M*A*S*H (Mobile Army Surgical hospital) was a television series that ran for eleven seasons between 1973 and 1983. The series was set in the Korean War and based around the oddball characters that served in the 4077th MASH.

The series itself fits into the category of black comedy set in the Korean War. It is probably the best place here to mention that this series does not insinuate ever that war or the situations is causes is a funny thing or that it is comedic in any way shape or form. It simply highlights how in the toughest of situations it is often the humour of those that remain that prevails the longest. Sort of along the 'they can crush us but they'll never crush our spirit' lines. Therefore the series does not shy from making some statements about war even if they are made in a comedic way but is careful to place just the right amount of emphasis on sensitive issues without becoming bogged down with them.

None of the episodes in this or other series' focus on the actual fighting of the war as the focus is clearly on the MASH unit. For this reason every episode shows a least one scene with the doctors performing surgery, highlighting how the staff at the 4077th MASH unit frequently find themselves knee deep in wounded and running out of both beds and medical supplies. This combined with the endless need for the doctors to spend their days and nights performing what is coined 'meatball surgery' leaves them sleep deprived and frustrated by a lack of military competence.

***Radar: We're running out of gowns, towels and 3'O silk. The only thing we got plenty of is wounded***

Characters

Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce otherwise known as Hawkeye and played by Alan Alda is the camps chief protagonist. He is a draftee and is not army at all. In fact he severely dislikes anything army especially the idea of being woken up. Despite this though he truly is a gifted surgeon and more than dedicated to doing his duty to his patients. Hawkeye lives in the SWAMP, the more than suitable name for their tent, with fellow draftee and con-conspirator Captain John 'Trapper' McIntyre.

Both men are bsurgeons and are usually not far away from any mischief that is brewing. Trapper like Hawkeye is a womaniser but despite this behaviour he clearly adores his wife and children. His friendship with Hawkeye seems genuine and the pair bounce of one another with a spark rarely seen between two leads. The surgical side to the pair is also well shown and Alan Alda genuinely does act like a doctor in many scenes and seems to do in a natural way and with a sense of ease.

***Radar: Why can't you Sirs, just act like Sirs?***

In complete comparison to his two roomies, Major Frank Burns the other member of the SWAMP is completely in love with the army, be it in a very juvenile sort of way. Frank likes to shout about his authority over Pierce and McIntyre but his medical skills are questionable and this often leads to trouble. To make matters worse for Frank the pair love to exploit his elicit relationship with Major Margaret 'Hot-Lips' Houlihan who's only wish in life seems to be to impress her army father.

***Frank: You can't park a jeep over a superior officer***

Frank and Margaret's attempts to bring the mischievous pair down to ground are usually foiled by the fact that the 4077th commander, Lt Col. Henry Blake doesn't like anything that could be considered G.I. either and is frequently on the side of the two conspirators. He spends most of his time daydreaming about being back home and generally signs anything placed in front of him by his Company Clerk and right-hand man Corporal 'Radar' O'Reily.

It is often joked that Radar runs the camp rather than Henry and in many ways this is quite possibly true. He fetches and carries for most members of the camp, feeds and waters the surgeons on duty, organises all of the paperwork and seems to be the only one that knows how everything on the unit works. At one point in the series he even takes to tucking Hawkeye and Trapper into bed although they do return the favour by giving him advice rather like father to son and generally boosting him up when he feels down. Radar's biggest skill however is his amazing ability to hear the arrival of the Choppers before they can even be seen nor heard and his tremendous talent of being able to pre-empt everyone's orders.

***Henry: Just wanted to tell you that your anniversary issue of Archie Comics has arrived and I evened out your cot legs so you won't have to sleep on a slant anymore.
Radar: Thank you Sir, I guess that'll be all***

Despite the somewhat lack of military discipline around the camp, the mischievous jokes, the consistent womanising and the constant drinking everyone at MASH 4077th is whole heartedly dedicated to saving the lives of those that are placed on the surgeons tables and will do anything to ensure that this happens.

