Nurse Jackie Recap: Finale of Doom

Recaps

By BlueCanary | Tuesday, June 19, 2012 | 3:29 pm | 16 Comments
Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in: Nurse Jackie, Recaps

But by the time they get to O’Hara’s office, things are sinking in for Jackie. This job was more than just a twenty-year career–losing it could cost her custody of her kids. Her brain immediately goes into blame mode, and she insists everything was fine until she got sober. No, they actually sucked pretty bad, Jackie–you just didn’r notice because you were high off your ass. No one decides to get sober because addiction was going so well. The pills made you bang Eddie, for fuck’s sake. I hate to belabor the point, but good GOD.

Anyway, O’Hara begs her to call her sponsor, while breathing through what’s probably a Braxton-Hicks contraction–she’s only in the eighth month, but those early ones are pretty common. Then Zoey slinks in with Jackie’s stuff, saying Cruz didn’t want her coming back to the nurse’s station. Zoey dries her tears on O’Hara’s proffered silk scarf and begs Jackie not to leave, but just then Cruz barges in with Joe, who appears sorry that he has to escort her from the building.

Cruz is getting his last little digs in as they storm past Jesus, and Jackie tells him his actions are a nice way to keep a promise to his kid. Uh oh, shit just got real. Cruz says this has nothing to do with Charlie, that if you fuck with the bull you get the horns.

Now, where have I heard that one before?

He also says he doesn’t give a shit what his kid wants. Yeah, we kind of gathered that about six episodes ago, Mike, but thanks for clearing it up. And that, right there, Jackie tells him, is the difference between the two of them. Wait, Jackie gives a shit about her kids?

On the heels of that thought, she storms right into Grace’s science class, pulls her out, and fires her nun. They run-leap out and head right for the car, and Grace is happier than we’ve seen her since…well, ever. She and Jackie bond more over the whole Cruz-go-fuck-yehself moment, and head over to the public school. They continue bonding, and when Jackie leaves, Grace gives her the biggest smile on earth. It looks like they’re going to be okay.

As long as Grace eases up on the eyeliner.

It only makes sense to go straight from there to an AA meeting, because dear God, what a day. Jackie is determined not to backslide, if for no other reason than to spite Cruz. The meeting is pretty much over, but she just checks in and informs them she’s going to meet some friends at a bar. That sounds like a practical joke, but sure enough, there she is with Akalitus and Eddie. Too bad they didn’t go to Kevin’s bar. That would’ve been awesome.

Jackie orders a Shirley Temple, in sharp contrast to the bourbon and beer being swilled to her left and right, but before she can process how lame it makes her feel, she gets a text from Zoey: a picture of the staff, led by Coop, having a candlelight vigil in her honor. That’s perfect and hilarious.

As the vigil ends, Cruz rolls by and wants to know what the fuck. Thor, because he’s amazing, tells him that “where there’s smoke, there’s fired.” THOR. YESSSS. Cruz just has no idea what to say, so he leaves.

Zoey and O’Hara have a nice conversation, wherein O’Hara cheers up Zoey by letting her rub the baby belly. But as soon as she touches her, O’Hara has another Braxton-Hicks. Zoey is distracted by a patient, and O’Hara is about to follow her, when she has another, sharper contraction…which really seems stronger than it should. She calls Coop over to take the patient, then tells him that if he’s half as bright as he is handsome, he should have no trouble finding who the donor is.

Um, whaaaaa??? Did she just hit on him in the middle of labor?? Did I hallucinate all of that in my sudden Coop/O’Hara fandom haze? She asks him to please not try to find the donor, and he very sweetly assures her he’s not that bright. Aww. And since he’s Coop, he can’t resist whispering the donor’s name at her back as she waddles away. Coop, how is it that I can totally adore you one second, then want to punch you in the forehead before the awww even finishes leaving my mouth? Jeez.

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BlueCanary is as unorthodox a blend of optimistic and bitter, laid-back and anxious, motivated and straight up lazy tas one is likely to meet outside an unspecified institution. She spent the past decade holding a variety of job titles, including reporter, tech writer, production manager, and administrative assistant (the go-to job in this economy for folks who just HAD to get that English degree). She is currently living under the tiny yet powerful thumb of an awesome, pint-sized little dude, who wets himself and can't form full sentences (read: stay at home mom). Another tyrannical little thumb is gestating in her womb. She is a regular on The Neutral Corner podcast and blogs at www.mamamuzzle.com. 

Blue's as-yet-unpublished YA novel, The Nature of Echoes, is currently a Quarterfinalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. If you'd like to check it out, a free excerpt is available to download at http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Echoes-ABNA-Entry-ebook/dp/B00B9N3XFQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363378599&sr=1-1&keywords=eva+gibson+abna.

16 Comments

  1. 1
    Joslyn
    Posted June 19, 2012 at 3:59 pm

    Slow Zoey hand clap for you and recaping this season! Enjoyed!

  2. 2
    Joslyn
    Posted June 19, 2012 at 3:59 pm

    *recapping

  3. 3
    caligal
    Posted June 19, 2012 at 4:30 pm

    Thanks for a great recap. Zoey has always been my favorite, with O’hara a close second. I’m glad the writers didn’t go with the obvious and make Coop the father. Charlie, wow, didn’t see that one coming.

