I really liked Lynn Cohen. It's always nice to her pop up.

Good episode, but not as strong as the first two. Falco is strong and delightful and Eve Best is a good sidekick. Jackie's reaction to the hospital getting a machine for the pills was pretty good and it's going to be interesting to see where Jackie's addiction goes throughout the season. Zoey trying to get her stethoscope was a funny addition.

Grade for "Chicken Soup": B

Episode Title: "School Nurse"

Synopsis: Jackie takes umbrage when Grace's teacher, the school nurse, and the district psychologist suggest that they treat the troubled young girl with antianxiety medication; Zoey deals with losing her first patient; a young twin becomes overly attached to Dr. O'Hara after she saves his brother's life.

Discuss.

That episode was wonderful, and Haaz Sleiman came on really strong here.

It's weird. I was annoyed that the characters were seeming too one-dimensionally quirky, but in this episode when we get more depth, I wasn't quite buying it. Maybe it's the jarring shift -- the supporting characters were goofs last week and almost completely dramatic this week.

I thought that Edie Falco was incredible here, and this might be a better tape for her than the pilot episode was. Jackie manages to be heroic, defiant, and compassionate while still doing morally compromising things all in the span of a half-hour. The storyline with her daughter was an easy one to rally around, but it was compelling all the same. I liked how the supporting cast got some necessary screentime, particularly for Haaz Sleiman and Merritt Wever. It was time to delve into their dynamics outside of Jackie a bit more, and I'm glad that they did it. There was something that Haaz Sleiman did here that was breathtaking -- just the look on his face when he was talking about his dead twin brother. I want him nominated as much as Edie Falco now. Eve Best does wonders with the kind of surface character she's given (best friend/cold doctor). I loved it when the little boy wouldn't let go of her after she saved his brother. I do kind of wish that the doctors in general were given a bit more depth, in a way that doesn't take away from their purpose for Jackie. Coop's fratboy doc persona will get old if there's not much more underneath that. I also hope that they explore what led to Jackie's two-timing, b/c all of that could easily blow up in her face, and I'm wondering if the affair with the pharmacist started as a means of scoring drugs, even though they seem to be in "love" now. The husband seems like a good guy, so it's sad seeing what Jackie's doing to him behind his back. But this was an excellent episode, and I think that Edie Falco's all set to be a force with this role during the upcoming awards season.

Grade for "School Nurse": A

Suprised many are not commenting on this great show. This was another enteraining episode, with Falco again wily utilizing sarcasm and wit, especially when dealing with the school nurse over Jackie's daughter's possible attention problem. So far, if Falco doesn't submit the pilot episode, "School Nurse" would be a great selection as well. Falco was very good here, as was Eve Best, who continues to shine.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: rrussaw,

I have a question: does Jackie's pharmacist guy know that she's married? My mom and I were having a discussion. She says yes, I say no.

quote:

Originally posted by MissyGal:
I have a question: does Jackie's pharmacist guy know that she's married? My mom and I were having a discussion. She says yes, I say no.

I'm fairly sure no one at the hospital knows she's married or has kids save the O'Hara character, who doesn't seem to find it strange that no one else in the hospital knows.

Having seen episode five, that whole affair storyline is becoming a real problem for me. How can someone work somewhere for as long as Jackie has and manage to hide her entire family. More important, why would she? I need this subplot to go somewhere, because it's feeling more contrived by the week.

Episode Title: "Daffodil"

Synopsis: On her first night shift, Zoey deals with a 10-year-old girl whose mother suffers from lupus; Jackie discovers that the youngster is her mom's primary caregiver, prompting her to once again flout hospital policy in order to lend them a hand; later, Dr. O'Hara rewards Zoey with a trip to a first-rate restaurant; Mrs. Akalitus has a run-in with the wrong end of a stun gun.

Discuss.

I finally got around to catching up on the rest of the episodes (including tomorrow nights) on demand. I have to say I am really enjoying the show alot more than I thought I would. They have really mad Jackie a more likeable character, which I didn't think was possible given the ending of episode one. I'm still not a big fan of the cheating thing, and I still don't really understand why she is cheating...is it just for the meds? The supporting cast is doing a very nice job so far and I like how they are developing them. Best is the best (no pun intended) so far, IMO. I would give the show a B+/A- thus far. I think Falco is easily getting in next year...and is going to be tough to beat.

"Daffodil" was another strong episode and one of the funniest thus far. Falco could easily submit this if she does not submit the "Pilot" for next year's Emmys. Her Nurse Jackie is a complex character, as evidenced in this episode with her sarcastic remarks to Anna Deveare Smith's character to her being helpful to the little girl; Falco displayed both smart comic chops here as well as her dramatic side. Everyone shined in this episode. The tasing scene in the elevator with Smith's character has to be the funniest moment.

