Hawkeye and Potter

Hawkeye remembers a great conversation with Colonel Potter while writing his will.

[@Mojorisun666]

That's what good leaders do. Potter knew Hawkeye needed to take his mind off surgery for a bit, a mini-vacation in his mind. Good leaders know when to do that.

[@jeffburnham6611]

Both Hawkeye and BJ resented Potter at first since he was Regular Army. After their first stint in the OR together when Potter mentions he could use a drink, they sort of warmed to each other since Potter also had a still when he served in WW1.

[@dpm-jt8rj]

@@jeffburnham6611 That episode you referred to is one of the best, of several. "...That's how I got my Purple Heart!"

[@Jay-n262]

It didn't take long for them to warm up to Potter. The look of Franks face when Potter said to Klinger nice dress after that first night in the OR.

[@pauljohnson3340]

@@Jay-n262 Potter was probably one of those "seen it all" types. As long as Max did his job, which he did very well, Sherman didn't care, and I got the impression that he knew everyone above him since he'd served for so long.

[@RIZEorDIE]

I never even thought of that. That is a good take on this scene

[@randywoods67]

I'm trying to imagine a scene as lovely and quiet as this in a one-camera 2022 sitcom... No way in hell would we ever see something as relaxed, well-written and naturalistic as this. Writers and directors today just don't appreciate actual conversations that build character development. Or perhaps they're never allowed to let a scene progress organically under the three-jokes-a-minute quota.

[@astraluna6is9]

You can’t. Neither can I

[@peterbanos703]

The writing on this show and the chemistry they all had was simply remarkable.

[@NavyMonk89]

This and TNG defined my upbringing.

[@stephenfrank2397]

It helps alan alda was a writer, director, producer, and actor.

[@Metalman200xdamnit]

Indeed.

[@pavelfolpi]

Egyértelműen!

[@MaistoHelix]

Because they considered themselves family.. You should see the reunion shows..

[@pbetftdi]

Alan Alda is so good here. It’s a fictional accounting of a fishing experience and I pictured myself in the water working on snagging the fish with him. So good!

[@General_Crock]

That's funny, but Alda portraying a guy who likes to fish just doesn't wash with me. I don't buy this scene, unfortunately.

[@Riverrockphotos]

Who know could be somewhat of a true story that happened to him.

[@sharkyfish3492]

Potter was a very kind but firm leader. We need more men like him in our lives

[@janinecox256]

He also understands the human condition and he knew hiw to handle Frank burns even though he was a bit snotty with Potter but Potter gave as good as he got!

[@billfitzgibbon6664]

For a short moment they were no longer Colonel and Captain in a war. .. Just fishermen...

[@pauljohnson3340]

They were fellow doctors

[@berniejacque4544]

I missed Henry, but Potter turned out to be a great commander of the 4077 Army field hospital. It was a well acted series by all.

[@thecowboy9698]

Personally, I thought he was way better than Henry Blake. Potter knew when to be serious, and knew just to what level he needed to exercise his authority, but he also knew how to have fun as well. I like Henry, but what I didn't like about him is the fact that he cheated on his wife.

[@bigmevy1]

I just really liked the fact they didn't try to make them the same character, Potter and Blake were completely different leaders and the writing/acting reflected that. Still one of my favorite TV series of all time...

[@sakar181]

@@thecowboy9698 LtCol Blake was a draftee also, if I recall correctly. Hence the reason why Hawkeye & BeeJay (lol) were so worried about a full fledged Army (career man) taking the helm of the 4077. He hadn't had *decades* of doctrine drilled into him.

[@samuelfawell9159]

Potter added a sense of maturity, of a man who had done it longer than any of them and how it never got any easier

[@johnthomsen8817]

The same was true of Major Houlihan. You respected her like Winchester.

[@rudyjones6108]

Harry Morgan added so much to the show as Sherman T. Potter.

[@MatthewvMayo]

Yes he did. I grew up watching this show. He was my favorite after Hawkeye.

[@kerriethompson2073]

He was so much better than Blake.

[@kevinyost5635]

Yes he did

[@edwarddeguzman3258]

@Jason my favorites are after they Yeeted Frank

[@pazuzu66613]

Yeah. The show really reached its full potential once the cast changeover happened.

