Ratched | Brutal Historical Fiction Done Right.

 "Rached: You're not sorry but you will be

Bucket: Oh Really? What? What are you going to do about it? What are you Deaf?

Ratched: No. Im thinking about all the things I'm going to do about it" - The Peach Scene

Ratched is a Psychological Thriller Period Drama and is a prequel based on Ken Kesey's One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest  following the early life of its primary antagonist Nurse Mildred Ratched. The Series was created by Evan Romansky and development by Ryan Murphy. It is Produced by Further Films, Lighthouse Media, and Touchstone Television. The series has been greenlit for a second season but the exact production date is unknown due to the pandemic and other concerns. Ratched stars the acting talents of AHS alums Sarah Paulson (Nurse Ratched), and Finn Wittrock (Edmund Tolleson), as well as Cynthia Nixon (Gwendolyn Briggs), Jon Jon Briones (Dr. Hanover), Charlie Carver (Huck Finnigan), Judy Davis (Nurse Bucket), Sharon Stone (Lenore Osgood), and Sophie Okonedo (Charlotte Wells). For a Full list of Cast and Crew. 

I feel like I need to come clean with you. Before watching this series I had cocooned myself in a bubble that was devoid of the works of Ken Kesey's and Milos Forman. It was not that I harbored any disdain or contempt for the property it was simple a combination of me being born 22 years after the movie came out, never getting around to reading the myriad classics on my TBR and the fact that I only started moonlighting as a media critic last year so I really didn't give a shit about the classics. While I have seen the 1975 oscar winner starring Jack Nicholson this review will not be about the series ability as a adaptation. Having seen this series first I will not have the same perspective as the "purists" and whether this is good or bad is for you to decide. I also like to think that I am not a prude and while I have issues with Ryan Murphy's works I believe it's important to judge a work on its own merit outside of its creators. That being said I also realize that Murphy tends to be a polarizing figure in television. Some people love him and others hate him and I would be amiss to pretend that Ratchet doesn't abide to many of Murphys favored tropes. So as a sort of litmus test for those wary of AHS clones I wanted to pick some low hanging fruit and talk about that other time Sarah Paulson was a lesbian in a mental asylum. 

For me I was truly introduced to Paulson as she played Lana Winters in AHS:Asylum, (that's Season 2 for all the non-stans out there). Lana is an intrepid reporter who after being caught by Murphys very own battle axe the iconic Sister Jude, (played by Jessica Lange), is falsely committed for *Gasp* lesbianism for which she is subjected to the myriad of horrific practices that mental hospitals have performed in the past. It is clear to me now looking back how much this season was influenced by Kesey's classic but that is where the comparison ends and the differences start. While the hallmarks of Murphy, (the period drama, elaborate costuming, and the acts of brutality), are all alive and present in the series Ratched gives us something that many of his shows do not. An intimate character study. 

One of the biggest issues I had with AHS was its throw-everything-at-the-wall-and-sees-what-sticks ethos. While AHS giant ensemble cast meant that there was always some delightful tragedy porn to get from somebody's backstory and discovered their motivations it often ended with the writers using there cast as cannon fodder for cheap shocks on the way to a more satisfying ending. Ratched has a decidedly smaller cast and this helps flesh out the characters in a way that AHS or Murphy's other ensemble shows can't compete with. AHS also has a bad habit of throwing everything and the kitchen sink into a season, (Asylum for example featured Aliens, Demon Possession, Nazi Scientists, Serial Killers, and Death Angels on top of the classic ECT), where as Ratched is much more grounded choosing its death and torture in more smoother surer strokes. 

Long Story Short, If you like Ryan Murphy, be prepared for a series with smaller scope but a more focused lens, and for those that are put off my his pulpiness sit back for a beautiful shot period drama that reels back Murphy's extravagences while keeping some of his enjoyable quirks. Now that I've said my piece let's actually get into what the show is about. 

The Good Stuff

After a classic Murphy opening of violence and true crime we are introduced to Mildred Ratched, a stunningly cold and cunning woman with a penchant for fascinator hats. The first episode deals with how through a process of lies, blackmail, decept, and other myriad manipulations she finds herself a job at the Lucia State Hospital which just so happens to house her brother Edmund Tolleson (Finn Wittrock) who is being charged on four counts of murder. 

