'People Eat So Late' Dr. O'Hara takes Zoey out to dinner - much to Zoey's excitement and O'Hara's embarrassment. (From Episode 5 "Daffodil")
First off, apologies to any/all Nurse Jackie fans for the lack of video sneak peeks or promos. I was diligently scouring my Showtime YouTube subscription which, in the lead-up to series premiere, Showtime was posting video on. Then the videos disappeared and I thought it strange but I did not think that they were instead posting them exclusively at the Showtime website. Now I know and so do you. :)
Above, you'll find a clip from Episode 5, "Daffodil," and below one each from E4 and E5. In characterizing Nurse Jackie, I've seen the phrase "just a summer series" used in a few reviews. I'm not sure what that really means especially in the context of DVRs and DVDs and the fact that the "highly acclaimed" HBO series True Blood is airing in the summer, too. As much as the television landscape has changed perhaps we should chuck the old-school way of judging a series by when it airs?
Regardless, Nurse Jackie is only a half hour show, which come to think of it is why perhaps that critics seem to need to remind us of its summertime status, so even if it is "not perfect" as my least favourite critic called it 30 minutes is not much time spent (or wasted). I like Edie Falco a lot and as expected, as Jackie she is nothing like the character of Carmela in The Sopranos. Jackie is flawed quite badly in a couple of areas except in her nursing abilities. There, she is a star. Audiences that want to make her "St. Jackie" are not going to be able to put her on that pedestal if they have a problem with her ongoing infidelity to her spouse or to her drug addiction to painkillers.
Still, the show has some solid acting, if not always the most original characters. If I do have a criticism, it's that the characters, nurse Jackie excepted, are mostly caricatures. They are paper-thin. I realize that I've only seen two-hours of the show but that's longer than a movie-of-the-week so these things could've been established.
Instead, I fear that the supporting cast are mostly one-note and that we may tire of that tune. Even so, I'm staying tuned to Nurse Jackie and hoping for a bit more depth.
'Not At All Pleased'
One of Coop's elderly patients is admitted, and Zoey asks to treat her.
SCHOOL NURSE (above)
In episode 104, Jackie and Kevin consider enrolling Grace in private school; the stoic Dr. O'Hara must endure the emotional thanks of a boy whose twin brother she saved; Zoey loses her a patient for the first time. Written By: Christine Zander
Directed By: Steve Buscemi TV-MA (D,L) - Adult Content, Graphic Language
Much more after the jump!
'She's Ten. Be Cool.'
Jackie and Coop treat a patient whose care-giver is her ten year-old daughter.
Nurse Jackie: 'DAFFODIL'
In episode 105, Jackie breaks several rules and regulations to help a 10-year-old girl caring for her lupus-stricken mother; Mrs. Akalitus accidentally tasers herself; O'Hara treats Zoey to a meal at a four-star restaurant.
Written By: Taii K. Austin Directed By: Steve Buscemi
Comments