[@steves2694]

The skill an actor uses to take a paper script and make the words human, with inflection, and body language; to make the scene seem so natural, is amazing.

[@yt.personal.identification]

The cheers at the end.. BJ just recognises his friends stitch work, and realises he is still alive and helping casualties.

[@christrotter3052]

Right? Amazing

[@nrkgalt]

BJ’s concern was an example of fog of war. Hawkeye was sent to a battalion aid station to replace a surgeon there who was killed. BJ was told that a surgeon at a battalion aid station was killed, and he thought it was Hawkeye.

[@johnmunro4952]

The BBC showed MASH without the laugh track. It didn't make it any less hilarious, but it really added to these exquisitely written scenes.

[@CarlB_1962]

I remember that, it was so unusual back then. 9pm on Wednesdays on BBC2. Happy days.

[@asterix811]

At first I thought you must be misremembering, that the laugh track was part of the show and couldn’t be removed. Then I looked on Google. Ricky Gervais said he remembered seeing it for the first time without a laugh track. And apparently at least one release on DVD allows you to turn off the laugh track. Btw, Larry Gelbart always hated it. CBS insisted on it.

[@bjwessels]

Really? That's kind of fascinating. Just seems so weird a concept to wrap my head around.

[@asterix811]

@@bjwessels I've since seen an episode with the laugh track removed and it was strange. You just end up with awkward long pauses between lines, where the laughtrack used to be.

[@SavageGreywolf]

Scenes like this in the surgery always had no laugh track, even if something funny was said. I've seen the version without the laugh track and I'm not quite sure I like it, mostly because as noted above it has pauses in it because the dialogue would halt for expected canned laughter. It's probably just what I grew up used to, though.

[@Dave-bo8ry]

Another marathon session in another episode. Hawkeye: How long have we been at this? Potter: I began surgery in 1942. Hawkeye: I meant this session. Potter: So did I.

[@ldcraig2006]

LOL...that was a good one. I loved Harry Morgan as Colonel Potter. I've seen him in other parts -- "Dragnet", "The Glenn Miller Story", "The Apple Dumpling Gang" to name a few -- but my favorite of him was always Colonel Sherman T. Potter.

[@lorenzodelarosa5659]

The episode he referring to is season five episode 11 Hawkeye get your gun

[@pauljohnson3340]

@@ldcraig2006 he was also pretty good in The Shootist

[@jediknight1294]

@@ldcraig2006 he did an incredible job as Potter, we got very lucky that he got a second bite at the show as his first character was both poorly written and an arsehole

[@christinemeleg4535]

I have had days like that working as a RN in Emergency Department,especially holidays, seemed to last for months when it was hours.

[@drkushajagadeesh6347]

For those who might be wondering why BJ cheers aloud at the end there, it's because he sees Hawkeye's sutures in a wounded man. Hawkeye is at an aid station which is under fire, and all communications have been cut off due to the shelling. So, seeing Hawk's sutures was a clear sign that he was alive and well. ✌😁

[@pavelfolpi]

I went to Maine in 2019 all the way from Europe, Prague because of this scene. Believe me or not, I actually don't care so much. Maine is a beautiful place, piece of heaven. Gonna never forget Popham Beach ❤️

[@lolomgmetobavi]

Would love to go there someday too, seems like a great place. Greetings from a fellow MASH lover and Czech. :D

[@pavelfolpi]

@Time Traveller Unfortunately not. But I found so many beautiful other places I don't even regret 👍 just one unpopular opinion: lobsters ain't good bro

[@raysimoglou2947]

Thanks I live in Maine it’s a beautiful state we are very grateful come back anytime!

[@InformationIsTheEdge]

I vacationed in Maine many times! I even camped at and fished the St Croix river that Hawkeye mentioned. Everywhere you look, postcard views. A fine example of the beauty of the American north east.

[@ldcraig2006]

How far was that from Crabapple Cove? *wink*

[@delwynbailey5570]

I love Potter’s one liners. He was a great addition to the cast and when Charles joined it was my favourite lineup.

[@kimiisungstartedthekoreanw2771]

David Odgen-Stiers had a parentally neglected childhood and became gay for it. See the well-researched webpage Mygenes.co.nz on that.charled was a totally scripted character by writers.

