The BEST episodes of China Beach season 1

Every episode of China Beach season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of China Beach season 1!

The trials of a weary nurse, her friends and colleagues in a Vietnam War field hospital.

Last Updated: 11/23/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
star
7.84
25 votes

#1 - Waiting for Beckett

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/18/1988

Cherry is taken in by a deserter who claims to know her brother, and who is pursued by a determined office from the CID. Laurette and Boonie try to help a stressed out Beckett get some sleep.

Directors: Kevin Hooks
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.84
43 votes

#2 - China Beach (2)

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/26/1988

McMurphy decides that she can't leave China Beach even though she is eligible to go home. Cherry and Laurette arrive- Cherry to look for her brother whom her family lost contact with and Laurette as a USO back up singer who gets promoted to lead when the lead singer can't cope with the war.

Directors: Rod Holcomb
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.76
34 votes

#3 - Home

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/27/1988

Laurette auditions local entertainers to fill in the act and McMurphy struggles to overcome her feelings when a Viet Cong woman who was responsible for blowing up a friend is brought into the hospital for treatment.

Directors: Rod Holcomb
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.59
22 votes

#4 - Brothers

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/1/1988

Laurette faces an important audition with laryngitis. Beckett battles the pressure of racial prejudice and financial coercion when he discovers someone has been using the body bags in his GRU. Dr. Richard returns from R&R in Hawaii disillusioned by the perceived changes in his wife. Dodger finally finds Rick, Cherry's long-lost brother.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.51
35 votes

#5 - Hot Spell

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/4/1988

KC agrees to ask about Cherry's brother as she sets up a deal to buy an antique vase. Laurette prepares to perform for visiting brass. Lila, KC, Laurette, McMurphy and Cherry share confidences as they wait out a mortar attack together.

Directors: Beth Hillshafer
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.50
18 votes

#6 - Chao Ong

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/8/1988

Despite distractions, McMurphy and Natch finally get together. Laurette gets a chance to join another, bigger USO tour. McMurphy gets blamed for a body that disappears on her shift.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.48
69 votes

#7 - China Beach (1)

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/26/1988

It's November 1967 and nurse Colleen McMurphy faces the last week of her tour of duty in Vietnam, dealing as usual with the dying boys, primitive conditions, and the sexual pressure from pilot Natch Austin. USO singers Georgia Lee and Laurette Barber arrive to entertain the troops in the base's new R&R center. Brand new Red Cross volunteer Cherry White also arrives, determined to find her brother, a marine no one can locate.

Directors: Rod Holcomb
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.25
32 votes

#8 - Somewhere Over the Radio

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/11/1988

Lila, Cherry and Laurette find themselves pinned down with a combat squad whose leader is not dealing with reality. Back at China Beach, KC and a frightened Boonie prepare to mount a rescue mission. Dr. Richard is injured just before he's scheduled to leave for R&R in Hawaii with Beth Ann.

Directors: Rod Holcomb
Writer: Ann Donahue
Watch Now:Amazon