Nurse Jackie – “Godfathering” Review and Photos. Blue Toes.

Season 7, Episode 3

Air Date: Sunday, April 26, 2015, 9 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

“With all the shit work I’m going to throw her way, Jackie won’t last a week.” – Gloria Akalitus

As hospital administrator Gloria Akalitus (Anna Deavere Smith) said to Jackie (Edie Falco) in last week’s episode, “Deal,” “diversion is going to be hell.” And she wasn’t kidding. It’s an all-out battle of wills in “Godfathering” as Gloria stops at nothing to drive Jackie out of All Saints Hospital, even assigning Zoey (Merritt Wever) to be Jackie’s monitor. Who will win this battle of the wills? If I were a betting woman, I’d choose Jackie.

Not being able to help has to be so hard for Jackie, especially with hawkeye Gloria watching her every move.

Watching everyone trying to figure out whether Jackie is allowed to be in the trauma center with a patient is extremely humorous. If I remember correctly, Gloria has already clarified what “diversion” is and it doesn’t include handling patients or medications. Cleaning up bloody, messy rooms definitely is, though. Despite getting herself into this situation, you kind of have to feel sorry for Jackie—if anyone is meant to be a nurse, it’s Jackie Peyton. It’s what she lives and breathes for, and I’m sure sooner, rather than later, somehow she’ll be nursing again before this final season is over. Just look at what she does in her limited capacity to help patient Susan Kim (Cindy Cheung) and her “blue toes.”

Zoey isn’t at all happy about her assignment as Jackie’s monitor. “Does it have to be me?” I don’t blame Zoey for feeling this way. She admires Jackie and has been Jackie’s protégé for ages. What makes Zoey’s conversation with Gloria more entertaining is Dr. Carrie Roman (Betty Gilpin) popping her head in the room to ask things like, “Can Jackie hold things for me?” It’s clear everyone in the E.R. wants Jackie to resume her role as a nurse—everyone but Gloria, that is. Speaking of funny scenes, how about the one in the bathroom where Zoey is watching Jackie “pee in a cup.” Everything about Zoey’s demeanor, from the stance of her body to her facial expressions, screams awkward and uncomfortable.

Jackie: “Well, I can’t pee with you staring at me. Can you turn around?”

Zoey: “I can’t. I would if I could but I’m not allowed to.”

Jackie: “So we wait.”

Will Matt end up being Jackie’s friend or nemesis this season?

I’m not exactly sure why Nurse Jackie brought in Matt Maher as Matt, a new employee of All Saints, for the final season. Jackie calls him “the dungeon master,” and even though he wants her to go see his band, you know there’s no way she’ll do that. Jackie is not exactly a people person. Besides, Matt doesn’t have the voice of Thor (Stephen Wallem). Now that man can sing. Matt proves to be a font of information, though, and tells Jackie something critical about All Saints that rocks her to her very core. I wonder what she’s going to do with this news.

I am enjoying the newfound relationship between Coop (Peter Facinelli) and Eddie (Paul Schulze). Coop finally finds someone in Eddie to confide his feelings to. I totally cracked up during their scene where Coop asks Eddie to be the godfather for his and Carrie’s baby. Both Coop and Eddie do their best imitations of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) and Luca Brasi (Lenny Montana) in The Godfather. Who knew Facinelli and Schulze were such good impersonators, not only with their voices but facial expressions as well? Coop is in for a rude awakening, though, as we learn from Carrie’s conversation with Jackie.

Gloria thinks she won this battle but take a look at Eddie’s grin.

Gloria is out to get Eddie—that much is sure. Too bad she catches him doing something he shouldn’t. It’s just what Gloria needs to be the bitch Smith has been cast as this season. And what a great bitch Smith plays! Can you believe what Gloria does? Guess she’s not going to get her “inventory” any time soon.

Other Observations

Now that Jackie literally changed Vivien’s (guest star Leslie Uggams) life in “Deal,” Vivien is a whole new woman with a fantastic new attitude. You can see it in the way she walks, talks, and dresses for church. Too bad Vivien’s return to an active lifestyle involves Jackie stealing her pills each week, which she exchanges with her drug dealer (guest star Michael Esper) for cash. I wonder how long Jackie is going to be able to do this without being found out by Vivien’s daughter Sharlay (guest star Tonya Pinkins). There’s going to be hell to pay once that happens, and you know it will.

Overall

Don’t you just love Jackie and Eddie kissing in front of Gloria?

Writer Liz Flahive and director Brian Walsh do a terrific job with “Godfathering.” The dialogue in this episode is stellar, making you laugh in all the right places, and Walsh’s direction and choice of background music are spot on. “Godfathering” is a great character study of Zoey, Gloria, Coop, Jackie, and Eddie. I love that after all these years, Eddie and Jackie are in a true romantic relationship where they enjoy each other for who they are and not for what they can gain. And speaking of romantic couplings, I can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen with Coop and Carrie going forward. I’m so glad they’re experiencing a true adult relationship where each considers the other’s feelings more than their own. So what did you think of “Godfathering?” Hit me up on Twitter @SeasideTV or leave your comments below.

Tune in to the final season of Nurse Jackie, Sundays at 9pm ET/PT, only on Showtime. Only nine episodes left!

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

You can also follow these cast members: Gloria @AnnaDeavereS, Thor @StephenWallem, Carrie @bettygilpin, Grace @RJerins, Fiona @mackieealadjem, and Coop @peterfacinell15 using hashtag #teamfacinelli.

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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!