Nurse Jackie Season 3: Expect More Drugs, Lies and Relationship Mishaps

Nurse Jackie Season 3 is officially here, and viewers have a lot to look forward to in the 12-episode season.

Season 3 picks up right on the same scene where Season 2 left off – Jackie (Edie Falco) staring into the bathroom mirror after Dr. O’Hara (Eve Best) and Kevin (Dominic Fumusa) confronted her for abusing drugs. As co-creator Linda Wallem stated, this season will not be the season of “Jackie goes to rehab.”



Instead, viewers can look forward to more drugs, lies and relationship mishaps. The 12 episodes will delve further into Jackie’s drug addiction, while simultaneously opening up the show to the supporting cast. We’ll see drug dealers of the past show up to stake their claim in Jackie’s downward spiral of a life. Yet, she still keeps All Saints working like clockwork.

Thor (Stephen Wallem) steps up in a major way, easily grabbing laughs and empathetic smiles as his bond with Dr. Cooper (Peter Facinelli) goes through a subtle metamorphosis. We’ll also see Stephen’s singing chops displayed in the last two episodes of the season.

In Season 2 we saw the beginnings of Zoey’s (Merritt Wever) relationship with Lenny (Lenny Jacobson). We’ll see how their relationship progresses in the third season, however don’t expect anything too deep. The creative team has given Wever just enough room to flex some different qualities in Zoey’s character. For starters, we start to see Zoey take on some more Jackie-like qualities. You’ll have to tune in to see what happens.

Dr. Cooper antics once again come in abundance. His relationship with Eddie (Paul Schulze) will take a subtle turn, and we’ll see just how strong or weak their friendship is by the finale. Also, Dr. Cooper’s two moms will make an appearance, which may shake things up and add an overdose of family laughs. Don’t worry. Coop is still as childish as ever. Although there will be more drama, it doesn’t come at the cost of any of the dark humor.....

Nurse Jackie "Season 3"

"Nurse Jackie" is frequently an uncomfortable experience.

Jackie's (Edie Falco) commitment to addiction and maintaining her manipulation of everyone in her life ensures that even the series' funniest moments are infected by metastasizing dread.

The start of Season 3 should release some of the pressure that's been building. But instead of surrendering to the Season 2 finale intervention staged by Kevin (Dominic Fumusa) and Dr. O'Hara (Eve Best), Jackie comes out fighting, postponing the inevitable once again.

That's not to see the walls aren't still crashing down around her. Every lose end continues to unravel in the Mar. 28 season premiere, with Kevin growing increasingly suspicious of her drug consumption, her professional and personal lives bleeding together, a best friend no longer speaking to her, her former lover still very much a part of her life and that dealer she nicked pills from taking an unexpected role in her life.

Adding to Jackie's problems, her dysfunctional sister moves into her house and her eldest daughter's paranoia is not dissuaded by her new private school.

But the show continues to be, in many respects, a comedy. Dr. Akalitus (Anna Deavere Smith) gets a particularly hilarious arc involving a new obsession with Michelle Obama and a feud with her counterpart at another hospital over who'll get the first lady's kudos for trying to fight childhood obesity. And Dr. Cooper (Peter Facinelli), who's sort of dropped the combative act, is now just endearingly goofy.

Like so many Showtime comedies, "Jackie" leaves us feeling a bit conflicted. But the acting, caustic characters and looming consequences make Season 3 destination viewing for anyone who's already hooked --- and a worthwhile pursuit for anyone still on the fence.