Page 1 of 1

(03x05) 053 - O.R.

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:45 am
by Big Daddy O'Reilly
I used to didn’t care for this episode very much, mainly because I found it difficult to invest in, since it basically took place in one location for almost the entire episode (similar to “Hawkeye” or “A Night at Rosie’s”), but in the last few years, I’ve kind of grown to appreciate it more for what it’s worth, and I do believe this was probably one of the finest earlier dramatic episodes they ever produced.

And it’s also a really good thing that M*A*S*H, in general, is such a brilliant and wonderfully written show, because for a laugh track nerd like myself, if there is no laugh track, I’m not interested, yet with certain episodes like this, you really don’t even miss it… heck, I honestly didn’t even realize there wasn’t a laugh track on “The Bus” or “Quo Vadis, Captain Chandler?” until it was pointed out to me, that’s how well written this show is when you don’t even pay attention to it.

But I think the biggest highlight of this episode is seeing why exactly Frank is the way he is, and I actually like that “moment” he has with Trapper.

FRANK: And, what I don’t understand is, why do people take an instant disliking to me.
TRAPPER: It saves people time, Frank.
FRANK: But deep down, there’s no REAL hatred, is there?
TRAPPER: Deep down? No. It’s just that you’re a joyless person, Frank. You’re D-U-L.
FRANK: I’m from a very strict family, we weren’t allowed to talk at meals, we couldn’t hum… anyone who’d hum would get a punch in the throat.
TRAPPER: That’s terrible.
FRANK: I think that’s why I became a snitch, so I could talk to someone.
TRAPPER: You were a snitch, Frank?
FRANK: I’d squeal on anybody. Once, in school, I caught my best friend smoking… I didn’t tattle on him, but later I snitched on myself for not snitching.
TRAPPER: Gimme a break, Frank. I’m very tired, I’m hearing you through the wrong end of the binoculars.
FRANK: All I’m asking is for you and Pierce to let up razzing me.
TRAPPER: Okay Frank.
FRANK: Friends?
TRAPPER: Friends, Frank, friends. No more hostility, no more hatred. Friends.
FRANK: :)
TRAPPER: Now shut up Frank, or I’ll kill ya.

Actually, it’s sceneslike this that lead me to believe that if anything, Frank desperately at least wanted to be friends with Trapper; he seemed to genuinely dislike Hawkeye, but Trapper on the other hand, he seemed to really want to be friends with.