Every Monday, I spotlight a random episode of M*A*S*H, providing a brief review and asking readers to offer their thoughts.
“Radar’s Report” (#27, 2×03)
Originally Broadcast: Saturday, September 29th, 1973
Teleplay by Laurence Marks
Story by Sheldon Keller
Directed by Jakie Cooper
Capsule Summary: Radar types out the 4077th’s weekly activity report and personnel record, which includes a wounded Chinese prisoner, Klinger being examined by a psychiatrist, and Hawkeye falling in love.
This is a notable episode for two very different reasons. First, it marked the first guest appearance by the late Allan Arbus as an army psychiatrist, in this episode named Milton Freedman. Starting with his second appearance later in Season Two the character’s first name was changed to Sidney. Arbus would make 12 appearances on M*A*S*H, the last of which was in the series finale.
(Just last month, M*A*S*H script collector Eric got his hands on a production script for “Radar’s Report” and discovered that the character was actually originally named Robert. In the copy of the script he has, the name Robert had been crossed out in pencil and Milton written in. Read more at the MASH4077TV.com Forums.)
Second, this episode featured one of the darkest moments on M*A*S*H, when Trapper — enraged a the death of his patient — stormed into the wounded prisoner’s tent and stood there ominously until Hawkeye calmed him down. In that moment, Trapper appeared truly conflicted and genuinely a little sinister.
Contrast Trapper’s reaction with Hawkeye’s earlier in the episode, when he didn’t seem to understand why Trapper was so upset and even defended the prisoner by arguing he was terrified out of his skull. Recall that it was Trapper who warned Hawkeye to be careful with the prisoner, suggesting that “the way they’re brainwashed, he thinks we’re gonna carve him up and eat him.”
One could argue that this was an example of Hawkeye being a bleeding heart. I would suggest it was the an attempt present both sides of an emotionally charged plot. The prisoner wasn’t actually acting maliciously and certainly didn’t actually attack or wound Trapper’s patient or otherwise intentionally harm him. At the same time, Trapper lost a patient due to the prisoner’s actions who otherwise would have lived.
I do think the music that began playing when Margaret came in the scrub room to tell Trapper the patient had died was a little much, a little too dramatic. It was actually distracting.
There was more to the episode than Trapper’s storyline. Klinger’s evaluation by Major Freedman was amusing if not unexpected, since actually being found insane would have meant the end of the character. Klinger obviously wasn’t too concerned about the evaluation because he didn’t let it stop him from wearing women’s clothing and bucking for a Section 8.
Hawkeye’s storyline was bizarre. He met Lt. Johnson for the first time during surgery and hours later decided he wanted to marry her? The point, of course, was to switch things up and have Hawkeye on the receiving end of someone who doesn’t want a serious relationship. The story line works but I still think it is odd.
The central conceit of the episode, that Radar is writing a weekly report and including various events that happened at the 4077th during a single week, falls apart when you stop to consider that he wasn’t present for a lot of what happened.
The P.A. announcement about the generator heard when Hawkeye and Erika are in her tent wasn’t part of the script. According to Larry Gelbart in a May 1999 post to the alt.tv.mash Newsgroup, it had to be added during post-production because there was a problem processing the film for that scene.
The Klinger plotline is funny, and anytime Sidney (well, Milton, for now) shows up is welcome, but Trapper’s anger over the loss of his patient is the definite highpoint of the episode. A very powerful, dramatic moment, one that kind of points to later seasons of the show. Nice to have a scene with Trapper outside of the usual clowning role. And I love Hawkeye’s “That’s not what we’re about” line that snaps Trapper out of it.
However, Hawkeye wanting to marry Lt. Johnson so soon after meeting her is ridiculous. I showed this episode to my brother once, and his reaction was “Where did THAT come from?!” It’s actually not a bad idea, and if it had been established that they had been seeing each other for some amount of time prior to this episode, it might’ve worked better. But, as it stands, it’s just too random, and frankly, too out of character for the Hawkeye of the earlier seasons.
That “huh?” moment aside, I really do enjoy this episode.
