Ep 1. Pharmacy

Olive Kitteridge is a critically acclaimed miniseries that aired on HBO in 2014. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Elizabeth Strout, the show stars Frances McDormand as the titular character, a retired schoolteacher living in a small coastal town in Maine.

Episode 1, titled "Pharmacy," introduces us to Olive and her husband Henry (Richard Jenkins) as they go about their daily routine. The episode opens with Olive picking up her prescription at the local pharmacy, where she has a brief exchange with the new pharmacist, Denise Thibodeau (Zoe Kazan).

Throughout the episode, we see Olive interacting with various members of her community, from her former student Kevin Coulson (Cory Michael Smith) to her son Christopher (John Gallagher Jr.), who is visiting from New York City with his wife and young child.

As we get to know Olive better, we learn that she is a complex and often difficult woman, prone to blunt remarks and a lack of sympathy for those around her. But we also see glimpses of her vulnerability and humanity, particularly in her relationship with Henry, who is kind but often overshadowed by his wife's larger-than-life personality.

One of the key themes of "Pharmacy" is the idea of aging and mortality. Both Olive and Henry are in their 70s and facing the realities of growing older, from health issues to the loss of friends and loved ones. We see this play out in various ways throughout the episode, from Olive's frustration with her arthritis to the funeral of a local woman who dies unexpectedly.

Another theme that emerges is the idea of isolation and loneliness. Despite living in a tight-knit community, many of the characters in the show are struggling with feelings of disconnect and alienation. Olive herself often seems to be at odds with those around her, unable or unwilling to connect with them on a deeper level.

Overall, "Pharmacy" is a thought-provoking and melancholy introduction to the world of Olive Kitteridge. Through its nuanced portrayal of a complex and flawed protagonist, the episode asks us to consider what it means to grow old, to confront our own mortality, and to live in a world that can be both beautiful and heartbreaking. As the first chapter in a four-part miniseries, it sets the stage for what promises to be a profound and emotionally resonant exploration of human nature and the human condition.