Mercy Street (TV series)

Mercy Street is an American period medical drama television series created by Lisa Q. Wolfinger and David Zabel. It premiered on PBS on January 17, 2016, and concluded on February 19, 2017, after two seasons.

The series is set in Alexandria, Virginia, during the American Civil War. It depicts the lives of two volunteer nurses, one Union and one Confederate, who work at Mansion House Hospital, a luxury hotel transformed into a Union Army hospital. Mercy Street explores themes of medicine, politics, race, and romance amidst the backdrop of the war.

The first season primarily focuses on the early days of the hospital and the burgeoning relationships between the staff, patients, and the townspeople of Alexandria. Characters grapple with the realities of wartime medical practices, the complexities of slavery and abolition, and the personal sacrifices demanded by the conflict.

The second season continues to explore the evolving roles of the characters as the war progresses. New medical techniques and challenges are introduced, and the political tensions within the hospital and the wider community intensify. The season also delves further into the experiences of African Americans, both enslaved and free, living in Alexandria during this tumultuous period.

The ensemble cast included Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Josh Radnor, Hannah James, Gary Cole, Peter Gerety, Norbert Leo Butz, McKinley Belcher III, and Shalita Grant.

Mercy Street was notable for its historical accuracy, drawing on primary source materials and consulting with historians and medical professionals to recreate the conditions and experiences of the Civil War era. While the series received generally positive reviews for its production values, acting, and historical detail, it was cancelled after two seasons.