Radar and the Colonels
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 7:08 pm
Another topic from BCA I think can be brought over here for discussion.
What is your take on Radar and both Henry and Potter? He obviously developed a close relationship with both of them, but who do you believe he ultimately grew closer to? Who do you think was really a father-figure for him?
I've come to agree with the notion most fans have garnered that Potter had more of a father-son relationship with Radar (Harry has even said that Gary was like a son to him), whereas Henry's was more of a big brother-little brother relationship.
I could go on, but I'll share only little tidbits into it... like take for example the Colonels' involvement with other women: Henry had flings with various different nurses in camp, in Season One, he had a mistress in Leslie Scorch, and in Season Two, a girl half his age, Nancy Sue Parker... all the while, Radar would look the other way, or not think anything of it, though he did sort of bring Henry and Lorraine back together through the phone. Potter on the other hand, Radar absolutely flipped out over the very notion that Potter could possibly cheat on Mildred, and made a big deal out of him becoming chummy with the visiting Lil Rayburn.
True he had trouble adjusting to Potter in the beginning, but that seemed to change pretty quickly with his first gesture of wanting to be friends: giving Potter Sophie. Henry "left" twice, once he was transfered to Tokyo, and the other when he was discharged, neither time, Radar didn't seem too upset, except for Henry's final departure where he teared up on the helipad, but when Potter announced he was going to retire and put in for a stateside transfer, everyone including him were upset over Potter leaving, and worked to try to get him to stay.
On top of that, Potter seemed more affectionate towards him than Henry at times: Henry didn't want a sappy goodbye between them when he was trasnfered to Tokyo, and with the possible ceasefire, his talk of them getting together sometime after the war seemed more like he was humoring Radar rather than be serious, though it's clear that the hug that he gave Radar before leaving for the last time was genuine (McLean even said that hug wasn't even scripted, he just did it as a final goodbye to Gary), whereas Potter was brought to tears as Radar was leaving the 4077th.
What is your take on Radar and both Henry and Potter? He obviously developed a close relationship with both of them, but who do you believe he ultimately grew closer to? Who do you think was really a father-figure for him?
I've come to agree with the notion most fans have garnered that Potter had more of a father-son relationship with Radar (Harry has even said that Gary was like a son to him), whereas Henry's was more of a big brother-little brother relationship.
I could go on, but I'll share only little tidbits into it... like take for example the Colonels' involvement with other women: Henry had flings with various different nurses in camp, in Season One, he had a mistress in Leslie Scorch, and in Season Two, a girl half his age, Nancy Sue Parker... all the while, Radar would look the other way, or not think anything of it, though he did sort of bring Henry and Lorraine back together through the phone. Potter on the other hand, Radar absolutely flipped out over the very notion that Potter could possibly cheat on Mildred, and made a big deal out of him becoming chummy with the visiting Lil Rayburn.
True he had trouble adjusting to Potter in the beginning, but that seemed to change pretty quickly with his first gesture of wanting to be friends: giving Potter Sophie. Henry "left" twice, once he was transfered to Tokyo, and the other when he was discharged, neither time, Radar didn't seem too upset, except for Henry's final departure where he teared up on the helipad, but when Potter announced he was going to retire and put in for a stateside transfer, everyone including him were upset over Potter leaving, and worked to try to get him to stay.
On top of that, Potter seemed more affectionate towards him than Henry at times: Henry didn't want a sappy goodbye between them when he was trasnfered to Tokyo, and with the possible ceasefire, his talk of them getting together sometime after the war seemed more like he was humoring Radar rather than be serious, though it's clear that the hug that he gave Radar before leaving for the last time was genuine (McLean even said that hug wasn't even scripted, he just did it as a final goodbye to Gary), whereas Potter was brought to tears as Radar was leaving the 4077th.