[@amramjose]

buffalo chips!!!

[@jerrykinnin7941]

@@kimiisungstartedthekoreanw2771 so what Winchester was everything Ferretface was not.

[@bigroy38]

Horse hockey!

[@matthewjones2095]

@@kimiisungstartedthekoreanw2771 you don't become gay you fool

[@logangagnepain7154]

Didnt feel like an act... It felt so real. The entire show was like that. I truly adore it.

[@irenestewart1942]

Morgan was the best! Fantastic actor!

[@utubeDaveutube]

was he ever!

[@pauldickens2434]

Him and Alan both. I hope you have a good day.🤙

[@numlockkilla]

Also in dragnet.

[@dantean]

I'd forgotten this scene as well as Alda's speech. More than that, Harry Morgan's contribution to the series goes underappreciated but was brilliant. A pro's pro in every respect! RIP, Harry.

[@archangelstormrider3695]

Uhhh that's Harry Morgan. H A R R Y

[@archangelstormrider3695]

@@dantean hey the comment should get the actor's name right to do otherwise disrespects a great and legendary actor.

[@dantean]

​@@archangelstormrider3695 To do otherwise, in this instance, was to confuse his name with that of the great humorist and radio personality Henry Morgan IN THE MIDDLE OF PAYING TO TRIBUTE TO HARRY. The point was you're obviously a small sort of a fellow to be shitting on my paying Harry tribute simply to demonstrate what a clever guy you've mistaken yourself for. Hence "Archangel Stormrider." Tell me you weren't wearing a cape while devising that awful moniker?

[@archangelstormrider3695]

@@dantean ok well maybe I overshot my response. Never heard of a Henry Morgan. As for my Screen name here it is a mash up of nicknames bestowed on me while I was serving in the United States Army for 20 Years. Military Uniform... Greater than a cape.

[@dantean]

@@archangelstormrider3695 Did you delete my comment you're responding to? How much lower can you go in my estimation of you?!

[@petecapravos617]

Potter and Pierce definitely had a father-son type relationship. They showed great respect towards each other and they truly liked each other, also.

[@wrlord]

After watching Dragnet and so many old movies with Harry Morgan (he usually played a heavy, except notably in the Ox Bow Incident), one would never really know that he was such a fine actor. So glad he got a chance to show us.

[@susanheston4483]

One of my favorite shows. It still brings tears to my eyes.

[@BladeLigerV]

I loved these two’s relationship.

[@xaenon]

I loved this show. I'll bet I've seen every episode at least 20 times. It just doesn't get old.

[@janetskelley2198]

When someone left MASH, there was always another brilliant replacement character. They were all wonderful which made MASH my favorite show of all time.

[@janetskelley2198]

@Jennifer Feather Actually I don't agree. I liked Colonel Blake and Trapper and Frank Burns, but Colonel Potter, BJ and Charles were equally as great in my opinion.

[@herrzimm]

Blake was so good at relieving stress as a commander by telling jokes or going along with the gag for morale. Potter, on the other hand, was a "no-nonsense" type leader, but he cared so much for the people under his command that he could easily tailor his approach to their problems and it came from his heart. He KNEW Hawkeye (Pierce) was burned out and needed to get away from it, but he couldn't. So, he helped him take a "vacation in his mind" by recalling a memory of fishing with his dad, or on the sea, or in the river. For one brief moment, Hawkeye was transported back to being a kid, remembering his father, a sea trip, a river trip, and an adventure trying to capture a fish... one of the best "vacations" he could have had, without leaving his seat and all within just a few minutes. Enough to make an emotional connection to Potter, look forward to time off to go fishing with Potter, AND renew the energy to get back into the OR and operate for several more hours. Blake was a GOOD commander. But Potter was the PERFECT commander.

[@joeblack333]

My last squadron commander was exactly that same way. He was a true leader of men and I'll never forget him.

[@srmcd1]

This scene alone makes me think Blake and Potter would've been good friends had they ever met

[@Chirpysemperboy]

Potter teaching Blake to be more take charge and Blake just being the goof.

[@randywoods67]

Potter was the father figure Hawkeye so dearly needed and missed from home.

[@LB__1]

In real life, Harry Morgan and Mclean Stevenson were actually good friends.

