Review - Nurse Jackie, Season 3, Episode 3 - "Play Me"

Air Date: Monday, April 11, 2011, 10:00-10:30 pm

Grade: ★★★★★

The words “Play Me” seem to have more than one meaning besides being the title. Perhaps they refer to God (Michael Buscemi, yes he’s Steve Buscemi’s brother, reprising his role from last season) stealing a street piano so he can play it for Zoey (Merritt Wever); or perhaps to Kevin (Dominic Fumusa), who uses his sister Tunie (Jaimie Alexander) to spy on Jackie for him; or it could be Coop (Peter Facinelli) playing Thor (Stephen Wallum) to get his help with a fantasy football league in the hospital. There’s a lot going on in “Play Me,” and it’s all good.

Review - Nurse Jackie, Season 3, Episode 3 - "Play Me" 1

Jackie, Kevin and the girls listen to Tunie's explanation of what happened between her and her boyfriend

Jackie certainly seems to be working overtime playing the perfect wife, making pancakes and bacon for breakfast, packing chicken sandwiches for Kevin’s lunch. The dark comedy begins immediately as Jackie, drinking a cup of tea, tells Kevin she’s taking a break from coffee because it makes her “buzzy.” Quickly, with Kevin’s back turned, she pops a pain pill. Oh Jackie. Won’t you ever learn? It’s going to take a lot more than a nice breakfast to keep your marriage together, especially if you keep popping pills.

I wonder if having Tunie in the house will make much difference as she is sleeping off a night of boozing, heartbroken after a break-up with her pilot boyfriend. Tunie used her employee discount on British Airways to drown her pain. As she explains what happened to the Peyton family, I couldn’t help but laugh. The dialogue is funny and Alexander, eyes rolling and head bobbing, delivers it perfectly.

“So he breaks up with me while I’m still at work. What a fucking buttnuckle…So he breaks up with me via text-freakin message at work and then he puts this bullshit sad face at the end like that’s somehow gonna muffle the freakin blow, right? So I take advantage of the British Air employee discount on drinks but, as everyone knows, the pussy British executive lounge closes at 10. So, I down four more Black Russians, like two or six Heinekin whatever, and the next thing you know, I’m at your door.

Review - Nurse Jackie, Season 3, Episode 3 - "Play Me" 2

Jackie (Edie Falco) and Tunie (Jaimie Alexander) hug it out after Jackie agrees to let her stay for a few days.

Wever shines, as usual, when Zoey explains to Jackie about an Orthodox Jewish woman who needs surgery immediately, but her husband David (Santino Fantana) wants her transferred to Beth-Israel and her Reformed Jewish parents want her to stay and have the surgery. It’s comical how Zoey whispers the words “Orthodox” when referring to the woman and her husband, and “very suburban” when referring to the Reformed parents as if the words are taboo.

As Lenny (Lenny Jacobson) and God vie for Zoey’s attention, it’s comical to see how it all plays out. To Lenny preparing an “elaborate” picnic lunch, while God steals a beautifully painted piano on the sidewalk with a sign reading “Play Me.” I love the conversation between Zoey and God – it’s so earnest, especially when he confesses how he wanted to ask her out.

Zoey: “Thanks but it’d be too much pressure to date God.”

God: “Good point.”

Some the funniest moments are Coop trying to persuade Thor to help him with the fantasy football league by revealing a sensitive subject, to which Thor seems to relate; and Akalitus trying to dissuade a priest by asserting she knows Michelle Obama.

Review - Nurse Jackie, Season 3, Episode 3 - "Play Me" 3

Jackie (Edie Falco) going in for a kiss from her husband Kevin (Dominic Fumusa)

The only part of “Play Me” I didn’t particularly care for are the two Muslim street food vendors who come into All Saints brutally fighting over a street corner, yelling and screaming in Arabic, one with a skewer in his face, the other burned from hot oil. I know it was meant to be funny, but it was too stereotypical for me. Plus, it gives Jackie another shot at putting down poor Sam (Arjun Gupta). The only funny part was O’Hara (Eve Best) as she cracks her fingers, saying “Bon Appetit!” as she and Coop head over to their respective patients.

The funniest line belongs to Sam, talking about Coop: “Careful Thor, he might steal your boyfriend.”

I can’t wait to find out what happens now that Tunie will be staying for weeks, rather than a few days. Did Kevin really ask her to stay to spy on Jackie?

Tune into Nurse Jackie on Mondays at 10:00 pm ET/PT only on Showtime.

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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!