Nurse Jackie - "...Deaf Blind Tumor Pee-Test"

     Showtime's Nurse Jackie's third season finale, named "...Deaf Blind Tumor Pee-Test," wraps up the year nicely, with a number of major developments. The biggest may be that Jackie's (Edie Falco) husband, Kevin (Dominic Fumusa) reveals he had an affair, and Jackie kicks him out of the house. But a number of other important events occur, too, such as Cooper (Peter Facinelli) getting left at the alter, and Akalitus (Anna Deavere Smith) deciding Jackie is important enough to deny HR a drug test. The statues return to the chapel at the hospital. Zoey (Merritt Wever) considers another man besides boyfriend Lenny (Lenny Jacobson).


     Jackie forcing Kevin to move out of the house has nothing to do with his affair. Sure, she might be a bit jealous, but she carries on an affair for a long time with Eddie (Paul Schulze). Instead, Jackie is feeling trapped in her life, not able to do the things she wants, and having the walls close in on all sides. As her co-workers find out about her personal life, and everyone begins to suspect, if they don't already know, that Jackie has an addiction problem, one thing she can control, to get a bit of space for herself, is getting rid of her husband. Kevin's admission is merely a convenient excuse for Jackie to pull away, something she is already doing with him anyway. Whether she will eventually fix the marriage on Nurse Jackie or not is up in the air.

     It's interesting to see so many people becoming involved in Jackie's life, and by extension, her being involved in theirs. She has always maintained separate home and professional lives, but as her mistakes get bigger and bigger, she self-destructively ties the two worlds together tighter and tighter. Or maybe it's for the best. O'Hara (Eve Best) was Jackie's sole confidant, but Zoey has forced her way in, and Kelly (Gbenga Akinnagbe) has real potential, now that they have connected over a shared interests in drugs. But Jackie's growing feelings of compassion for her co-workers, even the ones she calls annoying, is best exemplified as she quietly urges Cooper's fiance to go into the hospital and marry him, though the unheard whispers are for naught.

     Akalitus stands up for Jackie by throwing away a pee test she is pretty sure Jackie will not pass. This is a testament to Jackie's place at the hospital. But it also confirms a speculation, for which the evidence continually strengthens, that Jackie's boss knows about the pills Jackie takes. Because they do not affect her job performance, Akalitus allows Jackie to get away with it. But that doesn't mean they go unnoticed. It also makes it likely that Akalitus knows Jackie is making progress, or trying to, on her own, or that O'Hara is helping her, and there is no sense making unnecessary waves for an issue already being handled. Somewhat.

     O'Hara crosses a few lines for Jackie in the past on Nurse Jackie, but none as big as her latest one. Seeing few other available, attractive options, O'Hara tells Jackie she will provide her with a supply of drugs. O'Hara will be trying to ween Jackie off of narcotics, and give her things that will harm her less than some other options, but O'Hara is still supplying her best friend with illegal substances. This is a huge risk, as it would cost O'Hara her career, if not her freedom, if anyone ever found out. But their friendship is incredibly strong, and O'Hara values Jackie above almost anything else in this world. It's a true sign of love, and probably the best thing O'Hara can do for Jackie under the circumstances, though it's also enabling.

     Cooper has been running from his moms' split, and going to extremes while doing so. His wedding to a girl he has been seeing only three weeks, which he began planning before their first date, is stupid and impulsive. He likely knows this, but cannot help himself, so strong is his craving for someone steady in his life. Someone that really loves him. He feels abandoned, and because Cooper tends to act out in large, childish ways, it's a move that makes sense to him. But the fact that his bride cannot go through with it is a smart decision for them both, because a marriage under these circumstances is not one that is destined to last very long.

     Zoey already has a good man, but she's about to let it fall apart if she's not careful. Even though Lenny has been nothing but faithful to her and she loves him, she is sometimes less than satisfied with what he offers. When an attractive cop shows interest, Zoey returns the flirts. It's a volatile situation, and should Lenny observe continued interaction between the two, considering how he reacts when encountering Zoey treating the man the first time, he may not stick around. Or, a better scenario would be that Lenny decides to fight for Zoey. She may not deserve him, but they do make a pretty cute couple.

