Nurse Jackie – “Serviam in Caritate” Review. The Dr. Prince Fan Club.

Season 7, Episode 9

Air Date: Sunday, June 7, 2015, 9 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

“You guys get to do whatever you want with your lives. Dad’s having a baby; you’re marrying Eddie. You can’t tell me not to reach for something just because it’s hard.” – Grace

“Serviam in Caritate,” which translates to “I will serve in love,” deals with two different yet equally important story lines—Zoey’s (Merritt Wever) problems with Jackie (Edie Falco), and the sale of All Saints Hospital. The episode also provides a look into why Dr. Prince (special guest star Tony Shalhoub) decided to come to All Saints in the first place.

See that scared look on Jackie’s face? I’d be scared too!

When Zoey receives a distress call from Jackie’s daughter Grace (Ruby Jerins), she and Jackie set off on a road trip to rescue Grace. Back at All Saints, Prince decides to attract attention to the hospital’s impending closure by tending to a Brooklyn woman who can’t afford regular medical care, counting on her to tell her friends what he gives her. Will Jackie and Zoey become friends again, and will Prince’s plan work?

Jackie and Zoey and Grace, Oh My!

I got a real kick out of the way Jackie and Zoey run out of the hospital after getting Grace’s call. Thankfully, Prince comes to the rescue after Zoey’s frantic question. “Also, does anyone have a car?” I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by Zoey’s lack of driving skills since she lives and works in New York. Watching as she navigates the highway between New York and Pennsylvania is a hoot. Zoey is an accident waiting to happen, although thankfully, that isn’t the case. The question is what is Grace doing in Pennsylvania, and with whom is she traveling? Jackie, on the other hand, would like to know why Grace calls Zoey in an emergency and not her.

Zoey isn’t only frazzled by the drive; she is so stressed, she finally confronts Jackie about the problems she has with her. While this entire story line is comical, with a serious undertone, the funniest scene happens when Zoey goes off on Grace. While Falco, Wever, and Jerins are professionals, I’d bet more than one take was necessary to get this scene down pat due to their losing control. I know if it were me, I’d be laughing my ass off! That said, watching Zoey lose her cool proves what a fantastic actress Wever is. Zoey normally exhibits grace under fire but the strain of her relationship with Jackie, coupled with an uncertain future at work, proves to be the final straw. But it’s what happens between Grace and Jackie that makes this portion of “Serviam in Caritate” so special.

Prince, All Saints’ Knight in Shining Armor

Karlsen doesn’t like it when things don’t go his way.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat, at least when Prince is involved. That man stops at nothing when he perceives an injustice. First, it was Jackie rousing the troops in “Coop Out,” and then it was Zoey leading the E.R. nurses on a walkout in “High Noon.” In “Serviam in Caritate,” the way Prince subtly manipulates a returning patient, Lydia (guest star Vanessa Aspillaga), to cause a commotion inside the E.R. is brilliant. The ensuing pandemonium and Karlsen’s (guest star Jeremy Shamos) reaction is comical, especially when Gloria (Anna Deavere Smith) gets involved. Prince isn’t the only savior in “Serviam in Caritate,” however. Unfortunately, or fortunately from Gloria’s POV, Eddie (Paul Schulze) steps in to help, an action that may have severe consequences for Jackie’s “deal” with Karlsen.

Funny lines

Dr. Prince to Jackie: “You could stick that fucker in my eyeball if it will buy me another six months.”

Thor to Dr. Prince: “You’re like Shelley Winters in the “Poseidon Adventure.””

Zoey to Jackie: “No, no music. I’m merging.”

Other Observations

Ugh. That’s all, just ugh!

Carrie (Betty Gilpin) must treat Karlsen following his altercation with Eddie, and I can’t believe his nerve! What a sleaze! Do you think Carrie’s glance as he walks away means anything? Does she miss Coop (Peter Facinelli) that much?

As a grammar nut, I love when Zoey corrects herself when asking Jackie about her engagement—“To who…uh, to whom?”

Overall

This is one of the best scenes in the episode.

In keeping with the tone of Nurse Jackie’s final season, episodic writer Heidi Schreck and director Brendan Walsh hit it out of the park with “Serviam in Caritate.” The audience learns a lot about several characters’ backgrounds, which explains a great deal about some of the things they do. While Jackie and Zoey’s time together is “not the world’s funnest road trip,” the two nurses reconnect in a way I have been longing to see. It remains to be seen, however, whether their relationship is back on track. I hope Gloria doesn’t rain on their parade once the light of day hits. In general, “Serviam in Caritate” provides a feel good experience that is best felt by the final scene where Jackie and Zoey show off their dance moves to the tUnE-yArDs’ song, “Water Fountain.” I’ve included a link to YouTube in case you’ve never heard it.

I’d love to discuss “Serviam in Caritate” with you. Did you enjoy the way things come together? Hit me up on Twitter @SeasideTV or leave your comments below.

Tune in to the remaining three episodes of the final season of Nurse Jackie, Sundays at 9pm ET/PT, only on Showtime.

Follow the show on Twitter, using hashtag #NurseJackie, as well as @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, and Fiona @mackieealadjem.

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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!