Ambulances, sutures, hypodermic needles, Florence Nightingale, class relations—this is what is explored in the new PBS dramatic series MERCY STREET. War and medical technology steal the show. It is set in a Union hospital in Alexandria, Virginia, serving soldiers from both sides of the line during the Civil War. MERCY STREET is PBS’s first American-produced drama in over ten years.

“PBS’s MERCY STREET is the DOWNTON ABBEY replacement you’ve been waiting for,” says the Washington Post. “MERCY STREET…aims to combine PBS’s standards for period fidelity, a potent cocktail of changing social mores and a conflict that would come to define the nation, and a little bit of smoldering sexual chemistry for good measure.” The Guardian recommends watching it “especially if you’re a DOWNTON ABBEY fan or sport your PBS tote bag with pride.” The New York Times calls it “a medical soap opera—GREY’S ANATOMY with crinolines—and that’s the show’s most entertaining aspect.”

PBS just signed an exclusive deal with Amazon’s streaming service to make MERCY STREET available to Prime members.

The six-episode series is funded by the Sloan Foundation. It premiered in the Sunday evening slot after DOWNTON ABBEY on January 17, 2016. For more about the series check out the behind the scenes exclusive interview Science & Film did with producer David Zucker and writer David Zabel.