Nip / Tuck Season 5 Premiere Review

Sometimes you just want to throw a blunt object at the TV screen. Sometimes however, you put down said blunt object, and try to give the television show another shot. My TV set almost didn’t survive the first episode of Nip and Tuck season 5. The only reason it was spared total destruction was some humor, anticipation, and Tia Carrere in a smoking leather outfit.

The episode starts with high hopes. Sean and Christian struggle to save their new L.A. practice, when they are suddenly thrust head first into Hollywood’s inner celebrity circle. Mix this plot with an arrogant actor, a troubled Hollywood executive and an overly aggressive dominatrix and you get the impression of a promising premier. The problem with Nip and Tuck is the execution. The episode moves at a pace of a drunk turtle, and the occasionally spurts of comedy can’t hide the foolish dialogue and mediocre performance by some of the actors. The content could have easily been compressed into half an hour without feeling rushed. Instead, it plods along with too much filler and distraction.

All is not lost however. If done right, the story has a great deal of potential, with upcoming episodes yielding a more fruitful result. As exciting as a season finale is, a season premier could be exactly the opposite. Keep in mind that this is not always an indicator of the success of future episodes in the coming months. With some shows it is imperative to watch the first episode in a season, regardless of its quality. Nip and Tuck is not one of those shows. If you do insist on watching, please resist the urge to scoop your eyeballs out with a spoon, during some of the lamer moments. Instead, focus on the charm, comedy, and brief moments of cleverness that appear sparingly throughout the episode. Remember, episode two could be, and often is, a lot better.