THE PLOT THUS FAR
Producer/writer John Wells joins the production staff and contributes to the legendary and award-winning episode “Vets,” which features interviews with Vietnam veterans. Soundtrack includes incredible hits including “Baby, I Need Your Loving” by the Four Tops, “My Girl” by the Temptations, “I Got You (I Feel Good)” by James Brown and more.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“China Beach” is a strong show, but still carries a hint of being slightly dated. Dana Delaney head-lined a strong cast that spent its four year run developing characters rather than fostering political statements about the Vietnam War. This was also the year that hints of PTSD started entering the fray, as McMurphy started to go back to the real world. This would set the stage for the last season, as she would try to find others that could understand her inability to adjust to civilian life.
The show’s second season hinges on the episode “Vets”. Mixing together tales from real-life veterans without fictional ones, it allows the meta-textual nature of the show to come to life. I barely remember this episode when it aired live, but it confused me as a 9 year old. Hell, it made me think that “China Beach” was a documentary. But, I guess that was a testament to the strength of the show. While playing with a few Vietnam fiction elements, the show kept pushing forward to show the role that non combative personnel played in a theater of war. It was like “MASH” sans all of Alan Alda’s bullshit.
The DVD comes with featurettes, interviews and commentaries. The A/V Quality is strong enough for a show shot in the 1980s. However, the fact that it shot on film rather than video helps the transfer to stand out. Plus, the Dolby Surround track helps to remind you that it’s still a wartime show. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to fans.
RELEASE DATE: 01/07/2014