***Hawkeye: I bet he lied about his age to get in
Trapper: He won't have to lie about his injuries to get out***

Furthermore although their jokes sometimes seem too much they ultimately have a strong social conscience that in exceptionally apparent in some episodes. In my opinion this blend between comedy and seriousness is superbly balanced and gives in many ways a good insight into life in a military outfit, as although there are times to be serious it is also important to keep your spirits up and laugh along with the rest. This is shown very well throughout the 24 episodes in this - series 3 of M*A*S*H.

The Episodes

Episode 1 - The general flipped at dawn
A visiting general tries to move the camp closer to the front line but it turns out he's more eccentric than any of them imagined.

Episode 2 - Rainbow Bridge
When the Chinese agree to give some of their wounded P.OW's back Henry reluctantly agrees to send Hawkeye, Trapper, Frank, Klinger and Radar into enemy territory to recover them.

Episode 3 - Officer of the day
While Henry is away Frank is in command and determined that everyone take their turn at being Officer of the day including Hawkeye.

***Hawkeye: I'm not sleeping. I'm inspecting the insides of my eyelids***

Episode 4 - Iron Guts Kelly
General 'Iron Guts' Kelly is paying a visit to camp but his visit proves more irritating that the camp believed was possible.

Episode 5 - O.R
A seemingly endless run of casualties in O.R leads to difficult decisions having to made and a fire in the rooms wiring doesn't make thing any better.

***Henry: Take McIntyre with you. Let him sleep outside, we can use the table***

Episode 6 - Springtime
On a beautiful spring day everyday seems to go mad. Klinger's girlfriend agrees to marry him, a patient feels beholden to Hawkeye and a patient arrives with a strange fixation for a kitten.

Episode 7 - Check Up
The Army has decided that everyone must have a check-up but some are more reluctant that others although their reasons soon become apparent.

Episode 8 - Life with Father
Whilst Henry is worrying his wife may be having an affair Hawkeye and Trapper are too busy trying to spot the Presidents faces in order to win a pony.

***Hawkeye: Who's yours from Trap?
Trapper: My five-year-old or my wife has started writing in crayon***

Episode 9 - Alcoholics Unanimous
In the Colonels absence Frank has declared the camp a dry zone and banned alcohol. How on earth will Hawkeye and Trapper function? To make matters worse they're not the only ones to suffer.

Episode 10 - There is nothing like a nurse
The prospect of an incoming air raid leads the nurses and patients of the 4077th to be evacuated. Without female company though the doctors are going mad.

***Henry: [on the prospect of having to talk to Major Houlihan] Radar turn on the news. Maybe the war ended and I don't have to talk to her.***

Episode 11 - Adam's Ribs
Hawkeye will do anything to get some decent food in camp, even if it does mean sending across the globe for it.

***Trapper: We could drown the dull in booze
Hawkeye: It won't do any good, my dull has learnt to swim***

Episode 12 - A Full Rich Day
Hawkeye is taping a letter to his father and dictates another mad week in camp.

Episode 13 - Mad Dogs and Servicemen
When Henry discovers that Radar has been bitten by a dog and could have rabies the camp goes into overdrive in order to find out the truth.

Episode 14 - Private Charlie's Lamb
When the commander of some Greek patients has a live lamb sent into camp to be roasted in a celebration, Radar has only one thing on his mind - to set it free.

***Henry: I will never understand how you can hear me before I ever call you***

Episode 15 - Bombed
The base is under a tremendous bombing attack that HQ refuses to acknowledge. Panic sets Henry breaks his arms when the latrine is destroyed and then a booby-trapped patient arrives.

Episode 16 - Bulletin Board
Moral is love in camp and the numerous casualties aren't helping. Hawkeye is determined that the camp must relax.

