Nurse Jackie "Silly String" (207)

Nurse Jackie
“Silly String” (Ep 207)
Jackie reconsiders her affair with Eddie. Coop insults the hospital’s biggest donor.
Original Air Date: Monday, May 3, 2010

The day starts off grand. Fiona and Grace are playing chase around the house while Jackie and Kevin clean up from Fiona’s birthday party before Jackie, O’Hara and girlfriend Sarah leave for the hospital. The game goes sour when Grace accidentally hits Fiona in the mouth splitting her lip. Grace has a total anxiety freak out, while Fiona acts like it's no big deal. Kevin jumps to take Fiona to the local Urgent Care but Jackie conveniently has the supplies for O’Hara to do the stitches right there.

Jackie starts to suspect that Sarah is cheating on O’Hara, who doesn’t seem totally phased by the whole thing, passing it off as just the way they are. It is rather interesting to see Jackie all indignant over someone cheating when she has been passing herself off as a single woman and cheating on Kevin. 

Gloria’s butt kissing goes into serious overdrive when THE patron of the hospital is brought in after a fainting spell.  Unfortunately things run afoul of Coop and his ego issues and he gets a dressing down from the old lady. Which leads to a double handed boob grab. Mrs Money vows to the shocked admin that the money for the ER would be nothing. Jackie comes to Coop’s rescue defending him over having never grabbed a patient and vows to fix things. However they don’t get a chance when Mrs Money codes and dies, hopefully before making any calls to cut off the hospital’s endowment. 

On the homefront,  Jackie cuts off Eddie saying she needs time to sort things out. Then gets into a fight with Kevin who is pissed that Jackie never listens to him and his feelings about anything, expects him to do whatever she wants and being the one that makes Grace a nervous wreak etc. She bites his head off over being the breadwinner of the family doing all the work while he is ‘just a bartender’ and he storms out of their bedroom. To her credit when Jackie slips out of the house, she doesn’t go to Eddies but rather to a local 24/7 for coffee and pie. 

Can this web get any stickier? Yep and it probably will. Just how sticky is the fun of it. Demented though that is.

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Nurse Jackie -- Bleeding (206)

Nurse Jackie
“Bleeding” (Ep 206)
Jackie asks Eddie to stop spending time with Kevin.
Original Air Date: Monday, April 26, 2010

Oh Jackie you are getting yourself in deep. What is it Dear Will says about tangled webs and deceit.

We kick off with a post romp coffee talk. Jackie catches herself talking about the family and puts an ixnay on Kevin and the Kids as allowed topics between her and Eddie. She also tells Eddie to cut his bro-ship with Kevin but he deflects the topic with an offer to hook Jackie up with a fix. Which she refuses saying she’s there for him, not the drugs.

Jackie returns home to find Kevin popping popcorn for the movies Jackie forgot to pick up. Katlin is sleeping over and being a real turd to Fiona, tripping her, calling her retarded for wanting an arm cast for her birthday, attempting to flick her in the head. Basic acting out by a kid that doesn’t have the best home life (or so Kevin says, which begs the question what and how does he know)
Morning finds Jackie on her way to work when she nearly gags on her coffee at the site of one of Coops “Face of All Saints” posters on a bus stop. Just wait until they start the radio ads, a la Kaiser. Coop will put Ms Janney to shame. LOL.

Zoe’s being a total pill yelling at folks over an arriving trauma. Our first winning patient of the day is a female, possibly suicidal, ex marine with a ruptured spleen from a motorcycle accident. On the plus side, the motorcycle chick’s arrival leaves The Face of All Saints to have to assist a guy that literally can’t wipe his own ass.

And behind door number two on the patient list is a guy hit by an very expensive arrow shot by a very drunk rich guy. To really make it stink, the arrow hits the lung the guy waited 3 years to just get. Then the rich guy not only gets off but he sends his driver in to get back the arrow. Mr Driver, who openly admits his boss it a total dick, stands by while Jackie uses the arrow to mutilate Richie Rich’s very very expensive car with said very expensive arrow.

On the more personal side, a neophyte drug rep unknowingly becomes Jackie’s new dealer. O’Hara’s girl arrives in town, making Jackie a bit of a third wheel. Zoe is not pregnant. The Face nightmare gets worse when Akalitus is found putting up more or less lifesize cut outs of Coop around the hospital and pointedly telling Jackie not to try any cute tricks as they are very expensive. Not that this stops an unknown party from writing “He grabs boobs” on one of them (Coops face is priceless). And of course Eddie makes another date with Kevin.

