QuinnFindley

In September, the lead writer of “American Horror Story,” Ryan Murphy, released his most recent masterpiece, “Ratched,” on Netflix. The eight-episode season contains an elegant drama style filled with suspense that’s native to classic horror movies, and guaranteed to keep you at the edge of your seat. From the late 1960s setting and nostalgic thriller music, to the binge-worthy mystery, to the dynamic personalities of every character, “Ratched” is a must-watch. 

The show is based off of the corrupted character of Nurse Ratched from “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” the 1975 classic movie starring Jack Nicholson. The show is supposedly a prequel to the movie, offering a backstory  for the notorious villain of the original movie. The majority of the plot takes place in Lucia State Hospital, a mental asylum run by Dr. Hanover, that’s known for experimenting with new ways to treat patients humanely (how ironic). 

All the newspapers are buzzing about Edmund Tollison, a patient convicted of multiple homicides who will soon be admitted into the hospital, and Mildred Ratched, played by Sarah Paulson, is determined to get close to him no matter what lines she must cross. However, Mildred doesn’t have the same intentions as the journalists determined to just get a picture and a story for their boss. It’s quickly revealed that she and Edmund had a childhood together, and she is willing to manipulate the people around her to make sure he stays alive. 

One of the most compelling aspects of this show is the struggle of good and evil battling in each character. The show allows the viewer to see all sides of the character, displaying not only the malicious, vengeful characteristics that seem to guide the plot, but also the disturbing and painful backgrounds that create a feeling of sympathy, no matter how evil a person they may seem. 

Through a suspenseful plot that exposes the corruption in authority and reasoning behind maligned human nature, “Ratched” is a show that leaves its viewer wanting more.