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Re: Least Favorite Episodes

Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 10:45 am
by Obie
You certainly don't sound like a M*A*S*H fan.

Re: Least Favorite Episodes

Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 4:34 pm
by 5'O'clockcharlie
I think its a fair question.

Re: Least Favorite Episodes

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:43 am
by kkt
Least favorites to me, For Want of a Boot and The Great Longjohn Flap. Lots of dealmaking that falls apart, not much of any redeeming features.

I am amazed that many people dislike seeing Charles. Frank, in my opinion, was an unbelievable butt of every joke, utterly incompetent at everything with no redeeming features whatsoever. It's not believable that he could have graduated high school, let alone college, let alone medical school, let alone impressed Margaret enough to have an affair with him. Charles was a much more interesting character, with good points as well as flaws.

Re: Least Favorite Episodes

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 4:24 pm
by Big Daddy O'Reilly
I can agree that "For Want of a Boot" is a pretty meh episode, but "The Long-John Flap" is actually a favorite of mine, I don't know why, lol.

As for Frank and Charles, my problem is that Charles actually would go out of his way to be unlikable - Frank simply just brought it on himself, it was just who he was, he was a weasely twerp, he couldn't and wouldn't change, but Charles seemed to purposely be rotten; he didn't like being exiled to the 4077th, he didn't want to form any kind of mutual relationship with anyone in camp, and he showed it. He even shows pleasure in the other's misfortunes with a, "Better you than me" attitude. Even in GFA, during the final goodbyes, he only seemed sincere in his farewell to Margaret and Potter, but half-hearted to Hawkeye and B.J.

But, David Ogden Stiers is so wonderful at that type of pompous and snobbish character that he DOES make Charles an amusing, and at times, genuinely funny character... "The humidity here is disastrous, please send me some deodorant... I don't care about the others, I just don't want to offend myself..." XD

Re: Least Favorite Episodes

Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 2:18 pm
by Grove17
The dreams episode was def my least fav. Its just weird, I understand there's some sort of artistic thought behind it of some kind, but I just didn't like it, personal opinion I guess.

Re: Least Favorite Episodes

Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:01 am
by noman
After "The Late Captain Pierce" it should have ended... Every epsiode after that {Except "For the Abduction of MArgaret Houlihan} I dislike especially since thay had to drag it that Series on again-for example "A War For ALL seasons" is one I dislike....and is the FInale

Re: Least Favorite Episodes

Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 4:21 am
by Moe_Hawk
Hi all, new to this forum and found this to be a fascinating read...

A few interesting themes have emerged for mine:
It seems to me that a few forumites don't like episodes that either are intentionally not funny, or don't portray their favourite characters in a positive light or happy outcome.

For the first the point, I think it's important for the series growth that MASH expands beyond the comedic aspect, and demonstrates the other side to the "outrageousness" that they live through that is evident in the first few seasons... playing golf in the minefield is one thing, but it is a minefield and those things are designed to kill.
The Late Captain Pierce, is one of the earlier examples of this shift... and I'm surprised to see it's presence here so heavily supported. It's actually one of the better episodes IMO. Hawkeye gets cut off, the issue of his mortality is forced upon him, it impacts those he's closest to, he's made completely powerless to stop it, and as he's not getting paid... he for a moment in time, has no reason to be there at MASH other than to save the lives of those he has done nothing to hurt, and this terrible place is completely dependent on him to function.

On the second, I have to say, I'm completely miffed to see the Goodbye Radar collection mentioned... 2 of the better episodes of the entire series IMO. Yeah Radar is grumpy and frustrated but to me this demonstrates the growth and maturity of the character. The MASH has been dependent on this young man to function for far too long and under that burden, he gets tired... realises how this has impacted on his life.
Personally, I really enjoy this version of the character... if he'd been more like this, more of an adult character, adjusting to the horror around him rather than the naive "aw shuks, jiminy cricket" yokel country boy... I think both a lot more could have been achieved with the character, and I reckon Gary would have stayed on until the finally.