[@Indurok]

I really love this scene. When Hawkeye tells his story, it just feels so real.

[@f150truck6]

Their friendship was great.

[@jasonraczkowski6001]

He was like a Father to him

[@HunterKiller762]

My gunnery sgt and me used to joke and share stores like that whenever we had down time. He was firm, fair, but never let his rank get to his head.

[@AlanCanon2222]

Full props to the lighting director and director of photography. This was shot on 35mm motion picture film, like all of MASH, by a crew that really cared.

[@luisbperez368]

Back in '82, at USCG TRACEN N.Y. Electronic Tech school after the training day, all TVs in the barracks were tuned to watch M*A*S*H. ant the TV room was completely packed. Good old days.

[@UmbrellaWatch]

Same here my friend. As an old man now I miss the common room days. Foosball and a tv.

[@InformationIsTheEdge]

This show was a big deal to me as a kid. I didn't realize how big a deal until much later when the lessons my folks pointed out were in these shows, became relevant.

[@NavyMonk89]

Here here

[@mikeobii]

Man I love this scene. Every time I see it.

[@zachflynn65]

Me to and love to fish when I can ☺

[@adamwelch4336]

It's a good one the episode in general is just great!

[@tomservo5347]

Sherman Potter was a believable 'Show-Me' Stater.

[@toddstein5407]

Harry Morgan was actually from Muskegon, MI

[@RatatRatR]

However, they should've made Hawkeye a New Yorker, because it was so obvious that Alan Alda was.

[@eugenemelendi1589]

2 Great Actors, Alan Alda and the late Great Harry Morgan.

[@KaosandRiot]

As a teenager in the 80s I never appreciated the quality of writing Golden age of tv was 60s-80s Such memorable shows and characters that are timeless

[@zachflynn65]

Seems so real just good writing love this show

[@dpm-jt8rj]

This entire episode was fantastic.

[@stevenfrasier5718]

Wow, that dialogue was so realistic -- what a phenomenal cast.

[@ricosuave8123]

Hands down, without a doubt … the best show ever to be put on TV. 👍

[@fnln544]

COL Potter shares a moment with CPT Pierce. I shared a few similar moments with a COL when I was a CPT... just 2 men sitting side by side...having a down to Earth talk...then we went back to the business we were trained for as Soldiers. Thanks, COL.

[@odysseusrex5908]

It's too bad they never did an episode about the two of them going fishing together.

[@BrowncoatInABox]

Correct me if I’m wrong but I think there’s a scene

[@odysseusrex5908]

@@BrowncoatInABox If so, I'm unaware of it. Can you remember anything else about the episode?

[@BrowncoatInABox]

@@odysseusrex5908 I do not remember anything else. I think it was a cold open. I could be wrong though

[@sbfcapnj]

THIS is how you establish rapport with your troops.

[@Tommy1977777]

Colonel Potter is doing something that flies under the radar today with most folks: he's being a good leader. In giving Hawkeye something else to focus on, ANYTHING else, he couldn't focus on the horror of surgery and combat.

[@michaelbarclay1327]

Why we loved it. Watched the last episode in a Day Room at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas while attending Lab School at The Academy of Health Sciences. Memories.

[@brianwinter4019]

I got to watch the final in the day room of my barracks at Kundan AB, South Korea. Cool memories.

[@adamwsaxe]

Potter was a doctor but also a "soldier." In reality, army medical centers and forward operating hospitals are not as "loose" as MASH portrayed. However, if you ask a military doctor or nurse if they're a soldier first (or Airman, Marine, Coast Guardman, etc.) you may get a muddled response. The docs, nurses, and techs are required to make splint-second decisions if necessary. But using a slightly different part of the brain than an infantryman. That said, they always need a more soldier than doctor at the head of the chain.

[@christinemeleg4535]

I worked with a trauma surgeon who was in VietNam, he said he was a doctor stuffed into a uniform, the branch of the military was never important, one of the finest doctors to work with.

[@davidschmidt6013]

Such an incredible show, Watched it for the whole run... Sorry/Glad to have found these snippets...goodbye good night's sleep... lol

[@NiVi192]

They are incredibly hard to pick but I consider this to be one of the very best M*A*S*H* episodes they ever shot!

