Title: Series At The Psych Ward

Netflix has been trying its hardest to keep viewers entertained through quarantine. It has provided a given access to pre-existing show as well as released new Netflix originals, and more is on the way. On September 18th, Netflix released a new original: Ratched. Inspired by One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and influenced by Sarah Paulson’s unique perspective, Ratched is an eerie thriller that takes place in the 1960s. The show starts off with the main character Mildred Ratched (Sarah Paulson) looking for new employment at a psychiatric hospital. At the same time, a recent mass murderer who is suspected to be psychologically unfit to stand trial needs to be evaluated by the head doctor of the hospital. 

“This show’s twists and turns made it almost too crazy but kept it interesting at the same time,”

Kendall East, a junior at Oakton states. Kendall heard about the show because it popped up on her Netflix recommended page, and it also was part of the Netflix top ten for a while. Although she hasn’t finished watching the show, she explains that “so far it has had a very strong start and got me interested really fast.” I agree with Kendall’s opinion. From the opening scenes and on, the directors did a great job of creating a mysterious and creepy environment that hooked me right off the bat. The camera shots encompassed the signature Netflix style and also blended to match the genre of the show. Ratched also taps into societal issues in the 1960s, and it is disturbing how realistically some characters seem. On a separate note, I was also personally interested in this show because of the relation that it had to psychology and its development. I found it interesting to see how Netflix portrayed the concept of psychology in the 1960’s, given that at the time it wasn’t taken seriously as a field of science because of the lack of emphasis on mental health, contrary to what is seen today. 

I highly recommend this show to people who enjoy mystery and a bit of edge. However, Ratched does contain some disturbing content and imagery, explaining its TV-MA rating. Looking past its rating, though, the effort and artistic thought put into this show is apparent in every episode. Sarah Paulson does a very good job of embodying the character she plays, adding to the enjoyment and appreciation of the viewer. Netflix’s alternate take on One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is truly incredible and should be an inspiration to other film organizations. Although Netflix has a reputation for putting out some less-than-satisfactory content in the past, quarantine has definitely enabled them to step up their game, proven by shows like Ratched.