Ep 4. The Belle Alliance

During the Civil War, in Mercy Street season 1 episode 4 titled "The Belle Alliance," the Union's capture of New Orleans creates an air of frustration and unrest. Union soldiers, nurses, and doctors work hard to maintain the Confederate-occupied mansion-turned-hospital in Alexandria, Virginia, where tensions between the North and South run high. When Dr. Foster's old flame arrives at Mansion House Hospital as a nurse, and Confederates arrive to take back their own ex-patients, the volatile situation could spark an irreversible blow-out.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of their mother's death, the Green siblings come together to mourn and resolve the legal issues of her inheritance. The challenges they face push them to understand each other better, ultimately bringing them closer together. Along with unexpected developments in the hospital, life-altering decisions at Mansion House Hospital reveal how fundamentally war can change a community.

Mary and Dr. Foster, in particular, have a complex relationship that takes shape throughout the episode. When Mary's former sweetheart Sutton arrives to take a head nurse position, Mary starts to question how much she is tied to Dr. Foster. Underneath the surface, Dr. Foster is harboring complicated feelings and guilt over his relationship with Mary, particularly his choice to abandon her when it mattered most. Despite his own dwindling health, Dr. Foster's reluctance to acknowledge his emotions make for tense moments.

Meanwhile, Emma, the young Green daughter, is forced to make a challenging decision amidst the family's disputes. She must decide whether or not to marry a suitor her father's business partner has selected so that the family can maintain the wealth they have, or choose someone she truly cares about. The potential fallout from her decision could have dire consequences for the Green family, and Emma's choices demonstrate how the compromises people make during war can affect the entire family unit.

"The Belle Alliance" is an episode full of tension and surprises, with jaw-dropping moments that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The fate of Mansion House Hospital, the Green family, and the central characters' relationships continue to be in the balance as the realities of war continue to impact them all.