This episode, aptly titled "The Wedding," was all about girl power. Finally, the women of the extended Darling clan are starting to assert themselves. Beginning, of course, with Karen (Natalie Zea, pictured), whose long-awaited wedding to second-rate pro golfer Freddy is the main focus of the plot. No, she hasn’t really prepped for the ceremony: It dawns on her that Freddy is a dim, "not exactly complicated" bulb. And she’s still hung up on Nick. ("All we need is to have to hold, in sickness and in health, and an open bar," she tells her brother Brian about her plans for the vows.)
An open bar is just what the family needs to survive the day. By day’s end, Tripp will be drunkenly singing "The Whiffenpoof Song," no doubt an evocation of his Yale days as a poor little lamb who has truly lost his way. The Darling paterfamilias starts early on a bottle of tequila — perhaps because Patrick has moved out of the family estate, allied himself with Simon Elder (who continues to be the least plausible Russian on film), and filed suit against corrupt real estate developers allied with Tripp in his capacity as attorney general. (By the end of the show, Tripp is bent on — scenery-chewing alert — destroying Simon Elder. The first opportunity may come during the hunting party expedition hinted at in the preview for next week’s episode.)
At Simon’s urging, Patrick also fesses up to his wife, Ellen, about Carmelita. Ellen, in a delightful surprise, suggests a three-way. No, not that kind (unfortunately). More like a summit to set the "ground rules" for the three to maintain the marriage, Patrick’s career, and her own ambitions. "I didn’t marry a Darling for nothing," she says authoritatively. It’s one of many you-go-girl moments tonight. (Any guesses on how the two apparently assertive women in Patrick’s life are going to share custody of their man?)
Naturally, Nick’s Mrs. doesn’t get her own you-go-girl moment. She’s still jealous, shuns Karen’s wedding for an opening at her gallery, and continues to position herself as a scold who deserves to be cheated on. Or run over by a bus, as some PopWatchers have helpfully suggested. Whichever would require the least amount of screen time so we can get back to Karen’s delightful bitchiness. Perhaps, though, the assertiveness gene skipped a generation because we do see daughter Kiki having her very own YGG moment. Much enamored of the Darling lifestyle, little Kiki contemplates her own wedding at the mansion as she dances with Brian Jr. "I want to live just like this, no matter what it takes," she declares. Perhaps she’s been picking up tips from Jenny on Gossip Girl. Unlike her momma, Kiki’s no ummy-day. (And when’s the last time you heard Pig Latin on TV?)
Speaking of Brian Jr., no sooner does he settle into the cushy life of a Darling than his mom returns from her hippie-dippie Brazilian travels. And my, has she changed. (While in the pilot she was played by Brooke Smith, who’s off performing surgery at Seattle Grace, now she’s embodied by the lovely Sheryl Lee, best remembered as Laura Palmer on Twin Peaks.) Andrea still has a bit of a thing for Brian — they hook up again, naturally, or maybe I should say that he activates her yoni. Anyway, she’s back and she wants to take Brian Jr. with her, first to Queens and then to Brazil. (Brian Jr., bless him, isn’t sure which destination is scarier: "Do they have lemon curd in Queens?" he wonders.) You’d think someone would have called Nick (or any lawyer) before letting Brian Jr. anywhere near the mom who abandoned him, but it seems as if Nick won’t be on the case till next episode. How do y’all think this one will be resolved? (And just how prickly Brian will continue to be as Nick fights his case?)
Eventually, everything returns to Karen’s wedding. Despite feet as chilled as the event’s plentiful champagne, Karen goes through with the ceremony — and Brian even musters a somewhat articulate, genuinely moving sermon about the "three Cs" of marriage: confirmation, consolation, and joy (as I say, he’s only somewhat articulate). The occasion is, naturally, over the top, but the over-the-topness seems apparent only in retrospect. When the tabloid bidding war for wedding photos stalls, for instance, Nick has to have the family foundation kick in $1 million so the figure reaches a respectable $1.3 million. And then the family has to shell out $3 million to Freddy when Karen decides — upon arriving at her reception, mind you — that she wants a divorce before she cuts the cake.
