ABC’s ‘Combat Hospital’ set in Kandahar - Entertainment, TV, Television - Navy Times

ABC’s ‘Combat Hospital’ set in Kandahar

ABC is launching a new war-zone drama this summer that is intended to portray the chaotic conditions military doctors and nurses face while treating casualties in Afghanistan.

“Combat Hospital” is set in 2006 at the NATO Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit at Kandahar Airfield.

Highly trained trauma surgeon Maj. Rebecca Gordon (Michelle Borth of “Hawaii Five-O”) and brand-new doctor Capt. Bobby Trang (Terry Chen of “Sanctuary”) report for duty at Role 3, a temporary structure fashioned from plywood, canvas and duct tape that shakes every time a plane takes off.

The hospital’s commander, Col. Xavier Marks (Elias Koteas of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”), tells the newcomers to expect an experience unlike any they’ve had before. Gordon thinks she can handle anything, while Trang is acutely conscious of his inexperience.

Over the next 48 hours, they deal with rocket attacks, flying shrapnel and wave after wave of wounded Marines, Canadian soldiers, Afghan civilians and even a Taliban prisoner.

“Combat Hospital” isn’t the first time Hollywood has attempted to dramatize the current wars.

The FX network’s 2005 series “Over There” was criticized by veterans groups and military bloggers for inaccurately portraying small but important details concerning life in war-torn Iraq.

The big-screen drama “The Hurt Locker,” which depicted the dangerous work of an Army explosive ordnance disposal unit in Iraq, fared better, capturing the real-life tension in sun-baked Baghdad, as well as six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

“Combat Hospital” is filmed in Toronto and will consist of 13 one-hour episodes premiering June 21. Time will tell if the series can match the success of past military-hospital-themed series such as “MASH” and “China Beach.”