Ratched review: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest prequel misses the point

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest gets the Ryan Murphy treatment in new Netflix series Ratched… at least, that’s what’s claimed. 

Sarah Paulson takes on the leading role of Ratched in this prequel series, and we meet her just as she arrives at a California mental hospital, shortly after notorious mass murderer Edmund Tolleson (Finn Wittrock) is admitted. 

Slightly off-kilter, Mildred Ratched doesn’t take long to butt heads with the current head nurse on the block, Betsy Bucket (Judy Davis), and climb up the ranks thanks to head doctor, Richard Hanover (Jon Jon Briones). 

But as with most things, there are complications, and soon Ratched gets herself into some complications that head her down a dark path and confronting her past. 

In Cuckoo’s Nest, Nurse Ratched was a power hungry, evil and cold woman who goes out of her way to be exert her power, becoming cruel and callous to the people in her control. 

This is not the version we are introduced to on this show at any point. Mildred, while having faults, is actually a quite warm and well-meaning – a total 180 to the role that’s so established. 

There are the typical tropes of a Ryan Murphy here present and correct – the bold and beautiful colour palette, squeaky clean cinematography, and the LGBT inclusion into the show’s storyline, all of which, as always, is welcomed.

Ratched also puts a feminist spin on a universally hated character, giving her depth as she navigates her way around post World War II America.

But you could also include revisionist history, in a similar vein to what Murphy and co incorporated into Hollywood, if you want, as beyond the name, there is nothing connecting Ratched to its source material at all. 

It seems a bit of a waste, honestly, with a solid cast ready to turn in performances worthy of the latest awards to grace Murphy’s shelves. But the question on ‘what is crazy’ that provides the foundation for the book and film, just isn’t in this series.

There are some interesting side stories though.

Cynthia Nixon, who plays an arrogant governor’s press secretary too entangled in Ratched’s world for her own good, and Sophie Okonedo playing Charlotte, a woman with dissociative identity disorder and a violent streak, are both personal highlights.

Then Sharon Stone is there, presumably just to look fabulous with a monkey.

Snaps for this show being such a female-led cast, with just a handful of men scattered into the tale to, seemingly, just cause trouble or be a thorn in the side of the women steering the ship. 

But there is also a fair amount of fault in this show – namely plots that seem to just drop off for no reason, others without consequence, and are ignored later down the line. 

One the plus side, you don’t have to watch Cuckoo’s Nest in order to understand what’s going on here – or even be aware of what happens. You can just enjoy it as it is. 

But that also works a negative for viewers who were expecting that character to be fleshed out, and makes you wonder why they bothered tagging it onto the famous character at all. 

Memorable Moments

• Sophie Okonedo remains one of the UK’s greatest exports and deserves all the awards. 
• Moment of appreciation to Nurse Ratched’s wardrobe – definitely not the bawdy version we’ve become used to. 
• There’s a real lesson in this show about why you should be careful not to run your bath too hot. You’ve been warned.
• Sarah Paulson when she turns on the ‘dark side’ of her character can be chilling and we’re obsessed.

Verdict: 

Ratched had the potential to be one of Ryan Murphy’s greatest works yet, but it just doesn’t do what it promises on the tin. 

While the performances, particularly by Sarah Paulson, Cynthia Nixon and Finn Wittrock, can be gripping at times, they simply don’t have the material a story like this really needed. 

This could have been a great opportunity to explore mental health, the system in which treatment is based, and the taboos that come with being considered unwell. They did not do this.

Instead, it comes and goes almost flippantly, with Ratched’s personal life taking centre stage rather than her work as a nurse.

This isn’t intended to sound too harsh, as there are some good moments in it, and you can sit through all eight episodes without getting too frustrated or lost with twists.

Ratched is just… OK. And unfortunately, so soon after Murphy’s addictive Hollywood, we were wanting more.

Ratched is available from September 18 on Netflix.

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