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4.0 out of 5 stars
"M*A*S*H" begins Season 2 with a better sense of self, May 27, 2003
This review is from: M*A*S*H - The TV Series, Season 2, Vol. 1 [VHS] (VHS Tape)
By the end of its first season "M*A*S*H" had established its foundation as television's first dramedy, a show that could combine comedy with drama, as amply proven in the landmark episode "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet." More importantly, CBS saw enough to move the show to its powerhouse Saturday night lineup and put "M*A*S*H" in between "All in the Family" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (think about that: three of the Top 10 situation comedies of all time back-to-back-to-back). Not surprisingly, "M*A*S*H" was suddenly the number 4 show in the Nielsen ratings.
What we see in Season 2 of "M*A*S*H" (1973-74) is that Hawkeye (Alan Alda) is the star of the show but the other characters are now being developed as feeling human beings and not just comic characters; the change is most noticeable and ultimately most significant with Hot Lips (Loretta Swit). This videotape has the first third of the Season 2 episodes:
(25) "Divided We Stand" (Writer: Larry Gelbart; Aired: September 15, 1973) is essentially a second pilot. Functionally this was to introduce the major characters to new viewers, but it also showed returning viewers the new direction of the show. When an army observer (Anthony Holland) shows up to check out the 4077th for reassignment, everybody pretends to get along--as long as they think the guy is not watching. Grade A: the observer's critique of the 4077th hits the nail on the head about what the group (and the show) is now all about.
(26) "Five O'Clock Charlie" (Writers: Larry Gelbart & Laurence marks; Aired: September 22, 1973) is an inept North Korean pilot who is trying to bomb an abandoned dump near the 4077th. Everyone is amused by the daily ritual except for Frank (Larry Linville), who gets a really big gun to shoot the plane down. Grade B+: This is a military comedy episode but written by the show's two best writers.
(27) "Radar's Report" (Writer: Laurence Marks; Aired: September 29, 1973) has the corporal from Iowa detailing the odd events happening around camp. The episode marks the first appearance of Sidney Freedman (Allan Arbus), there to see if Klinger (Jamie Farr) is nuts or not. Grade B: A nice attempt to extend the "Dear Dad" idea to another character.
(28) "For the Good of the Outfit" (Writer: Jerry Mayer; Aired: October 6, 1973) has Hawkeye and Trapper (Wayne Rogers) trying to undo a cover-up when the Army accidentally bombs a local village. Grade C+: The parallels to Vietnam are obvious and the docs have their hearts in the right place, but I have to think the Army would have squashed them like bugs or sent them to a battalion aid station (remember, this is the time of Watergate).
(29) "Dr. Pierce and Mr. Hyde" (Writers: Alan Alda & Robert Klane) is simply about the fact that after three straight days in the O.R. Hawkeye cannot slow down. Grade B: Nice idea by Alda about his character.
(30) "Kim" (Writers: Marc Mandel, Larry Gelbart, & Laurence Marks; Aired: October 20, 1973) finally gives Trapper a moment to shine when he decides to adopt an orphaned Korean kid. Grade B: The ending is a bit absurd, but seeing the serious side of Trapper John is a big plus.
(31) "L.I.P. (Local Indigenous Personnel)" (Writer: Carl Kleinschmitt; Aired: October 27, 1973) has the Swamp duo blackmailing an Army officer (Burt Young) so that a young G.I. can marry a local girl. Grade B-: The plus is dealing with the issue of racism in the military, but the minus is the hijinks to get the guy to do the right thing.
(32) "The Trial of Henry Blake" (Writers: McLean Stevenson, Larry Gelbart, and Laurence Marks; Aired: November 3, 1973) has the military judging whether Henry (McLean Stevenson) is fit to command the 4077th. Grade B+: there are some nice "Rashomon" moments in this one as Frank recalls how he remembers events. Again, one of the cast members comes up with something that makes his character more credible and less of a joke. It is because of episodes like this one that the death of Henry Blake had the impact that it did.
Although there is only one classic "M*A*S*H" episode on this tape, there are several that are close. More importantly, we do not have any of the lame episodes that afflicted the show during its first season. Of course, the glory days of "M*A*S*H" do not come until Season 4, so the best is yet to come.
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