With only a couple episodes left in the season, the most recent year of Nurse Jackie is really kicking into high gear. Season three is the first season that I have watched live, having caught up with the entire series over the course of just a couple days a few months ago. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the show. I continue to be amazed how the show, in just a scant half hour, can balance so much heart breaking drama with genuinely funny comedy. Aside from that, the quality of the show, from the writing to the acting, has remained incredibly strong, and I’m wondering if season three might be the best yet.
The show has one of the greatest casts of secondary players, and they are where most of the comedy comes from. I think this week’s episode “Fuck the Lemurs,” really displayed it so well. You had Dr. Cooper acting like the awkward, immature fool that he is. First, he couldn’t hold back laughing at the poor kid who got his head stuck in the opening of a chair, and then there was the wonderful scene where O’Hara teased and embarrassed him. Like typical Coop, he walked right into it. There was also my favorite character, Gloria Akalitus, who I think it one of the funnier characters on television. This season, her obsession with the statues in the chapel has been a riot, and it continued in this episode. Elsewhere, the rest of the hospital staff was their usual comedic self — Thor reveling in the opportunity to stab doctors with flu shots, and Zooey sticking her nose in Jackie and O’Hara’s relationship.
Aside from the comedy, I’m always impressed with the real drama that the show creates. It’s been almost hard to watch this season as Jackie has legitimately struggled with her drug problems. In years past it didn’t really feel like a struggle, just a way of life. I think that she is legitimately trying to reform this season, though, even if she hasn’t quite dedicated herself as much as she needs to. I don’t think she has fully admitted to the depth of her addiction. The confrontation between Jackie and O’Hara in this week’s episode was one of the high points of the entire series. It was great to see the genuine concern that O’Hara displayed for her broken friend.
Finally, there is Jackie’s family life, with her deteriorating relationship with her husband and the fragile state of Grace. There is not a lot of comedy here, but there is certainly a lot of drama. It’s almost tough to watch Grace as her parents struggle to help her. It’s even harder for Jackie, when Grace so obviously responds better to Kevin than to her. I’m hoping that the drugs are going to help Grace (assuming that she can keep them away from Jackie).
As the series heads to a close, I’m curious to see where it is going to end. Will it be able to keep up the amazing quality of this week’s episode? Will Kevin finally find about about Jackie’s affair? Will Jackie finally admit that she needs help?
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Jun 09, 2011 @ 11:00 EST5EDT
