Plot: What’s it about?
I remember watching something on FX (though what I was watching, I have no idea) a few years ago. Well it must have been at least four years by now since they were promoting the second season of “Nip/Tuck.” I’d heard of the show, but never saw it. And, wouldn’t you know it, Warner had sent me the first season on DVD just a few days prior so I figured I’d pop the discs in and give it a look. As it turns out, I was pretty much addicted to the show after the first episode, so much that I started watching it on a regular basis when it aired (as opposed to waiting for the DVD’s to come out). “Nip/Tuck” was edgy, trendy and just a bit off and that allure started to fade after the third season. As it stands, the show’s sixth and final season has now come and gone and the entire series is on DVD.
In this final season, we see that Christian (Julian McMahon) and Sean (Dylan Walsh) have since moved from Miami to Hollywood (this happened in season four) and thier once blossoming plastic surgery business is waning due to the economy. They’ve even hired a sultry female surgeon in order to lure in some more clients. Each episode features a name, usually that of a guest star and there’s no shortage of guest stars this season. Remember “The Dukes of Hazzard?” Well John Schneider is a guest star this year as a former adult film star who used to “work” with series regular Kimber (Kelly Carlson). Matt (John Hensley) is paying some ramifications for his actions in season five and witout giving too much away, things do come to a close. It’s always sad to see a show go off the air, especially one that used to be as hip and clever as “Nip/Tuck.” The magic wasn’t totally gone, but it’s clear that the show was in need of some plastic surgery as opposed to having it die on the table.
Video: How does it look?
All of the episodes are presented in their original 1.78:1 aspect ratio and they?ve been anamorphically enhanced. I suppose it differs as to where you?re located or what cable company you use, but I get FX in an analog, letterboxed image that doesn?t look that great. How wonderful it is to see these in an anamorphic widescreen image that looks fantastic. The episodes vary in how they?re presented. The glory of Miami can be among the most beautiful (take ?C.S.I. Miami? for example) out there, though the offices of McNamara/Troy can be fairly dark indeed. Flesh tones seem to be right on target and I didn?t notice anything too out of the ordinary. I saw a few specs of grain here and there, but nothing that detracts from the picture. ?Nip/Tuck? looks great, no question about it.
Audio: How does it sound?
The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack showcases some of the great songs that they play during the operating scenes. There?s a CD on Amazon.com that has some of the songs played during the season, but I found someone who had meticulously compiled every song from the first two seasons and it now occupies my iPod. What that means is that the soundtrack is packed with great songs ranging from the 50?s to the present and it?s so refreshing to hear these in full 5.1 sound. Dialogue is very clear and free of distortion (something which I can?t say holds true when I watch it on TV) and though surround effects aren?t too prevalent, they do surface from time to time.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Sadly, we don’t get too much in regards to supplements but the included documentary “Tell me what you don’t like about yourself” is pretty interesting.