Yep it is just another day in the Absurdist Neighborhood. May it never be normal.

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Nurse Jackie "Caregiver" (205)

Nurse Jackie
“Caregiver” (Ep 205)
A security guard complicates Jackie’s life and O’Hara has a secret exposed
Original Air Date: Monday, April 19, 2010

The patient quota is low this time with two major notes. One is an illegal alien injured on the job and found with an unlicensed gun. In a moment of empathy, Jackie helps him ditch the cops, sans the fire arm. Her way of proving to him that some people do care, even about an illegal. Helps that he doesn't seem like a bad guy. He was just trying to protect himself and his stuff. 

Patient number two is an elderly woman whose 24 hour caregiver has been pocketing the money and disappearing. Which of course means that Jackie is going to get up in someone's face. Always a good time. In it's own way. In this case it means siccing the police on her for elder neglect and fraud, 

On the plus side, a lack of exciting patients means more time to enjoy the quirks and foibles of our little crew. 

We find out that O'Hara knows this hot shot tv journalist, Sarah Khouri (and by 'know' I mean has dated). 

Thor takes a moment to whine about how unglamorous being a diabetic is and Zoe and Sam try to cheer him up with a game of 'name that awesome celebrity diabetic' (Halle Berry being the prime choice). He does step up to the sweet when it turns out that the elderly patient is an ex hair artist for Broadway. Even if he does lie about being an understudy. 

And Coop, or at least his face, is pimped out to attract an insured clientele. Which actually clears up something that was bugging me last week. I said it felt more like the hospital was an urgent care with the occasional actual trauma and indeed that’s what it has become. And Akalitus isn’t happy. 

She also isn’t happy about the ongoing drug issue and puts a guard in the pharmacy room. Too bad she didn’t find one that can actually do his job, given that Jackie pulls a swipe right under the guy’s nose. 

But the really big fun is that it’s relationship day at All Saints and everyone’s in on the fun. Let’s check the scoreboard.

Zoe is still sorting out her pregnancy scare, which is not due to any fun with Mr Munchies the EMT. He yet again gets the diss despite a very sweet and friendly offer to ‘step up’. Poor guy.

Coop mistakenly thinks Akalitus is coming into him, revealing his openness to older women (that explains Jackie) and his age (35). Unlike Jackie who still hasn’t revealed she’s married, Akalitus is smart enough to politely set him straight. 

O’Hara finds herself in a jam when Sam won’t stop trying for a round two. Fortunately he calls things off when his girlfriend comes back to town. And speaking of girlfriends, that line wasn’t a joke. O’Hara really does go both ways. And the other side is a tv news celeb that is moving from overseas to DC. 

Then there’s Jackie. First she gets peeved at Kevin for going to the movies without her but with Ginny Flynn and daughter Katelyn the pill. Then Kevin brushes off Jackie's suggestion that Ginny is trying to replace her soon to be ex husband with her old boyfriend. Which leads Jackie sleeping on the couch, probably not the best move for someone with chronic back trouble but her ego, not her common sense, is leading the way on this one. No surprise that Grace jumps on the notion that Mommy sleeping on the couch is a sign of trouble. After making up with Kevin about the movie fight via the phone, Jackie ends up calling Eddie to suggest they talk which leads them to a movie night date and Jackie right back into the relationship danger zone. 

The train wreck continues right on schedule. And I of course simply must stop and look.

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Nurse Jackie "Apple Bong" (204)

Nurse Jackie
“Apple Bong” (Ep 204)
Jackie asks Eddie to stop spending time with Kevin.
Original Air Date: Monday, April 12, 2010

Jackie kicks off the day in Bitchy Nurse mode when she nails Eddie for acting like a psycho stalker. And while he’s right that she was being greedy, let's face it he is acting like a freak. The typical guy would flip her the bird and move on. He wouldn’t keep paging her for 3 months, wouldn’t fake a suicide attempt and wouldn’t start up a bromance with her husband. And then there’s ruining adult date night with a devilish gleam in his eye. So much for the sweet guy we had last season. Then again, Karma has a sick sense of humor and this could be Jackie’s payback for her greed. I just hope that Kevin and/or the girls don’t get hurt in this game. 

