Tonight on Nurse Jackie: Disneyland Sucks
In the season four premiere of Nurse Jackie, Jackie made the decision to head to rehab after a man overdosed in her house and died in front of her. It may have been a tragic event, but it did what I thought nothing could - it forced Jackie to become accountable for her actions. Well, enough to make the leap toward professional help. But once the bags are unpacked and the vacation days start dwindling, where does she go?
Group meetings.
Yes, Jackie Peyton, acidic world weary caretaker, has to spill her guts in front of total strangers. This from a woman who could sell Aquafina to the Pacific Ocean, the lyingest liar to end all liars. As you can imagine, it didn't go quite so well, with her group full of old ladies, green-haired kids, and neurotic basketcases that tend to repeat themselves. But this is Jackie's world now and like it or not, she has 28 days to co-exist, learn more about herself, and take her first step in the world of sobriety. You can't make progress hiding behind quips and general antipathy toward everyone that's not a patient.
While Jackie's off in "Disneyland", the hospital has to go on, talented as she may be. Following its corporate acquisition and arrival of new boss Mike, there's no room for Akalitus anywhere else but on the floor. For three seasons, Gloria has ruled the roost on Nurse Jackie, but now, she has to live out the last few years of her medical career back where she started - as a nurse. It's a major shake-up and one that will almost certainly leave every trauma nurse at the hospital at their wit's end; Akalitus may not officially be their boss anymore, but her presence is still that of one a rank above everyone else. However, since she got demoted back to the floor, we may get to see Gloria at her most uncomfortable and crabby during the rest of the season. That authoritative vibe may dissipate quickly once she gets back into the swing of things and allows herself to simply be one of the workers without a major title.
Nurse Jackie airs tonight at 9:00 on Showtime.
