M*A*S*H (TV Series) Images (1977) User Reviews

The Tattoo, the Skittish Nurse, and the Little Dog

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 30 March 2015]

A pretty young nurse has issues with emotions. Margaret has observed her leaving a patient or an operation to cry or withdraw in panic. She decides that his person is a threat to the wellbeing of the unit. Margaret wants her shipped out, but Potter won't have it. Margaret is put in the position of the unfeeling tyrant versus the reality of her commission. Meanwhile, Radar is impressed by a guy who comes in for surgery. He is covered with tattoos. Radar decides that in order to change his image, he should get a tattoo. Of course, his friends are ruthless. Another brief moment has to do with a scrawny little dog that has come to the MASH unit. People are feeding him and feeling a connection to him. This dog's fate provides a tipping point in this episode.

Another episode which develops the Loretta Swit character

[gfrost7617 · 8/10 · 24 January 2022]

It's the usual with Radar. He's still caught between being a solider who not too long ago, was a teenager in a small town. The big story line is the development of the Loretta Swit character from a floosie, one dimensional character into a character with many colours and shades and textures.

Growing pains

[kellielulu · 8/10 · 3 February 2023]

The heavy plot in this episode has a young nurse named Cooper easily moved by the wounded soldiers. This is a source of conflict in the camp although it's moving it's not nearly as contentious as many similar plots had . The writing and acting here the tone is just right. Margaret wants her transferred to a less stressful place. The other nurses go around Margaret and ask BJ and Hawkeye to run interference for Cooper . At the same time Potter is willing to give Cooper more time to adjust. Margaret is extremely annoyed by by everyone's leniency towards Cooper . A little dog ultimately is what breaks the harsher outer shield of Margaret. We have seen this before with Margaret when she is around children. Hawkeye gives her a place to let down her guard and she is able to finally see Cooper in a more understanding way .

The B plot is lighter and amusing as Radar considers getting a tattoo after a patient covers with them seems to generate interest and opinions by a few characters . The lengths BJ and Hawkeye go to stop Radar are not as extreme as usual but they want to make sure he sees the downside of having one. Potter agrees with them and related an amusing story to demonstrate who a tattoo might change over time. Charles thinks it's the common man's art . Radar goes ahead and gets one in the end literally! But it's actually temporary and fits his personality. It's also interesting to me because while temporary Radar's tattoo is different from the usual and now it's become much more common to get a tattoo that's more individualized.

A good episode that shows another , softer side of Margaret ( after showing an even harder side) and Radar experimenting with his image.

The puppy and the teddy bear

[safenoe · 8/10 · 29 September 2020]

Radar tries to be a man by having a tattoo, despite the protestations of Potter, Hawkeye and BJ. He ends up getting a removable tattoo of a teddy bear on his bottom. Margaret falls for an abandoned puppy in the 4077th. This demonstrates her soft side. This shows another dimension to Margaret, post-Frank Burns.