[@SiliconBong]

In fifty years there'll still be an episode of M*A*S*H playing on a television channel somewhere in the world.

[@BrowncoatInABox]

I’m partial to C*A*V*E

[@dirkdiggler5637]

The episode was "Where there's a will, there's a war" and it sums up perfectily what made Mash such a great series. Intelligence and heart.

[@BrowncoatInABox]

This is the episode that still makes me cry

[@bodidley5015]

The colonel was a good skipper. He knew his mission and his people.

[@Keith-es2xf]

Harry morgan's character colonel potter reminds me alot of my grandpa he was easy spoken,cld be hot tempered at times but wld always listen first before jumping to conclusions and wld always help who ever needed if he cld and always defend someone no matter who it was against amen

[@Vnachi8]

That's command experience and leadership at it's finest.

[@moboutmen]

Perfect Pacing.

[@colinpreston80]

The older I get, the more I wish to just sit on a creek bank and fish.

[@k.gubi6914]

Amen

[@VoiceNerd]

I literally have no idea what episode this is from. This is phenomenal! What a brilliantly written scene. Well acted too! Just another long list of reasons why I love Colonel Potter as my favorite character

[@Indurok]

The name of the episode is "Where There's a Will, There's a War".

[@amyfisher6380]

Hawkeye is temporarily assigned to an aid station at the front where their regular surgeon was killed, and he thinks he might be killed, too, so he writes his will while he’s there.

[@carolynm8421]

Potter knew exactly what to say to help Hawkeye go back into that hellish situation. What amazing writing and acting.

[@johnjohnson8669]

Sherman T. Potter IS the best officer.

[@johannemilsom7503]

So great to see Hawkeye get into the reminiscing...... Colonel Potter was a great man. These special moments in M.A.S.H were the best!❤

[@Kurogane_666]

Hawkeye is my favorite character, and Potter reminds me of my father way too much, when I'm feeling low or sad, I'll watch an episode where potter is in a fatherly position, I miss this show, and Dad way too much

[@ThorsonWiles]

10 more seconds !!! ( Damnit ) That was on of several great episodes.

[@janicepowell2188]

Mash is my favorite show to watch on DVD s but hopefully on tv soon

[@archangelstormrider3695]

It's on Hulu.

[@jedilove1972]

Col Potter did that a lot to the camp multiple times he just knew what to say when needed he didn't just become the company commander but it's needed father figure

[@spitfire4sergi]

I just can’t except the fact that this was written on paper, I have never seen a TV show or even a movie just come out so naturally

[@carcheckerjr9498]

Interesting at the 1:24 mark Hawkeye mentions the St Croix River. It's an actual river that separates Maine with New Brunswick, Canada. I live 8km from where it starts by emptying out of Spednic Lake. However, you won't find any sockeye salmon in it or any other east coast river, only Atlantic salmon. Sockeye are west coast salmon. Some writer didn't do their research.

[@marcw6875]

We have a St. Croix river here in Minnesota. Today I learned that there's one in Maine as well. lol

[@magneto7930]

I was waiting to hear BJ say "Hawkeye Pierce is alive and well!"

[@45asunder1]

This is when the show really started getting good

[@kirkt.1596]

Liked them both. Great scene. Two pros.

[@capie44]

The most secure lesson this show taught me, when it started in my preteen years, was that you can fuck with whoever you want as long as the authority you're fucking with has (slightly) lower authority than you skill & talent.

[@citizenken7069]

Great clip, but I wish you had extended it enough for BJ to explain why he was cheering. He was away in Seoul on leave when they received a call for help from battalion aid. It was BJ's turn to go, but since he was away, Hawkeye had to go instead. When BJ got back and learned what had happened, he felt guilty, especially when communications to the aid station were cut off. In this scene, he recognized Hawkeye's handiwork on a patient from the aid station, hence his shouting. He said, "Hawkeye Pierce is alive and well!"

[@dmadd4643]

This episode...it really was one of the best.

[@starpowermike2846]

God, what great writing.....

[@clearingbaffles]

Brings tears I brought MY first dog home on the last day of M*A*S*H “the Blue Prince” a blue Merle Shelty who was followed by “Grape Nehi” Shelty #7 “Q-tip” is outside on patrol. Love my furkidz and this show still brings many wet eyes!

