that interested in her.

Unfortunately having Eden as a sounding board is about as idiotic as going to Matt on picking right women. First off all, Eden tells Annie to demand for Sean to do some plastic surgery on her and when Sean refuses, both Eden and Annie are put out. Annie because she believes she's fat and Eden because she's evil.

Annie's belief of her sudden abnormalities is all down to Eden and worse still is that Annie rallies to the defence of the sister no-one really deserves to have. Eden goes further in diminishing Annie's low self esteem by showing her websites promoting anorexia and bulimia which naturally enough freaks the girl out.

As delighted as I am that it isn't Olivia who's the villain of the season (that was my initial dread when she was signed up), I have to admit that watching Eden is uncomfortable. The actress who plays her isn't a revelation but somehow I find her more disturbed that kidney pinching James and that was a villain who was played by a way better actress.

I guess it's because Eden's targeting a child that makes this really horrible to watch. There's enough insane pressure on children as it is in society nowadays (one of many things that has popped up in some of my Sociology and Philosophy classes) and watching Eden destroy Annie just for kicks through bulimia is stomach churning at best.

Not only does Eden partake in that but she's also encouraging Annie to explore her sexuality a little too early as well. So aside from trying to make herself sick to impress a bloke named Chris, Annie is also caught by the principal engaging in a lewd act with the lad and Sean and Julia learn that she's being suspended for her actions.

Even knowing this, both Julia and Olivia seems reluctant to actually blame. Technically they haven't seen Eden behave untoward Annie in any way but I do get a bit sick and tired of Julia never believing a word that Sean says. Why does she always assume he's crazy or trying to wreck whatever new sense of happiness she's found? Would it honestly kill Julia to actually believe Sean for once in her life?

I get why Olivia isn't so quick to believe Sean. She doesn't know him that well and the first time him and Eden interacted around her, she just overheard Sean calling her a **** It's easy to see why Olivia doesn't want to believe that Eden is trouble even though Olivia is more than aware that Eden has a tongue on her.

Olivia also then alludes to Eden having high self esteem as a reason to why Eden wouldn't try to make Annie hate herself. It's a good point and that might be down to Eden growing up with a gay parent and it might not. Either way, both Olivia and Julia should try to see Sean's perspective.

Olivia talks about an elephant being in the room and accuses Sean's profession as an impetus for Annie's recent actions. Personally I think it's a load of crap but Julia does talk about the concerns of Sean's livelihood and there was the fact that Sean went overboard in trying to fix Connor's hands too.

However confronting Eden was a bad idea of Sean's. Given the amount of nut jobs both him and Christian have encountered in the past five years, you'd think Sean would have the sense to bring a tape recorder or find an advantage in the situation. Instead he more or less plays in Eden's hands. I love Sean but he can be amazingly stupid at times too.

Eden's only loving the chaos she's causing and the fact that Sean wants her only gives the girl more ammunition. I know Eden's legal and all but I really don't want to sit through an affair between her and Sean and you'd think the psychological warfare she's inflicting on Annie would be enough to kill Sean's lust for her. The scene where he's alone in his office and he talks to himself and projects the consequences if he should sleep with Eden is a wonderful scene by Dylan Walsh. It's pretty worthy of Emmy submission, though here's hoping he gets meatier stuff as the season progresses. Eden is trouble and Sean needs to back the hell away because I could see Eden doing something like accusing him of rape. Monica tried the same tactic last season and nearly succeeded. If Sean isn't careful then Eden could ruin him for nothing more than a bit of fun.

What's even more troubling is that the fizzle in Sean and Kate's relationship has died almost too quickly. It's a bit of pain because I do like Kate and although she has issues, there could've been a good relationship there. This show almost thrives too much on destroying relationships that it's beginning to wear rather thin at the moment.

Kate's eating disorder is the big no-no here. Sean barks at her for eating M&M's in bed and then finds her secret stash but tries to remedy the situation by getting her to eat healthy. These are good steps but the sudden marriage proposal is stupid. Kate said she loved Sean and I believe but Sean only proposed because he thought it would curb his Eden obsession. Sean should know by now that won't work. Damn you writers, is Sean ever going to keep a decent woman?

Sean's not the only one currently having flashes of stupidity as Christian has been in practical dunce mode so far this season. First there's the childish attempt to cash in on Sean's fame. Then he tried to destroy Julia and Olivia's relationship (which nature or Eden will do anyway) and now he's pimping himself.

Granted he treats certain women like hookers anyway so maybe he should get a feel of what that is like but his clientele leaves a lot to be desired for. Valerie was a harmless woman looking for some vigour but her friend Gwen is nothing short of being psychologically damaged.

I'm not one of those people who abhor sexual experimentation like bondage or S&M. In fact as long as it's between two consenting adults, I believe that anything goes but as this show proves pretty effortlessly there are certain limits that no-one would explore no matter how sexually adventurous they are.

Gwen's idea of getting her rocks off is being literally bonked back to life after she's of course injected and left in a bathtub filled with ice. As if Christian didn't have a God complex with his sexual prowess as it was, he now literally does screw a person to life. You can tell that he wasn't keen on actually helping Gwen out but for his own muddled reasons did it anyway.