Hawkeye is another episode that is unfairly maligned
here's why

As for my own list... just found the page so bear with me... at a pinch my least favorite'ish episodes that spring to mind are:

-The More I see you: Not terrible but very awkward to watch
-The Nurses: it would mean something if they were regular cast members or we ever saw them again
-Movie Tonight: The sync singing bothers me, esp with BJ singing about infidelity
-The Light That Failed: Fair call on this one... they work too hard on making Winchester an outright ass as opposed to just being pompous... they get it right eventually
-The Grim Reaper: Sergeant Deathmonger was it? very lame
-Peace on Us: A bit much on the Hawkeye megalomaniac side
-Dear Comrade: I like it but it ends with a line to the effect of "as for capturing Major Winchester, forget it, he's a big jerk"... shocking script writing
-Bless you Hawkeye: Silly
- Bottle Fatigue: Margaret lies for her friend who is very clearly an alco, in a way that compromises lie... goes against everything she stands for
- The foresight saga: is just awful, corny, lame, terrible script

Re: Least Favorite Episodes

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:56 pm
by NurseFran
Love that I found an active forum for MASH fans, but after reading some of these posts of "least favorite episodes," I have to wonder, what kind of MASH fans are all of you?
Your opinion is your opinion, but some of your choices make no sense. Anyhoo...
My choices are:
Hawkeye -- if Alan Alda wanted to do a one-man show, he should've just waited 'til hiatus and went to Broadway.
In Love and War -- has nothing to do with MASH.
Dreams -- yay, let's put some Nightmare on Elm Street in a sitcom.

-anything that tries to "send a message." Maybe in that space and time, in the '70s, early '80s, it worked for half an hour, but they have not stood the test of time.

Re: Least Favorite Episodes

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 9:48 am
by Mr Kwong
My top 10 least favorite episodes; Yes I know my first 3 are the same as the previous poster..

1. Hawkeye - 22+ minutes of Alan Alda's ego
2. Dreams - Among MASH fans,it's the consensus pick for the worst ever
3. In love and war - see #1
4. Edwina - a generic blah episode from season 1
5. Comrades in arms - "we're getting shelled!,..lets make out!"
6. Goodbye Radar - too drawn out, plus it's clear Gary Burghoff doesn't care any more, the 20-ish innocent Radar suddenly becomes a cranky 30 something
7. Cowboy - see #4
8. Say no more - The only thing more annoying than Loretta Swit screeching is Loretta Swit with Laryngitis grunting 2 word phrases like Tonto
9. Bless you Hawkeye - You ever notice EVERYTHING happens to Hawkeye (Insomnia, night terrors, back problems,) yeah me too
10. Our finest hour - c'mon NOBODY likes clip shows..

Re: Least Favorite Episodes

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 12:59 pm
by Doug
I tend to agree with most of what people have written here. Allow me to add these episodes:

The Moose (1x05). Preachy and tedious. Yes, Hawkeye, we get you don't like the demeaning attitude that many Americans hold toward Koreans. And OF COURSE, Yong Hi gets it and breaks away from being a moose.

Sometimes You Hear The Bullet (1x17). I'm sure many will disagree with me, but I find it overly heavy for season 1, even with Henry's speech toward the end. The actor playing Tommy is way too old to be playing a guy who volunteered for the Infantry, and even too old to be a school friend of Hawkeye's. I also dislike the way that the tag at the end (when they give Wendell/Walter the Purple Heart) is cut off in syndication.

Showtime (1x24). It has the feeling of being rushed into production because they renewed the show for another season. The whole USO plot was a waste, and gets recycled at the beginning of season 10 (That's Show Biz). But, the rest of the episode is fine. Especially Henry's son being born (contradicted later on) and the paranoid dentist going home.

L.I.P. (Local Indigenous Personnel) (2x07). Again with the heavy-handed approach to the institutional racism of those times. But, the bit with the Lieutenant from CID was funny.

Alcoholics Unanimous (3x09). Except for Father Mulcahy getting blasted before doing a sermon about drinking, the episode is forgettable and another example of "See, Frank is a jackass!"

The Gun (4X14). Really??? Potter doesn't suspect Frank immediately or confront him???? Nor does Margaret, even though he shows her the revolver in question and tells her it's his????? Really?????