[@djrychlak4443]

This show raised some good children.

[@beatricegoode3506]

This is one of my favorite scenes

[@62forged]

Great series.

[@claudelemire2451]

Love the writters

[@kipcarroll486]

Best show ever !!!!!

[@lucyinthesky4682]

I didn't watch Mash when it was on air and oddly I didn't start watching Mash until six months ago shortly before COVID. I came in at the middle when it's Potter and Charles and I loved it. Then they started from the beginning and while I like Henry Blake, it's not that meaningful connection like with Potter. And Margaret was really distasteful. I'm guess that's why I never stuck with it all the years ago, I never saw the touching humor in it. Happy I came it at the middle because the others are a pleasure to watch the whole way through.

[@sentrysapper45]

The early seasons are definitely weaker, in my opinion. While I still like them as a whole, there are elements that really bring the experience down at times. There's a lot more of the crass cynicism and misogyny that was present in the novel and movie (I guess you could argue it was more faithful to the source material). Also, some of the intended humor REALLY hasn't aged well. I straight-up skip a few episodes during rewatches for this reason; a particularly egregious one revolved around rape jokes for most of its second half. For what it's worth, executive producer at the time Larry Gelbart went on record saying that he deeply regretted the inclusion of such content in hindsight. The series really started to come into its stride when Potter and Hunnicutt arrived. I also love the arcs of various characters from this point onward, as they typically emerge as better people. Houlihan's arc in particular is one of my personal favorites as she went from essentially a one-dimensional antagonist to a nuanced and genuinely likeable character, all while retaining her fiery disposition. Some of my favorite moments in later seasons are when she gives people her trademark verbal dressing-downs, since they well and truly deserve it at that point in the series.

[@patrickhowell2502]

Youll never understand the saddest moment in mash then unfortunately. When word comes in that colonel blake died on his way home it hits like a ton of bricks. He was a goofball lovable character.

[@lucyinthesky4682]

@@patrickhowell2502 I cried when Radar came in with the note and read while everyone was operating. He had a child he would never meet. He was in charge but he was a friend and loved those around him, commanded when he needed to. It was a TV show that mirrored life, the many soldiers that had their futures changed in the blink of an eye. How could I not understand that?

[@patrickhowell2502]

@@lucyinthesky4682 you said you started halfway through. And that you didntike the first half so much.

[@lucyinthesky4682]

@@patrickhowell2502 yes when I started watching it was halfway through the series. And because TV these days is so monotonous, as soon as the finale showed, the pilot showed the next day. Therefore I was able to watch from begining to end. I'm 42 I never watched it in reruns until this year when I was home recovering from surgery as I never was interested. I'm glad my introduction to the show was with Potter and Charles because Margaret with Frank is appaling in the beginning. To see the development of characters after Burns is gone is great. I think the show still would've been great even if Blake stayed. He was a soldier when he needed to be and defied authority when he knew it was right. A good maybe, but a sweet man.

[@mnirwin5112]

This is a really great scene because it conjures up mental images of both of them in activities other than the ones we see them at in the show ... Potter standing patiently "hip-deep in a freezing river" and Hawkeye charging through the brush trying to keep up with The One That Ultimately Got Away.

[@kustomkure]

This is a real show. A real. fucking show.

[@bobobandy9382]

"So anyway, as far as expository dialogue goes..."

[@allywilkeforsenate]

The best show ever.

[@nhmooytis7058]

I ❤️ Colonel Potter!

[@caseym5017]

Just got a hankerin for some good ol Kentucky sippin whiskey and a sheroot.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Don't forget the bream and bass!

[@johnsowa999]

Nothing against McLean Stevenson as Henry but I like Harry Morgan as potter he played a much better character with way more depth and I wish I had a co like this when i was in the army

[@ericandy88]

A lot of people say they like "x" character better than another, but the way it seemed to work on the show was that instead of letting a previous character grow into it, they just sent them home & brought in a successor. Almost everyone who left the show (except Gary, who really did want to leave; not just the show, but acting itself for a while) did so because their characters were not evolving & felt they were passing up better opportunities elsewhere (McLean was tired of playing the "clueless authority figure", in particular). All of them said had they known about the show's change in direction (from comedy to dramedy), they would have stayed, but they did not know & just could not wait any longer. It is hard to not think, though, that the show just simply had a "not makeover, but make new" policy with the characters.