Grade for "Daffodil": A

"Tiny Bubbles," the episode that airs next week, is another good one. The last two episodes to air, plus this one would all make good tapes for Falco.

I thought this week's episode took a show from good but problematic to great and I have seen the next episode and it is even better. The combination of the darkly funny, screwball, gravely serious and yet often touching is getting more organic each week.

I am glad I decided to give this show another chance after having mixed feelings about the premiere. This past weekend I had an On Demand "Nurse Jackie" marathon and it has made me a loyal viewer. Edie Falco is great, as usual, but I have been really surprised by Merritt Weaver as her nervous nurse-in-training who is often the comic highlight of the show.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: pacinofan,

quote:

Originally posted by 742:

quote:

Originally posted by MissyGal:
I have a question: does Jackie's pharmacist guy know that she's married? My mom and I were having a discussion. She says yes, I say no.

I'm fairly sure no one at the hospital knows she's married or has kids save the O'Hara character, who doesn't seem to find it strange that no one else in the hospital knows.

Having seen episode five, that whole affair storyline is becoming a real problem for me. How can someone work somewhere for as long as Jackie has and manage to hide her entire family. More important, why would she? I need this subplot to go somewhere, because it's feeling more contrived by the week.

I think the pharmacist does know about her husband and family, seeing next week's episode already it notes that both her and the pharmacist have worked at the hospital for many years, but he just does not like being reminded of her family life so she does not wear the ring around him. Also, in this week's episode Jackie put up a picture drawn by her daughter.

I agree the show has made it annoyingly confusing as to what Jackie's boyfriend and co-workers know about her personal life but I believe they do know about her husband and kids.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: pacinofan,

The way they've painted it so far, it seems like Jackie's actively keeping her marriage a secret from everyone she's working with except for Eve Best's character. I'm not watching ahead, so I don't know what the pharmacist knows and doesn't know, but I've never completely bought that Jackie's kept this secret in all the years that she's worked there, and that Mrs. Akalitus doesn't even know about her family. They've never visited her at the hospital before? What about her tax filing status that would have to list her being married with dependents? It's bizarre that they're dealing with her infidelity in this way, and it's still not completely clear why she's in the affair to begin with -- just for the drugs, falling out of love with her husband, bored and in need of excitement in her life, or she's really in love with two men and wants to have it both ways.

I thought that this was another strong episode for Edie Falco. It's great to see her front and center on a series like she deserves to be, and in this episode, they showed the more compassionate side of Jackie with her dealings with the ten-year-old caregiver of the lupus patient, and the contrasts of that with her own anxiety-ridden daughter. The scenes with the stroke victim were funny too. I thought that it might get old to have Jackie always fighting "the system" in episode after episode, but somehow Edie Falco continues to make the struggle fresh and engaging. I'm starting to like Peter Facinelli on here a bit more. The boob grabs are still silly, but seeing Coop in a new context in his scenes with Eddie was necessary, and it's nice to have him a bit more grounded of a character without all of the frat-boy nonsense. And him having two mothers opens his character to even more new dimensions. The tasering scene with Anna Deveare Smith was hilarious, but I wish that her character was more substantial on the show and less annoying than what she is. Smith deserves more than this kind of material. The scene with Zoey and Dr. O'Hara in the restaurant was great too. "My father's in prison for manslaughter./ Now we're talking! Go!" Who knew Merritt Wever and Eve Best would make such a great duo. I think the show's looking at a possible best comedy series run.

Grade for "Daffodil": A-/B+

"It's bizarre that they're dealing with her infidelity in this way, and it's still not completely clear why she's in the affair to begin with -- just for the drugs, falling out of love with her husband, bored and in need of excitement in her life, or she's really in love with two men and wants to have it both ways."

I actually find this a very interesting aspect of the show that we are not sure why she is having the affair. At times I have thought it was just for drugs and other times I felt she was truly in love. The fact that her husband seems like such a sweet guy makes it all the more confusing. I have no doubt the show will eventually clear up her motives but I do not mind not knowing them now and find it intriguing that Jackie's motives are so mysterious.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: pacinofan,

I haven't liked Jackie's adultery as a plot device since the pilot reveal and still don't, but I'll ride it out regardless to see where it all ends up, though I doubt the resolution will be that tidy or completely clear.

I am losing interest fast and a lot of it has to do with the fact a lot of supporting characters are 1 annoying dimensional

Mrs Akalitus is just annoying. Eve Best great actress is playing 1 note snobby Brit.

I only find myself really liking student nurse

My partner and I liked the show from the start but now are finding it must viewing. This weeks episode had several "smile" moments for us and even some laugh out loud moments.