SofaChip’s Review of Showtime’s Nurse Jackie Pilot

Edie Falco is Nurse Jackie.  On Monday June 8th at 10:30 you’ll be able to meet Nurse Jackie Peyton for yourself, in all of her fabulously flawed glory. Until then, you can both 1) cheat and watch the pilot episode on Showtime’s website, and 2) let me entice you to watch the show and become a dedicated fan before you’ve even seen it. I have powers, you just wait.

Attitude Problem?

Nurse Jackie is a distinctively dark comedy that centers on the perspective of nurse Jackie Peyton as she works at New York City’s All Saints Hospital. To give you a taste of her personality, one of the first things we hear her say is, “smart fucking nun.” Here, here! I’d like to have lunch with her. Anyone else?

An Odd Aftertaste.

This show does not ever pretend to have anything close to the sugar coating we love on cookies shaped like stars and clouds (and certain medical shows like Grey’s Anatomy). Instead, it offers you a unique flavor much like those sweet lollipop candies from Mexico that are coated in spicy Chile powder. It’s different. And different doesn’t equate with bad. In fact, it’s downright titillating!

Nurse Jackie isn’t Doctor House.

Haters (who I say should all be reserved for Spencer Pratt) will make a comparison of Nurse Jackie to the titular character of House M.D. After all, the insightful hater will insist, abrasive Jackie has a back problem and seems all too keen to take Oxycontin and Vicodin – just like sarcastic House with his leg and precious  pills! I roll my eyes at that idea. Are they the only characters with injuries on primetime? I think House would forgive Jackie for any similarities they share. Hell – I actually think Gregory House would respect Nurse Jackie.

‘Unethical’ isn’t a Problem.

Jackie Peyton does not have problems being unethical – the pilot episode sees her flushing someone’s severed ear down the toilet, as well as lying to portray a deceased guy as an organ donor. And while she hesitates to help a choking victim on her off hours, you can’t question that she cares for her patients. She has compassion, though it may not be easily lent and exactly oozing from every pore.

“Quiet and mean – those are my people.” – Nurse Jackie

Maybe She’s Not A Role Model. Then again…

The two words I conjure up when reflecting on this character after watching the pilot are ’selfish’ and ’saint’. But is it really possible to be a selfish saint? I have a feeling that the odds aren’t so good. Of course, I have no idea since religion isn’t something I’m superbly well-versed in.

What seems to best explain the character of Nurse Jackie is the quote she tells us as the pilot begins. It goes something along the lines of, “The people with the greatest capacity for good have the greatest capacity for evil.”  Ain’t that a bitch? Just remember – you better not call Jackie one.

Nurse Jackie premieres Monday June 8th at 10:30 et/pt.

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