FX underscored its cable powerhouse status when it launched Nip/Tuck featuring two plastic surgeons at the top of their game in steamy Miami. The two doctors balance life as talented surgeons and are surrounded by people who want plastic surgery to "make over" their life. It got serious attention for gutsy, sexy drama that pushed its presentation so hard it about split the seams of conventional television drama, doing so with taste, wit, and dark comedic turns.
This series was groundbreaking in its content and seemed to be a precursor for other shows (Californication, Weeds, Dexter, Damages, Saving Grace) by putting more emphasis on adult-oriented content with intertwined storylines that rival those of daytime television but taken to an entirely different level.
Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) and Christian Troy (Julian McMahon), are the key figures who are colleagues, friends, even brothers but they also bicker like an uneasily married couple. From episode one, Sean was the anal-retentive, perfectionist doc and husband while Christian was the ultimate bad boy because he felt unloved by any and all, which he hid quite well. Joely Richardson is Sean's wife Julia who was a med student with them, and while attracted to both men, wound up marrying Sean and quit school once she became pregnant. Eventually the marriage falls apart and Julia finds herself in a relationship with Olivia yet is still attracted to Christian. I couldn't figure out what her orientation was other than confused.
Roma Maffia plays Liz, the gay, in-house anesthesiologist who is part-time referee and voice of common sense. Her orientation becomes interesting when Christian finds out he has cancer. From the baring of souls between Liz and Christian, they wind up getting married but that relationship dissolves fairly quickly. John Hensley is Matt McNamera, Julia and Sean's son developing into manhood whose mishaps have end up with him on meth, married, and using the cover as a mime to steal. Kelly Carlson has a recurring role as Kimber, a model seeking to freshen her look. She morphs into a porn star, sex-toy entrepreneur, and girlfriend to both Christian and Sean. This series requires a score card to keep track of the regulars and how their personal and professional lives become intertwined. Guests stars include Oliver Platt, Rosie O'Donnell, Sharon Gless, AnnaLynne McCord, and many others who made this a "must see" series.
.jpg?t=20120527181101)
Article comments
1 - NTL
I do recommend buying the series. The entire series. It's just that good. Not always consistent, though it holds gems in every episode. The acting is superb. Music and set design alone is worth the viewing.
2 - stevie wilson
Agreed! while there are parts of every episode that are great, this final series looks like a balloon losing its' air.
3 - NTL
I agree it looks 'deflated' towards the end, in part because Ryan Murphy was too focused on Glee and his movie projects, but also because it reflects the spark being gone from the bromance. I admit I always envisioned an electric ending to this intense drama, but the writers decided to pull the rug out from under us in a melancholy way. Tear jerking, yet, content that they will go on as they always have. Maybe learning a few lessons after all.