Ratched is an American psychological thriller streaming television series created by Evan Romansky, developed by Ryan Murphy and starring Sarah Paulson in the title role of Nurse Mildred Ratched). It is a prequel to Miloš Formans 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, based on Ken Keseys 1962 novel of the same title, and depicts the life of Mildred Ratched prior to the events portrayed in the film, albeit in a different state (California as opposed to Oregon)). The series tells the origin story of asylum nurse Mildred Ratched, who arrives in Northern California in 1947 to seek employment at Lucia State Hospital as it prepares to admit a new psychiatric patient, notorious killer Edmund Tolleson. The show aims to answer the question of how Nurse Ratched became so evil. The character of Nurse Ratched was originally created by Ken Kesey in his novel One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, and was later portrayed by Louise Fletcher in the film adaptation. The show has received mixed reviews, with some praising its visual style and others criticizing its nonsensical plot.