Lessons Learned...Maybe. Retrospective: Nurse Jackie - "Teachable Moments"

Season 5, Episode 7

Air Date: Sunday, May 26, 2013, 9 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

Frank and Jackie make a nice couple, don’t you agree?

“Teachable Moments” grabs me immediately with its opening scene. Officer Frank Verelli (Adam Ferrara) visits Jackie (Edie Falco) at All Saints to cancel their lunch date instead of sending her a text. “I’m gonna cancel by text message? What am I, a 14-year-old?” Could this be one of the teachable moments the title alludes to? I hope it is because it’s a good lesson to learn—sometimes, it’s better to do things face-to-face, especially if it’s going to elicit a huge grin like the one Jackie sports. You sure can’t get that on a cell phone.

Since the beginning of the season, Gloria Akalitus’ (Anna Deavere Smith) memory has been causing her problems. Once again, her memory fails her when she forgets to hire an escort for Jackie’s psych patient, Mr. Collins (Peter Bond). Collins ends up bare-assed, acting all Godzilla-like, destroying everything in his path…well, in the pharmacy. What a beautiful rainbow of colors all those pills make lying on the pharmacy floor. So pretty, in fact, Thor (Stephen Wallem) snaps a picture of Jackie standing in their midst. Who would have thought we’d ever see Jackie in a picture like that given how addicted she’s been over the past four seasons of Nurse Jackie? My, what a long way we’ve come, Jackie.

When Gloria refuses to talk about her forgetfulness, Jackie immediately realizes she may have “Alzheimer’s.” But how is anyone going to diagnose Gloria properly without a blood test? You know there’s no way she’s going to allow one voluntarily. Jackie comes up with a brilliant solution, which may solve the current problem but it will also have an adverse effect on Thor given what he was doing the previous evening. Really, Thor? I’m amazed at how clearly Jackie is thinking now that her mind isn’t drug-addled. As a matter of fact, Jackie has been acting this way all season long. It’s quite a testament to Falco’s acting abilities that she is able to carry off such a huge change in personality as well as she does.

Last week, in “Walk of Shame” Coop’s (Peter Facinelli) voice recorder was running while he and Carrie (Betty Gilpin) were having wild, kinky sex. As predicted, the tape comes back to bite him in the ass. I must admit, I laughed so hard at Zoey’s (Merritt Wever) antics when she realizes she’s listening to a “sex tape” of Coop, I almost peed my pants! Actually, both she and Jackie made me laugh when they act as if their hands are so infected from touching the tape, they should be surgically removed! And how about what Zoey does with the hand sanitizer? Priceless!

Will Carrie ever be able to diagnose anyone properly?

Jackie uses the tape, along with Carrie’s failure to diagnose a patient’s (Pallavi Satry) appendicitis, as a teachable moment of her own when she tackles Coop about his inability to mentor Carrie properly. One can only hope he’s embarrassed enough about the situation to turn things around and become the doctor/mentor he should be. Finally, Carrie shows a hint of remorse over her misdiagnosis when Coop confronts her. Is there hope for her yet? Or is this just another ploy? I still say she’s as useless as tits on a bull.

Zoey and Marta hug. Isn’t Zoey the best friend ever?

Not only does Zoey step in for temp nurse Marta (Marcy Harriell) when she’s assisting Dr. Prentiss (Morris Chestnut), she also compliments Marta loudly enough for Prentiss to hear. And then, when Thor worries about losing his job because he smoked a “joint,” Jackie assures him he has nothing to worry about. Isn’t it nice that no matter what happens, the nurses at All Saints have each other’s backs? Too bad there isn’t more camaraderie like this in real work places.

Things that make you go “hmm…”

Sex with a mime? Say it ain’t so, Thor! I guess Eddie (Paul Schulze) couldn’t help himself when he imitates a mime in the elevator. I had a hearty chuckle over that!

Now that’s a gesture even Prentiss can relate to.

Anyone think Prentiss will learn from the “gesture” Zoey makes on his behalf? She’s trying her best to get through to him about his personality. Let’s just hope it works.

Laughable moments:

Prentiss: “So, what? You don’t think I’m nice?”

Zoey: “Personally, I do very well with cranky people. Some of my favorite people are cranky…my grandfather, my mom’s dog, (whispering) Jackie…”

Coop, about Carrie: “OK, you’re right. What do you want me to do?

Jackie: “Well, maybe if you stopped fucking her, and started teaching her, we all would be better off…including her.”

Jackie: “Please stop. Everything’s going to be fine.”

Thor: “That’s what people say right before everything turns to shit.”

Frank and his buddies wait for word from Prentiss.

There are many teachable moments surrounding the shooting of a cop whose life Prentiss saves in an intense scene straight out of M.A.S.H. or even E.R. But none as important as what Zoey nonchalantly teaches Prentiss about communicating with family and friends. Coop also uses the experience to talk to Carrie about why she wants to be a doctor. It looks like he’s finally taking his role seriously. Of course, Jackie learns how important Frank is to her when everyone is waiting for the ambulance to arrive and no one knows who the cop is. The relief on her face when she realizes it’s not Frank, and later, the passion behind the kiss she gives him are both powerful and a beautiful thing to see. How nice Jackie finally has some joy in her life. Speaking of relationships, I think I see one forming between Zoey and Prentiss, and I’m not talking about anything work-related. Why else is she taking such an interest in him?

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, 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!