All of this is to be expected. But the real surprise — and the show’s final YGG moment — comes from Jill Clayburgh as the delightfully dipso Darling matriarch, Tish. (Anyone else love the scene in which she mistakes the candle for her cocktail glass?) When Karen declares that she has to try to go after Nick or live the rest of her life wondering "what if," Tish confides: "Let me help you." Nick’s wife doesn’t stand a chance. And I for one am dying to find out what the mother-daughter scheme is. (For those of you keeping score, this plot twist pretty much confirms that Karen really is Tripp’s daughter and not the mystery Darling scion who is really the product of Tish’s affair with Nick’s late father.)
While the twins were mostly sidelined (sure, Juliet and her frenemy Natalie have air-kissed and made up — big whoop), this episode packed an awful lot in. Still, I’m stumped trying to settle on my favorite quip. Could it be Karen assuring mom that she won’t announce her divorce at her wedding reception because "I would never ruin a party"? Or Simon Elder assuring Patrick, "It’s none of my business how you like your eggs"? Or Tripp telling Brian that "there is a kind person buried deep down, deep down inside you"? (Come to think of it, Brian is seeming less and less like Tripp’s natural son, doncha think?) So, PopWatchers, the dance floor is now yours.
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This week seemed much more…soapy. I felt like I was watching Melrose or something like that. While the story lines have always been in that vein, I think the editiing really changed and made it feel much more like that. And no, this does NOT offically mean that Karen is Tripp’s daughter, it just means that Karen and Nick are not brother and sister. I still think that Nick is a Tripp, and all along thought that they would do some kind of “but it’s ok, Karen is not a Darling” switchero…after a little bit of ick seaped in.
I mean that Nick is a Darling…or Tripp’s…one or the other
Love this show! They really have to make Nick’s wife more likable, because the audience doesn’t even care (or would actually prefer) that Nick just break off the marriage and move Kiki in with Karen and the Darlings.
I love Karen. She’s hilarious yet sweetly realistic and sympathetic. I can’t wait to see more scenes between her and Nick. Nick’s wife is so boring and under utilized that I don’t even remember her name. She has to go.
If Glenn Fitzgerald (Brian) is half as good on Six Feet Under as he is on Dirty Sexy Money, I have to go out and rent the series. Thought’s anyone on the board?
Networks: Give the writers what they want, can’t imagine not having a full 22 episode season of this show.
Six Feet Under was the best series on TV – hands down! I miss the show!!!
Tiffany, Six Feet Under was/is the best TV Show ever made! You will see Peter Krause in an entirely different light than what you see on DSM. Talk about character depth…OMG. Not to mention the amazing actors: Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Francis Conroy, Rachel Griffiths, Lauren Ambrose. Each season it got better and better…check it out!!!
God, I love this show so much. I loved that Tish reached for her cocktail and grabbed the candle! Awesome! Maybe Tish will hire someone to make Lisa “disapper”…we can only hope right!!!! Still don’t like Patrick so much….Brooke Smith makes a better Dr. Hahn than she does the mean mom- but Brooke definitely does b*tchy better than this girl did.
TV WATCH!!!!!!!!!
*disappear. We need spell check
This show gets better and better. I’ve really warmed up the Brian character – he’s just so fun to watch and the scenes with his son are great. DS continues to impress and Karen is hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. As much as I don’t want to condone infidelity, Lisa has got to go. The character is annoying and the actress does not have the chemistry with Peter Krause than Natalie Zea has – which I’m sure is on purpose. Also happy to see another Lando/Lobot moment.
Since this show is such sudsy fluff, I’m continually suprised at how well done the connections between the family members are–last night’s Karen/Trish thing at the end, the brothers playing a video game a couple of weeks ago, even the twins’ relationship is the best thing about their characters.
And I love the theory floated by GGB that Nick is Tripp’s (he does seem to want to be a father figure to him awfully badly) and that Karen isn’t. That would be great.
