Ratched Season 1 Episode 1
Ratched
Season 1

Ep 1. Pilot

  • September 18, 2020
  • 7.5  (2,375)

Set in the 1940s, Ratched is a dark psychological thriller that explores the origins of the world-renowned antagonist from Ken Kesey's classic novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Nurse Ratched. The show depicts an era in which modern medicine was in its infancy and mental healthcare was often barbaric and cruel. Rather than focusing on the patients, however, Ratched takes the perspective of the nurse and the twisted psychology of power.

The first episode, titled "Pilot," begins with a stunningly cinematic credit sequence that sets the eerie tone of the show through its use of shadowy imagery and stark colors. We are introduced to the central protagonist, Mildred Ratched, as she arrives at the Lucia State Hospital looking for a job. She meets the hospital's head doctor, Dr. Richard Hanover, a man who talks excitedly about his radical new treatments and the opportunity to change the face of mental healthcare. Mildred is suspicious of his motives and senses a darkness beneath his charisma.

The hospital itself is a sprawling, gothic structure that serves as the backdrop for the show's many twisted plotlines. There are various wings and floors, each housing different types of patients, ranging from those suffering from schizophrenia to those who were sent to the asylum simply because they were considered a nuisance.

Mildred quickly makes a name for herself by saying all the right things to Dr. Hanover and displaying an almost preternatural ability to read people. She is soon recruited as a nurse, but her true motives for being there are murky. We get small hints that she has a personal connection to one of the patients and that she may have her own motivations for wanting to be at the hospital.

It is in her interactions with the patients that we see the glimpse of the darkness that will eventually consume her. She is compassionate and kind at times, but there is also a cruelty in her that she seems to take pleasure in. In one particularly unsettling scene, she manipulates a patient into thinking she has been cured, only to cruelly dash her hopes and send her spiraling back into a state of delusion.

As the episode progresses, we see Mildred's true colors and the lengths she is willing to go to get what she wants. She is not above lying or manipulation and is willing to use anyone, including the patients, to get closer to Dr. Hanover. In one scene, she even blackmails a fellow nurse who she knows has a drug addiction. There is a cold detachment to her that suggests a dark past, but we only get small hints of what that might be.

The show's aesthetic is one of its strongest elements. The costumes are impeccably detailed and the sets are intricate and creepy. The lighting is often used to great effect, casting deep shadows over characters' faces and emphasizing the sinister mood. The camera angles are also interesting, with many shots coming from odd angles or showcasing the asymmetry of the characters' faces.

Overall, "Pilot" is a strong start to the series. It effectively establishes the tone and the characters and sets up many intriguing plot threads. The performances are all strong, with Sarah Paulson (Mildred) being particularly impressive in her ability to convey both vulnerability and manipulation. The episode ends on a cliffhanger that sets up the rest of the series and leaves us hungry for more.

Description
Watch Ratched - Pilot (s1 e1) Online - Watch online anytime: Buy, Rent
Ratched, Season 1 Episode 1, is available to watch and stream on Netflix. You can also buy, rent Ratched on demand at Netflix online.
  • First Aired
    September 18, 2020
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.5  (2,375)