"The Shadow of Death" is an episode of "Quincy" about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)--particularly as it effects Vietnam veterans. While it's an important topic and well worth exploring on the show, as usual there is too much preaching AT the audience instead of just telling the story.
The story begins with a woman who obviously has a VERY serious drinking problem. What isn't as apparent is that her drinking is the result or at least exacerbated by her having PTSD. She was a nurse in Vietnam and saw a lot of death--and deals with it by drinking herself into oblivion. Soon, she is found dead. Quincy's autopsy shows the woman was also raped--though the autopsy and subsequent investigation are a small part of the show. The huge majority involves this dead woman's friend--a problem drinker who is also suffering from PTSD. But this friend is in denial and Quincy decides to make it his cause of the week to help her come to grips with this.
The idea of talking about PTSD is reasonable--especially since few think of WOMEN serving in the war also suffering. This is great. However, what isn't great is all the preaching--and one too many speech that seems directed directly at the audience. Not exactly entertaining and far from subtle.
By the way, although a huge to do was made about PTSD following the Vietnam War, this has ALWAYS been a problem--in wars before and wars after. This is not at all mentioned in the show--and it seems based on "Quincy" that is was ONLY specific to Vietnam (which it wasn't).
The story begins with a woman who obviously has a VERY serious drinking problem. What isn't as apparent is that her drinking is the result or at least exacerbated by her having PTSD. She was a nurse in Vietnam and saw a lot of death--and deals with it by drinking herself into oblivion. Soon, she is found dead. Quincy's autopsy shows the woman was also raped--though the autopsy and subsequent investigation are a small part of the show. The huge majority involves this dead woman's friend--a problem drinker who is also suffering from PTSD. But this friend is in denial and Quincy decides to make it his cause of the week to help her come to grips with this.
The idea of talking about PTSD is reasonable--especially since few think of WOMEN serving in the war also suffering. This is great. However, what isn't great is all the preaching--and one too many speech that seems directed directly at the audience. Not exactly entertaining and far from subtle.
By the way, although a huge to do was made about PTSD following the Vietnam War, this has ALWAYS been a problem--in wars before and wars after. This is not at all mentioned in the show--and it seems based on "Quincy" that is was ONLY specific to Vietnam (which it wasn't).
