Watched: M*A*S*H S2E14, Hot Lips and Empty Arms. Margaret wigs out when she learns that a nurse she did basic training with is marrying a wealthy doctor — a man whom Margaret rejected. Margaret requests a transfer back to the US.
This is the first time we see her as a person rather than a caricature. She’s lonely. She settled for Frank Burns because he’s there. Loretta Swit shows acting chops, getting drunk and angry and revealing her character’s true thoughts. Margaret has become disgusted with the person she has become. She believes she deserves better, and she’s right.
Hawkeye and Trapper’s abuse becomes a kind of friendship. Sort of. MASH was shockingly misogynistic in its first season; now that we’re well into the second season, it’s toned down. This is one of the better episodes I’ve seen so far.
Another thing that stands out rewatching MASH in the 21st Century is the relative absence of Asians. You’d think there would be more Asians in a show set in Asia. But we don’t see a lot of Asians in MASH, and 99% of the Asians we do see are prostitutes, helpless peasants and the occasional murderous North Korean. Jack Soo and Pat Morita, who appear in early episodes, are delightful exceptions. 🍿