     It should also be mentioned that Nurse Jackie has comedic timing and supporting characters down solid at this point. The series boasts one of the best ensembles on television. Besides the characters mentioned above, both Sam (Arjun Gupta) and Thor (Stephen Wallem) contribute to the overall tone with their one liners and reactions to various situations. Neither generally gets a whole, large story to themselves, but without their contributions, the show would be lacking that glimmer of greatness and heart that sets it above so many other series. Wonderful writing and acting, all around.

     In all the commotion going on in "...Deaf Blind Tumor Pee-Test," it may be easy to miss a really important occurrence. Jackie's younger daughter, Fiona (Mackenzie Aladjem), lights a fire at school. While it could be innocent mistake made by a curious child, it could also be a sign of deeper issues. Kevin brings up both Fiona's recent actions, as well as other daughter Grace's (Ruby Jerins) mental issues, as evidence that the couple is not doing a good job parenting. And he's right. Kids can sense things that are wrong with grownups, and their spats may be causing serious damage to their offspring. How long before Fiona has as many problems as Grace does?


     Nurse Jackie will return to Showtime next year for a fourth season.

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Article first published as TV Review: Nurse Jackie - "...Deaf Blind Tumor Pee-Test" on Blogcritics.

Nurse Jackie - "When the Saints Go"

     Showtime's Nurse Jackie continues its third season with "When the Saints Go." Sadly, the day has finally arrived when the moving truck comes and empties out All-Saints's sacred room. No one is more depressed than Akalitus (Anna Deavere Smith), though several others pay homage to the quiet space. As a favor to Akalitus in her day of mourning, Jackie (Edie Falco) lets new obnoxious nurse Kelly (Gbenga Akinnagbe) walk all over her. Most of the nurses are enthralled with Kelly, especially Thor (Stephen Wallem), who seems to fall head over heels right off the bat, but it's only a matter of time now until Jackie's claws come out, and she resumes her rightful place as Top Dog.

     If there is any doubt that Jackie cares about her co-workers, and there usually isn't, despite her efforts to keep them out of her personal life, that notion is dispelled in this episode. The only reason Jackie possibly sucks it up when Kelly marks his territory all over hers is because she cares about Akalitus and doesn't wish to cause her any more headaches on an already difficult day. Kelly takes Jackie's chair, says demeaning things about her, takes over a patient, and changes a medication order. Normally, any one of those would be enough to make Jackie assert her authority, but instead, she lets his continuous challenges roll right off her back.

     What's most surprising in "When the Saints Go" is that her co-workers don't take more notice of Jackie's calm demeanor. Only Zoey (Merritt Wever) even rises to her defense. Considering how important Jackie is, everyone turns to her with her problems, and she handles all difficult the patient issues with grace, one would think her 'friends' would have a little more loyalty. Kelly may be underestimating her now, but Sam (Arjun Gupta) knows better, and should clue his new friend in. When Jackie barks at Sam to jump, he jumps. When Kelly asks why he takes it, Sam replies that that's just how it is.

     Jackie is far from a saint, as anyone who watches Nurse Jackie can tell you. Her brilliant handling of the Emergency Room is tempered by her secret pill addiction and previous, though now ended, affair. While most of the characters are clueless about the vast majority of Jackie's secrets, they don't often pry. Believe it or not, this makes the show seem more realistic. While not selfish, exactly, people have more exciting things to do than investigate an odd behavior now and then. As long as Jackie keeps her waves small, she isn't likely to raise much suspicion. Thank goodness for ineptitude.

     Except from her husband, Kevin (Dominic Fumusa), that is. Jackie plants false evidence leading him to believe she is taking her sobriety seriously, but of course, she's not. He buys it, for now. Considering that the preview for next week's episode shows him finding some pills, he probably won't forever. A major element of this show seems to be finding just how far a marriage can stretch without breaking. It is likely Jackie will lose Kevin soon enough. She must hit rock bottom before she can start to get better, and she's not even close yet. Kevin is the most probable trigger to send her careening over the edge.

