Ep 4. Southern Mercy

Southern Mercy is the fourth episode of the second season of the American Civil War drama, Mercy Street. The episode is set in Alexandria, Virginia during the year 1862. Alexandria was a crucial location during the Civil War, initially occupied by Union forces, rendering it an important strategic location.

The episode highlights the repercussions of war as they plague both the Union and Confederate sides. The episode focuses on the fall of the Confederate capital in Richmond and the rioting that occurred in the streets of Alexandria. In the face of this chaos, the Union army is stretched thin causing them to rely heavily on Quaker nurse Anne Hastings (Tara Summers) and volunteer nurses Emma Green (Hannah James) and Alice Green (AnnaSophia Robb).

The episode explores the complex relationships between the characters and their difficult choices during these trying times. Despite being on opposite sides of the war, two conflicted physicians collaborate at the Mansion House hospital, caring for those critically injured in the recent battles. Dr. Jedediah Foster (Josh Radnor), the Union surgeon, and Dr. Byron Hale (Norbert Leo Butz), the Confederate spy posing as a doctor, continue their uneasy partnership, while Dr. Foster’s interest in the Union’s cause continues to increase.

The episode revisits the intense conflicts between Alice Green and Army Captain Lance Van Der Berg (Bryce Pinkham). The tension between the two characters increases throughout the episode, as Alice is dealing with the death of her fiancé, and Captain Van Der Berg seeks out revenge, fuelled by his bitterness towards the Union. Meanwhile, Emma Green comes to grips with the reality that things will never be the same again, with the war changing her views and beliefs.

The episode also explores the issue of racism, as the Black community faces intense discrimination and is caught in the crossfire of the war. Samuel Diggs (McKinley Belcher III), a former slave and now a free man, is dealing with his own emotional turmoil, as he tries to find the courage to confront his former owner.

The aftermath of the fall of Richmond is prevalent throughout the episode, with rumors and confusion running rampant. Mercy Street shows the chaos and trauma that come with war, as both Union and Confederate forces struggle with the uncertainty of what comes next. The episode successfully captures the complex and crushing emotions that occurred during that period of history.

In conclusion, Southern Mercy is a gripping and moving episode that highlights the struggles, conflicts, and emotions that come with war. The episode expertly portrays the crushing trauma that both Union and Confederate forces experienced, as they navigated through a time of great uncertainty and change. Mercy Street continues to be an acclaimed drama that explores the intricate and complex issues of the Civil War.