Ratched: Explaining how Mildred’s endgame changed during the season

Looking at how Mildred’s endgame had to adapt on Ratched season 1

When Mildred Ratched joined Lucia State Hospital, she had one endgame in mind. That changed considerably throughout Ratched season 1.

It can be difficult to follow someone’s endgame at first. After all, there are many questions over whether Mildred’s eventual ending to season 1 was where she wanted to be at the start of the season. And we’ve not even got to where the character is during One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

So, it’s important to breakdown the original endgame and how it needed to change.

It was all about getting Edmund free

Mildred’s journey started with her initially joining Lucia State Hospital. She forged a letter and arranged everything to make sure she could work at the institute first. Then she needed to make sure Dr. Hanover declared her brother, Edmund, unfit for trial.

It turned out her plan wasn’t all that easy to enact. Lucia State Hospital wasn’t receiving the funding it needed and Hanover had a dark past that complicated matters. Mildred needed to help him deal with his situation. With that and certain dead bodies all adding up, she was then able to go after the one thing she’d come to Lucia to do.

She wanted to get Edmund free. It all started with him being declared unfit for trial. This would allow him to remain in the hospital and not face the death penalty, which would give her a chance to get him free.

There was a chance for that at the dance. She could make him look insane, making it impossible for Hanover to even consider declaring him fit to stand trial.

Complications from Edmund’s decisions

Edmund didn’t make it easy for her. He pretended to go along with Mildred’s plan, only to end up following his own plan with Dolly. Edmund killed the guard and then ran off with Dolly, who had shot Gwendoline in the chest.

Mildred could only remain with Gwendonline as Edmund and Dolly took off. They didn’t get far, and Edmund ended up back in chains.

The only thing Mildred could do was bribe Hanover into declaring him unfit for trial. Of course, the governor was having none of that.

He decided to pull funding, which meant Hanover had no choice but to declare Edmund fit for trial. Everyone knew he was going to get the death penalty.

Mildred’s endgame had to change

Knowing that her brother was going to stand trial and get the death penalty, Mildred just hoped that Edmund’s end would be as humane as possible. That wasn’t the case when the governor brought the electric chair back.

Mildred had a new endgame: make sure Edmund’s death would be as humane as possible.

There was an excellent plan, but everything was thrown out when Charlotte returned with a new personality: Dr. Hanover.

As Hanover, she wanted to get Edmund out to treat him. Nurse Bucket talked quickly and Edmund knew that Mildred was going to kill him. It led to the final endgame for Mildred on Ratched season 1.

It’s now all about survival. However, she knows Edmund will stop at nothing to kill her. He’s on his way to Mexico, and Mildred needs to keep herself and those she loves safe.

What did you think of the evolution of Mildred’s endgame on Ratched season 1? Share in the comments below.

Ratched season 1 is available to stream on Netflix.