Hypatia42 Reviews

M*A*S*H: The More I See You (1976) Season 4, Episode 22

Heartbroken

[7 February 2016]

A blond from his days of residency appears at the 4077, much to Hawkeye's nervous dismay. With it being, possibly, the only traditional relationship he has known. We learn she left him, but not all the flames went out.

With her reappearance Hawkeye goes through spasms of jealousy, nervousness, and sarcasm as he learns of her marriage and conventional life. Convinced his feelings for her are reciprocated, he tries to win her back, only to be told by her, again, that his commitment to medicine is a handicap as a potential husband.

There are times when M*A*S*H manages to be emotionally intelligent, whether about war or loneliness, and there is something true in the heartbreak of a doctor being told he is so rich in talent he is poor in love. This gives a little more depth to his childish antics; he feels comfortable there because he isn't taken seriously elsewhere.

I really hate that woman though.

M*A*S*H: Love and Marriage (1975) Season 3, Episode 20

Badly Written Episode

[5/10 · 5 February 2016]

**Warning, Spoilers**

While the series overall is great, there are times, like in this episode, where the characters deviate from expectations more than the suspension of disbelief can allow.

At one point in this episode the doctors sit around playing poker while gunshots are heard in the camp and they all seem unconcerned a situation they helped orchestrate could get Radar and others into trouble. Being cool and collected in the face of danger they know how to weasel out of is a charm of the Hawkeye and McIntyre characters, but allowing others to take on danger isn't something they normally do. It's callous and over written for dramatic effect to the point of not being funny.

This and the House Arrest episode are both too flippant with the ideas of safety or compassion to be really enjoyable. There is a difference between charming rogue and an instigator.