mash diary 3 FAVE EPISODE POST

We open with a classic surgery room scene where all the doctors are there doing their job, and they've been there for hours and hours. The thing in this episode is that they're exhausted. I wanna call to attention the remark that Hawkeye is basically becoming an alcoholic with how Trapper suggests they get something to eat, to which Hawkeye says "but first something to drink" and it just makes me really sad :( Bringing some personal stuff to the review, I connect so much with Hawkeye because on many many levels I feel like i am HIM and he is ME. I suffer from addiction partly because of hereditary issues and partly because mental health issues (which are also hereditary) so whenever there's a character who's an addict or alcoholic, I feel very seen. This is one of the many reasons I love Hawkeye's character, and I wanted to make that clear, especially on an episode like this.

Anyway him and Trapper fight because the still is dry and they can't drink and Hawkeye is VERY distraught by this fact (which, again, alcoholism and addiction... i see you dr pierce). So ok they fight and realize that this isn't normal, and come to the conclusion that it is due to the heavy stress they've been under, so of course, they want to get some R&R days. They ask Henry, he doesn't allow it... the plotting starts. At first I wasn't sure if Hawk is acting crazy or if he's actually gone cuckoo for good, which honestly says a lot. Anyway MARGIE APPEARENCE!!!!!! MY GIRL MARGIE IS HERE!!!!!! I'm thinking of adding extra points to the ranking if Margie has an important role. In this case she doesn't but her presence is felt<3<3<3<3

Ok so there's the cannibalism scene yeah we all know about it, it's super crazy, they get the vacay passes... can we talk about frankmargaret i've been dying to talk about frankmargaret. Listen. LISTEN. There's something about them that hits ok, Frank's devotion to her, Margaret's apparent moronsexuality, how actually dumb they are together but how Margaret is so intelligent without him and like, flourishes without him but HE perishes without her...UGH delicious.

Ok so they call this psychiatrist and... INFAMOUS HAWNK SCENE. OH YEAH. This one's getting a high bisexuality index that's for sureee. SOOOO...  the psychiatrist is in session with Hawkeye, and he essentially goes on about how he's in love with Frank to act crazy and be left alone. But the way the scene's written. I mean, how could I not wonder? Here's a short transcription:

SHERMAN: That's nice. I'm sure. But it doesn't explain your rather erratic behavior of late.

HAWKEYE: Well maybe it's because I'm in love and he doesn't even know I exist.

SHERMAN: Did you say "he"?

HAWKEYE: I'm relying on your professional discretion.

SHERMAN: Of course. Who is it?

HAWKEYE: Frank Burns.

SHERMAN: Major Burns?

HAWKEYE: (dreamily) Frank.

SHERMAN: Tell me about it.

HAWKEYE: You don't know what it's been like, living together in the same tent, month after month, and having him think of me as just another guy.

Then Hawkeye brings Margaret, and how Frank is clearly into her, and I KNOW this is all a plot because Sherman is into Margaret so he's against Frank and bla bla bla... right. But hey, hey... I just love this scene, especially out of context. Alan Alda's deliveries are so GREAT, Sherman's actor is so visibly uncomfortable I could cry. So good. So delicious.

Well whatever, they want Hawkeye to get treatment, but then they use Margaret to get rid of Sherman basically framing him for assaulting her (less framing and more demonstrating that he's a creep so). I didn't appreciate putting Margaret in this position at all but um, well. I guess. Anyway Trapper and Hawk get the passes but just as they're about to leave, new wounded come in, so they stay cause it's their duty. OKAY!

Well anyway, this episode is sooo loaded with so much meaning everywhere. Can we talk about "I'm the only one who can handle him" from Trapper about Hawkeye, can we talk about Trapper being genuinely concerned about Hawk's abuse of alcohol can we talk about Frank comforting Margaret after she had been attacked can we talk about the HAWNK of it all... what a top tier episode. AND MARGIE WAS IN IT. Onto the ranking.

HAWKEYE INDEX: 10/10 I mean obviously, this is a very Hawk episode. BISEXUALITY INDEX: 9/10 cause it was technically a fakeout but I like that out of context the scene is soooooooo.... KLINGER INDEX: 0/10 no words. ANTI-WAR INDEX: 8/10 not explicit but implicit in the mental health discussions. GENDER INDEX: 5/10 this one falls flat here but I'll give it a passing grade cause Hawk looks cute yes it counts. GENERAL LIKABILITY: 10/10 it's my fave ep what can I say. GOOD TELEVISION: 9.5/10 it is very good tv!! Overall rating: 7.3 but I'm bumping it to an 8.3 for Margie. Yeah I can do that.

Ok that's all folks!! see u on the next one.