Ep 8. Mildred and Edmund

Mildred and Edmund is the eighth episode of the first season of the psychological thriller series Ratched. The episode runs for approximately 52 minutes and is directed by Jessica Yu.

Set in 1947, the episode begins with Edmund (Finn Wittrock) being brought back to Lucia State Hospital after his unsuccessful escape attempt with Dolly. He is heavily drugged and kept in a straight-jacket for most of the episode. Mildred (Sarah Paulson) is assigned to keep an eye on him, and it becomes clear that they have a complex history. As the episode progresses, their past is revealed through a series of flashbacks.

The flashbacks show Mildred and Edmund as children, living with their mother and abusive father. Edmund is depicted as the favored child, while Mildred is ignored and often mistreated. When their father dies, Mildred is sent off to boarding school while Edmund is left to run the family farm. Years later, during World War II, Edmund enlists in the army and is sent to fight in Europe. He is captured and held as a prisoner of war for several months before being rescued.

Upon his return home, Edmund appears to be suffering from severe PTSD. Mildred, now a nurse, takes care of him and becomes his primary caregiver. It is here that their relationship becomes romantic, and they begin an affair. However, when Mildred discovers that Edmund is responsible for a brutal murder, she turns him in to the police.

Back in the present, Edmund is still heavily drugged but manages to manipulate Mildred into believing that he is innocent. He tells her that he was set up by a mysterious figure who wants to silence him, and that he needs her help to prove his innocence. Mildred is torn between her allegiance to her patient and the truth she knows about his past crimes. She tries to investigate the case further but is met with resistance from the hospital staff.

As the episode comes to a close, Mildred discovers the true identity of the person who set Edmund up. She realizes that Edmund is not the innocent victim he pretends to be, and that he has been manipulating her all along. The episode ends with Mildred confronting Edmund, and the promise of an explosive confrontation in the episodes to come.

Mildred and Edmund is a gripping and emotionally charged episode that delves into the complex relationship between the two titular characters. It explores themes of trauma, guilt, and the power dynamics in romantic relationships. Wittrock and Paulson deliver strong performances, particularly in the flashback scenes where they portray younger versions of their characters. The episode is a highlight of the series, and leaves viewers eager to see what will happen next.