This is the last episode of the first season of M*A*S*H. A troupe has shown up at the camp to entertain personnel. Members of the fictional troupe are based on real-life entertainers.
For example, we have musical numbers performed by three women called the Miller Sisters, that are obviously a nod to the Andrews Sisters who were more associated with WWII instead of Korea. In addition to the trio of lady singers, there is a stand-up comedian who is supposed to vaguely resemble Bob Hope.
There are two main subplots that hold our interest. The first one involves Trapper stepping away from the performances to operate on a critically wounded patient. I think Wayne Rogers does better with dramatic material than he does with comedy. It's nice to see him have the bulk of his scenes with someone besides Alan Alda for once- in this case Loretta Swit, since Margaret is the main one assisting Trapper in surgery.
The other subplot sees Henry back in his office with Radar awaiting news about the birth of a child back home. This story point seems to come out of nowhere, since there were no references in previous episodes that Henry's wife in Illinois was pregnant. We are told that this will be Henry's third child. The baby is a boy, weighing in at 7 pounds and two ounces. Sadly, Henry will never meet this son since he dies on the way home at the end of the show's third season. Incidentally, Henry's wife is named Mildred...Colonel Potter's wife will also have the name Mildred.
There is a bit of a nonlinear feel to this episode, since we keep cutting back to the comedian and singers, while watching the subplots play out.
For example, we have musical numbers performed by three women called the Miller Sisters, that are obviously a nod to the Andrews Sisters who were more associated with WWII instead of Korea. In addition to the trio of lady singers, there is a stand-up comedian who is supposed to vaguely resemble Bob Hope.
There are two main subplots that hold our interest. The first one involves Trapper stepping away from the performances to operate on a critically wounded patient. I think Wayne Rogers does better with dramatic material than he does with comedy. It's nice to see him have the bulk of his scenes with someone besides Alan Alda for once- in this case Loretta Swit, since Margaret is the main one assisting Trapper in surgery.
The other subplot sees Henry back in his office with Radar awaiting news about the birth of a child back home. This story point seems to come out of nowhere, since there were no references in previous episodes that Henry's wife in Illinois was pregnant. We are told that this will be Henry's third child. The baby is a boy, weighing in at 7 pounds and two ounces. Sadly, Henry will never meet this son since he dies on the way home at the end of the show's third season. Incidentally, Henry's wife is named Mildred...Colonel Potter's wife will also have the name Mildred.
There is a bit of a nonlinear feel to this episode, since we keep cutting back to the comedian and singers, while watching the subplots play out.