Well Deserved Praise

Overrated and overhyped

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

I love this show. Why am I unable to purchase it on DVD?? I can get so many old and bad shows on DVD; why can't I get this one really terrific one? I saw an ad for a show,(UN-named) that was only on for one season;I could purchase it but not China Beach. Why am I able to purchase a really bad show but not a good one like this?? I am confused, why? Please talk to the "powers that be" to make this available to the faithful, like me. I don't want Gillgans Island, F-troop,Sanford & Son,CIS:Miami, 24, etc. I just want China Beach. I already have all seasons of Tour of Duty, and love them. I also have 7 of 8 episodes of Charmed,so you can see I'm not a casual collector. I just want what I love. China Beach was my first love for a TV show, it was and is the one that I want/need all of the episodes.Please let the producers, suppliers, etc. know that there is a market for China Beach! Thank you

I have been reliving "China Beach" the past year or so on cable TV, and I must say, the experience has been just as moving the second time around. I cannot speak of "China Beach" without using superlatives: 1) My all-time favorite TV show; 2) Easily the most underrated TV show ever; 3) The all-time best performance by an actress in TV history (Dana Delaney as Colleen); 4) The most nuanced, complex, intimate and believable development of a TV character in history (again, Dana as Colleen); 5) The three most loaded, gut-wrenching, revealing, and well-acted words ever uttered by a TV character {"Don't 'Colleen' me!" by you-know-who). Of course, there were many other great performances on the show, and the subject matter has never been so intimately portrayed. However, Dana's performance will haunt my soul forever.

Dana Delaney's "McMurphy" (the principal character) is complex, captivating, beautiful and sexy. The entire cast is outstanding, right down to the extras. The scripts and story lines are gripping and move the viewer from one emotion to another, moment to moment. Issues great and small are addressed in each episode and characters are well-developed and allowed to grow and change throughout the series. One particularly outstanding and unique episode is built around interviews with nurses who actually served in Viet Nam, including the nurse who was the model for the McMurphy character. These interviews are coupled with scenes from the series that illustrate the interviews. It is one of my fondest hopes that the entire series will finally be released on DVD.

I just wanted to express my sincere thanks to everyone associated with this series. I have seen it before, and watching it again on The History Channel reminds me how important it was. I am a 36 year old American Male. Without this show I never would have had the desire to learn about Vietnam. The show inspired me to take on a bit of effort and learn some things for myself. It is sad that a television show had to inspire me to learn about my country's history. That my own country didn't care enough to teach me. I am so thankful for that knowledge. That knowledge has allowed me to speak to my uncles, bosses and others about the war and to be able to relate in general. I learned a lot. The most important things I learned: living an honest life; being true to one self; never taking life for granted; never, ever holding a grudge, and most of all compassion. Simple things. Little things. But oh so important. These things are no longer generally taught and are seldom seen.I have introduced the show to my 15 year old nephew and hope he too will see some of things in the show I did. I hope he is inspired.Thanks again!