Ratched presents itself firmly as melodrama with horror elements and its best to keep this in mind for the initiate as Nurse Ratched finds herself thrown into a web of intrigue as she both navigates the storied history of the director of the hospital Dr. Richard Hanover (Jon Jon Briones) while also dealing with her rivalry with head nurse, and her immediate superior, Nurse Bucket (Judy Davis). Between these dramatic elements are truly graphic scenes of torture, (such as the hydrotherapy regimen and the LSD scene). Some critics deem this as "torture porn", however in my personal opinion I found that these scenes helped increased the tension of the plot and worked well playing into the expectation of medical brutality that is prevalent in the setting. 

A subtext of the series is that "Monsters are not born, they are made" and the show attempts to use Nurse Ratched as a case study. The show steeps itself in gray morality both for its primary antagonist as well as those around her. While many of her actions are inexcusable her reasons often stem from loyalty and compassion. Another large portion of the plot involves Ratched coming to terms with her sexuality as she begins a Sapphic Tryst with the governor's assistant  Gwendolyn Briggs. What starts out as outright condemnation for the woman ends in what is actually one of the better love stories presented in Murphy's work. 

Given the dramatic aspects of the work it comes as no surprise that the acting was on point. Paulson as usually gave us a tour de force performance with Nurse Ratched. Whereas Fletcher's performance was cold, aloof, and filled with the fake politeness common of the establishment Paulson's rendition had a bit more nuance and emotion in her screen presence. Nurse Ratched can best be described as ruthless and emotional distance as she navigates the drama of the series. Another actor I would love to give kudos to Sophie Okonedo who played Charlotte Wells, a rather meek middle aged woman suffering from DID*. Okonedo was an absolute delight on screen and brought some much needed color to punch up the more serious and somber episodes of the last half of the season. Charlotte Wells alters are all fantastically well acted and I have to stand a woman who can switch between 4-5 different characters within the same show. Overall the rest of the performances where well done with many of the characters being well rounded despite their lack of Murphy's signature tragic backstory. The only criticism I can give is that some of the characters, (namely Henry Osgood (played by Brandon Flynn)) appear as poor imitations to some of Murphy's more iconic characters, (in this case the psychopathic rich brat archetype was a little bit to reminiscent of Wittrock's AHS debut as Dandy Mott). 

On another note I would love to commend the series for its purposeful inclusion. Too often are period dramas and historical fiction in general are white and straight washed, (because as we all know BIPOC and LGBT+ persons magically appeared in the 1980s much to the surprise of everybody). Ratched however makes a deliberate effort not only to include racial diversity, (Jon Jon Briones and Sophie Okonado are both fantastic POC main leads) but sexual diversity as well with one of the main storylines discussing  Mildred Ratched's own sexual awakening. Nor are the characters experiences sanitized for the sake of the viewer as the racism and homophobia present in the time sits as an unsavory background to the events of the film. Overall, Ratched succeeds in creating diverse historical fiction which is critically under represented. 

Simply put Ratched is absolutely visual stunning boasting some of the best use of color theory and composition that I haven't seen since Heathers(1989). From the cinematography to the fantastic score done by Mac Quayle, to the excellent work done by the rest of the production team, Ratched is unequivalently gorgeous and visually distinctive. I'm not the first or last person to praise its craftsmanship but let me say this even in this fine age of gorgeous HD visuals and cinematography,  shows like Ratched are still defining what it means to be virtuoso.

While purists or lovers of the original IP may balk at what they consider an unnecessary prequal, others can find a beautifully crafted melodrama that manages to capture Murphy's signature style with less camp and more substance. Ratched features a diverse and dynamic cast, fantastic production quality, and a plot that while is not always the most consistent still manages to be entertaining for its eight hour runtime. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*While I ABSOLUTELY LOVED Sophia Okonedo performance I do feel it necessary to point out the issue with characters with Dissociative Identity Disorder being presented as violent or psychopathic. In short these depictions are stigmatizing and while I can understand the narrative usefulness of such a character it's also important to not demonize a condition by providing a narrow view of its effects or proclivities.  Allows to direct you to this article by Steve Rose published by The Guardian for a more in depth discussion of what I'm trying to get to. 

Also Im not stupid and I realize that this show has received a good amount of flack from critics. Honestly I personally loved the show but I wanted to make sure that I present a based viewpoint. I've said my piece but I would love to shout out this fantastic article by Linda Holmes for NPR. She states her viewpoint with nuanced and politeness and I can appreciate her criticism.

=========================================================================

Hey You Here's Some Stuff You Can Do To Help

Black Lives Matter

Fire Victim Relief

Your Vote Matters