A Televisual Feast

Archie’s old Army buddies come to visit–one in particular–in a really downbeat episode. Not only is it downbeat, it’s not very funny (even when it’s trying to be funny, before it goes serious), it’s also very fast. The pacing is off. It’s hard to explain, but the episode is so subtle in its message–and it […]

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Even though the episode is predictable–the only thing more apparent would be a subplot with Archie lusting for a girl and it turns out she’s dating Mike and Gloria’s friend Roger (who Archie is convinced is gay)–there are some great moments. Archie and Mike’s initial, first act discussion of gays gives Archie a […]

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A mostly straight comedy episode, with some great OR sequence at the beginning. Bruce Bilson does a fine job directing the episode, particularly since it goes through so many phases (Hawkeye planning to fake crazy, Hawkeye faking crazy, and Hawkeye trying to get out of faking crazy so well). The best moments, though, are still […]

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I know “M*A*S*H” is a sitcom, but doesn’t that genre suggest some comedy? In this episode, Hawkeye and Trapper need some hydrocortisone after black marketeers have taken the unit’s supply. And Henry has just gotten a new antique desk. Hijinks ensue.
There’s no texture to the episode, nothing interesting. There’s even wacky music.
It goes by in […]

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