Episode Spotlight: Dear Ma

12 Comments

Every Monday, I spotlight a random episode of M*A*S*H, providing a brief review and asking readers to offer their thoughts.

“Dear Ma” (#88, 4×16)
Originally Broadcast: Tuesday, December 23rd, 1975
Written by Everett Greenbaum & Jim Fritzell
Directed by Alan Alda

Capsule Summary: Radar writes a letter home, telling his mother about helping Hawkeye inspect feet, a North Korean eating at the Mess Tent, B.J. getting hoodwinked, and more.

This is the third and last letter home episode from Season 4, after “Dear Mildred” and “Dear Peggy.” As is the case with most letter home episodes, viewers must willingly suspend their disbelief and accept that Radar has been told about events he didn’t personally witness (like B.J. and the watch).

There are some issues with Radar’s letter. I realize that by Season 4, his character had changed significantly, becoming far more innocent and naive. But his line about writing slow because his mother can’t read fast? That’s not innocent or naive or funny–that’s painful. Much better is the revelation that he used to blame his father for dying when he was young. Apparently, Radar eventually realized dying wasn’t his father’s idea. It’s believable and adds a little depth to the character, particularly given his relationships with Colonels Blake and Potter.

Radar sure gets around as he writes his letter. He starts off on his cot drinking Grape Nehi and eating pretzels, heads to the Mess Tent for some coffee, then sits at his desk with a bottle of Grape Nehi in front of him, and ends up back on his cot with few more pretzels. Let’s tackle everything he mentions in the letter in chronological order:

Hawkeye Pierce, Foot Inspector
This almost could’ve been a standalone B story in another episode. As is often the case, we only see Hawkeye inspecting members of the main cast rather than nurses or corpsman. At one point, Radar tells his mother there are 200 people in the 4077th, which equates to 20,000 toes. His math is off considerably here so perhaps he’s also wrong about the personnel count.

We see Hawkeye inspect just six pairs of feet and they all have stories to tell. Colonel Potter learned about foot care from Truman; Margaret tries to hide her rendezvous with Frank; Klinger hopes to convince President Eisenhower to grant him a discharge; Father Mulcahy has a scar on his foot, courtesy of his sister; and Frank’s toes are painted red.

B.J. and the Watch
Poor, naive B.J. I can’t figure out exactly how Sergeant Callan’s scam works. Where does he get watches without gears? Does he buy cheap watches in bulk and remove the gears himself? If so, are the gears of a cheap watch worth enough for him to spend the time removing them? We never learn if B.J. gets his money back.

The Hungry North Korean Soldier
This doesn’t ring true for me. Frank has enough experience with the South Korean military to know better than to tackle someone just because they’re speaking Korean. He’s not that stupid. I’m surprised he didn’t post MPs at the Mess Tent and ask for identification.

Colonel Potter’s Injury
Who exactly told Radar that Colonel Potter was killed? Margaret and Potter roll up in their jeep and a minute later Radar runs outside to see what’s going on. Did Klinger talk to Radar while running to get help? If so, why did he tell Radar that Colonel Potter was dead? Also, there seems to be quite a lot of blood on Potter’s pants. There’s no mention of a Purple Heart. Finally, are we supposed to assume that Potter was shot by the same North Korean sniper Radar encountered in the Mess Tent?

I think that’s it. Have I missed anything?

Still from the M*A*S*H episode Dear Ma
Margaret tends to a wounded Colonel Potter.

Frank’s obsession with whitewashing the rocks in camp is first shown in “The Trial of Henry Blake” during Season 2. Also, Frank has had his hand twisted at least once before, by Colonel Buzz Brighton in “The Ringbanger” during Season 1.

Does Radar’s makeshift fridge show up in any other episodes? He made it out of shipping crate intended for human blood. Likewise, is there always a bottle opener next to the door and I’ve just never seen it before?

What exactly is the point of Goldman saluting Hawkeye next to the Swamp? Hawkeye says “You better be prepared to explain that” and then Goldman walks past B.J. Am I missing something? Is it just another example of how little Hawkeye cares for Army discipline?

12 Replies to “Episode Spotlight: Dear Ma”

  1. I really like this episode, as well as the Season 4 foursome of “The Gun,” “Mail Call Again,” “The Price of Tomato Juice,” and “Dear Ma.”

    There’s a certain feeling about this episode (as well as Season 4 in general) that almost has a simple, relaxed, and almost kind of “homey” feel to it, and I think that largely has to do with Jim Fritzell & Everett Greenbaum having been regular writers on THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW (and they were apparently both Andy and Don Knotts’ favorite writers on the show).

    And yes, I too assume that, for whatever reason, Klinger must have said something briefly to Radar about what happened to Potter when he ran off for help.

  2. An entertaining episode and a funny one, especially Frank’s misguided attempt to accost what he thought was a North Korean.

    Frank: Touch my toes and I’ll have you killed then court-martialed!
    A perfect example of Frank’s verbal short comings.

  3. Hawkeye: There was a parade on 5th Avenue. The sons and daughters of Mickey Rooney. I don’t get the joke at all. Did he really have so many children they could form a parade?

    1. Yes, that was a common joke about Mickey Rooney having so many kids. According to Wikipedia, he had nine (plus two stepchildren).

  4. Radar mentions that he ‘finally’ got a pet — Dopey the GuenaPig . What did he consider all the animals that Col Blake let him keep?

  5. How did a North Korean get past the camp MPs?

    Klinger’s remarks were directed at General Matthew Ridgeway, who arrived in Korea in 1951, however BJ didn’t arrive until September 1952.

  6. It was said that Potter was shot by a sniper, yet it was mentioned how much shrapnel they were pulling out and how deep it was. Was he shoot but a sniper or not? And how did he get shot in the can is he was riding in a Jeep? And where were the other casualties that Potter said would be rolling in when he arrived? Surprised there was no back story to how this all happened. It was night, why was he out at that hour, not in camp?

  7. Watch movements used to be really expensive, some still are, and if you had an “expensive” watch then it usually wasn’t the casing or the dial that made it so but the movement inside. Before modern production they used to be difficult to assemble; the modern quartz watch wasn’t developed until 1969, remember, and since the 80s mass production watches have been mostly solid state circuits. Before that it was all mechanical, and watchmaker used to be a very profitable professional trade. Selling people watches without movements used to be a very real scam. These days, not so much; but if anyone wants to sell you a vintage watch, or a big brand name, then check to make sure it still has the movement.

  8. In one another episode BJ finds a fly in his coffee . In an article Alan Alda said that
    he was bitten by flies a few times sleeping in that cot of his on the set.
    I am surprised they didn’t spray for those things.

  9. Another point is that this episode immediately follows “The price of Tomato Juice”, where Potter was allergic to tomato juice, yet in this one Potter makes sure he has plenty of extra ketchup to make Korean food more palatable.

    To be honest, I am just a little bit over so many “Dear NNN” episodes in the middle of season 4, it does seem a bit formulaic by now.

  10. I could have gone the entire run of this show without seeing the main cast’s feet.

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