This episode, though nice and big–practically ever recurring character shows up for a second (except Ugly John and, of course, Spearchucker) and the close is visually memorable–is kind of empty. It’s the perfect episode for Trapper, the only one who doesn’t believe a ceasefire is on the way, except he’s basically just moping around behind everyone else.
There are some funny subplots (it’s all subplots for the most part) with Hot Lips and Frank getting progressively drunker and Hot Lips getting progressively needier, Hawkeye making up a wife and kids to get out of his promises to nurses and Radar trying to maintain a friendship with Henry back home. It’s all very nice and very competent, but mostly empty.
The problem is, as big as the episode gets, it’s very small. It’s jeeps with revelers driving around the camp… it’s never convincing the people besides Trapper would buy in to the ceasefire because it’s nothing more than a rumor. I mean, maybe Klinger, but certainly not Hawkeye. It’s less a missed opportunity than an episode not played well enough for laughs.
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1 response so far ↓
1 Marionette // Apr 1, 2008 at 5:39 am
It’s funny, as the series progresses I find I’m enjoying the moments where Hawkeye is shown up for the jerk he is. They are few and far between, and he never learns anything from them, and they never dent his popularity, but I’m glad that we’re shown that his way isn’t always the right way.
It’s a long time since I’ve watched MASH, and my memories of it are probably coloured by the later seasons where it’s much more of an ensemble piece. Rewatching the first season now I find it hasn’t worn as well as I expected.
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