Since Nip/Tuck debuted on FX back in 2003, the series has steadfastly remained one of my guilty pleasures. From the start, I found the show addictive–creator Ryan Murphy constantly pushed the boundaries of cable television, with plentiful amounts of sex, gore and violence. Beyond the obvious, Nip/Tuck was revolutionary because in the midst of all the controversial subject matter, the characters were always well thought out, storylines were engrossing, the directing was superb, and the show attracted an impressive lineup of guest stars.
While Nip/Tuck still remains a personal favorite, there’s no denying that the show has lost some of the edginess that made it so unique just a couple of seasons ago. There’s an old adage in television that goes something like this: when a series is losing steam, have the series move to a new location (Laverne & Shirley) have a baby/add a character (too numerous to mention) or perhaps most famously, make everything a dream (Dallas). The fourth season finale found Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) heading west to rebuild his life after the emotional tumult surrounding the birth of his son Connor and the final dissolution of his marriage to college sweetheart Julia (Joely Richardson). Because every id needs a superego, Christian Troy (Julian McMahon) followed suit and joined his partner in a new Rodeo Drive practice.
Joely Richardson had abruptly left the series during season four to return to the U.K. to deal with personal issues. As a result, Richardson was written out by having Julia leave Sean for good, take the kids, and move away. For closure, an episode was concocted that showed all the characters 20 years in the future (“Conor McNamara 2026”). Julia’s leaving became a major catalyst for Sean deciding to leave Miami and move to L.A. As it turned out, Richardson decided to return for season five, this time with a lesbian lover in tow (Portia de Rossi), all of her and Sean’s children and her lover’s gorgeous teenage devil child (AnnaLynne McCord). As it turns out, everyone we know from Miami ends up making the trek out to Los Angeles for one contrived reason or another.
In a bit of a role reversal, Sean finds himself sought after, while Christian becomes a bit of a joke. When the docs become consultants on a medical drama Hearts and Scalpels, Sean eventually finds himself an on-air star and dates his beautiful co-star, while Christian is unceremoniously pushed aside. Bit by the fame bug, Sean gets himself an agent, Colleen Rose (an Emmy worthy turn by Sharon Gless), who turns out to be a deranged stalker with suicidal tendencies.
While the change of venue did pump some new blood into Nip/Tuck, the contrivances to get the rest of the characters out west became draining; though the L.A. location lends itself to a bevy of fascinating guest stars. Rosie O’Donnell’s Dawn Budge found her way to the offices of McNamara/Troy after an unfortunate encounter with an eagle, Oliver Platt as a foppish TV producer, Bradley Cooper as an arrogant actor, and John Schneider as a porn king. Others along for the ride include: Daphne Zuniga, Michael Des Barres, Donna Mills, Lauren Hutton, Jennifer Coolidge, and Tia Carrere.
In the end, even though the character development and writing seem to have suffered a bit, season 5, part one of Nip/Tuck still offers enough over-the-top craziness–blackmail, bulimia, drug addiction, group sex, death by teddy bear, incest, anal sex, surprise paternity, poisonous fruitcake, a carjacking, a shooting, a stabbing, amnesia, terrorism, all manner of couplings, and the usual odd surgical requests to make the season worth watching.
Nip/Tuck: Season Five, Part One contains fourteen episodes. Due to the writer’s strike, an additional eight episodes will begin airing on January 6, 2009.
Here is a list of the fourteen episodes spread across five discs:
1.) “Carly Summers” – McNamara/Troy has relocated to Los Angeles, but Sean and Christian quickly discover they are merely small fishes in a big pond. With the help of a powerful Hollywood publicist, the duo get jobs as medical consultants on a night-time soap opera called Hearts ‘n’ Scalpels. Meanwhile, Christian becomes involved with an aging actress requiring surgery to save her career, and Sean crosses paths with a Hollywood agent with horrific wounds on his chest and the dominatrix who inflicted them on him.
