The turbulent lives of two handsome and high-priced Miami plastic surgeons may be one of the more unusual premises for a television series, but the FX Channel's Nip/Tuck combines sudsy sex and biting wit with the emotional quandaries involved in body modification in a way that makes for an engrossing--and occasionally gross--hourlong drama. The show benefits greatly from its two leads--Dylan Walsh as the troubled "good" surgeon and Julian McMahon as his predatory (but equally troubled) "bad" partner--as well as Joely Richardson as Walsh's wife and Roma Maffia as the surgeons' nurse. If Nip/Tuck does have a stumbling point, it's in its occasionally glib dialogue (series creator Ryan Murphy was a writer for the verbally flashy high school series Popular), which can clash with an episode's more dramatic and poignant moments. The show also doesn't shy away from showing the more gruesome aspects of plastic surgery, but viewers can often see more stomach-churning images on the top-rated CSI. But the strength of the performances and the originality of the premise make these rough spots manageable for viewers looking for an interesting spin on the usual "doctor show." The five-DVD set offers an extended version of the pilot and all 12 episodes of the first season as well as a trio of documentaries (one on the show itself, another on its special effects, and a third, "Realistic Expectations," on real-life plastic surgeons). A gag reel (amusingly titled "Severed Parts"), a selection of deleted scenes for most episodes, and a music video for the title theme ("A Perfect Lie" by the Engine Room) round out the box. If the first season had its share of shocking visuals and storylines, viewers should probably strap themselves into their easy chairs for the events in season 2. In addition to the usual offbeat medical issues (the team gives a man breasts, reconstructs a woman's sexual organs, restores a host of gruesome mutilations, and comes very close to undoing Joan Rivers's face work), Drs. McNamara and Troy must deal with a vicious serial killer known as the Carver, a vengeful former patient (Jill Clayburgh), a woman with alleged stigmata, and a life coach (Famke Janssen) who reveals a stunning secret past--all in the course of just 16 episodes. Guest turns by Alec Baldwin, Vanessa Redgrave (the real-life mother to series regular Joely Richardson), and Sarah Paulson (Deadwood) compliment the already high-quality performances by the cast, and the episodes seem to have ditched the glibness of season 1 in favor of a more serious tone, which makes for a more uniformly enjoyable watching experience. As with the season 1 set, The Complete Second Season includes several extras, most notably 45 minutes of deleted scenes, and a featurette titled "Recurring Pain," which explores the relationships between three female characters and Dr. Troy. --Paul Gaita
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