Ep 1. Game On
- TV-14
- March 28, 2011
- 29 min
-
7.8 (229)
Nurse Jackie Season 3 Episode 1 - Game On:
The season three premiere of Nurse Jackie is titled "Game On" and opens with Jackie returning to All Saints Hospital after a stint in rehab. She's ready to kick her addiction to the curb and start regaining the trust of those around her. But first, she's got to face the consequences of her actions.
Jackie's former lover Eddie is still employed at the hospital, but things are tense between them. Eddie has moved on and found a new girlfriend, and is simply trying to stay out of Jackie's way. Meanwhile, Jackie's husband Kevin is struggling to make ends meet and raise their two daughters without her help. He's also wary of allowing Jackie back into their lives too quickly, fearing she'll relapse again.
The episode's central conflict revolves around the hospital's new administrator, Kevin's childhood friend Mike Cruz. Cruz is a no-nonsense businessman who's been brought in to make sweeping changes and cut costs. He's quick to alienate the hospital staff, particularly Jackie, whom he sees as a liability due to her history of drug abuse. Cruz wants to clean house and make abrupt changes, much to the chagrin of longtime staffers like Dr. Cooper and Dr. O'Hara.
As if all that weren't enough, Jackie is also still dealing with her complex relationships with her coworkers and patients. In particular, she's struggling to connect with a new patient, a young boy named Charlie who's been diagnosed with cancer. Charlie's mother is struggling to accept her son's diagnosis and is constantly lashing out at Jackie and the other staff. Jackie takes a special interest in Charlie's case and tries to help him through his treatment, but things get more complicated than she could have ever imagined.
Overall, "Game On" sets up a lot of intriguing storylines for the rest of the season. There's the ongoing tension between Jackie and her loved ones, the friction between the staff and the new hospital administration, and Jackie's continued efforts to stay clean and sober. Viewers will undoubtedly be hooked on the drama and eager to see what's in store for the rest of the season.