Land At China Beach

Article first published as DVD Review: China Beach: The Complete Series on Blogcritics.

There are some shows that fans wait years and years for, desperately hoping they will eventually be released on DVD so their favorite episodes can be relived, but are consistently disappointed. One such beloved, critically-acclaimed series is China Beach, the four-season Vietnam War drama that broke new ground by approaching the conflict from a perspective other than male-domination, and is one of the most-requested shows. Finally, China Beach arrives, the complete series being released by Time Life.

China Beach is set at an Evacuation Hospital in Vietnam, and follows the adventures of the women serving our armed forces, as well as those on the civilian side of things. This isn't a softer tact, per se, but it does give us something other than what we are used to seeing from a war drama, meaning feelings are allowed to be explored, as well as the mental and emotional scarring that can occur from such locals and experiences, often ignored when the focus is on violence and bloodshed.

Portraying women is not the only way that China Beach sets itself apart. It really gets into the characters' heads, even following them home from time to time. Animated sequences allow the viewers to better understand the people and what they are thinking, and real interviews with real veterans keep the show grounded in gritty reality, even as it tells a compelling fictional story. China Beach is a bit like an intentionally less-funny version of M*A*S*H, with a comparable originality and risk-taking approach, but containing more depth.

The heroine of the piece is First Lieutenant Colleen McMurphy (Dana Delany, Body of Proof), who not only stands strong, but also faces her own limitations and emotional wounds. She's a very striking woman, hailing from Kansas, who puts others first. Delany brilliantly and boldly tackles the role with gusto and talent, winning two well-deserved Emmys during the series' run.

Among the familiar faces co-starring are: Michael Boatman (Spin City) as Samuel Beckett, an unpopular Graves Registration man; Marg Helgenberger (CSI) as K.C., the fortune-hungry prostitute; Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager) as Dr. Dick Richard, surgeon, womanizer, and occasional purveyor of wisdom; Concetta Tomei (Providence) as Major Lila Garreau, the commanding officer; Jeff Kober (Sons of Anarchy) as Dodger, the quiet warrior of the jungle; Brian Wimmer (Flipper) as Boonie the lifeguard; and Troy Evans (ER) as Bob Pepper, motor pool manager, among others.

Many of these names will sound familiar, and if not, then their faces will likely be recognizable. These are performers who are mostly at the beginning of their careers in China Beach but have continued to thrive in the industry. What this means is that the show is stocked with a solid cast that is excellent at making you care for their complex characters and root for their survival.

Not everyone stays around for the duration of the show, despite its short run, and cast members enter and exit with some frequency, in both guest parts and recurring capacities. However, that only adds to the realism of the series, as in a war-time environment, this is a part of life.

All sixty-two episodes are included on this twenty-one disc set. Relive the helicopter crash, suicide bomber, romance, drug abuse, prom night, leopard cub, race relations, kidnapping, parasite, betrayal, reporters, rogue Santa, a mixed-race baby, pirate radio, deaths, stand-up comedy, PTSD, a trip to the Vietnam Wall, and so much more. For those who already love the show, it's a pleasurable stroll down memory lane, and a chance to possibly fill in some gaps, since it aired in the days before DVR. For new fans, such as myself, it's a wonderful complete saga primed to dive into and fall in love with.

One of the hallmarks of China Beach is its fantastic music, pivotal to the way the stories are told. It is because of the problems in securing home video release rights of all of these songs that China Beach has proven so difficult to get released on DVD before now. However, the press materials report 268 songs have been cleared, an average of more than 4 per episode, so the soundtrack will be mostly intact in this release.

Not only that, but Time Life has given us a wealth of extras to complement the run, around ten hours in all. There are featurettes, interviews, deleted scenes, commentaries for the premiere and finale, and a gag reel, all spread across the four seasons, each packaged separately within the larger set. There are also two discs dedicated solely to bonus features, with a focus on last December's 25th Anniversary reunion of the cast.

It's great to see what the performers thought of the show, and their experiences filming it, all of these years later. Most of the principal players participate, including those who currently have busy careers. There should be plenty here to satisfy any fan.

The packaging itself is pretty cool, too. While the DVD cases are basic, they are housed in a beautiful wrap-around box, with magnetic closure. There's a thirty-six page booklet with notes and images from the show, and you even get a pair of China Beach dog tags. Not shabby at all!

A Limited Edition version is available with signed scripts and cast photos. This is not the edition I got, so I cannot speak to the value of the extra materials, but they look cool in the picture posted online!