Interesting comment about Karen not being a Darling, but Nick is. That could be why Letitia wants Karen to marry Nick; this way Karen becomes a Darling for real. Also, Letitia treats Nick like he’s a bas..I mean, illegitimate child. But Tripp acts like he really loves Karen, so..ah! I love the brain twisting!
While all the lines mentioned were awesome, my favorite was when Freddie asked if he was still getting the money, and Karen responds, “Of course, I made a vow.” It really lets us know where her true fidelity lies..to her bank account.
I think Brian is the one who is not Tripp’s. remember in the first couple of episodes how they made it a point that Brian hated Nick and reminded him he was not a Darling and not a part of the family? Interesting…
Why do we still not have a TV Watch and that gawd awful show Private Practice does?
When Tish said she would help Karen (my FAVORTIE Darling) try to get Nick I was so happy. But hey Nick, LOSE THE SIDEBURNS THIS ISN’T 90210! Nick so wanted to kiss Karen back on the balcony but then he went home to his should-have-died-in-the-first-episode wife. I don’t know if it’s the actress or the character but I HATE her. I hated Brian at first but he is one of my favorite characters. The way him and Brian Jr. bonded was so cute. Also Brian looks sexy so that helps. Patrick is annoying me but if I can see Tripp exact revenge on the Russian (whatever!)Simon Elder, I’m all for it. Love the twins. How beautiful did Karen look in that dress. And are we going to see a Brian Jr/Kiki hook up in the future? Oh did I mention, please kill of that wife. Maybe she gets lead poisioning from one of the painting.
Natalie Zea looks very anime in that picture.
This show is simply fabulous! ‘Nuff said!
This show is simply fabulous! ‘Nuff said!
I think the funniest line of the night had to be when Freddy said, “do I still get the money?” and Karen said, “Yes, of course, I mean, I made a VOW!”
Awesome.
I love this show. Period.
The last time I heard pig latin on tv? Last season on “The Office” of course! Andy tries to woo Pam using pig latin, stupidly taking Jim’s advice…
Excuse me Thom Geier, you didn’t actually say that Mrs Nick deserved to me cheated on? Shame on you.
Excuse me Thom Geier, you didn’t actually say that Mrs Nick deserved to me cheated on? Shame on you. Are you in on Mrs. Darlings plot?
You people are challenged. Nick a Darling?
The DizKid has a lance…from what I’m told
Yes Ms. Nick deserves to be cheated on, heck Ms. Nick deserves death! If not lead poisioning then how about she slips on paint at the gallery and breaks her neck. The hopefully the, soon to be back at work(give them the money), writers will think of something funny for her death
Yes, I’ve said it since week 2. Nick is Tripp’s kid and Karen is Dutch’s, that’s why it’s not perverse that they slept together.
This really is the best new show of the season and deserves its own TV Watch. Please EW, listen to our pleas!
I don’t either understand how people can think Nick is a Darling. It’s impossible unless Tish switched babies with Nick’s mother and I really think that’s impossible. It’s either Patrick or Brian who isn’t a Darling. Miss the twins, hopefully we will see more of them later.
Thank you Cindy, someone with some sense finally chimes in. Those dopes are going to come back and say that while Dutch was sleeping with Tisch, Tripp was sleeping with Nick’s mom. Give it a rest people
I’ve always thought Nick was a Darling for several reasons: 1) His mom left him way too easily. As fed up as she was with her husband and the Darlings, what mom would leave her child, especially one that young? If he was a teen that idolizes his dad and loves the Darling world, maybe, but not at the age she left him. 2) Brian HATED him when they were kids, way too much for simple dad’s-atourney’s-kid. There’s something going on there, though lately they’ve backed off the pure hate of Brian. 3) Tripp has treated Nick like a son, and has made comments several times (early on) that sounded like he was proud of him, wish his other kids were raised like him, etc. Plus, this is a soap, the whole “wait, you’re my brother? Wait, I’m not a Darling? So…we’re not related so it’s kinda ok?” is right up their alley. And what I REALLY think they’re saving up for is that yes, Trip did kill Dutch…he “killed Nick’s dad”…but wait, Tripp is his Dad! So…where does that leave us? Finale