MASH has its share of sweet, tender, tear-jerking moments, Lord knows. But this episode is pretty much one such moment, stretched out to twenty-five minutes long, completely saturated with ooey-gooey feeling. For a superfan like myself, it’s impossible to make it through the first sixty seconds without tearing up. And it only gets worse.
A baby, abandoned by her Korean mother, shows up at the doorstep of the Swamp and captures the hearts of Hawkeye, BJ, and Charles instantly. Her father is an American G.I., which means that her chances for a decent life in Korea are very slim. As the doctors will unfortunately learn (and as Father Mulcahy tells them right off the bat), neither the Red Cross, nor the Army, nor the Korean government, nor the American government will have anything to do with this child. Everyone suits up in their best dress uniforms and appeals to these organizations one by one on her behalf, only to be shot down. The Korean diplomat’s (Yuki Shimoda) speech is particularly moving, when he explains that the U.S. is the only Western nation that makes no provisions at all for babies fathered by its soldiers.
It’s at last decided that the little baby will go to a monastery, where she will be raised and educated—orphanages are out of the question, due to their awful treatment of mixed-race children. Nobody wants to see her go; they drop her off in secret because they have to. Super duper kudos to the baby actor, who with her single-minded fixation on Alan Alda’s nose saves this scene from being unbearably sad.
What makes this show so lovely, of course, is seeing how great each cast member is with the child. We’ve seen a version of this before in season 2’s “Kim,” where the camp took care of a five-year-old boy. That was adorable enough, but this is next-level sweetness—as Klinger gives the nurses a diaper tutorial, Sherm praises the surgical glove full of milk, and Maj. Houlihan calls herself “your auntie Margaret.” Special mention, too, to the cool cradle fashioned for the baby to sleep in, even if Sherm rocks it a little too hard when he gets heated.
What more is there to say? This has social commentary galore, historical accuracy, genuine love, and a cute cute adorable small baby. It’s a home run. The feature film Three Men and a Baby would come along several years later, evincing slightly less of an emotional response.
Surprise…? I love Margaret and Hawkeye’s kiss. I think it works as fan service on any level: these two extremely passionate people have shared so much, as friends, as enemies, and–inevitably, it seemed–as lovers, even though that didn’t get very far. It’s likely that they’ll never see each other again, so why not go out with a bang of pure affection?
For me, discussion of Margaret’s goodbye is incomplete without mentioning the moment Charles gives her the poems. We now know, thanks to a story that Loretta circulated, that when she opens the book she’s reacting to one last on-set prank by David Ogden Stiers, who wrote his phone number inside (this after she had told him for years that he should socialize more with the rest of the cast). It’s hard for me to even think of that without tearing up–and to follow it with the big smooch is almost too much!!! Margaret’s big emotions are truly infectious; Loretta is such a good performer that way.
By the way, thank you for sending the ask! It has been too long since I’ve jumped on here to talk about MASH and I’m happy to do so!
BJ Hunnicutt: BJ thinks long and hard about when to say “I love you” that first time. Probably overthinks it. He’ll want some romantic moment to come along that makes the moment just perfect, but knows that’s hardly likely. Still, he’ll hold off for longer than he probably should just looking for that perfect timing.
Francis Mulcahy: It’s a battle for him even knowing he loves you. So to say it takes some major thoughts about himself and you. Odds are someone else will probably tell you that he loves you before he gets around to making the decision to do so, but he’s happy that the pressure has been taken off of him when you tell him you know.
Hawkeye Pierce: Hawkeye is really a wildcard for this one. He could tell you he loves you the first time you meet, though in that case it may be a bit sarcastic. Or he could wait an excruciatingly long time to finally say it to you out loud for real.
Henry Blake: Henry can’t seem to find any time to tell you. He’ll try, but there’s usually endless interruptions, so he gets creative. He’ll have Radar come and fetch you as if on some official business and when you finally have a moment alone, he’ll finally get to say it.
Margaret Houlihan: It takes Margaret such a long time to say “I love you”. She feels like admitting it is a weakness. And, while she does feel it, she often keeps her feelings close to her chest so as not to come off as soft.
Maxwell Klinger: The moment Klinger realizes you get him like no one else does, that’s the exact moment those three little words fall from his lips the first time. Not a lot of people really understand him so to have that just cements his adoration of you.
Radar O'Reilly: Radar probably says it too fast. It just comes pouring out of his mouth one time when he’s nervously rambling to you and he’d want to take it back immediately, until you stop him and tell him you love him too.
I used Margaret as some drawing practice back in December. Foreshortening is really not my thing. Clearly I need to draw from more MASH screencaps for practice. (Although I paused in my watching to draw this because I liked the pose.)
Well well well, what have we here? Could it be The one and only Charles Emerson Winchester III?
Making this series has been a goal of mine for a very long time. I‘m beyond proud of it, but I‘m even more touched by all the love I have received these past few weeks. These paintings have brought joy to myself and others. What more can any artist ask for? ❤️
11 seasons, 11 paintings - what an unforgettable and fun ride! Thank you folks SO MUCH for all the love. ❤️ I’ll keep on painting but now if you‘ll excuse me…
It could be exhaustion, it could be a hangover, but if you see somebody sleeping in the mess tent, go check on them. It might as well be food poisoning…
I am proud to say there are four of them now ❤️
I‘m feeling so immensely inspired lately. Feels really good to paint again.
Update: Officially approved ☠️❤️ (Excuse me I just died…)
It could be exhaustion, it could be a hangover, but if you see somebody sleeping in the mess tent, go check on them. It might as well be food poisoning…
I am proud to say there are four of them now ❤️
I‘m feeling so immensely inspired lately. Feels really good to paint again.
Oh hi, welcome to M*A*S*H! Episodes of comedy gold are to your left, the existential crises to your right. Political commentary and war pacifism is right behind you. If it’s queer coding you’re looking for, just go straight ahead. It’s just before feminism and just after racial justice, you can’t miss it-
