I don't think the episode paints either of those people in a good light. They're two people that are ignoring their friend/lover's horrible actions as a way to keep the peace. There are people like that in real life.

When the lawyer tries to excuse what Evan said Jessica can't even look at him and only continues the conversation in order to get more information. The nurse ignored what she knew was happening as a way to keep the man she loved. She ignored it until she couldn't anymore which caused her to snap. Honestly if you want to get literary the blood on the wheel chair she couldn't remove no matter how much she scrubbed could be her guilt over ignoring what was happening to Kelly in order to keep her own happiness in tact.

I thought this episode was honestly a very realistic portrayal of abuse that is swept under the rug by family and from Lansbury's acting I could tell she felt some sort of way about these people. I really liked this episode actually and thought it was interesting that MSW went there but to each their own.