2.) “Joyce & Sharon Monroe” – Sean and Christian learn about the glamorous side of fame and the price that many are willing to pay for it. Julia visits Sean, Christian and Liz in Los Angeles with a surprise announcement.
3.) “Everett Poe” – Sean grows disturbed by Olivia’s promiscuous daughter Eden, in particular her influence on Annie, after she comes to McNamara/Troy requesting a hymen restoration. Matt shows up in Los Angeles with baby Jenna in tow, desperate for cash and claiming he has left Kimber. Sean discovers Kate’s secret. Christian hits a new low. Liz questions Julia and Olivia’s relationship.
4.) “Dawn Budge II” – 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.
5. “Chaz Darling” – Eden blackmails Christian into performing surgery on her friend. Sean acts out his sexual desires on Kate, but can’t deal with Kate’s fantasies. Kimber appeals for help from her old porn manager when she and Matt fall on hard times and can’t afford the crystal meth they’re craving.
6. “Damien Sands” – Jealous over Sean’s new-found fame, Christian convinces Sean to tape a reality show based on their careers as plastic surgeons.
7. “Dr. Joshua Lee” – Sean rediscovers his youth through his relationship with Eden and his friendship with Hearts ‘n’ Scalpels star Aidan Stone. Julia and Olivia question their relationship after they are both kidnapped by a carjacker. Kimber promises to dump Matt in return for surgery to repair her meth-destroyed face. An elderly doctor comes to McNamara/Troy requesting surgery to remove an alien chip from his back.
8. “Duke Collins” – Sean discovers the secret between Christian and Julia. A hospitalized Matt bonds with his rehabilitation counselor; Eden suspiciously makes peace with Julia. Kimber and Ram reveal their future plans.
9. “Rachel Ben Natan” – Sean hires Gina as McNamara/Troy’s new receptionist to get back at Christian. Christian finds his fidelity tested when Julia falls sick. Matt accompanies Rachel through surgery to remove body debris of the terrorist who blew up near her years ago. Sean finds himself haunted by Rachel’s suicide bomber. Dawn Budge is angered when Freddy makes plans to ride on a float at Gay Pride, and she later requires surgery when a lesbian biker rides into her face.
10. “Magda and Jeff” – Sean’s role on Hearts & Scalpels is expanded after he takes on an agent. A suspicious Christian questions Gina’s motives for moving to Los Angeles and working at McNamara/Troy.
11. “Kyle Ainge” – Christian pieces together his and Wilber’s lives following Gina’s death, and faces off against Wilber’s kindergarten teacher, who has a fetish for biting the children in her care. Colleen reveals her true colors when a rival agent shows interest in representing Sean. A couple comes to McNamara/Troy for skin reconstruction following an accident on honeymoon which drove them to cannibalism in an effort to survive.
12. “Lulu Grandiron” – Eden looks to Sean for help after getting into business with Kimber and Ram. A group of wealthy socialites hire Christian for all of their cosmetic surgery needs. Sean discovers another side of Colleen.
13. “August Walden” – Sean confronts a television critic who criticized his acting in a magazine. Olivia returns from New York and helps Julia work out what is wrong with her, leading Julia to confront Eden. Matt and Rachel’s relationship falls apart, and Matt seeks solace with a young woman with a devastating reason for visiting Los Angeles.
14. “Candy Richards” – Tragedy strikes the McNamara/Troy family after Julia learns what has caused her ill health. A visitor from Christian’s past brings revealing news. Sean finds the price of fame to be more expensive than it’s worth.
As with past seasons of Nip/Tuck, the video presentation is first rate. The episodes are in 1.78:1 Anamorphic. The picture itself is free of any digital artifacts and looks better than it did on standard television. The show sounds great too, with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English). Subtitles are available in English, Chinese, French and Spanish.
Nip/Tuck: Season Five, Part One doesn’t offer a whole lot in the way of extras. A 10-minute intro to the season titled, Hollywood Hedonism: The Transition from Miami to Hollywood,” a few deleted scenes, and a typical gag reel. We also get liner notes with descriptions of each episode, helpful since there are no on-screen descriptions.
