Ratched

Every actor is dutifully committed, even if some of the characters are little more than broadly drawn cartoon characters, the stories are energetically told (even when some of the episodes are over an hour long) and the entire mood and atmosphere of the show is wholly enveloping. For something so bleak and macabre, Ratched really is a lot of fun.

The drama (all eight episodes were provided for review) never seems to settle on whether this corrupt and eccentric woman is the hero or the villain of her own story, the aggressor or the victim. Watching Sarah Paulson navigate those extremes is chilling. ... These inconsistencies work together to make Nurse Ratched more terrifying in her unpredictability. ... But where Ratched really shines is through its stylized love of gore.

Sharon Stone is a vengeful heiress and that’s all she is; Corey Stoll is an incompetent hitman and that sums him up. This isn’t acting, it’s posing. Happily Judy Davis and Sophie Okonedo — both Oscar nominees — do eventually develop juicy parts. And “Ratched” becomes watchable entertainment. But that style-over-content thing makes you wonder if Ryan Murphy shows would be better off with less Ryan Murphy.

The whole tone of Ratched feels like a point extremely missed, and it can’t even generate its own upside-down gravity. At times, its rudeness is just crude.

If a stylish thrill ride is what you want, “Ratched” may do the job. It’s a wild drive through the dark in a pristinely restored roadster, even if the driver often seems to forget the destination. But if you’re actually looking for what “Ratched” promises, a nuanced explanation of a woman who’s been caricatured as a demon, you may find yourself wishing that you could have met Mildred Ratched before “Ratched” got to her.

It takes all eight episodes for Ratched’s sibling heist to come to fruition, but by that time the plot has become so convoluted that it barely matters. ... Perhaps this is the central weakness of “Ratched”: there is nothing bubbling underneath the surface. Romansky and Murphy throw everything at the screen, and all at once.

Nothing in Ratched works. Not the overbearing score desperately trying to replicate the splendor of Bernard Herrmann’s work with Alfred Hitchcock. Not the consistent insistence on shoving various shades of green into every frame. Not the acting, even when executed by performers who have been dynamic elsewhere. Not the rudderless scripts. ... There is nothing redeemable to be found within the folds of these eight hours of television. Nothing!

The music and some of the cinematography are a great throwback to film noir or even Alfred Hitchcock. The story is exciting enough to keep you watching and its overall well acted. Recommend

It’s not the worst show out there by any means, but it’s also definitely not the best. While the visuals are striking and incredibly pleasing to look at, the protagonist herself is almost as two dimensional as it gets. Whatever decision she makes seems to strongly depend on the scene she’s in, causing her character to be highly unpredictable—but not in a suitable fashion to the show. The show is entertaining, though, and the concepts are there, which is why I did finish it, but the show is, I repeat, most definitely not the best.

If you love the movie: don't watch the show! The production design is great, the acting is decent... but I had to turn it off after the second episode. In the movie and book Nurse Ratched makes a great villain because in her mind she actually acts with good intent. She's evil because the system is evil. This show basically turns her into a psychopath. Either the showrunners didn't understand the original material or they just didn't care. So sad.

Hate men? Don't require any kind of logical or realistic characters or storyline? Want a show that's based in the 40s and isn't even close to being realistic to the era? Then this show's for you! This dumpster fire will leave you laughing in the end assuming you're not too angry at yourself for wasting nearly 8 hours of your life.

Just another serie from Ryan Murphy, who lost his way long time ago, several AHS seasons ago. There's no a single remarkable character and the story it's absolutely boring. I was expecting a real shift from Mildred Ratched to get how she became a brilliant and unique character but this is not the place to look for it. Just awful