Sam has become the new chatty nurse, annoying even Zoe (yeah I know crazy right). In the midst of this, a woman rushes in with her son of perhaps 4 who has stopped breathing. Zoe takes the boy, telling Sam page O’Hara. Then when the boy starts turning blue, Zoe steps up and intubates him. And my rant turns on. I get that this show is not reality tv but come on, this is a bit out there. First off, this is supposed to be a trauma center, emergency room or whatever you want to call it. I can handle that mostly it’s been more like urgent care cases with a real trauma every 3 episodes or so leaving lots of time for lovely character moments. But still, there’s not a single doctor actually on duty in the center. There’s not someone to rush in on the spot. And even if they had played it as the doc on duty was with a patient, why on Earth would the apparently more experienced Thor let the nursing student do it and not step up himself. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by too many ER and House episodes but this story line pretty much failed me. A first so far and I truly hope a last. 

But on the plus side, it’s nice to see that the focus isn’t always about Jackie. She’s fun but come on, there’s more than her going on here. Let the other kids have a moment or two. A focused Zoe is a force to admire. Not unlike a certain goofy doc. Everyone banning together to keep their mouths shut since nothing bad happened was nice. And O’Hara’s quiet touch with the flowers was a rare moment.

Then there’s that ‘getting the job done’. Jackie scolds Zoe about doing the intubation, although gently compared to the usual. But then goes off and recommends that a chemo patient try using pot to deal with his gut wrenching (literally) nausea and vomiting. In a state that doesn’t allow medical marijuana. And goes toe to toe with Coop for calling her  on the whole thing (points to the doc for holding his tongue in front of the patient). Akilitus basically backs Coop (behind his back) on the inappropriateness. Not that it stops Jackie from recruiting EMT Lenny for a test drive and a dealer contact. Hypocritical much? Survey says yes. And then lets toss some brownie baking into the mix (perhaps Jackie should try eating a couple of those goodies herself might do her some good). Course we know she is no saint so it fits. 

On other notes, Sam is a sex addict. Of course, it couldn’t be enough that he’s ‘a bit of an anglophile’. We don’t do things half way at All Saints. Shagging in the chapel is a tad ewww. But the whole Thor “I could be your workplace sponsor” then 180 was a snicker moment. It’s hard to tell if he was jealous cause the newbie got a doc and he hasn’t or betrayed cause he was hoping Sam is gay. Who cares at this point, it was still funny. 

Okay and another rant, Lenny hippie hair paramedic guy standing around to chat all the time and driving a rig alone. Really, I doubt it. Again it’s taking artistic license a bit far for me. That said,  his attempts at trying to flirt with Zoe are amusing in their own way. A less obnoxious version of Coop and Jackie, but as clueless. 

This one gets a C. If it bounces back the average could still be an A for the season

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Nurse Jackie "Candyland" (203)

Nurse Jackie
“Candyland” (Ep 203) 
Jackie and Kevin refuse financial help from O’Hara. Meanwhile Eddie and Kevin’s friendship is revealed.
Original Air Date: Monday, April 5, 2010

Jackie comes home to Grace having a playdate with Katelyn. Jackie isn't 'thrilled' but doesn't really have a choice since Grace has no other friends. Katelyn catches Jackie dosing up in the basement which leads to some creative lying. Followed by the arrival of Katelyn’s mother and more awkward when Grace has a moment of typical Graceness and Jackie feels the need to back her up against Katelyn and Mom’s digs. 

Coop makes an out of the way grocery trip just to check up on Eddie. And at the same time brag about his placement on a list of the City’s top doctors. Another awkward moment with Coop being Coop with his quirkiness, his twitters and Eddie trying to scope out if Jackie said anything about ‘the incident’. Coop is in his usual hyper and yet almost endearing freak form. He’s just like the dog you yell at for yapping too much and then feel bad cause he snuggles up and gives you ‘the eyes’.

It does lead to a hoot of a moment when Coop pulls a walk by drop off of ‘the List’ on Jackie and O’Hara, who are shocked to see his name on the list. Another moment of Coop’s good doctor spinning their world out of balance. 

But before we brush off Coop’s doctor skills completely, enter a man mauled while giving a show dog CPR (I know, probably not a good move but ...). Jackie can’t resist a dig on Coop’s love of big words (another point for the scoreboard please). A hit back is squashed when it is discovered that in addition to a totally torn up face, our victim’s privates, how shall we say, headed to higher ground for protection. A not common reaction typically seen in animals. I bet that’s one that a certain pale faced brother of a much older mother  hasn’t seen in the land of lost hikers and bike crashes. Then again, irritable grizzlies, so who knows. Coop does jump in when Jackie starts giving orders “I get to say that” oh Coop. 

