In today's column, I look back over the first season of "Nurse Jackie," which ends tonight starting at 10:30(*). I'm on vacation, but in lieu of a finale blog post, I have the transcript of my conversation with showrunners Linda Wallem and Liz Brixius set to go live right after the finale. (*) And yes, I'm aware the finale has already aired On Demand, but we're following the air schedule, so no commenting on the episode until tonight at 11, after the interview post goes up.
The moment in which the EMT brings the body of her mother directly to Dr O'Hara is painfully contrived enough. The fact that he takes a moment to then say: "Found her at the airport. What a shame. This is probably SOMEBODY'S mother." makes this scene the most stultifying, awful piece of screenwriting to hit American TV sets since the turn of the century.
ReplyDeleteI see Jackie turning to that nurse (from another hospital), who Jackie threw out of her ER, for his drug use. She can’t go cold turkey with her heavy drug use. His “takes one to know one” parting shot at Jackie, gives her an opportunity to get her drugs from someone who either has an “in” at his hospital, or has a way around the system. Jackie will have to grovel, which should be interesting, given her personality. Poor O’Hara-she really needed Jackie’s support, but an addict always puts their habit at the forefront.
ReplyDeleteThe nurse she threw out was a temp; he doesn't have a hospital.
ReplyDeleteDid she OD on morphine? Either way, she's going to get caught since she didn't try to trick the Pill-O-Matic.
I'm at least coming back to find out what happened with her, but the show really needs to improve to keep me watching every week. They need to show us what's going on, not make us wait for Wallem & Brixius to explain it in an interview.
where 30mg of morphine sulfate might be a lot for most, she has a higher tolerance (if the screenwriters took that into consideration), she'll be fine. she wont get let go because having such a corrupt nurse work in a catholic hospital with Jesus and Mary watching her every move give the show the ironic twist we all love. i agree with the bit with the EMT and the "somebody's mother" bit, that could have been played out a little better. in spite of that, still a die hard fan.
ReplyDeleteThey used Yuengling Lager as the bottle prop in the scene between Eddie and Kevin in Kevin's bar, and I think I just grew a little more attached to this show.
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot of what you have to say about this show, Alan. But I find the show a bit more underwhelming than you. The last two shows provided some payoff and were clearly better than most of the previous 10, but I can't forgive the gaping flaws.
ReplyDeleteNurse Jackie isn't pure crap; it does some interesting things and has some assets in the cast. The central storyline/performance is at least interesting.
But in the end, I have to conclude that this show is a lightweight...in a world of cable heavyweights. For me, its worth watching but barely...if it was an hour-long, I don't think I could take it. I suppose that's another reason I'm underwhelmed...
12 episodes of 25 minutes each and about half the material fell flat. hope they find their voice earlier and do better next year by the cast
Alan nails the problem with the show: "broad sitcom shenanigans involving Anna Deavere Smith as Mrs. Akalitus, the hospital administrator." Her antics, and the silly score which accompanies them, take me out of the show altogether. This is a show about an addict attempting to keep her lives separate and the consequences of the failure to do so. Light comedy is okay, particularly when it comes in the form of a character like Zoey, whose comedy arises from real situations. The contrived and unnecessary sitcom gags with Akalitus distract and dilute from the central narrative. Just spin her off into her own show, "It's Akalitus!" on the CW and we can move forward with a greater focus on Jackie and her ills
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