Combat Hospital

This week was the 4rth episode in the new series Combat Hospital and I was just as pleased with the show. Of course these days after CSI and reality shows, now the surgery scenes are far more graphic then back in the day. I've never liked graphic scenes and rarely look at them. But it doesn't take away from it being an interesting TV show.  It's not doing very well in the US, but Canadians love it.  One critic said that it's too real, you might as well watch the news. Another critic said it's no M*A*S*H because there's no witty anti war repartee, but honestly M*A*S*H became more critical of the war and more political as seasons progressed. It's also easier to criticize a war decades later, whereas NATO currently has a combat hospital in Afghanistan as we speak.  I'm finding some critics have already made up their mind what this show is and isn't and they've probably only seen one episode, maybe two.

I've also got my M*A*S*H DVD collection out and I'm on the 4rth season first DVD.  It's had been a while since I'd watched it, so it's like coming home to old friends.  I do love that show.

On an unrelated note, I hear my mom-in-law is planning a day trip on Sunday to Damascus, from Beirut. I'm shaking my head, it's dangerous in Syria at the moment. It was dangerous in Syria before the Arab spring but now?  Last I read, they killed 10 protesters in Damascus today.  They estimate so far 1400 people have been killed by security forces and 12 000 are missing most likely in jail in Syria.

I'm thinking there's probably safer places she could go shopping on Sunday then Damascus. I wonder with all the protests and security forces dispersing protesters with live rounds, how many stores will be opened? Despite my hubby's attempts at changing her mind, she's still planning on going to Damascus Sunday.

The 2nd episode reminds me of MASH

I really enjoyed the 2nd episode of Combat Hospital. This episode really reminds me of   M*A*S*H, perhaps a combination of 2 or 3 episodes.  I think I'm going to be taking out my MASH DVD's. I'm due for a MASHathon.

It also reminded me a little bit of Army Wives.  They really do like to stereotype surgeons though don't they? No matter which show you watch where there are a couple of surgeons as characters, there's always one who's a playboy and womanizer.  I wonder if this is just a Hollywood perception or if they really are as stereotyped.

Here's a link to a CBC video about the real Combat hospital in Kandahar.

New Canadian TV show

I had seen an ad or two online for Combat Hospital a little while ago and didn't think much of it. When I looked at some of the previews a couple of nights ago, I started to wonder. I've been a huge fan of M*A*S*H and of China Beach.  The first showing surgeons from the Korean war, the second showcases the nurses of Vietnam.

This one seems to be based on an ISAF ally hospital in Kandahar, and the life of doctors and nurses  who are from Canada, the USA, the UK and Australia.  Of course I was curious to see if it was more like Mash or like China Beach. Obviously it's going to be it's own show, but I think it's going to be more like China Beach :)

I enjoyed the first episode. I like the character of the female Canadian surgeon. She's got chutzpah! We'll see how the show develops. But so far I like it.