…is equal to the love you take

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 vids 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 (yes, I am a big fan: see here and here) 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 perhaps that’s why the 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 (I will never tell other than to say it’s not because s/he has different taste than me. Nope. S/he gets paid big bucks and is absolutely pedestrian in his/her reviews) 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

She’s Ten. Be Cool.
Jackie and Coop treat a patient whose care-giver is her ten year-old daughter.

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

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