Sol Garcia | THE RIDER
Last month, Netflix released “Ratched,” a psychological thriller series. If you haven’t seen it by now, it’s the perfect show with which to celebrate Halloween.
Sarah Paulson stars as Mildred Ratched, a character in Ken Kesey’s novel, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” and once again, Paulson does not disappoint. The series serves as a prequel to Kesey’s book, showing Ratched’s new employment in the late 1940s at Lucia State Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in California.
Ratched is intelligent and strong-willed, but the audience recognizes she’s also cunning, sly and hiding dark secrets. In order to be hired, Ratched blackmails another nurse to quit.
Also new to the hospital is inmate Edmund Tolleson, the man who murdered four priests and who everybody wants to see dead, including California’s governor—or almost everyone.
By the end of the second episode, Ratched’s real motivations for working at the hospital are revealed. Ratched is Tolleson’s sister, and she wants to save him from a death sentence. Later in the season, viewers discover their relationship also comes with a complicated history.
The series was produced by Ryan Murphy, who is known for his sinister craftsmanship in TV. In its first season, consisting of only eight episodes, Murphy proves he still has the touch. If the series’ few depictions of blood and violence are too gruesome, viewers will continue to watch for its aesthetically pleasing visuals.
Throughout the show, blue and green shades are used skillfully to represent characters’ motives and provide foreshadowing. In the first episode, this is demonstrated when Ratched walks down the hospital’s long hallway, determined in her goals, and the entire scene gains a bright green hue.
At the beginning of the series, it’s hard to tell if you love or hate Ratched. Her scheming and resourcefulness are awed at every second, but sometimes she is too manipulative to enjoy. Near the last few episodes, though, it’s hard not to absolutely love her. Like in all shows, a character must undergo a transformation through challenges, and Ratched is no different. By the end of the first season, she becomes an all-time favorite.
Of course, other characters are worth rooting for, too. While she may stir up hatred at first, Ratched’s rival, Nurse Betsy Bucket, is definitely worth watching. Sure, she may have deluded herself into falling for the wrong guy and ate Ratched’s peach in a hilarious scene, but by the season’s end, Bucket warms everyone’s heart.
There are also some characters who are lovable straight from the start, such as Huck Finnigan and Gwendolyn Briggs. Finnigan is an orderly at Lucia, whose face is scarred from war. When he’s ordered to force patients into boiling water, he and Ratched help them escape the cruelty, risking his career.
Meanwhile, Briggs is the governor’s press secretary. She’s kind and ambitious in her career. Spoiler incoming: Briggs becomes Ratched’s love interest. At times, it’s hard not to want Briggs with a healthier partner, but viewers soon realize how perfect they may be for each other.
Ratched’s story is not the only one to engage viewers. Ratched’s boss, Dr. Richard Hanover, has his own hidden backstory, one that includes an extremely wealthy woman, her amputated, deranged son and her adorable, spoiled monkey.
Tolleson and trainee Nurse Dolly get screen time to share their story, too, almost like Bonnie and Clyde, but not quite.
The final episode will have the audience swearing they can’t wait for another season. They need to know now! Spoiler again: The season ends with Tolleson escaping, and he’s angry. His rage is directed at his sister. With two others, he’s on the hunt for her, but Ratched has shown she is not one to mess with. Who doesn’t enjoy some family conflict?
There’s a reason “Ratched” is Netflix’s most viewed debut of the year. Those who haven’t watched the show yet need to grab a tub of Halloween candy and binge-watch it this Saturday.
“Ratched” receives the sunny rating of: ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼.
Reviews are based on five suns.
