Nurse Jackie: Season Seven

The bittersweetness of a farewell season hangs over this closing set of episodes starring Edie Falco as the titular charismatic, drug-addicted caregiver. Somehow, nurse Jackie Peyton—a reckless, passionate professional whose wanton drug abuse has driven this often funny, always moving drama—avoids serious jail time, following last season's disastrous attempt at fleeing the law. Jackie's nursing license is suspended and she mostly stays clean, maybe finally smartening up to the realization that this time she really might lose everything. Once again, Jackie is shacked up with Eddie the enabler (Paul Schulze), and on the outs with administrator Akalitus (Anna Deavere Smith), while her friendship with Zoey (Merritt Wever) hangs by a suture. But Jackie keeps on juggling lies, and her bold manipulation of people, places, and things becomes even more outrageous as she skates through a life that is clearly unmanageable. Mirroring the craziness, it sometimes feels here that the creative team is trying to jam in as much plot as possible, resulting in some logic gaps and time-compression idiosyncrasies. And the ending is as much of a cold-cock as that of The Sopranos (Falco's previous series)—decidedly ambiguous. All Saints' Hospital may be shuttered for good, but will pesky reality really be able to keep nurse Jackie down? That's the viewer's call. Presenting all 12 episodes from the 2015 seventh and final season, extras include audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel. Recommended. (T. Fry)