Hot and Cold Feelings Abound. Review: Nurse Jackie - "Chaud & Froid"

Review: Nurse Jackie, S4 E8 – “Chaud & Froid”

Air Date: Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 9:00 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

As season four begins to wind down, there are major changes underfoot at All Saints. “Chaud & Froid,” the French term for hot and cold, not only deals with the water Jackie (Edie Falco) and Dr. Cruz (Bobby Cannavale) use to revive Charlie (Jake Cannavale) from his drug overdose, but with some vacillating feelings between Jackie and Zoey (Merritt Wever), and Dr. O’Hara (Eve Best) and Coop (Peter Facinelli). This very interesting installment perfectly sets up what’s to come in the remaining two episodes of this amazing season.

‘Oh no you didn’t, Charlie!’ was my first thought when he spills the beans in the shower about Eddie (Paul Schulze) providing Jackie with drugs. You know only bad things are going to happen now. The question is what? What will Cruz do with this knowledge? He’s not exactly an understanding kinda guy, although he does seem to want to help Charlie. I truly hope Charlie’s fifth stint in rehab will turn him around. He needs to work out his issues with his father before he’ll be able to kick his habit though. Seems to me family therapy might be the answer, but what do I know? I’m just your friendly reviewer, after all. I’m glad Cruz agrees with Charlie’s wish not to fire Jackie but I know this isn’t the end of it. Cruz is angry and you know he’s going to take it out on anyone who crosses his path.

Hot and Cold Feelings Abound. Review: Nurse Jackie - "Chaud & Froid" 1

Kevin's lawyer, John (Wayne Maugans), asks Eddie (not seen) some questions he doesn't want to answer

So Eddie chooses Jackie’s side at the deposition for the custody battle between her and Kevin (Dominic Fumusa). No surprise there, right!? The good news is he doesn’t tell Kevin’s lawyer (Wayne Maugans) everything. As much as Kevin would like to prove Jackie is an unfit mother, he knows he isn’t exactly a role model either and drops the custody suit. I’m a bit disappointed this storyline has come to such an abrupt ending. I was relishing a good courtroom battle. To build this plot up and then have it fizzle out so quickly is anticlimactic. It’s a little like letting the air out of a balloon. One minute, it’s flying high and the next it’s deflated, lying shriveled on the ground. That’s exactly how I feel.

On the other hand, the demise of Lenny (Lenny Jacobson) and Zoey’s relationship goes exactly how it should. No yelling and screaming for these two. Oh no, that’s not who they are. Instead, Lenny decides to go to Greece after reading “Eat, Pray, Love,” which disappoints Zoey. She wants them to be “awesome exes,” which doesn’t appear possible with Lenny out of the country. But when Zoey gives him Euros for his trip that she had to stand in line to purchase, he realizes they can be “awesome exes” no matter where they are. It’s a very sweet ending to the Lenny/Zoey storyline. Kudos to the writers for keeping with the two characters’ personalities.

Hot and Cold Feelings Abound. Review: Nurse Jackie - "Chaud & Froid" 2

Coop happily accompanies O'Hara to her anatomy scan

It seems O’Hara can’t make up her mind about Coop’s friendship. One minute she’s shooing him away with his annotated copy of “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” and the next, she’s asking him to accompany her to her anatomy scan. Talk about hot and cold feelings! I know she’s a very private person but I think she’ll soon realize how much help she’s going to need once the baby arrives. It takes a village.… So I’m glad she asks Coop to be her “fifth backup person in the delivery room.” It’s unlikely the first four people won’t be available, but hey—fifth is better than nothing, right?! The smile on Coop’s face is wider than any grin I’ve ever seen and is so contagious, I found myself beaming right along with him!

Hot and Cold Feelings Abound. Review: Nurse Jackie - "Chaud & Froid" 3

Mrs. Zimberg (Lynn Cohen) explains to Jackie why she wants a tonsillectomy instead of a tonsil biopsy in a great commentary on elder care and treatment

With two more episodes to go this season, I have to say I’m a bit surprised that Cruz fires not only Gloria (Anna Deavere Smith), but Eddie too! I understand it’s not a good idea to have people who play fast and loose with drugs in his employ, but those very same people are the ones who got Jackie to accept her addiction and seek treatment! Doesn’t that count for anything? I hope Jackie doesn’t blame herself and fall down the rabbit hole again. You know, Cruz could have put Gloria on probation and I really dislike that he didn’t. It will be a real loss to Nurse Jackie if Gloria doesn’t get her job back. On the other hand, there really is nowhere to go with Eddie’s storyline. He’s been Jackie’s lover and drug dealer, Kevin’s friend, and with everything out in the open now, Eddie has unfortunately outlived his usefulness.

Tune in to Nurse Jackie Sundays at 9:00 pm ET/PT, only on Showtime.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!