Wednesday, May 23, 2012

M*A*S*H, season 9

FOUR STAR
-Death Takes a Holiday
The camp hosts a group of orphans for a Christmas dinner. Charles tries to uphold his family tradition of giving anonymously at holiday time, while BJ, Hawkeye, and Margaret try to keep a mortally-wounded soldier from dying on Christmas day. One of a very small handful of M*A*S*H episodes to prompt tears from two plot lines. Charles' moments are a touch more poignant, as he becomes enraged when the orphan's caretaker (Keye Luke: KUNG FU, GREMLINS) trades gourmet candy for rice and cabbage. Despite the mawkish glorification of charity, Charles' abashedness when he realizes what's happened, ranks among Stiers' finest moments. The wounded soldier dies at 11:25PM; Hawkeye changes the clock's hands.
NOTEWORTHY
-Letters ***
Like a sweet blast from the past, an episode that feels like it slipped through the cracks of the early seasons to suddenly appear, free of overearnestness. Little slices of life, as the camp responds to letters from grade schoolers back home. Potter shoots hoops.
-Father's Day ***
Andrew Duggan gives a seamless performance as Margaret's retired father, "Howitzer" Al Houlihan. On an inspection visit, he reacts with callousness to her need for acceptance and love. He comes to his senses a bit, but not in an unrealistic way.
-Oh, How We Danced ***
Hawkeye and crew prepare a surprise for BJ, who is disconsolate over being alone on his anniversary. They arrange for a home movie sent by Peg. If you're an easy mark for tears, bring the tissues.
-The Red/White Blues **
Every time a white person says "negro", you must take one drink.
-Blood Brothers ***
A towering performance by William Christopher. A Cardinal is due to visit, and Mulcahy is having fits over the camp's "wicked" ways. He spends a night with a soldier (Patrick Swayze) who's been told he has leukemia. The off-the-cuff sermon Mucahy delivers the following morning about the perils of self-absorption, will freeze you to your seat. Swayze too is disturbingly effective.
-The Foresight Saga ***
A letter from Radar tells of great success on the farm, but an accidental conversation with his mom reveals another story. Potter hits upon a plan to send a Korean youth, Park Sung, to live and work with Radar. Sweet.

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