Fortunately when the experiment nearly goes wrong and Gwen almost dies, Christian gets an almighty wake up call but the fact that something like this needs to happen for him to get a clue is tiresome. Both him and Sean really should try to learn from their past mistakes.

It also helps that a patient who wanted her breasts reduced and who happened to be a nun was the same person Christian could have a frank conversation with. When is Christian going to realise that instead of banging freaks and airheads, that there are women out there who would suit him? This nun, like Fiona is able to see through his crap and present a way of thinking unfamiliar to Christian. Christian isn't big on church and I'm not either but I did find it touching watching him and the nun praying together at the end of the episode. Why is that the best exchanges Christian has with women are the ones he doesn't sleep with (except for Gina)?

There's also another pressing issue with this episode and that would be the not entirely welcome return of Dawn. She might be loaded but damn, that woman is a disaster area. Getting her ear sliced off was enough she gets mauled by an eagle and has her mouth sewn up, a prospect which delighted Christian if no-one else.

To top it off as she recovers, some pervy doctor cops a feel of her ass and after getting a set visit to Hearts And Scalpels, she gets whacked across the head with a dish. Who exactly did Dawn piss off in a former life to get this mess load of bad luck?

More interesting is that Dawn then winds up with Freddy and apparently he's gay and using her for her cash. Christian comes up with this neat conclusion and if it wasn't for Freddy enjoying a groping from pervy doctor, I would've just assumed he was merely using Dawn. I think on some level Dawn might be aware that she's been using but because she's so lonely, she's almost willing to go along with it. After all she did get to bully Freddy into having surgery so she's not a total doormat either.

Also in "Dawn Budge Part 2"

Aside from Dawn, Freddy and the Nun, no-one else went under the table this week.

Sean (re eagle attack): "You must have been terrified"
Dawn: "Terrified? Try scared **** and I'd do it again in a heartbeat".

Out of curiosity, do you think we might get a scene between Olivia and Dawn? It's interesting that both Portia De Rossi and Rosie O'Donnell are both recurring characters on this show.

Kate: "I love you Sean. You don't have to say it because I did"
Sean: "We're heading into that direction".

Gwen: "I think for 8,000 dollars you'll bring me back to life"
Christian: "To life".

Gwen lost her sister when she was younger and felt responsible for her death. Great piece of casting in Claudia Christian.

Olivia (to Sean): "Eden's self esteem is her greatest asset. Why would she teach Annie to hate herself?"

Annie: "What am I gonna do. I have to get Chris to like me?"
Eden: "You're a real challenge you know that".

Eden mentioned a website called Anna/mia. Unfortunately sites that endorse eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are pretty active.

Eden: "I know you fantasise about me while you're pumping away on little Miss Jenny Craig"
Sean: "Jesus Christ"
Eden: "Does fatty swallow? I bet she's too worried about the calories".

Christian: "The truth is I don't want to be saved, Sister. Maybe you should have a more pious surgeon"
Nun: "No, I'm glad it's you".

How come Liz has had hardly anything to do this season? Seriously if the writers can give someone like Eden more to do, then isn't Liz deserving as well?

Dawn (to Sean/Christian): "Freddy Prune rides like a freaking rodeo"
Freddy: "Any questions?"

No Matt, Kimber, Wilbur, Jenna or Connor in this episode and you'd think at least one of them would be referenced somewhere down the line?

Sean: "I do love you Kate"
Kate: "Five pounds down and I'm lovable again".

Standout music: "Young Folk" by Peter Bjorn and "Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright.

Nun: "I'm interested in praying. What are we praying for?"
Christian: "I don't know".

Chronology: None has been specified since "Everett Poe".

Not different to many of the episodes we've had in the past but "Dawn Budge Part 2" is an okay enough instalment. Dawn's series of disasters are fun if predictable but the episode loses points for the homophobic undertones in the ass bandit label, which I really hated.moreless
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Whatever

8.4

"Great"

By matzaa, Dec 28, 2007

Well... what can I say. A fat lady flying and bitten by an eagle?! A serial ass graber?! What the hell!! C'mon guys! You surely can do much more better than this... It very funny in a low and bad way of saying. But I bet it wasn't supposed to be funny. So.... I keep waiting for the return of the great show nip tuck was. God damn it.... Where is it? This show... it's... almost ok. But it's not nip tuck. This episode was even worse, I onlt liked the part with Christian faith revival and all that stuff. But. Laughable episode.moreless
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Dawn Budge has a run-in with an eagle, a compulsive rectal examiner, a stage light, and LOVE. Sean faces the dilemma of his lust for Eden and trying to protect Annie from her. Christian loses his 'cool' with a client and gains a little faith.moreless

9.9

"Superb"

By crimsonmiss, Nov 22, 2007

(Cut/Pasted from Nip/Tuck Forum and edited)
Wonderful.
The Funny:
Dawn the eagle fighting adrenaline junkie.
Dawn the love junkie- whose Freddy 'rides her like a rodeo king'
Dawn and Freddy's theme song "Dreamweaver."
Dawn the survivor of ass bandit trauma.
Freddy's green and yellow track suit and sideburns.
Freddy continuously pumping on his morphine drip, and the look on his face when receiving his rectal exam.