  4. 4
    kthxbai kthxbai
    Posted June 19, 2012 at 9:50 pm

    in my world, there’s prizes
    @BlueCanary Mine too. And you should get 1 for this!

    Yes in Cruz’s mind she was supposed to let things go to pieces. Because going to pieces wouldn’t mean as big a bite out of the company’s profits as having enough nurses.

    I’m not nice enough to feel sorry for Cruz because Charlie died. Plus I’m too busy feeling sorry for Vituvian Jackie because Charlie died.

    What if Robbie Plunkett turns out to be Coop’s alter ego he had at camp?

  5. 5
    KC
    Posted June 20, 2012 at 6:09 am

    Thanks for the great recaps. I have to wait for Netflix before I can actually watch but I have really enjoyed reading your recaps each week. Please know, there are more than 4 people that eagerly await your post!

  6. 6
    hbgchick
    Posted June 20, 2012 at 8:55 am

    What an excellent show, and an even more excellent recap! BlueCanary, you really capture all of the nuances that make the show great, Edie Falco’s expression when she see’s it’s Charlie is Emmy award calibur. And I didn’t know that Cruz and Charlie were real life father and son!!! What a difficult scene that would have had to be to film. I’m totally on the Coop/O’Hara bandwagon, and absolutely adore Akulitus. My gf and I were both shell-shocked at this episode – we neither one said a word until about a minute after the credits rolled…just both sat there staring at the blank TV till we looked at each other and went “Holy SHIT!”. Lol. Thanks for doing such a great job on the recaps, can’t wait till next season.

  7. 7
    caligal
    Posted June 20, 2012 at 9:48 am

    @kthx…ooohhhh…I didn’t think about Robbie being Coop’s alter ego. But I still kinda hope the writers won’t go there. I’d rather see a relationship evolve on it’s own between the two of them if that is what is going to happen.

  8. 8
    Chips.N.Whips
    Posted June 20, 2012 at 10:24 am

    Okay I’m only on Page 2 but you are HILARIOUS! (You fucked Eddie! … Preach, Sis.)
    But mostly I must thank you for deciphering the bit with O’Hara & Coop. I resound that suit 4-5 times. Still didn’t get it. No wonder my British beau is an ex…sometimes it just goes too fast.

    Ok, back to reading…

  9. 9
    Chips.N.Whips
    Posted June 20, 2012 at 10:32 am

    I cried again reading the recount of Charlie’s death. Man I boo-hooed like I knew those folks! Great finale, season & recaps.

  10. 10
    Chips.N.Whips
    Posted June 20, 2012 at 10:35 am

    Rewound… DYAC!

  11. 11
    samiam
    Posted June 20, 2012 at 11:01 am

    I agree completely with KC…I’m another one that waits for recaps since I no longer have Showtime…Thank you –great job as always!! :)

  12. 12
    chooch850 chooch850
    Posted June 20, 2012 at 1:39 pm

    This was the BEST season! I couldn’t wait for each new episode or your recaps. The finale was amazing. Lots of surprises and enough to keep us wondering until next season. Zoey has really grown and become more than just a character.

    I just don’t understand one thing and that’s how this show is categorized as a comedy when the Emmy’s are determined. This is definitely a drama. Don’t you agree?

  13. 13
    BlueCanary
    Posted June 21, 2012 at 6:22 am

    You guys are awesome! Thanks so much for the great comments. I’m so glad you liked this round of recaps. Hopefully I’ll wrangle next season, too.

    Chooch, I’ve always thought this show was more of a drama, but there is a ton a gallows humor, so I guess that’s the rationale. I can think of a few other shows that ride that line–Shameless most notably comes to mind–and are sort of advertised as comedies, and then when you watch them you go “Wow, that was depressing.” When I asked to recap NJ, Flipit actually said that we don’t usually recap comedies, but there was enough good drama in the show that he’d make an exception. I’m glad he did, because this season was great, and heavy on the drama.

    I love the Coop alter ego theory, especially because there was foreshadowing. When he said “At camp you get to be who you can’t be at home,” I thought that was just a sort of sad window into his childhood self-esteem. BUt wouldn’t it be just like Coop to create an entirely different persona, complete with fake name? It would. Part of me hopes they don’t go there (I also would like to see an organic relationship form with him and O’Hara, if one does), but the fangirl has a grin just thinking about it.

  14. 14
    Ellie66
    Posted June 21, 2012 at 5:18 pm

    Yet again a super-awesome recap!! Ohhh i cannot wait for the next season and ur recaps!

  15. 15
    JELLIEPAIR
    Posted May 21, 2013 at 12:20 pm

    Why are you not recapping this season??? PLEASE SOMEONE PLEASE? This show is so awesome and needs snark and a insightful recapper – comeon people!!

  16. 16
    BlueCanary
    Posted May 21, 2013 at 12:59 pm

    &Jelliepair – I wish I was, hon, but I had a baby right as the season was starting, and am taking a recapping hiatus while I do this Mama thing. I hate to miss it, because this was my favorite show to recap, but right now I’m not even caught up watching the show, unfortunately. Glad you liked last season’s recaps, though. :)

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