Episode 17 - The Consultant
A civilian consultant Hawkeye and Trapper meet in Tokyo arrives in camp to help out. His nerve however isn't strong enough and he finds himself unable to finish an operation he has started.

Episode 18 - House Arrest
After

punching Frank straight in the face Hawkeye is placed under house arrest. Things aren't as bad as they seem though.

Episode 19 - Aid Station
When a nearby Aid Station is hit and their surgeon killed MASH 4077th are ordered to provide relief personnel. It's a dangerous job but someone has got to do it.

Episode 20 - Love and Marriage
Hawkeye and Trapper must try and dissuade a soldier from marrying a well-known working Korean girl whilst at the same time trying to help Mr Kwang see his wife before she gives birth.

***Trapper: You must have studied somewhere. You certainly can't learn English from Americans***

Episode 21 - Big Mac
General McArthur is going to visit MASH 4077th and so the whole camp, or more Frank, goes into overdrive trying to prepare for this stupendous occasion.

***Trapper: Forget Fort Dix Frank. This is bedpan alley***

Episode 22 - Payday
Hawkeye is the pay officer this month and when he finds he has $10 left over he simply gives it to Radar. This sets of a catalogue of events that eventually cumulate in Hawkeye needing to repay $3000.

Episode 23 - White Gold
Whilst on guard duty Klinger catches three men in the act of stealing Penicillin. Only one of these men is caught but is later set free by the somewhat demented Colonel Flagg who appears in his secretive CIA role. Something however is just a little fishy.

***Hawkeye: I'll just put his initials, CIA. Crazy In the Army***

Episode 24 - Abysinnia, Henry
When Henry finds out he has received enough points to be sent home he is overjoyed, as are the rest of the camp. That does mean that Frank will be left in charge, which is always a downside. Henry's departure is tearful but the camp knows he has deserved it. Henry's final journey though is not the one that anyone would have wished.

***Hawkeye: We're giving you this party, you know why?
Henry: Because I'm going home
Hawkeye: Wrong, because you're one hell of a human being***

My Favourites

Despite the fact that all of the episodes contained within this series truly are fantastic I do have my favourites. It may seem strange but my favourite episodes tend to me the ones that are both humorous and poignant at the same time and show people pulling together in difficult situations.

My favourite episode of the series is therefore Episode 19 'Aid Station', as it portrayed a much softer side to Major Houlihan and gave Klinger a bit of light two showing that despite the fact that he eagerly wants to leave the army he will no matter what the cost could be, complete his job to the best of his ability. One of the lasting scenes from this episode and the series as a whole is when Hawkeye cuddles up next to Houlihan due to the fact that she is frightened and his only motivation is to comfort her.

***Hawkeye: [about Margaret Houlihan] She worked like a trooper. Above and beyond the call***

My next favourite episode is Episode 15 'Bombed', which again shows the entire MASH unit pulling together when things get rough. With Colonel Blake injured about being trapped in the collapsed latrine the whole unit put aside their differences in order to work towards a common goal. Despite the definite fear in all of them, they all come through proving that anyone can do anything if the situation arises.

***Trapper: What's that noise
Hawkeye: Sounds like silence***

Despite saying that the scene in Aid Station provided a lasting memory I think the most memorable scene and one I think is very well scripted and acted comes in Bulletin Board. It is the final scene and all members of the camp can be seen covered from head to toe in mud after being pulled into a mud pile during a tug-of-war. Suddenly Radar stands still and everyone knows what's coming next: CHOPPERS! The war continues.

Closing Comment

You may have guessed by now that this series is my favourite one so far. The reason for this is simply because I feel that the balance between seriousness and humour was reached in this series and that enough poignant moments were included to ensure you remember the dangerous situation the characters were in without making the show simply an explanation of war.

This series is therefore highly recommended by me and will definitely be one I will watch over and over again.

PS: If you've got to the end of this review then well-done. I never realised when I started that it would end up so long.