     Jackie isn't just lying to Kevin. She tells her bestie, O'Hara (Eve Best), that Kevin is being a jerk towards her. He isn't, but it's all part of Jackie's game to solidify her friendship, which is still tentative after O'Hara learns about Jackie's pill addiction and lies. So Jackie is choosing to lie even more? Not a good way to fix things in the long-term. While it was painful to watch the two separated earlier this season, the next go round will be much, much worse. Not looking forward to it, but it's inevitable.

     The subject of Jackie's affair, Eddie (Paul Schulze), is trying to move on. Kevin sets Eddie up with his sister, Tunie (Jaimie Alexander, Kyle XY, Watch Over Me), and Eddie starts to fall for her. But then Jackie pulls him back, asking him not to date her. While perhaps it's conceivable Jackie would let Eddie move on if it isn't with one of her relatives, it's more possible that Jackie just doesn't want Eddie with anyone but her. She hasn't slept with him since season one, but best guess is that she wants a backup plan for if, or when, Kevin leaves her once and for all. It's not fair to Eddie for her to keep him in limbo, but he allows it. He should take Tunie out and forget about Jackie.

     Cooper (Peter Facinelli) is heading towards a bad, bad place. While his lies are much more transparent than Jackie's (he's telling people his bunion is an intense Achilles injury), he isn't handling his mothers' divorce very well. He is using a literal crutch in the figurative sense. What Cooper needs is a real friend. He had that with Sam, but lost it. Either Sam needs to forgive Cooper, or Cooper needs someone else, but without some sort of help, Cooper is not likely to recover anytime soon.

     Thankfully, there is some honest happiness in "When the Saints Go." Zoey is asked by a patient to give Lenny (Lenny Jacobson) an attractive woman's phone number. Wever kills in the comedy department, both physically and with words, hedging over whether to deliver the message or not, since she is dating Lenny. She needn't worry, as Lenny uses the number to wipe sauce from his face, and cornily tells her she's the only woman he is interested in. The two of them have wonderful chemistry, and he's a good balance for the neurotic Zoey. Their relationship is humming along, and growing stronger. And unlike in other shows, Nurse Jackie probably won't introduce false drama just for the heck of it. Wedding bells, perhaps?

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     Many more episodes left to go, as Nurse Jackie is only about halfway through its season. Be sure to watch Monday nights at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime.

Article first published as TV Review: Nurse Jackie - "When the Saints Go" on Blogcritics.

JWTV Quickie: Nurse Jackie - "Enough Rope"

     Although last night's episode of Nurse Jackie is called "Enough Rope", it could easily have had a title that had something to do with apologies, because everyone is making them. Jackie (Edie Falco) apologies to Kevin (Domic Fumusa). Jackie apologies to O'Hara (Eve Best). Cooper (Peter Facinelli) apologies to Sam (Arjun Gupta). Even Lenny (Lenny Jacobson) and Zoey (Merritt Wever) dance around an apology when she sides with Jackie against the EMTs.

     Jackie obviously has the most to apologize for. She shut out O'Hara when the doctor tried to help Jackie with her pill addiction by bringing into the loop Jackie's husband. Jackie has forgiven O'Hara for that, but O'Hara can't forgive Jackie for the way she was treated. Nor should she. Jackie has not hit rock bottom, and needs to. She is popping pills as much as ever. Even though O'Hara may not have seen Jackie taking the narcotics lately, she knows there is an issue that needs to be addressed.

     Kevin is forgiving Jackie much quicker than O'Hara, but that could be because he doesn't know the truth. Jackie is assuring him that she never had a drug problem, and she is fine. He believes her, because as Eddie (Paul Schulze) says, Jackie is a fantastic liar. Besides the pills, Kevin still doesn't know Jackie had an affair with Eddie, who is now Kevin's best friend. An interesting, well written twist got Eddie and Kevin to this point, but it's unknown where it will go next. Eddie is an honest guy and wants to come clean, so Jackie reluctantly plants the seeds that will allow Eddie to tell Kevin that he and Jackie work together. But will Kevin be so forgiving when the affair and the serious addiction come to light, as they eventually must?