I had a different take on the Lt. Erika Johnson part – it never occurred to me that Hawkeye really wanted to marry her – it was just him wanting to “lock her up” for the duration of the war, or the time she was there – much in the same way he wanted to with Maggie Cutler, and with Aggie O’Shea – because you see that he isn’t so much devastated by Johnson’s not wanting to get married, once she agrees to a “honeymoon” anyway.
He also was kind of rebounding with glee because he had held himself at bay when he thought she was married.
Sidney (or Milton) was portrayed very differently in this episode. He is much more snarky here and seems very cynical. I find it hard to believe that he would be invited to part take in a poker game after the way he speaks to both Henry and Klinger. Glad they took his character in a different way for the later episodes.
This episode also showcased Trapper’s frustration at his situation in the war. The scene in the POW tent perfectly demonstrated how his character could have changed due to the war. Had Wayne stayed on, I’m sure they would have explored this more.
Great episode. Love Klinger’s dresses and above all, welcome to the insane asylum, Dr. Freedman.
Seeing this episode, I found parts to be a little too preachy especially when Hawkeye tried to talk Trapper out of harming the Korean who sabotaged Trapper’s patient. I agree with Seoul City Sue that Dr. Freedman was a little snarky but in time, he mellowed.
The scene when Frank bit Klinger’s neck thinking it was Margaret was bizarre.
Frank: You get out of here, you pervert!
Klinger: Pervert? Who bit who, Major?
Just one of many crazy happenings in this episode
Anyone have an idea why Hawkeye salutes Frank in this episode? Was he just in a good mood, or was he not really paying attention while walking and thinking of other stuff, and did it as a reflex (which would be out of character for him)….or was it a joke in some way that I don’t get?
I like Henry’s reaction after Klinger says he doesn’t normally wear floor length at that time of day.
Listing the brand and size for a replacement bra in his report is great. Henry asking if he can read the report is fun.
The scene Margaret does the talking for Frank is well done;
as Klinger joins them, purse on arm, evening gown, hairy chest showing, Henry gives a perfect delivery of, “Okay, he’s here. Let’s have it. What’s wrong with Klinger?”
Major Freedman/Sidney has some great lines (perfectly delivered):
“You got me up here to ask me about him? About that?”
“All the way from Seoul to ask me what? Whether he needs a girdle under that? Whether his seams are straight?”
To Klinger: “Now, what’s your name, honey?” and “Hey, soldier. You forgot your purse.”
Hawkeye has several great marriage (and ‘she’s married’) lines, two of them being:
“It’s the world’s 2nd largest industry, after bubble gum.” and
“I’d love you in war and peace. Or Moby Dick, any of the classics.”
There are many great lines throughout by several, but Trapper “steals” the show with his reactions to complications with his patient and then his death.
There is a lot going on throughout.
Well written and well done episode!
Amazing talent!
Dr. Freedman wanted Klinger to sign a paper saying the he was a transvestite and a homosexual. Obviously Dr. Freedman would know that a transvestite is not the same as a homosexual, and there was never any indication that Klinger was gay. Klinger even says he’s not a transvestite, just crazy. Though Dr. Freedman was harsh with Klinger, harsher than in subsequent interactions, I think he was trying to do Klinger a favor. He was willing to blur the categories and classify Klinger as a homosexual. Klinger was not very well educated, and he never seemed to get that wearing a dress does not make him crazy. It makes him a transvestite, and he can’t get out of the army for being a transvestite. But he can get out for being gay. Dr. Freedman was willing to help him get out, but he made it clear, this is what it will take, and you better be prepared to live with it. Klinger wasn’t.
This episode is Exhibit A for why Wayne Rogers eventually got fed up being treated like a second banana — or less — on a series where he expected he would be the protagonist.
These storylines cry out for Trapper’s to be the “A” story. It’s very serious stuff by Season 2 standards, but it’s a real window into McIntyre’s character and his rage at losing a patient because of the prisoner’s actions.
Instead, it’s relegated to a side plot — really the “C” story behind a trifling “A” story about Hawkeye and the nurse, and Klinger’s funny, but insubstantial, “B” story.
Rogers is tremendous in this episode, and yet his story is almost regarded as an afterthought.