Nurse Jackie (2009 TV Series Review)
- Jan 28
- 5 min read
The television landscape changed significantly in the late 2000s, moving away from purely heroic protagonists toward complex, morally ambiguous figures. Among the most striking was Jackie Peyton, the heart of the Showtime medical drama Nurse Jackie. Premiering in 2009, the series offered a sharp, often caustic look at the healthcare system through the eyes of a woman who was simultaneously a brilliant healer and a struggling addict. Unlike many other medical shows of its time, this series prioritized the perspective of nurses, who are often the unsung backbone of any hospital environment. Over its seven-season run, it blended dark comedy with harrowing drama, creating a narrative that was as addictive as the substances its lead character craved.
Series Profile
• Director Name: Allen Coulter (Pilot)
• First Release Date: June 8, 2009
• Number of Seasons: 7
• Rating: TV-MA
• Country of Origin: United States
• Original Release Network: Showtime
• Distribution: Lionsgate Television
• Original Release Network: Showtime
Synopsis and Plot
The series is set within the frantic walls of the fictional All Saints' Hospital in New York City. Jackie Peyton is a senior emergency department nurse who is exceptionally talented at her job but navigates her life as a "high wire act" of deception. To manage the physical and emotional toll of her profession, Jackie relies on a steady intake of prescription painkillers, including Vicodin, Percocet, and Xanax.
Her personal life is a web of secrets; while she has a husband, Kevin, and two daughters at home, she maintains an affair with the hospital pharmacist, Eddie Walzer, to ensure her drug supply remains uninterrupted. Throughout the series, Jackie’s addiction leads to increasingly desperate measures, including theft and manipulation of her closest allies, such as her best friend Dr. Eleanor O'Hara and her protégé Zoey Barkow. The plot tracks her eventual descent, including a stint in rehab, the loss of her marriage, and her fight to keep her nursing license after being arrested for drug trafficking. The series concludes with an ambiguous finale where Jackie overdoses on street heroin during the hospital's closing party, leaving her ultimate survival or death open to viewer interpretation.
Critics’ Response and Accolades
Critics generally met the series with high praise, particularly for Edie Falco's powerhouse performance. Entertainment Weekly noted that Falco brought a "genial forcefulness" to the role, while New York magazine hailed the show as a breakthrough meditation on addiction. However, the series was not without controversy; the New York State Nurses Association criticized the show for portraying a nurse who violated the nursing Code of Ethics, fearing it promoted a negative image of the profession.
The show was a major awards contender, receiving 24 Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Edie Falco won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2010, and Merritt Wever won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2013. Additionally, the series won an Emmy for its original main title theme music in 2010.
Cast and Characters
• Edie Falco — Jackie Peyton
• Eve Best — Eleanor O'Hara
• Merritt Wever — Zoey Barkow
• Paul Schulze — Eddie Walzer
• Peter Facinelli — Fitch "Coop" Cooper
• Dominic Fumusa — Kevin Peyton
• Anna Deavere Smith — Gloria Akalitus
• Ruby Jerins — Grace Peyton
• Mackenzie Aladjem — Fiona Peyton
• Stephen Wallem — Thor Lundgren
Main Characters Description
• Jackie Peyton: A brilliant but flawed senior ER nurse who balances a high-stress career with a hidden, severe drug addiction.
• Eleanor O'Hara: A sophisticated British surgeon and Jackie’s closest confidante, who often provides emotional and financial support.
• Zoey Barkow: A spunky, initially naive nursing student who grows into a capable professional while serving as a moral foil to Jackie.
• Fitch "Coop" Cooper: An arrogant yet likable "golden boy" physician whose outward confidence masks a deeply nervous and insecure personality.
• Eddie Walzer: The hospital pharmacist who initially facilitates Jackie’s addiction through their illicit affair.
Production
Nurse Jackie was created by Liz Brixius, Evan Dunsky, and Linda Wallem. The project originated from stories told by a real ER nurse, initially titled Nurse Mona, which featured a darker, supernatural tone before being reworked into a comedy-drama. The series utilized a single-camera setup and was filmed on location in New York, with Baruch College and Bellevue Hospital providing the exteriors for All Saints'. The production was notable for having a majority female writing staff. After the fourth season, Clyde Phillips took over as showrunner to emphasize the "shrapnel" and consequences of Jackie’s long-term addiction.
Seasons
• Season 1: 12 episodes; Released June 8, 2009; Aired 2009. Establishes Jackie’s double life and her drug-fueled "high wire act" at the hospital.
• Season 2: 12 episodes; Released March 22, 2010; Aired 2010. Focuses on the fallout when Eddie discovers Jackie is actually married.
• Season 3: 12 episodes; Released March 28, 2011; Aired 2011. Features an intervention by Jackie's family as her secrets begin to surface.
• Season 4: 10 episodes; Released April 8, 2012; Aired 2012. Jackie enters rehab and attempts to navigate the difficulties of early sobriety.
• Season 5: 10 episodes; Released April 14, 2013; Aired 2013. Deals with Jackie’s divorce and her struggle to remain sober under new hospital management.
• Season 6: 12 episodes; Released April 13, 2014; Aired 2014. Chronicles Jackie’s relapse and her eventual arrest after a car accident.
• Season 7: 12 episodes; Released April 12, 2015; Aired 2015. The final chapter where Jackie fights to regain her license before the hospital closes.
Spin-offs and Adaptations
The success of the series led to a Dutch remake titled Charlie, which premiered in the Netherlands in 2013. Furthermore, in May 2023, it was announced that a sequel series is in development at Showtime, with Edie Falco set to return as both the star and executive producer.
Ratings and Review
Upon its debut, Nurse Jackie became Showtime’s most successful premiere ever, drawing 1 million viewers. While viewership numbers fluctuated throughout the seasons, the series maintained a loyal following, with the series finale bringing back 835,000 viewers. Reviewers often highlighted the show’s refusal to "soften" Jackie’s character, making it one of television's most uncompromising portraits of addiction. Although some seasons were criticized for "formula fatigue," the final season was lauded as a harrowing and moving conclusion.
🔖 Key Takeaways
🗝️ Innovative Protagonist: Jackie Peyton redefined the female anti-hero as a highly competent professional burdened by a debilitating disease.
🗝️ Genre-Blurring: The series sparked a debate regarding the Emmy "Comedy" category, as the performance was often deeply dramatic.
🗝️ Focus on Nursing: It moved the medical drama spotlight from doctors to the crucial work performed by nurses.
🗝️ Legacy: The show remains a critical benchmark for portraying the "absurdity" and "shrapnel" of addiction.
🗝️ Future: A sequel series is currently in the works, promising to continue the story of one of television's most complex characters.
🌐 External sources
Keywords: Nurse Jackie TV Series
Nurse Jackie TV Series
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