     I do think it's time for Sam to forgive Cooper though. Besides multiple apologies, and despite Cooper's smug, superior attitude, that public humiliaiton should have been enough to earn Cooper some forgiveness. Cooper is a good guy, at heart, even if he is a little stupid and arrogant. I wish Sam would warm up to him.

     As per usual, Akalitus (Anna Deavere Smith) has some of the funniest moments of the episode. Her trying to jump rope is amusing, but the best is when Akalitus talks to staff about fighting child obesity. As she rants, she hands out doughnuts to various workers. Yes, she is arguing against being fat, but giving her employees junk food that will make them that way. And she seems to be completely oblivious about the irony. Priceless!

     Nurse Jackie airs Monday nights at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional TV news, follow Jerome on Twitter.

Click here for an alphabetical list of all of Jerome's Current Season Reviews.

My Other Nurse Jackie Reviews:
Nurse Jackie declares "Game On": The Comedy / The Drama
Nurse Jackie Falls Apart
Nurse Jackie is Back

Nurse Jackie declares "Game On"

     There are some shows so freakin' awesome that you await their new seasons with anxious anticipation. Showtime's Nurse Jackie is one of those shows. Though I am usually getting ready to go to sleep around the time that Nurse Jackie comes on, I was too excited for the third season premiere last night, "Game On," to slumber without watching it. Am I glad I did! The episode did justice to the high expectations I hold for the show as it kicked off a whole new season.

     It's hard to think of other half-hour shows that pack as much into their limited time as Nurse Jackie does. In the premiere, besides Jackie's (Edie Falco) personal drama with her husband and best friend, who each get their own scenes, there are two patients, new shoes, Zoey (Merritt Wever) glowing from post-coital bliss, and a series of de-facings done to a simple sign that had me rolling in laughter. I think the poster may have been my favorite part, just because it was so random and unexpected. What starts as a warning to not kiss the statues in the chapel because they may have lead paint, ends up being a caution not to feed Nurse Thor (Stephen Wallem). Hehe.

     As for Zoey, I'm glad she got laid, but I share her co-workers' revulsion at her trying to slip in details. No one needs to know. It's a private act. Zoey has boundary issues, and she always has had them. It's perfectly in character. You forgive her, though, because Wever exudes innocence and sweetness in the role.

     In fact, it's the little, funny bits like that that make Nurse Jackie one of my favorite shows. The aformentioned sign is posted by Akalitus (Anna Deavere Smith), probably my favorite character. Akalitus got several noteworthy moments in the premiere. Besides the signs, and telling all the nurses they had better be on their game, because they could easily be replaced with nurses recently let go from shut down hospitals, she also masters the art of facial expressions. Let me explain.

     Jackie talks to Akalitus, concerned that Dr. O'Hara (Eve Best) will tattle on her about her pill problem. Jackie makes it seem like it isn't really a problem, but a misunderstanding. O'Hara does come in to speak with Akalitus, immediately following Jackie's meeting, but dances around the issue, rather than ratting Jackie out. Akalitus is stone faced for much of both meetings, but you can see the gears turning in her head. She is taking it all in, and she will act when necessary. She values her employees, but also has the hospital to worry about. Adding comedy to what otherwise would have been a tense scene, the phone keeps ringing, and Akalitus gets increasingly frustrated with it, rather than with the women in her office. Smith handles it all brilliantly, both the broad and the subtle equally, with massive talent.

     At the beginning of the episode, Jackie tries to explain away the pharmacy charges to her husband, Kevin (Dominic Fumusa). He doesn't buy her excuses, which ring hollow when the secret post office box Jackie gets her credit card bills in is taken into account, and storms off in anger. Is there any hope of rebuilding trust in their marriage? I don't know. I assume they will be staying together, at least for the time being, but I can't see them having easy fun ahead. She fundamentally betrayed him, on a deep level. There is nothing she can say to make things right, because what she has done is so wrong.

     Kevin seems concerned about something besides the pills, too. He knows Jackie doesn't think he makes enough money, as she is willing to accept funds from O'Hara for their children's tuition, and that hurts his pride. So he has the school fees put on various credit cards, and still can only manage a half payment. Kevin's pride is a huge obstacle that will also need to be overcome for the couple to reconnect. He needs to accept that he can't do everything alone, and that sometimes it is all right to accept help. While his flaws are not as serious as Jackie's he does have them.