Another moment of odd when Jackie chews out Sam for suggesting to Coop’s face that he paid to get on the list. Maybe Jackie does still believe that there’s potential buried (way) deep in Coop. At least enough to want folks to treat him with some professional respect (fear of a return of nervous tit grabby Coop perhaps. Me thinks so). Sam is appropriately shocked that Jackie is dressing him down, perhaps because it seems obvious that Jackie has little love or patience for the odd doc. Another point on which Sam and Jackie are (in his mind) kindred spirits. Perhaps Jackie’s distaste for holier than thou (and very perceptive) Sam is greater than her dislike of the socially retarted Coop. 

Oh and while we are talking about folks that try too hard, Zoe is making a play for the list with new attempts at zany quips, some eye liner and yes perfume. Who exactly is she trying to look so pretty for. Seems like overkill for work. But it does lead to a cute moment when O’Hara deduces that Zoe is trying to attract someone (actually at a party after work) and gives her a little style advice.

Speaking of O’Hara. That list is a real bug up her butt. She really can’t stand the idea that freaky Coop could be, or be perceived as, a good doctor. A little heart to heart with Akilitus more or less sets her straight (sure hope Coop isn’t in that top five)

Toss in a bit of hypocrisy with stoner Jackie yanking a baby from a breast feeding alcoholic mother. And a great ‘oh shit’ moment when Jackie comes home to discover that Eddie is the last minute babysitter Kevin called and it’s a typical day in the neighborhood.

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Nurse Jackie "Twitter" (202)

Nurse Jackie
“Twitter” (Ep 202)
Sam starts asking questions when O’Hara has a night on the town. Coop and Jackie continue to have problems and God gets attacked.
Original Air Date: Monday, March 29, 2010

It’s another zany time at good ol’ All Saints. Let’s take a moment to hit the highlights.

First off, Grace’s anxiety issues resurface big time when its revealed that she’s going around at night unplugging things so they don’t start a house fire. She also pulls out an ad for a smoke and carbon monoxide detector along with her allowance money. This prompts Jackie to get a referral for a child psychiatrist. I really must pause for a moment to applaud young Ruby,  she is awesome. Even grown up actors sometimes fail to play such moments totally straight and honest, and she nails it every time. And she’s only like 12. Imagine how great she’ll be in 10 years. Okay digression over.

Then O’Hara turns up still totally buzzed after a night on the town. So much so that, ghastly, she’s eating a hot dog. Yeah, she’s wasted. Still it’s pretty funny when Zoe turns up in a cab a la Walk of Shame. Unfortunately it leads to some questions by Rehab Sam who could spell trouble with his suspicions of Jackie. 

Resident mental case God from the building across the street gets a whack to the head and a dose of his meds. Well meaning Zoe helps God to figure out he’s not God which causes a freak out and Zoe’s solution is to convince the man he’s ‘like the brother in law of God’ and the yelling resumes. Okay I admit it, I like the guy too. In a totally weird way. Oh and that man child who is so hot, I’m putting down money that Zoe has a crush on clueless Coop. Who wouldn’t. 

The tale of Thor the diabetic nurse continues when Jackie clues in that he’s got a fake eye. And catches him eating donuts. I'm torn over this one. Thor was totally one note last season and this reeks of trying to flesh him out now that Momo is gone. And perhaps to respond to comments about Thor’s constant goofy look (due to the unmoving fake eye which gave him a ‘lazy eye’ look). I’m all for the diabetic comment from last week cause it fit the moment, but I hope they don’t drag it on and all like this all season. Otherwise  he's just going from the one note of "I'm totally in love with Momo and he can't see it" to the one note of "I'm the token diabetic"

Eddie turns up back at the ball and boy oh boy he and Kevin are moving fast into the bromance. Jackie will not be happy when she finds out. 

And speaking of Jackie. She and Coop hit a conflict this week over the care of a young patient. Jackie is a total jerk to Coop and frankly I wish he’d given it to her. She deserved his ‘bitchy nurse’ twitter straight up. Despite what she said to him last season, she doesn’t seem to believe he’s a good doctor. Or she can’t just accept that his odd quirks and ADHDness are part of him, like Thor’s fake eye and such. Then she totally steps into it when she nags a tech for prelim results that turn out to be a false negative. Finally Coop gives her a little and although Jackie doesn’t actually say she knows she screwed up, she does ask to be the one to call the parents which is a small mea culpa. 

It’s one step forward, two back in some ways. This show is a total train wreck but like the ones in real life, something in me can’t help but slow down and take a look.

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