Well, then.
So apparently Nurse Jackie does have a decent relationship with her husband, and great sex as well, as they prove by going at it on the kitchen floor on top of spilled breakfast products. So what is driving her to get some medical attention on the side? Hmmm. What's the real unhappiness here?
Most of the elements introduced in the pilot continue in this episode. Jackie has a drug problem, but is very creative in hiding and yet continuing her pharmacological escapades. Disguising Percocet as Sweet-n-Low has unintended results that are both good (helps revive a heart attack patient in a pinch) and bad (the hospital administrator rudely snatches some for her coffee and then spends the rest of the episode laughing and smacking into doors).
Nurse trainee Zoey, still looking like she thought she was showing up for a casting call of the "Annie" revival, is TRYING to prove worthy to Jackie, but Jackie keeps cutting her off with sarcastic comments that the job basically sucks and you have to deal with it. Oh, and then Jackie tries to divert blame for the "ear" from the last episode showing up in the toilet by pointing at Miss Sunshine. And no will eat the baked goods she lovingly brought in. Not a good day for Zoey.
Then we have the crazy guy who lurks around the hospital and eventually slaps Jackie, hard, before being taken down in a very impressive football tackle by Zoey. (Maybe Z was determined to have SOMEONE sample her damn pastries.) Seems the guy is very upset about not getting any help for his ailing mother, and logic dictated that he should punch the very people he needs. Oh well, she ends up helping him anyway, just has to grab herself a little Sweet-n-Low first.
Then we have the hateful stage mother who forced her son to skateboard without a helmet so it wouldn't mess up his hair, and of course he then falls and his brain is swelling. Despite this, bitch mom is still more concerned that they had to shave his head and operate to reduce the swelling. "It'll take a YEAR for his hair to grow back!" Never mind that he almost died and may not walk. Jackie rips her a new one without even breaking a sweat.
Dr. Cooper turns out to be more decent than originally presented, and may actually know what he is doing, but there's still that "stress-related-breast-grabbing" business to deal with. And Dr. O'Hara, in the obligatory best friend despite all your issues role, is really a hoot when chattering away with Jackie. (The restaurant scene where they argue over who is going to save the choking victim? Good stuff.)
So, still very psyched about the show. Despite being the main character, Jackie is not the most likable or even pivotal part of the show. Most of the characters have a strong foundation, and the writers could go in a number of ways. The husband is a little bland, but I'm hoping the issue there is we just don't know the real story yet. Otherwise, they need to develop him beyond spontaneous kitchen floor sex.
We do have the stereotypical flaming queen nurse's aide character. Which I suppose should offend me. But not really. There's always a queen in any real-life hospital setting, that's just how it is. And they DO flame. Get over it, and then embrace it.
Fingers still crossed...
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