Ep 1. Comfort Food

Nurse Jackie is a medical drama series that follows the life of a skilled nurse, Jackie Peyton, as she navigates through personal and professional challenges. Season 2 episode 1, "Comfort Food," begins with Jackie still battling her addiction to painkillers, along with her complicated relationships with her husband and lover.

As Jackie prepares to celebrate her daughter's birthday, she struggles to stay sober and keep her life together. She's forced to confront her addiction head-on when her daughter's birthday party becomes a disaster due to her erratic behavior.

Meanwhile, Jackie's coworker, Zoey, deals with her own relationship issues as her boyfriend proposes to her in public, forcing her to decide whether or not to accept. Additionally, the hospital staff struggles to keep up with the demands of a major flu outbreak that's sweeping through the city.

Throughout the episode, there's a constant theme of seeking comfort in unsustainable places. Jackie turns to painkillers whenever she feels overwhelmed by her life, while Zoey's boyfriend leans on grand romantic gestures to try and patch things up with her. However, as these characters soon learn, relying on instant gratification instead of addressing the root of a problem only leads to more chaos and pain.

Overall, "Comfort Food" sets the tone for season 2 as a season focused on personal growth and confronting hard truths. As Jackie's addiction spirals further out of control, and Zoey faces critical decisions about her future, it's clear that the characters of Nurse Jackie will have to confront their own demons if they want to progress.