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China Beach was one of those rare television series that brilliantly carried the viewer on a wave of emotions from start to finish. My husband is a Viet Nam war vet and because of this television program I understood him much better and why he did and said some of the things he did when he came home.

The series was unique in that it told about the war, not from the soldiers point of view, but from the nurses. Though there are male characters that are integral to the series, it is the relationship between the nurses, the "doughnut dollies", and the resident "I'll do anything for money" call girl that develops into one of mutual respect that is so brilliantly and subtly done.

There are scenes that are unforgettable in almost every show. In fact there are far too many to even try to recount them here... but if you want to see truly amazing television the premiere episode is well worth purchasing and watching... The only risk is that it will leave you wanting to see more and unfortunately this is the only episode that has been recorded and offered for sale... Be prepared to laugh, cry, be haunted by the horrors of war, and encouraged by the resiliency of people in the most adverse and perverse of situations--war.

Thanks to the WE television network, Americans have been able to fall in love with this well made and unique dramatic television series. The relationship that grows between the step sisters Tess and Claire after their father dies is realistic and wonderful to watch.

Then there's the addition of Becky the neighborhood "bad girl" who comes from a truly horrible home and is raped by her employer, a "respected" shop owner... She escapes to Dovers Run and works beside the sisters, Meg the house keeper, cook, and friend of Claire, and Meg's flighty spoiled daughter Jodi.

I actually found some parts of this series extremely difficult to watch because it portrays life on a ranch so realistically... cattle dieing from disease or poisoning. Sheep bought cheap because they are so skinny and bedraggled many die along the road when they are forced to walk back to the ranch after the livestock truck breaks down, and the most heart wrenching, their fathers horse is diagnosed with a cancer mass that is causing the animal a great deal of pain... Claire takes him back to where she found him standing beside her father who had died of a massive heart attack. You see her crying and pointing a rifle at the horses head, she says she is sorry, and... well you get the picture...

I had to watch Series 1 twice before I could get passed the realism and enjoy the interweaving of personalities both male and female.

Now that hasn't been hard to watch... There are some gorgeous men to look at on this show! Nor has it been hard to watch these 5 women become a team who do what they were told could not be done... successfully keep the ranch solvent and eventually profitable.

I hope you get to see this nearly perfect television series. It is not a waste of time... indeed it's quite the opposite. Now if they will just release the series on DVD in the US, I'll be in Auz heaven!