If there's one complaint I have it's that there doesn't seem to be much effort put into restoring picture or audio quality. China Beach hails from before the days of high definition, but it isn't that old, and other aged series have been restored before release. This one has not been, or not much anyway, and the presentation is not nearly as good as it should be, though it's not the worst I've ever seen, either.

Overall, despite the visual problems, I find it easy to recommend this set. There's a lot here, both in terms of story-telling and performance, as well as bonus features. It's a compelling, dramatic series that will make you cry and think. I wish it had run longer, but I'm grateful there are as many installments as there are.

China Beach: The Complete Series is available now, exclusively online.

Harry's Law finds the "Gorilla My Dreams"

     NBC's Harry's Law goes into some deep, moral issues with "Gorilla My Dreams." While duck hunting, Harry (Kathy Bates) and Tommy (Christopher McDonald) meet a young woman (Emily Rose, Haven, Brothers & Sisters) who is harboring an escaped gorilla. The zoo wants the animal back, but with an IQ near 90, and demonstrable self-awareness, communication skills, and emotion, the woman argues he belongs somewhere more kind. In the meantime, Adam (Nathan Corddry) defends a high school crush (Smallville's Erica Durance) who, after being abused and raped by her own husband, dresses up as Wonder Woman and beats on abusive spouses.

     First, the gorilla (pun intended) in the room in "Gorilla My Dreams." The gorilla is an obvious puppet, which does distract and take away from the story. Couldn't the series have hired a trained animal instead? Sure, the gorilla is required to do a fair amount of acting that might make it hard for a simple animal, but it would look far better. Also, no need to say the long name of that made up Cincinnati zoo so many times. The message is clear: Harry's Law doesn't want to be sued by the real Cincinnati Zoo.

     That aside, it's a fascinating story! Apparently, some European countries have already granted the great apes personhood in the eyes of the law. And why not? If they can think, reason, and communicate, doesn't that qualify them to deserve treatment above that of livestock? Yes, the law sees them as property, but perhaps they shouldn't be. Admittedly, that would make it hard for zoos and medical researchers to continue to use them in the manner they do. But that could be a good thing, too. If mankind is causing suffering of creatures how can feel it, be upset about it, and process what is happening, it doesn't seem right. One look into those big, black, mournful eyes, and there is no doubt in the viewer's mind that this monkey deserves to have his feelings taken into consideration.

     However, unlike David E. Kelley's previous legal dramedy, Boston Legal, a fantastic show, by the way, Harry's Law gets a little more realistic with these far-out cases. Harry loses, despite her best efforts, and the ape is returned to the zoo. This makes total sense from the standpoint of the judge, as there is no precedent in the American courtroom, and a TV series isn't likely to change that in the real world. Harry's Law would rather point out the flaws in the system and make fans grieve over the injustice then deliver a feel-good ending. This deserves kudos, because it is socially responsible. The message may resonate with someone who can change things, which would be a wonderful legacy to leave behind. And if it does, Harry, who vows to keep fighting for this particular ape, can revisit the case down the line and reach that happy ending yet.

     The second case in "Gorilla My Dreams" will resonate even more strongly. The justice system is feeling abused spouses, who have a hard time standing up to their tormentors, and an even harder time getting charges to stick. With little recourse, it's inspiring that a vigilante would rise up to offer protection. The reasonable arguments about why this cannot be allowed do ring true. However, that doesn't change the fact that something within the system is broken and needs fixing. As such, again, Harry's Law makes an issue out of something that isn't right in the world, hoping to shed a little light on it so that people may stand up and protest.

     Now, one may argue that Harry's Law is "just" a television show, and its sole purpose is to entertain, not spark societal change. But reviewing the body of Kelley's work, it seems obvious that there are other motivations as well. Plus, with the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street movements, now may be the perfect time to embark on such a mission. Current events have left the world hungry for positive action and a shift towards fairness. What better time to deliver a legal series to the airwaves that understands these feelings, and seeks to address them? Harry's Law might be a legal procedural, but it's a hell of a good one, and hopefully what is going on in the world at large will feed the show's success, and vice versa.

     Also, there were some escaped exotic animals on Ohio recently, so good pull from the headlines!

    From a purely television standpoint, it must also be mentioned that "Gorilla My Dreams" is packed to the gills with fantastic guest stars. Besides Durance and Rose, Tony Plana (Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives) plays the judge deciding the vigilante case, Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager) is an expert that testifies for the firm, and Bill Smitrovich (Kelley's The Practice) is Harry's courtroom opponent. Plus, Matt Servitto returns as Judge Kirkland for Harry's case, and he is always welcome. The fact that this show attracted so much talent for just one episode, and not even an event or sweeps episode, should overtly hint that something wonderful is happening here.

    Watch Harry's Law Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

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