Netflix’s series Ratched, the prequel to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, has been cancelled after just one season, as confirmed by Sarah Paulson. The show had been commissioned for two seasons by Netflix in 2017 but the delay of the second season had led many to speculate that it may not materialise. The series, helmed by Ryan Murphy, explored the origin story of one of cinema’s most violent antagonists and received four Emmy nominations in 2020.
Set 16 years before the events of the 1975 film classic, Ratched delved into the story of Nurse Ratched shortly after the end of the Second World War. Louise Fletcher played the role of Nurse Ratched in the film, winning an Oscar for her performance; the film was the second ever to win in all five major categories. The original novel was written by Ken Kesey and published in 1962.
While the series had its moments, it failed to capture the spirit of the film, and the central character bore little resemblance to the character in the original. In NME’s two-star review of the first season, the reviewer wrote that “the series cannot hold a candle to its supposed inspiration, whose joys are all the more obvious by comparison.” However, the show did offer some affecting moments, including Judy Davis’ portrayal of Nurse Betty Bucket.
It seems fans of Ratched will be disappointed that the show will not be coming back for a second season, but those who treasure the original One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest can still revisit the classic film that inspired it
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