[@johnsowa999]

@@ericandy88 no doubt

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

I think there is one truism in replacing characters rather than evolving them. In the real world some people simply can't or won't grow. There are people like Blake in the army that just don't have what it takes to make great leaders, they aren't bad people they just lack a certain something. Likewise people like Frank Burns simply lack the capacity to grow and improve themselves. They can't look within themselves and examine their flaws and try to change them. And althought Trapper was a much nicer person than Burns he was always going to be that kind of frat boy jokester, that's just who he was and who he was happy being. Houlihan and Hawkeye grew into themselves as people and as leaders (yes even Hawkeye had the ability to lead when necessary). Houlihan is probably one of the finest examples of personal growth ever scripted on a television show. She retained that inner core of strength and intelligence that made her such an outstander leader, but learned to temper it with humanity and humility. And that leadership I mentioned in Hawkeye? That's something he grew into, he grew into a more serious adult and stopped being a frat boy prankster while still retaining his sense of humor and charm. Even Klinger grew as the series progressed from a one dimensional joke character into a responsible soldier and company clerk. MASH lasted so long IMO because it was able to grow as a show and it exhibited the best and worst of humanity. It was funny and sometimes it was preachy but it also left a lasting impression upon anybody who truly got invested in it. I was born in 1972 and I remember growing up watching MASH with my family both as it was originally airing and in syndication and I have no doubt that it helped to shape my view of the world and introduced me to a lot of concepts and ideas for the first time in my life.

[@johnsowa999]

@@ashleighelizabeth5916 very well put

[@furrykef]

@@ericandy88 It's just as well that they left, because it was probably the departure of Blake and Trapper that allowed the shift toward dramedy in the first place.

[@davidatchison9245]

No many sockeyes make it to Maine either. They're a Pacific Northwestern fish.

[@larrysmith2638]

He never said they were sockeyes. Maine does have Atlantic salmon. Those are endangered today, but there is also a freshwater version known as landlocked salmon, which are stocked in lakes and can be fished.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@larrysmith2638 He said "sockeye"

[@larrysmith2638]

@@RideAcrossTheRiver Potter said sockeye. Hawkeye never said sockeye. Just went back and listened to make sure. But I think the reason that sockeyes are mentioned is that the writers and actors were not salmon fishermen.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@larrysmith2638 I think it was because sockeye-Hawkeye

[@scottrichards7788]

Solid.

[@user-sz9ft6jj4d]

thank you

[@zachflynn65]

I love this one

[@irishamerican4558]

Last will & testament episode. I've seen each & every one of them at least 20 times. There are a couple that I do not agree with, but I can think of no other show I love more.

[@rolindahlquist3124]

Great scene

[@fredrickpotocnik8156]

Which episode is this from? Great scene! Pure genius writing

[@kwdrm1]

"Where There's A Will, There's A War."

[@TheRealMirCat]

"What's the racket, Honey." Oh my...

[@wurly164]

This show had Norman Rockwell written all over it

[@THE_TonyFielding]

Perfect ending to this clip. Sounds like Potter calling BJ "Honey" lol

[@furrykef]

It wasn't until I read your comment that I realized he wasn't.

[@THE_TonyFielding]

@@furrykef lol. I know. What a time to stop the clip 🤣

[@garciamaritza40]

Good for the fish!

[@josenunez2305]

They don't make shows like this anymore.! As time goes on and my years run out. I spend more time watching the shows of my youth more than anything coming out now a days. Time is to precocious to spend it watching crap.

[@PlumbPitiful]

Video cut off at an inconvenient moment. Potter says"What's the racket Honey-----"

[@HariSeldon913]

The patient on BJ's table had some sort of stitching pattern that he knew had to have been done by Hawkeye.

[@almostfm]

"Don't ask-don't tell"

[@mikek5958]

Yeah like Hari said. Honeycutt saw the type of suture in the patient and knew immediately that it was Hawkeye's, which meant he was still alive as they had no idea at the time.

[@marquisdesade3058]

the racket was that he found out he was getting hawkeyes prized book...