     Jackie handles things with O'Hara, her best friend, completely differently. She wants O'Hara to forgive her, as evidenced by her moving closer in the chapel, but doesn't offer excuses. She knows she doesn't stand a chance at fooling O'Hara, a smart surgeon, as opposed to her husband, a dumb bartender, who didn't even believe Jackie. O'Hara shows no signs of even wanting to make up with her friend, so I wonder how much groveling it will take Jackie to get back in her good graces. If she ever can. It's really sad, because the two of them have such magical chemistry together.

 

     The biggest development in the episode is that Kevin shows up at the hospital. No one, except O'Hara and Eddie (Paul Schulze), Jackie's former lover, even know that she is married, and so Zoey's first introduction goes a little awkwardly. She asks for Kevin's ID. Her face falling as she realizes Jackie is indeed married and Zoey just made a fool of herself, is priceless. Kevin's visit is brief, but it will have lasting effects, as suddenly Jackie is exposed in one huge secret, bordering on a lie, to the staff. What this will do to her relationships with various co-workers, especially Zoey, who will be hurt that Jackie never shared something so big, is hard to tell.

 

     The ensemble dramedy also stars Peter Facinelli (Twilight) as Cooper, a stuck up doctor who just bought new, fancy shoes that he wears to work and worries about scuffing, and Arjun Gupta as Sam, a nurse who Jackie has blackmail on, both wonderful elements in the cast. Nurse Jackie airs Monday nights at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime.


Article first published as TV Review: Nurse Jackie - "Game On" on Blogcritics.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional TV news, follow Jerome on Twitter.

Click here for an alphabetical list of all of Jerome's Current Season Reviews.

My Other Nurse Jackie Reviews:
Nurse Jackie Falls Apart
Nurse Jackie is Back

Nurse Jackie falls apart

     Showtime's Nurse Jackie completed it's second season Monday night with "Years of Service", and it certainly shook things up.  Jackie's (the brilliant Edie Falco, The Sopranos) carefully constructed world has come crashing down, and her personal and professional life, kept so stringently separate, are starting to merge.

     The biggest event in the finale was Jackie's husband, Kevin (Dominic Fumusa, As the World Turns), and her best friend, Dr. O'Hara (Eve Best, doing an amazing job), finding out about Jackie's addiction to pain pills.  It started when Kevin discovered that Jackie had taken money from O'Hara, even though she promised him she wouldn't, and through a few simple queries, he found a bill listing many pharmacies.  Kevin then called O'Hara in, though they don't get along.  O'Hara had already discovered Jackie's deception about her back injury, and was suspicious.  Honestly, Kevin is disposable.  Jackie can have Eddie (Paul Schulze) back at any time, and he's a much better fit for her.  The only problem would be their daughters.  However, Jackie cannot loose O'Hara.  Sure, she has other friends, but she and O'Hara just go together so perfectly, it will be devastating if they have a falling out.

      Speaking of Jackie's friends, she has a new one.  She saved Sam's (Arjun Gupta) butt, and he has really grown on me.  Similarly, with Thor's (Stephen Wallem) expanded role this season, he has proved he can hang with the rest of the extremely talented cast.  Zoey (Merritt Wever, Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip) has come into her own, and I very much like her and Lenny (Lenny Jacobson) together, as well as Zoey and O'Hara's budding friendship.  I also have to mention that Dr. Cooper (Peter Facinelli, the Twilight saga), while still and idiot, has grown on me, and I think that Akalitus (Anna Deavere Smith, The West Wing) may be my favorite person on the show.

     Each member of the cast pulls their own, and that's the best part about this show.  It's a medical show that doesn't concern itself with the case of the week.  And there was plenty more left up in the air, such as what will happen to Jackie because she stole drugs from that creepy guy?  Andill she be heading for rehab?  Divorce?  I can't wait for season three, which, according to imdb.com, will be arriving next February.

Pictured Below: Eddie, Zoey, Jackie, O'Hara, Akalitus, Cooper