Has anyone noticed how the majority of people who watch Nurse Jackie

I just finished watching the show on Netflix but before I finished, had been discussing the show with someone else. In the beginning, I did find her likeable in her dedication to helping people and nursing and I think the show does a good job in making you think her addiction isn't serious or an impediment to her work. In the beginning. But the series shows that while she is "at her best" (according to her) when high on the job, she's really negligent, manipulative, and selfish on various fronts of her personal life.

As the series progressed, I began to lose patience with Jackie's behaviors, just like the characters of the show (except for Eddie, bless his heart). Getting clean then relapsing and making excuses...it was getting old. And in that respect, I think it's a pretty good (though hyperbolic at some points) portrayal of addiction and how it affects the people you care about, i.e. becoming invested in their well being, possibly being disappointed, and ultimately ending up not trusting the person.

And the brief moments she was clean, she was still a cheater and liar. This is why I think Jackie's ambiguous fate was a smart choice (smart, not popular, per se) by the writers. If you wanted Jackie to have her comeuppance and see a very real, very possible conclusion with addiction, then you get some sense of closure.

Walt, Dexter and Carrie all had sympathetic situations. Jackie and Tony did not. They're just horrible, parasitic people.

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I think the way the show was written and directed, and acted by the main characters, is meant to represent a relationship with an addict, through and through. from first minute to last, it's a heart-wrenching spiral, a roller coaster, thought-provoking and emotionally touching in both very, very good and very, very bad ways - just like the chaotic life of an addict, there's not much middle ground. you begin to get a breather and boom! chaos again. I think having such a flawed female character who works at a noble profession, saves lives, and loves her daughters sets the audience up for the whole roller coaster. (I can't imagine having a male nurse would have produced the same show.)

I loved Jackie at first because I've met so many nurses like her, they always get things done and they're comforting because they treat you as an individual not a file folder. then Jackie started letting me down, repeatedly. when the show made it clear her behavior could be blamed on those around her at first, or just her circumstances, I still had sympathy. but when she was getting ready for her 1-year clean celebration and popped that pill for no reason, BANG, that's when I started hating her. but still, I watched her train-wreck with fascination because I really wanted her to *want* to get real help and redeem herself. but nope, she just kept digging herself deeper and deeper and trying to take more people down with her.

the show's path is just like the real thing. you look back and there are so many funny moments and good memories, but overall the addict just keeps disappointing you, and in the end you realize they never had any *truly* redeeming qualities.

erm, can you tell I've been in a relationship with an addict? >.<

I liked Jackie. She showed the patterns and behavior of a drug addict but that doesn't mean she was a bad person. I would surmise that many who don't like her have never been around an addict, who was a friend or family member (former or current) because you can hate them and love. Strongly and seriously, both things. I also think many are more critical of women who do the same things men are excused or even liked for. They're just being ruthless, doing what some men do, etc. etc. While women are more often expected to be paragons, or not really "bad". Just one example: the guy who dates a lot of girls is patted on the back and called popular, while a girl who dates only half his total is often viewed negatively. Double standards based on the patriarchal Judeo-Christian model.

"I understand English very well...." Magua, The Last of the Mohicans

I think those comparisons are a bit off.

Dexter killed evil people, Walter did it to provide for his family, even Tony did all he did because he was the head of a crime family.

Jackie... Everything Jackie did was 100% selfish, with no regards for anyone else. She is among the most self-centered characters in TV history.

I didn't like Jackie. I didn't like Tony Soprano or Walter White, either. (Dexter, on the other hand, at least preyed on horrible people.) The reason is that each of these characters did so much damage to the people in their lives. They were all fascinating characters, because of the fatal flaws that ultimately did them in.

This may have been mentioned already. I'm not sure as I didn't read any of the responses your post received. However, Walter White did kill Domingo (the second tier guy in the drug trade) and he killed Gus and his messenger via Salamanca. He was also involved in the death of Jane (although his NON-ACTION lead to her death).

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"Can we all just parachute down from Cloud Coo-coo Land?" Jimmy-Better Call Saul

Why would these majority people even watch the show then? I don't get it.

I loved Jackie and everyone else I know who watched it too. In real life? I'd stay as far away from her as possible. As a source of entertainment, shes a complex character who is heavily flawed.