6 seasons in and the show has lived up to its early promise.
Admittedly there have been a few ups and downs, and in my opinion unfair comparisons with the more dramatic hospital shows however this show continues to stand firm as a solid counter to those overly 'OMG! drama of the week' types with its lighter form of dark humour very effectively countering the inherent saddening, and sometimes negative moments that cannot, and should not be avoided by the makers of such shows.
Eddie Falco as the titular Nurse Jackie is the headline name but I give my honours to Merritt Weaver (Zoey Barkow) and Anna Deveare Smith (Gloria Akilitus). Without these two who match our heroine on every level, and sometimes fly above her, the show would come to nought.
Along the way other characters have come and gone, grown and developed, or been the ever present stalwart. A couple have been grating or wearisome at times but overall thankfully there no one who has been truly cringeworthy.
The question now is where does the show go next? What will season 7 bring?
Imo a little tighter writing schedule could have utilised the existing story lines to wind the show up at a grand season 6 finale. I'm concerned that by continuing the show may rely on pushing the TV vs reality boundaries too far following Jackie's inevitable fall from grace as the 'Angelic' nursing figure she so often conveys in public but fails to live up to in her personal life.
I'll keep my fingers crossed and in the meantime recommend this show to all who are fed up with the usual doom and bloom and unrealistic portrait of hospital life. Take a chance with a less hyped half hour viewing...you may well enjoy it more than you thought, I know I did!
Admittedly there have been a few ups and downs, and in my opinion unfair comparisons with the more dramatic hospital shows however this show continues to stand firm as a solid counter to those overly 'OMG! drama of the week' types with its lighter form of dark humour very effectively countering the inherent saddening, and sometimes negative moments that cannot, and should not be avoided by the makers of such shows.
Eddie Falco as the titular Nurse Jackie is the headline name but I give my honours to Merritt Weaver (Zoey Barkow) and Anna Deveare Smith (Gloria Akilitus). Without these two who match our heroine on every level, and sometimes fly above her, the show would come to nought.
Along the way other characters have come and gone, grown and developed, or been the ever present stalwart. A couple have been grating or wearisome at times but overall thankfully there no one who has been truly cringeworthy.
The question now is where does the show go next? What will season 7 bring?
Imo a little tighter writing schedule could have utilised the existing story lines to wind the show up at a grand season 6 finale. I'm concerned that by continuing the show may rely on pushing the TV vs reality boundaries too far following Jackie's inevitable fall from grace as the 'Angelic' nursing figure she so often conveys in public but fails to live up to in her personal life.
I'll keep my fingers crossed and in the meantime recommend this show to all who are fed up with the usual doom and bloom and unrealistic portrait of hospital life. Take a chance with a less hyped half hour viewing...you may well enjoy it more than you thought, I know I did!