The complex:
Sean dealing with his feelings about Kate's weight and how she's perceived by others. I did like how he seemed genuine in wanting to help her stop using food as a panacea.
It's interesting how effectively Eden sidetracked Sean from confronting her about Annie.
In many ways Eden's the antithesis of what he wants his daughter to become, but he still wants her, which leads to an excellent self castration hallucination and trying to 'save' himself by proposing to kate. Great stuff.
The conversation that Sean, Julia, and Olivia had about who's to blame for Annie's self- esteem issues was cool too. Olivia's willfully oblivious to Eden's horridness and bad effect on Annie. Sean's willfully oblivious to the fact that his job can/does help undermine people's self worth. Julia tried to mediate between the two of them, commenting that at least they all agreed that Annie needed help. However, Annie's no where nearer to being helped.

The Dark:
I wonder if Christian will continue his sidejob as a male escort after what happened with ketamine/ice lady. And yes, I did find the scene where she's describing her fantasy to be disturbing and erotic. Fine. Shoot me. I admit it. I'm sick ;) If he hadn't gotten her page/text...she would have been dead. He didn't seem very happy with having 'control' over that situation.
Loved the scenes with Christian and the nun. It's amazing (to me) how sexy he can be when interacting with someone who isn't necessarily overtly sexual. He's sexier when his facade's down a bit. You could tell he had an effect on her too, even when he wasn't outwardly trying to tempt her. Her line about there being a 'glimmer of true light' in his eyes probably resonates with alot of us fans. Very uplifting scenes, but also sexy . I don't think he'll ever be going into the priesthood, but I wonder if that last scene of him praying with the nun represents a small step towards some sort of spirituality for him. I think the issue of his childhood abuse was handled well. Alot of people deal with that sort of trauma in fits and starts. It makes sense that he simply stated what happened to him, asked why God didn't answer his prayers, and left it at that for now. It'll probably be something he has to deal with for the rest of his life. Oh Eden and Annie. She not only taught Annie how to make herself bulimic (the Anna and Mia website), but she also suggested an 11(?) year old use blow jobs to get a boy to like her, b/c she's obviously too fat. I feel bad for Eden, b/c anyone who has 'thinspirations' can't be a happy person. However, please Sean (and Julia) get her the hell away from Annie.....

some (paraphrased) highlights:
Liz "He digitally diddles (the patients)"

The nun to Christian: "There's a glimmer of true light in your eyes and it's fighting for a place at the table."

Freddy in a cell phone conversation: "She's Hitler in Uggs. And smelly. I need you to protect me from her"

Any conversation b/n Dawn and Freddy, esp the one where they come in for a consult with the boys.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- Goof: Sean and Christian go into the recovery room to chack on Dawn, and she "tells" them about the stool samples, she has the words "Bird Flu?" written on her chalkboard. As they leave the room, she puts the chalkboard down and you can see that it says "Who do I have to screw around here to get a smoothie?", a phrase she had written down in a previous scene.
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QUOTES (6)
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- Christian: Why would someone do that?! Liz: For the thrill of getting away with it... or maybe because brown is the new black... how the hell am I supposed to know?!
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- Dawn: And hey! What's the deal with that female surgeon on the show?! She's going off like a size a week! Somebody has to tell her to lay off the food. They will start oinking at her! It ain't easy to find a swimsuit! Tell her that!
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- Sean: You must have been terrified! Dawn: Terrified?! Try scared shitless.
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- Sean: Just stay away from me. Eden: Stay away from you or from Annie? What's your real fear, Sean, that I'll corrupt Annie or that I'll corrupt you?
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- Eden: (about Sean's relationship with Kate) I know you fantasize about me while you're pumping away on little Miss Jenny Craig. Sean: Jesus Christ. Eden: Does fatty dumpster swallow? I bet she's too worried about the calories.
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- Dawn: (before anesthesia) I am not going under until the doctor promises me a visit to the set. Sean: Dawn, we've been over this. I make a point of not mixing the two worlds. Dawn: Are you ashamed of me, Dr. McNamara? Sean: Frankly, yes.
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NOTES (4)
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- For this episode, and Rachel Ben Natan, Oliver Platt was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series.
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- Music Featured In This Episode: Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John Come Fly With Me by Frank Sinatra Gnossienne No. 4 by Erik Satie Dream Weaver by Gary Wright Shake That Ass Bitch by Splack Pack
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- Oliver Platt (Freddie), Portia De Rossi (Olivia) and Rosie O'Donnell (Dawn) were credited as "Special Guest Stars". At the same time, O'Donnell received the "And" credit.
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- Although listed in the opening credits, John Hensley and Kelly Carlson do not appear in this episode.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Eden: I know you fantasize about me while you're pumping away on little Miss Jenny Craig. This is an allusion to the actress Jenny Craig, who some time ago suffered problems of exceeded obesity, but later on overcame them with a fitness program.
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