A Televisual Feast

The first season closer is pleasant but unspectacular. Painfully unspectacular. While a USO group entertains the troops, the three or four subplots play out. Henry’s wife is nearing labor, Father Mulcahy is worrying he doesn’t make enough difference, Frank (in a turn) is pranking Hawkeye, Trapper’s got a difficult case and the camp dentist has his orders for home and is worried about making it in one piece.

Like I said above, it’s pleasant and does have some great scenes. Radar and Henry are particularly touching and Mulcahy hasn’t had as much to do before. The most effective story is probably Trapper’s but it disappears before there’s time for a wonderfully awkward tender moment between he and Margaret.

It works, but isn’t anywhere near appropriate for a season close. It kind of sums up the show, but given the show had three or five pilots during the first twelve episodes… it just feels gimmicky and unimaginative.

I mean, the Hawkeye vs. Frank stuff isn’t even interesting. It’s occasionally funny, but it’s not interesting.

2.5