Larry Gelbart is back as writer… with an episode very familiar to the pilot… specifically, a general coming to the 4077th and finding everyone nuts and Hawkeye a great doctor. The general having been called there by an irate Hot Lips and Frank. Is it a better pilot? No, not really… it’s a very weird episode though. Sitcoms can’t repeat their own previous situations, or if they do, they ought to wait more than three episodes, and expect comedy. (Sorry, just had a martini).
However, it’s a beautifully done episode–Spearchucker’s still there and he’s got a good scene–and Klinger makes a memorable first appearance. Gelbart sticks to the “no subplot” form here and it goes by very fast. It’s actless even.
The best thing in the episode is Hawkeye’s speech–accepting the Chief Surgeon assignment–it really sums up “M*A*S*H” beautifully. Funny, absurd, and poignant. I guess (from what I can gather from wikipedia) the first season had some problems getting viewers at the start, which might explain the “do-over” nature of the episode. Regardless, it’s fantastic.
3.5
1 response so far ↓
1 Marionette // Mar 19, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I particularly like the scene at the end where Frank asks Hawkeye for help. It’s a rare occasion where he’s allowed to break out of his two dimensional characterisation.
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