Problems on the Homefront. Retrospective: Nurse Jackie – “Forget It”

Season 5, Episode 8

Air Date: Sunday, June 2, 2013, 9 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

Finally, a quiet night at home alone. Aren’t Jackie and Frank so cute together?

Jackie (Edie Falco) and Frank (Adam Ferrara) paint the perfect picture of domesticity while cooking and making out at her house. That is, until Kevin (Dominic Fumusa) shows up unannounced and Jackie lies to him, which, of course, is overheard by a max attentive Frank. Is this what he has to look forward to if he and Jackie continue their relationship? Or, could this be the first nail in the proverbial coffin that represents a possible breakup for them in the near future? People certainly do have strange ways of sabotaging themselves when they don’t think they are worthy. But that’s what I don’t get—why does Jackie think she’s undeserving of the love Frank seems so willing to bestow upon her? Is accepting real love the chink in Jackie’s armor?

Whoa, Gloria (Anna Deavere Smith)! You go, girl! I absolutely love how she puts Dr. Prentiss (Morris Chestnut) in his place when he threatens to report her to the board for coming in late. As people say, the best defense is a good offense, and that’s exactly what Gloria does when she warns Prentiss to get his paperwork in order. Throughout the season, the writers have alluded to the possibility that Gloria has Alzheimer’s Disease, and Smith has done a wonderful job of portraying that. This scene gives us this season’s first glimpse of the Gloria from seasons past so I’m hoping my earlier prediction of Gloria’s problem not being Alzheimer’s comes true. After falsely obtaining Gloria’s blood to run tests in last week’s “Teachable Moments,” Eddie’s (Paul Schulze) friend finally rushes the results of the tests, and the results prove almost overwhelming for Gloria. I think I would have felt exactly as Gloria does, which is a testament to the excellence of Nurse Jackie’s writing staff.

Prentiss may be a great doctor but he definitely needs help getting his office organized. So Jackie, in her infinite wisdom, points him in Zoey’s (Merritt Wever) direction. It looks like Gloria isn’t the only one to tell it like it is in “Forget It” when Zoey takes over as only Zoey can. I’m glad to see how appreciative Prentiss is when she finishes the job but I’m really pissed we don’t get to hear the results of the Mad Libs game Zoey and Prentiss play, especially when we hear Zoey laughing maniacally off screen.

Speaking of Zoey, people would be lucky to have a friend like her—I know I am. Although, some people might consider Zoey to be intrusive with the way she gives Jackie the third degree after her lunch with Frank but I thought it was cute. After all, she only has Jackie’s best interests at heart. Zoey is also a very wise woman, as she proves with the advice she gives Jackie about staying sober. At least Zoey gets Jackie to attend an AA meeting. Yes, AA. I don’t understand why the writers can’t get it right—Jackie belongs in NA (Narcotics Anonymous) because of her addiction to pills, as I readily pointed out last season. Apparently, unlike Zoey, my advice fell on deaf ears. I don’t think AA is going to work for Jackie given what she says at the meeting but I guess time will tell.

Grace can lie with the best of them when it comes to her relationship with Danny.

Lies roll off Grace’s (Ruby Jerins) tongue like water off a duck’s back when Jackie confronts her in front of her friends about why she’s not in school where she’s supposed to be. I understand how embarrassing that can be for a teenager but it doesn’t give Grace the right to speak to Jackie the way she does. I don’t know how Jackie doesn’t drag Grace out of that pizza joint by her hair. In the “old” days (old being relative), I would have received a “crack” for disrespecting my mother like that. Sooner rather than later, the lies are going to catch up to Grace, especially with what she’s doing with her boyfriend Danny (Danny Flaherty). I only hope Jackie will have the courage to stick to her convictions because so far, she’s not doing such a great job. I suspect it’s because she feels guilty over her and Kevin’s divorce but it’s time to stop feeling like that and step up to being the kind of mother Grace (and Fiona (Mackenzie Aladjem)) need . I must give kudos to Jerins for the excellent job she’s doing of portraying such an angst-ridden teenager. For a moment there, I almost forgot I was watching a young actress playing a role.

Zoey and Jackie wait for Carrie to act like a real doctor when Mrs. Lee gets worse.

Carrie (Betty Gilpin) is having trouble diagnosing Mrs. Lee (Maryann Hu), a woman who has a repetitious cough for seemingly no reason. This sets up some funny dialogue among Carrie, Zoey, and Thor (Stephen Wallem). Wallem may not have a lot to do on Nurse Jackie this season but he always has the best lines, and he’s expert at delivering them. But while Coop (Peter Facinelli) and Prentiss are having a testosterone fueled argument over whose course of treatment for Mrs. Lee is correct, she becomes progressively worse, forcing Carrie to come up with a diagnosis on her own and treat Mrs. Lee accordingly. I guarantee you will absolutely hold your breath throughout this scene but as serious as it is, the writers provide us a bit of humor with Carrie’s reaction once the danger has passed. She better get a handle on that stomach of hers if she wants to succeed at being a doctor.

Things that make you go “hmm…”

Carrie obviously will stop at nothing to get what she wants. I hope Prentiss is able to think with the head on his shoulders rather than the small head down below…if you get my drift…when he and Carrie share a cab after work.

Did you catch the way Zoey looks at Prentiss during the Mad Libs game? And again, when she sees him get into the cab with Carrie? I’m pretty sure Zoey has some jungle fever going on; I just hope she doesn’t end up with a broken heart.

Jackie and Frank waste no time getting it on–finally!

Every time I see Jackie and Frank together, I’m reminded of that sweet, giddy feeling I had on most of my first dates.

Laughable and memorable lines:

Zoey, about Prentiss’ office: “Dr. Prentiss, I am going to touch your stuff. You are not going to like it but you are going to have to get over it.”

Thor: “Ah yes. Nothing says romance quite like a quickie in the supply closet.”

Although I don’t think Jackie believes in AA’s 12-step program, she nonetheless apologizes to Kevin for all the wrongs she’s done—to him, to herself, to their family. I’m glad Kevin accepts her apology although I can’t help but wonder where this is going to lead. Is their reconciliation is a real possibility? With only two more episodes to go until the season finale, somebody better make up their mind quickly.

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

Follow the show on Twitter @Sho_Network using the hash tag #NurseJackie. Like Nurse Jackie on Facebook, and stay up to date with the series on its official website.

More Twitter follows for you: Coop @peterfacinelli, Gloria @AnnaDeavereS, Thor @StephenWallem, and Dr. Prentiss @Morris_Chestnut.

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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!