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“Ratched” is a 2020 psychological thriller from Netflix that serves as a prequel to Ken Kensey’s 1962 novel, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” The series explores the origins of one of the most iconic characters from the book — the mad and calculating asylum nurse Mildred Ratched.
Read on to learn where you can revisit the twisted journey that turned Mildred into the sinister Nurse Ratched in Canada.
Table of Contents
What Is Ratched About?
“Ratched” chronicles the early life of Mildred Ratched, before she became the infamous nurse in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Set in the 1940s, the series follows Mildred as she works as a psychiatric nurse at the Lucia State Hospital in California. During her employment, Mildred got involved in the institution’s disturbing operations and experiments, which she used to push ethical boundaries and reign authority over staff and patients alike. This reveals the undeveloped mental health care field during the 20th century and exposes the power dynamics and abuses within the psychiatric system at the time.
The series also explores Mildred’s traumatic past. As a young person, she witnessed several acts of brutal violence and dealt with a narcissistic mother, giving a glimpse of her troubled past that molded her into the sociopathic healthcare professional she became.
“Ratched” came out on Netflix on September 18, 2020. The series has eight episodes with an average runtime of one hour.
Who Are in the Cast and Production of Ratched?
Screenwriter Evan Romansky created “Ratched,” while critically-acclaimed filmmaker Ryan Murphy developed and produced the show. Murphy is well-known for exploring bold and eccentric storylines on his TV shows. “American Horror Story,” “Glee,” “Scream Queens,” and “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” are among Murphy’s most notable works. Netflix is the main distributor of the series as well. In “Ratched,” Murphy also reunited with his longtime “American Horror Story” collaborators, Sarah Paulson and Finn Wittrock, who played the roles of the foster siblings Mildred Ratched and Edmund Tolleson, respectively. Here’s the main cast of “Ratched”:
- Sarah Paulson as Mildred Ratched
- Finn Wittrock as Edmund Tolleson
- Cynthia Nixon as Gwendolyn Briggs
- Jon Jon Briones as Dr. Richard Hanover/Dr. Manuel Bañaga
- Charlie Carver as Huck Finnigan
- Judy Davis as Nurse Betsy Bucket
- Sharon Stone as Lenore Osgood
What is the Rating for Ratched?
“Ratched” is rated TV-MA in Canada. The show contains moderate to severe depictions of profanities, violence, gore, nudity, and graphic sexual content.
How Many People Watch Ratched?
48 million global households tuned in to “Ratched” in its first 28 days on the streaming giant.
How Are the Reviews for Ratched?
Critics’ responses to “Ratched” were mixed. While others praised the characterization of Sarah Paulson for perfectly capturing the iconic villain’s diabolical nature, some found that the direction and plot of the show were too messy. The series received a score of 61% on Rotten Tomatoes, 50/100 on Metacritic, and 7.3/10 on IMDb. Here’s what critics are saying about “Ratched”:
- “Paulson nailed it in the characterisation. Shame about the plot,” says BBC.
- “Paulson’s conniving, manipulative, but occasionally tender-hearted character is fun to watch, especially playing against an absolutely wonderful Cynthia Nixon,” the Observer also said.
Where to Watch Ratched in Canada
You can watch “Ratched” on streaming services in Canada.
Is Ratched Available on Streaming?
Netflix
“Ratched” is exclusively streaming on Netflix. To watch the series on the platform, sign up for a Netflix account and choose any of the following subscription plans:
| Plan | Price | Number of simultaneous screens | Streaming quality |
| Basic with ads | CAD$5.99 | 1 device | HD |
| Standard | CAD$16.49 | 2 devices | HD |
| Premium | CAD$20.99 | 4 devices | Ultra HD |
Devices like smartphones, smart TVs, PCs, laptops, tablets, game consoles, and media players like Chromecast and Roku are all compatible with Netflix. You can also download your favorite Netflix content to your device if you want to stream it offline.
Netflix also houses some of the most popular shows like “Bridgerton,” “Wednesday,” “Stranger Things,” and “Mindhunter.”
Is Ratched Available for Rent (VOD)?
“Ratched” is unavailable on other video-on-demand services since it is exclusive to Netflix.
Is Ratched Available on Cable or Free TV?
“Ratched” did not air on any cable channels or free-to-air TVs in Canada.
Should I Use a VPN to Watch Ratched?
“Ratched” is readily available on Netflix Canada, so a VPN service would not be necessary.
A Prelude to Insanity
“Ratched” reminds viewers that monsters are made, not born. Mildred, particularly, is a victim of a harrowing upbringing and a product of her unfortunate circumstances. The series dissects her insanity, the enduring effects of trauma, and the darkness that took over her life. Throughout the series, the madness that engulfed her was peeled away, showing the viewers the pain and desperation she bears beneath her cold exterior.
You can watch all eight episodes of “Ratched” on Netflix Canada.