Souvenirs (5x23). Another meh, overly preachy episode.

Fallen Idol (6x03). It just feels out of character for both Hawkeye and Radar.

Last Laugh (6x04). Very meh. Nothing really noteworthy about it.

Dr. Winchester and Mr. Hyde (6x24). It seems to me that it's out of character for as knowledgeable a doctor as Charles to get hooked on amphetamines. Feels like a leftover Frank plotline.

Period Of Adjustment (8x06). Just a bad episode. Overly maudlin, and it totally ignores the fact that Klinger had been filling in as clerk for quite a while, and was competent at it, only to become incompetent after Radar leaves. Just lazy on the writers part.

War Co-Respondent (8x23). Very meh. Just why does Aggie fall for BJ? It it in contrast to Hawkeye? And just why does BJ fall for Aggie? Plus, it's the same territory covered in the earlier episode Hanky Panky (5x19), which establishes that BJ really loves his wife.

I also don't care for most of seasons 9-11. Lots of repeating plots, or episodes that feel forced. The writers should have started planning for the finale in season 7, when they penned BJ Papa San (7x16) and Inga (7x17).

Re: Least Favorite Episodes

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2018 12:12 am
by kkt
Mr Kwong wrote: Mon Sep 03, 2018 9:48 am 2. Dreams - Among MASH fans,it's the consensus pick for the worst ever
Well, "Dreams" is actually among my top 3 or so favorites, depending my mood when you ask me. Yes, it's kind of strange and dark, but I don't watch MASH for lighthearted comedy.

Re: Least Favorite Episodes

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 4:45 pm
by Ferret Face
My least favorite is probably "That Darn Kid." Granted, there are some others that may technically be worse, but I really dislike that episode. My biggest issue being that there were already episodes where Hawkeye got into some kind of money trouble, like when Radar wrote down his sarcastic request for money to compensate him for his time there, or when someone stole the money he was supposed to exchange for new army scrip. I know there were other cases of episodes that repeated past stories, with varied results, but a lot of times they at least tried to bring something different than before. Colonel Potter's army friend is responsible for soldiers getting injured? It was repeated, and I can see why people may not care for the second episode because of that, but there were some interesting scenes between Potter and his friend. A patient gets injured and loses the limb that's most important to him for his career (football/piano playing)? That repeated storyline led to one of the greater Charles stories of the series IMO. Hell, even when the repeated story didn't work out as well as they had hoped ("Of Moose and Men"), at least they tried to do something different with it. But here? All that was really different was "Haha, a goat ate it."

Re: Least Favorite Episodes

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2019 9:55 am
by BeccaLeo1972
1. Preventative Medicine
2. Hawkeye
3. In Love and War
4. A Full Rich Day
5. Change Day
6. Edwina
7. B.J. Papa San
8. Fallen Idol
9. Cowboy
10. Love Story
11. Major Fred C Dobbs
12. Love and Marriage
13. Ain't Love Grand
14. Guerrilla My Dreams
15. The Best of Enemies
16. The Joker Is Wild
17. Friends and Enemies

Re: Least Favorite Episodes

Posted: Thu May 02, 2019 1:39 am
by JocularityGirl
"Hawkeye". I saw it once, don't care to see it again.

Re: Least Favorite Episodes

Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 10:19 pm
by Keith1980
By far the worst is “hawkeye”. Compleat and total bore of an episode.

Over the years I've changed on how i feel the best and worst shows are. I guess u do that as u get older lol. For me if u want comedy watch the first 3 seasons. Not many of those come across as great episodes to me anymore. Sometimes you hear the bullet is good and their are others like Kim. But for me the serious episodes the more dramatic episodes are better and u dont get many in the first 3 seasons. Its more comedy driven. Not saying its bad or anything. But the later more dramatic i think are a lot better. Bu the time Winchester shows up i think they really start focusing more in the dramatic and less in the comedy. After Radar goes home and Klinger takes over. Ot really shows klinger as more than just a comedy cluck lol. I think his transformation in the last few seasons were awesome. As with Margaret and others.