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I am – Hercules!!
Two plastic surgeons are partnered in a Miami practice. One is good. The other evil.
With its two previous original series, "The Shield" and "Lucky," FX signaled to viewers that it is the place to expect the unexpected. In that regard, "Nip/Tuck" does not disappoint. Whether it's the depictions of simulated sex, terrorism by Botox injection or sharp dialogue on the mercenary proclivities of cosmetic surgeons, the 90-minute pilot episode is filled with unforgettable scenes. … The premiere is filled with stellar performances … Not everything in Murphy's script is as logical as it is compelling but there's more than enough to suggest that return visits to this medical practice will be beneficial.
Lack of likable characters may be show's downfall, though if future hourlongs focus on ethical and personal dilemmas rather than pile them on as occurs in the pilot, "Nip/Tuck" has some promise. ...
“Ick” does not do this show justice. … has a lot of “kooky,” “shocking” stuff for the sake of being “kooky” and “shocking.” … the cleverness got suctioned out … Someone needs to save this show from its arrogant nastiness and turn it into the good, bawdy soap opera it could be.
"Nip/Tuck" is both troubling and welcome. On the downside, some situations come across as over the top, and the sex scenes have a certain beer commercial slickness to them. Yet the show balances that by providing a complex, nuanced look at the corroded values and even psychology that can make people so hungry to change their appearance. ... Based on its imperfections, "Nip/Tuck" falls short of being the sort of signature show FX covets, but it's watchable and compelling for those who can get past the gore. With a nip here and tuck there, it could even become one of those dramas for which it's worth making a regular appointment.
Coax semi-regular “Hacker,” who appears to be a fan of “Charmed,” says:
So far I've only really seen one review of the series, by Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker, who didn't exactly love the show. I normally find Mr. Tucker's reviews to be pretty on point, but he's missed the mark this time because this show rocks!
The basic plot of the show revolves around plastic surgeons Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) and Christian Troy (Julian McMahon). Sean and Christian are partners and longtime best friends, but polar opposites. Sean's the nice guy who takes his work seriously, while Christian is the party boy who's in it for the money. Sean is married with two kids, but he and his kids don't get along and his marriage to his wife Julia (Joely Richardson) is falling apart. Christian, whose dick does most of his thinking, is an ex of Julia's and the two still have obvious feelings for one another. Honestly, I don't want to go into too much detail about the plot of the pilot because there are some really cool twists in it that I don't want to spoil.
Besides the top notch writing, the performances in the show are amazing. Dylan Walsh has the least showy character in the series, but his performance prevents the character of Sean from feeling flat. Julian McMahon obviously has a good time playing Christian, and fans who liked his character on "Charmed" will be pleased to see him playing a similarly morally ambiguous character to Cole Turner. His character is involved in two of my favorite scenes from the pilot: one involving Botox as a torture device, and another in which he marks up a model he's just slept with to show her how he can improve her looks with surgery. "Am I really this ugly?" she asks as she looks at her naked marked up body in the mirror. The real standout in the cast, though, is Joely Richardson. In one scene where she simply unbuttons her shirt, and another one, a sex scene, she manages to convey a full range of emotions without even saying a word.
Speaking of sex, this show has plenty of it (including Julian McMahon's bare ass), not to mention violence and bad language. FX is definitely pushing the envelope with this show, and hopefully the majority of the previously mentioned "Charmed" fans will be in bed when this show airs.
The only criticism that I can really think of for the show is that it's one of a bunch of recent shows (Six Feet Under, Out of Order, Dead Like Me being the others) that relishes in the fact that it's different and is often a little self-conscious about its own "brilliance." Still, it didn't really bother me because I actually thought the show was pretty brilliant. Also, having seen a number of this year's pilots (more reviews will hopefully be on the way) I can say that this show is light years better than anything the broadcast networks will be rolling out in the fall.
I am – Hercules!!
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