LA Ink - Collection 10

Collection 10 is the first release of Season 4 of LA Ink.  Following the inner workings of now not one, but two tattoo shops in West Hollywood, this series picks up closely from the last.  For those who follow this series, it is a blessing that many of the bigger personalities (Audrey and Liz) from Season 3 are gone.  For those who are new – count your blessings.

Collection 10 picks up after Kat Von D loses her ‘rock’ Corey Miller.  Miller, perhaps like viewers of this series, cites frustration with the melodrama in the shop as a reason to take some personal time.  The first 5 episodes of this collection follow the rather contrived and heavily edited process of Corey and Kat seesawing through whether or not he should return to High Voltage. (Kat Loses her Rock, The Return of the Rock, The Rock Rolls)  It is a shame that whoever is in charge of continuity on this series doesn’t seem bothered by the obvious editing errors which pepper this collection.  Tell-tale changes in hair colour, style, clothing and location for interviews are just distracting and irritating.  Where the pieces to camera were once a nice way to split up action between tattoos, now they feel awkward and forced. 

Miller’s move then to the ‘rival’ American Electric shop (which is just down the street according to Google maps) means that more time is then devoted to the second store.  Collection 10 features a 60/40 balance between High Voltage (Kat’s store) and American Electric – an ‘older and seedier’ shop run by ‘English Craig’ (Craig Jackman).  Perhaps presented as a foil for Kat’s emotional style of business management, Craig has a no nonsense approach to running his shop.  Yet, there is still drama here.  Amy (the Amazonian in heavy make-up) returns only to find her space filled by Ruthless.  Paulie is soon ousted from his station by Corey.  Ruthless gets upset because Amy gets a tattoo from Corey... blah blah blah...  

Unfortunately, the focus on the drama tends to limit the time spent exploring the artistic skills of the tattooists.  Kat herself is an incredibly talented artist and her portrait work in black and grey is amazing.  To her credit, when we see her tattooing clients, she is a consummate professional.  The stock of this show – the stories of the people being tattooed are thoughtful, interesting and delicately handled.  Highlights include Bobcat Goldthwaite’s tattoo of a salted potato and Corey Miller’s freehanded willow tree.

Other artists worth watching the show for are Dan Smith, who returns halfway through this collection and Nikko Hurtado who’s colour portraits need to be seen to be believed.

Special features – What are they? Absolutely nothing.  This is disappointing.  Even a stills gallery of the tattoos of the series would have been appreciated.  Actually it would have made the set after all people who buy this are presumably interesting in tattoos.