Addicted to the Afflicted: Nurse Jackie Review

There is a fine line between bitter and seasoned. As a veteran ER nurse, Jackie Peyton both toes and blurs that line.

Nurse Jackie, the new Monday night series on Showtime, provides a rather refreshing perspective and premise among the others populating the relatively drab summer television landscape.  The show successfully illuminates the somber reality of hospital relationships and life in the emergency room, miles beyond the brightly lit ER or the jovial environment of Scrubs. The tone is dark, but not sinister; there is enough levity to balance the bleak.

Edie Falco is nothing short of mesmerizing as Jackie. Most of us are quite familiar with her strong screen presence from six seasons on The Sopranos, but I am thrilled to be able to now watch a show centered directly around her week after week.  There are very few actresses of her caliber who could fill these sturdy white shoes, let alone those who would go near a role as raw and risky as Jackie. To be frank, I already see Emmy potential for Falco (her biggest competition may come from fellow Showtime lead Toni Collette for The United States of Tara).

By the way, Sopranos fans will enjoy the fact that Father Phil has reunited with Carmela (actor Paul Schulze plays the hospital pharmacist on Nurse Jackie)!  Other familiar faces on Nurse Jackie include Peter Facinelli (to the delight of squealing Twilight fanatics everywhere), Merritt Weaver (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip) and Anna Deveare Smith (The West Wing).

After only one episode, I am hooked and will be setting my TiVO for the season. I appreciate the character development and surprising turns that boldly unfold in the pilot, and look forward to an unpredictable and enjoyable summer with Nurse Jackie.

[Jo is a pop culture writer who loves television and covers Lost extensively. She will also be tuning in to The Cleaner, Entourage, Hung, True Blood and Weeds during the next few months while impatiently awaiting the return of Mad Men.]