The original post: /r/television by /u/Brungala on 2025-06-07 03:03:12.

I watched the show all the way back in the start of 2020. It was on Netflix (and is sadly gone) I went into it thinking it was gonna be one of those typical med dramas. But in actuality, it’s a whole other show. I honestly love it. I’m on my 3rd rewatch now.

The premise is as follows; We follow the titular character, Jackie Peyton, who works as a nurse for the fictional hospital of All Saints. It showcases what Nurses have to go through, and how they do their day to day job. However, she isn’t just any nurse. She’s actually addicted to Painkillers, or really any drug that can give her euphoria. She dates the hospital’s pharmacist, Eddie, who supplies her with the drugs she wants. It’s then revealed that she is married with two kids and a Husband at home. All of which, she is keeping a closely guarded secret from her co-workers.

Throughout the show’s 7 season run, it details how Jackie deals with her addiction, and her double life. Sometimes she gets better, other times, she doesn’t. She’s made to be one of those characters whose actions are either selfish, or selfless. She does care for others, as the show does have its moments of her helping her patients, mostly through means that would most likely get her fired, but she risks it anyway because she wants her patients to be okay.

The medical scenes in the show are serviceable enough, but I’d say it’s mostly secondary, as the real interesting parts, are Jackie’s interactions with the rest of the cast. Eddie is somewhat likable, albeit a bit “simpy” due to his on and off again relationship with Jackie behind her husband’s back. Characters like Coop and Zoey are mostly the comic relief. And important characters like O’Hara (Jackie’s best friend) and Mrs Akalitus (the Hospital administrator) serve as big stepping stones towards Jackie’s development.

She does tend to regress in the later seasons, but it’s mostly to show that relapsing is something that is bound to happen. Jackie herself acknowledges that her taking drugs is a bad habit, but she just can’t help it. As she says it’s what makes her able to get through a hard days work. Like she needs it to function properly as a good Nurse.

Overall, it’s a great show. Go ahead and watch it if you want to see how much more of a spiral Jackie’s life can get.