Ep 1. The New Nurse

In the first episode of Mercy Street, titled "The New Nurse," viewers are transported to the year 1862, in Alexandria, Virginia, at the height of the Civil War. The Union army has taken control of the town, and a makeshift hospital has been set up in the abandoned Mansion House Hotel.

The episode begins with the arrival of a new nurse, Mary Phinney, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Mary is a privileged woman from a wealthy family who has recently lost her fiancé in battle. She is determined to make a difference and use her nursing skills to help those in need. However, her arrival does not sit well with the other nurses, who are mostly nuns and resent her lack of experience and her privileged background.

The head nurse, Nurse Hastings (played by Norbert Leo Butz) assigns Mary to work alongside Samuel Diggs (played by McKinley Belcher III), a former slave working as a hospital attendant. Samuel is initially wary of Mary and her motives, but they soon begin to work together effectively, despite their differences.

Meanwhile, the hospital is filled with wounded soldiers, and the medical staff is overwhelmed. The hospital's chief surgeon, Dr. Jedediah Foster (played by Josh Radnor), is revealed to be a former Union army captain who has abandoned his post to work as a surgeon. His presence is resented by the Confederate soldiers being treated in the hospital, who see him as a traitor to their cause.

One of the patients in the hospital is a young Confederate soldier, Tom Fairfax (played by Bryce Pinkham), who is being treated for a head wound. He is visited by his younger sister, Alice (played by AnnaSophia Robb), who is determined to take him home to Richmond. However, Dr. Foster tells her he is not well enough to be moved, a decision that angers Alice and causes tension between her and the hospital staff.

As the episode progresses, Mary begins to adapt to her new surroundings and earns the respect of her fellow nurses. She is tasked with caring for a young soldier, who has lost both his legs and is in severe pain. She is forced to make an ethical decision about whether to give him more morphine, which could alleviate his suffering but could also lead to addiction.

Overall, the first episode of Mercy Street sets up the series' premise and introduces viewers to the key characters. It highlights the harsh realities of war and the toll it takes on both the soldiers and those left behind. The show does not shy away from difficult ethical questions and portrays the complexities of the medical care provided during the Civil War. With its historical accuracy, strong performances, and compelling storyline, Mercy Street is a must-watch for anyone interested in Civil War-era dramas.