What exactly was the purpose of having the episodes of Season Four all helter-skelter? I mean, some episodes are in 1966, a few are in 1985, some are in the 70s. What exactly was the purpose?
Cheers,
Rosefern
Life consists not in holding good cards, but in playing those you hold well.
I think it was to depict the effects of war on its survivors, even decades after the events. Personally, China Beach’s fourth season is my favorite of the four.
Of course, this is just my opinion. If you were to talk to the season’s creative staff, they might give you a totally different answer.
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For one, I think the writers had sort of run out of ideas to keep creating good stories set in Vietnam, chronologically, without retreading the same old material. They had experimented with time-shifting before in FNG, showing how McMurphy was when she first arrived in China Beach.
Second, by moving around in time, it freed them to create the best stories they could without being constrained by having to fit it into a specific time and place of the war. And as was said, they were able to explore how the war effected these people when they first got back home, and in the years long after.
The show was being cancelled and they had to tie up the show's loose ends as best they could.
Go Big Red
Adding to what others have said -
Remember the lyrics to Reflections?
Season 4 is a fragmented photo album of reflections, memories, distorted realities, yesterdays, dreams, etc.
Through the mirror of my mind
Time after time
I see reflections of you and me
Reflections of
The way life used to be
Reflections of
The love you took from me
Oh, I'm all alone now
No love to shield me
Trapped in a world
That's a distorted reality
Hapiness you took from me
And left me alone
With only memories
Through the mirror of my mind
Through these tears that I'm crying
Reflects a hurt I can't control
'Cause although you're gone
I keep holding on
To the happy times
Oh, when you were mine
As I peer through the window
Of lost time
Looking over my yesterdays
And all the love I gave all in vain
(All the love) All the love
That I've waisted
(All the tears) All the tears
That I've taisted
All in vain
Through the hollow of my tears
I see a dream that's lost
From the hurt
That you have caused
Everywhere I turn
Seems like everything I see
Reflects the love that used to be
In you I put
All my faith and trust
Right before my eyes
My world has turned to dust
After all the nights
I sat alone and wept
Just a handful of promisses
Are all that's left of loving you
Reflections of
The way life used to be
Reflections of
The love you took from me
In you I put
All my faith and trust
Right before my eyes
My world has turned to dust..
Looking at the lyrics now,I realize that reflections is the perfect theme for this show!On an unrelated note, does anyone know when season four is going to be released on dvd?
shareI saw on eBay and amazon yesterday that there are a few copies of season four for sale, ranging from $38 to $69. This season set has not even been formally announced, but apparently they are ready to go. I wonder if these have leaked somehow or were sold as Costco like the Season 1 & 2 set were. There seem to be fewer copies today on Amazon than yesterday. I bought one, so I'll report back. They looked like they were retail ready, with shrinkwrap and the same promotional sticker as the other season sets.
shareWho knows what the writers were thinking. McMurphy being such a ***** in season four ruined so much of it. I wish she didn't become an alcoholic and had dealt with her PTSD in the 70's instead of waiting till the 80's. All of that season is so mixed up that it's hard to follow.
shareTo show how war impacted the character in a variety of ways, at different points in thier lives.
"Forget reality, give me a picture"-Remington Steele