Nip/Tuck: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Nip/Tuck: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray Movie Review

The season this surprisingly strong series dipped a bit too low for my tastes...

Who would have thought an original cable television series about a pair of plastic surgeons courting Miami's elite would have turned out to be anything more than an obscure, sex-driven soap opera? When it first debuted on FX, Nip/Tuck defied all odds, quickly shattering expectations and claiming a successful seat next to the network's stirring crooked-cop saga, The Shield. Even though it offered a parade of sexual encounters and deviant behaviors, it managed to escape the melodramatic pitfalls of similar series by exploring the maligned obsessions, addictions, and desires of its characters. It established itself both as an oddly-compelling freakshow and a stark cautionary tale that had higher pursuits than simply pushing the envelope. Nip/Tuck seemed to revel in its dissection of love, loss, regret, indiscretion, betrayal, and greed, using its every episode to illuminate the darkness and base impulses lurking in its viewers.

Betrayal, deceit, murder: just some of the things Nip/Tuck regulars have grown accustomed to...

Longtime friends Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) and Christian Troy (Julian McMahon) are wealthy plastic surgeons living the American dream. But while it appears they're running a profitable business and reaping the rewards of their success, the reality of their situation is quite different. Despite his best intentions, Sean's marriage to his wife Julia (Joely Richardson) is strained, his relationship with his son Matt (John Hensley) is on shaky ground, and is afflicted with debilitating guilt and anxiety. Likewise, Christian realizes he's losing a battle with age as his seedy past constantly threatens to intrude into the present. As their personal lives take a toll on their friendship, each man is faced with his own mortality and sanity. In fact, between a messy divorce, an ever-mounting pile of failed relationships, a paternity surprise, an encounter with a serial killer, heated disputes with a drug lord, and innumerable women with grudges to bear, Sean and Christian are lucky to be alive.

For its first three seasons, Nip Tuck drew me further and further into the web of its flailing protagonists with every sick twist and turn -- I accepted its most ludicrous subplots as dense metaphors, I nodded my head as Sean and Christian were yanked through increasingly vicious personal drama, and I even laughed out loud as the series trotted out dozens of guest stars who were more than willing to take quick jabs at their lives and careers. But something goes slightly wrong with its fourth season. At times, the on-screen tension feels undeniably contrived and the writers seem to be phoning it in rather than accomplishing anything of note... even some of the scripts are clumsy and aimless. I found myself wondering whether the show could continue to match the intensity and relevance of its first three seasons, or whether it would simply crumble under the weight and audacity of its unraveling mythos.

Walsh and McMahon are as enigmatic, charming, and dangerous as ever, exhibiting an extraordinary command of the screen and injecting soul into their characters. However, many episodes fail to live up to the quality of their performances. While I appreciate the show's startling change of direction and the intriguing nature of its newest characters, I struggled to understand the point of several key subplots, couldn't wrap my head around a few nonsensical character decisions, and scoffed at a bit of backpedaling that forced Sean and Christian to revisit conflicts they'd previously resolved. It doesn't help that plot progression is inconsistent and unwieldy. Worse still, for every interesting storyline that emerges, the writers deliver weaker arcs that drag on for far too long.

Even so, Nip/Tuck somehow weathers its most menacing storms. I have my complaints, but the best moments managed to overwhelm the worst and leave me tepidly awaiting Sean and Christian's next demented outing. I can't wholeheartedly recommend this season as unabashedly as I have others, but fans may still get a kick out the trouble the show's deviant duo get themselves into this time around.

Nip/Tuck: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Nip/Tuck: The Complete Fourth Season features a rich 1080p/VC-1 transfer that offers series fans an undeniable upgrade over the murky standard DVD version. Lush primaries, satisfying blacks, natural skintones, and a convincing level of depth combine to create an attractive image that rarely disappoints. Contrast is spot on, boasting nicely delineated shadows and stable brightness throughout the entire season. From episode to episode, the picture delivers a consistent experience that doesn't falter, even in the face of shifting light sources, vivid exterior shots, and dreary nighttime sequences. The warmest colors occasionally leave the palette looking a bit oversaturated, but these flushed hues tend to enhance the subsequent tone of the scenes they accompany. Best of all, detail holds up to close scrutiny as the transfer renders even the smallest dial and instrument in the operating room with care. Textures are tangible, hair and stubble are well defined, and all but a handful of scenes look crisp and refined. Granted, the transfer does suffer from a few issues -- namely some negligible artifacting, source noise, and crush -- but they fail to undermine the integrity of the image or detract from the overall impact of the transfer. Nip/Tuck: The Complete Fourth Season may not be the best BD TV release I've reviewed, but it nevertheless boasts a strong, commendable presentation.

Nip/Tuck: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Released in 2007, Nip/Tuck: The Complete Fourth Season doesn't include anything more than a standard Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track. While that may leave audiophiles with furrowed brows, let's not forget we're talking about a television series here. Would I rather experience each episode while listening to a lossless audio track? Sure. Am I suggesting you should wait for Warner to re-release this season with upgraded audio? Absolutely not. Since conversations and arguments dominate the soundscape, the DD mix does a fine job rendering and prioritizing the series' dialogue. Music is often the only element that utilizes the full soundfield, but environmental ambience is effective, interior acoustics are realistic, and the use of the rear speakers reveals a careful hand behind the show's sound design. Moreover, pans are breezy, directionality is precise, and LFE support kicks in whenever it's needed. The only real downside is that the track doesn't have an awful lot to work with. As it stands, casual listeners will barely take notice of the nuances in the series' subdued sound design. Nip/Tuck: The Complete Fourth Season lacks raw power, but delivers an immersive soundfield that shouldn't give anyone much to complain about.

Nip/Tuck: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray edition of Nip/Tuck: The Complete Fourth Season may include all of the special features that appear on the standard DVD, but don't get too excited. You won't find a single commentary, an extensive behind-the-scenes documentary, or any high-def video content. Instead, you'll have to settle for a brief and boring tour of a production that deserves far more supplemental attention.

• Clever Casting (SD, 13 minutes): Too superficial for its own good, this featurette focuses on guest stars like Larry Hagman, Rosie O'Donnell, Brooke Shields, Peter Dinklage, Alanis Morissette, and Jacqueline Bisset (just to name a few).
• Sizzle: The Sexuality of Nip/Tuck (SD, 9 minutes): Interviews with the show's cast, crew, and several real-life sex therapists is too flighty to resonate or matter.
• The Cutting Edge (SD, 6 minutes): Another all-too-short featurette that reveals the real-life techniques at the heart of several episodes.
• Deleted Scenes (SD, 15 minutes): A collection of cuts that actually features quite a few intriguing extensions and engaging character beats.
• Gag Reel (SD, 2 minutes): A shrug-worthy selection of outtakes.

Nip/Tuck: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Even though I wasn't a rabid fan of Nip/Tuck: The Complete Fourth Season, its performances and overall tone managed to pull me through its more mediocre episodes. The Blu-ray edition is better, offering an excellent video transfer and a solid audio track that improves upon every AV aspect of the standard DVD edition. Sure, its slim supplemental package left me wanting more, but the technical presentation more than salvaged such vacant discs. While I would suggest newcomers stay away until they've watched earlier seasons of Nip/Tuck, fans will ultimately be pleased with this Blu-ray release.