7.7/1034 votes#1 - History: Part I: The Big Bang
Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 9/29/1990
In 1985, a reunion between Boonie and Dr. Richard stirs up memories of their first meeting in Vietnam in 1966. It also brings up questions for Boonie's 18-year-old adopted daughter, Karen.
Director: John Sacret Young
Writer: John Wells
7.6/1032 votes#2 - History Part II-She Sells More Than Sea Shells
Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 10/6/1990
Still in 1985, Karen learns how her natural mother, KC, coped with her pregnancy by turning to Boonie for help.
Director: Mimi Leder
Writer: Carol Flint
8.0/1036 votes#3 - You, Babe
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 10/13/1990
In Saigon in 1967, KC gives birth with McMurphy's help and gives the baby over to a foster mother.
Director: Mimi Leder
Writer: N/A
7.5/1031 votes#4 - Escape
Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 10/27/1990
While attending his father's funeral in 1985, Beckett reflects on his childhood and his tour of duty in Vietnam with the Graves Registration Unit.
Director: John Sacret Young, John Wells
Writer: N/A
7.9/1030 votes#5 - Fever
Season 4 Episode 5 - Aired 11/3/1990
In 1970, McMurphy returns home to Lawrence, Kansas to make peace with her mother and try to settle down into civilian life, but finds both goals beyond her grasp.
Director: Diane Keaton
Writer: Lydia Woodward
8.0/1033 votes#6 - Juice
Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 11/10/1990
In 1972, Dr. Richard and his nurse take a romantic trip to Florida, where they run across a hard-livng McMurphy working at an orange-juice factory.
Director: John Sacret Young
Writer: John Sacret Young
8.2/1032 votes#7 - One Giant Leap
Season 4 Episode 7 - Aired 11/17/1990
In 1969, China Beach watches from afar as the first men land on the moon. McMurphy simmers jealously as Dr. Richard falls for a new nurse. Beckett entertains a group of USO singers in his G.R.U. hut. A disturbed Boonie meets with a tragic accident.
Director: John Sacret Young, Michael Katleman, John Wells
Writer: Josef Anderson
8.3/1028 votes#8 - One Small Step
Season 4 Episode 8 - Aired 12/1/1990
Suddenly back home and missing one leg, Boonie begins a slow and painful re-entry into civilian life with the comfort of a loving nurse.
Director: Steve Dubin
Writer: John Wells
7.4/1029 votes#9 - The Call
Season 4 Episode 9 - Aired 12/8/1990
Frankie returns to Chicago in 1969 to try her hand at being a standup comic but runs into the tragically funny trial of the infamous Chicago Seven. Back in Vietnam, McMurphy tries to help Dodger convince some Montagnard tribes people to evacuate their homes.
Director: Robert Ginty
Writer: N/A
8.1/1035 votes#10 - I Could Have Danced All Night ... But Didn't
Season 4 Episode 10 - Aired 6/4/1991
McMurphy meets a sympathetic drummer at a 1983 wedding and recalls the 1969 wedding of Lila and Sarge Pepper, as well as the end of her relationship with Dr. Richard.
Director: Michael Fresco
Writer: N/A
8.6/1044 votes#11 - 100 Klicks Out
Season 4 Episode 11 - Aired 6/11/1991
The imminent fall of Saigon reunites KC with her daughter as she struggles to get the little girl out of Vietnam and safely to America and a waiting Boonie. In the 1980s, a cynical McMurphy tries to prevent further child abuse in New Mexico.
Director: Mimi Leder
Writer: N/A
7.7/1032 votes#12 - The Always Goodbye
Season 4 Episode 12 - Aired 6/18/1991
The arrival in Bangkok in 1969 of a hard-drinking McMurphy and a young private disrupts KC's carefully developed new life and brings back unwanted memories.
Director: Gary Sinise
Writer: Lydia Woodward
7.9/1038 votes#13 - Quest
Season 4 Episode 13 - Aired 6/25/1991
In 1976, McMurphy helps KC re-enter the country and find her daughter before heading out to Montana to visit Dodger, who's coping with a disabled father and raising his son Archie alone.
Director: John Sacret Young
Writer: John Sacret Young
8.0/1038 votes#14 - Rewind
Season 4 Episode 14 - Aired 7/9/1991
In 1985, Karen begins a videotape project interviewing China Beach veterans about their experiences in Vietnam and their memories of her natural mother.
Director: Mimi Leder
Writer: Carol Flint, John Wells
7.9/1032 votes#15 - Through and Through
Season 4 Episode 15 - Aired 7/16/1991
In 1985, an increasingly angry Colleen torments herself and her husband until she discovers she's suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome and seeks help to deal with the memories of her final weeks in Vietnam.
Director: Mimi Leder
Writer: Carol Flint
8.6/1056 votes#16 - Hello, Goodbye (1)
Season 4 Episode 16 - Aired 7/22/1991
McMurphy agrees to attend a China Beach reunion planned by Boonie and recalls her last day in Vietnam, and travels to Washington DC with the others to visit the Vietnam Memorial. Karen comes to terms with the ghost of her absent mother, KC.
Director: John Sacret Young
Writer: John Wells
NaN/100 votes#17 - Hello, Goodbye (2)
Season 4 Episode 17 - Aired 7/22/1991
McMurphy agrees to attend a China Beach reunion planned by Boonie and recalls her last day in Vietnam, and travels to Washington DC with the others to visit the Vietnam Memorial. Karen comes to terms with the ghost of her absent mother, KC.
Director: John Sacret Young
Writer: John Wells
The Best Episodes of China Beach Season 4
Every episode of China Beach Season 4 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of China Beach Season 4!
Dateline: November 1967. Within klicks of Danang, Vietnam, sits a U.S. Army base, bar and hospital on China Beach filled with wounded soldiers and one...
Genres:DramaWar & Politics
Network:ABC
Season 4 Ratings Summary
"History: Part I: The Big Bang" is the best rated episode of "China Beach" season 4. It scored 7.7/10 based on 34 votes. Directed by John Sacret Young and written by John Wells, it aired on 9/29/1990. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "History Part II-She Sells More Than Sea Shells".