Plot: An exchange of information between Radar's mother, Peg, and Mildred Potter leads to talk of a post-war reunion. B.J. decides not to wait and begins to arrange a state-side reunion for their families, even through the stress of a bug-out. His enthusiasm wanes when he contends with a troublesome patient and his friends' indifference. Hawkeye seeks to cheer him up by urging everyone to write home, and the party is a sucess, despite various obstacles.
Thanks to a mangled video tape I missed a lot of this episode, but I saw the important parts - reading the initial replies and Peg's letter from the hotel. I loved how Charles' parents completely disgusted him, that Klinger's mom knew he was in Korea, and Margaret's reactions when she read that her parents were coming and heard they'd danced together all night.
Cleverly edited, too. When the convoy goes over road obstacles, they switch the focus to a different bus. Kudos to editor Stanford Tischler.
In the master shot showing B.J., Hawkeye, Radar, Potter and Charles, Winchester's hands are folded in front of him. In the next shot, he has his coffee in his hand.
B.J. asks Radar to find out what his Mom uses to keep strawberry jam from burning on the stove. Potter's hand goes to his face. In the next shot, it's no longer there. Also in the same two shots, Charles is at first setting his coffee cup down, then it's suddenly on the table.
As they get ready to bug out, B.J. akss that when Radar writes his Mrs. O'Reilly about the jams, that he mention the upcoming reunion. When Radar writes Edna about the jams? I thought Peg was going to send her own letter to Mrs. O'Reilly (and Mildred Potter) to ask about the preserves?
Father Mulcahy mentions that his sister plays the saxophone. ("She really wails on 'Stardust'.") I thought she played cello or some other instrument?
On their first day at their new locations, the principals of our series are discussing B.J.'s depression. At one point, Father Mulcahy takes a bite and lowers his hand. In the next shot, he has the bite in his hand again.
Captain Pierce always gave the origin of his nickname as being from the James Fennimore Cooper book, The Last of the Mohicans. He said it was his father's favorite book (and the only one he ever read). That being the case, I've always thought it was Daniel Pierce who gave his son the nickname "Hawkeye". It's a bit surprising to find that he doesn't call his son that. He calls him, "Ben".
Since Margaret's parents are separated, shouldn't she have received (not to mention written) two letters, instead of one?
And didn't Margaret once imply that her father was dead?
Should the convoy returning to their original site be driving with their headlights on at night? If there are any enemy snipers in the area, they'd know just where to aim their weapons.
Isn't it just too good to be true that the letters from their families all arrived at the same time? What are the odds?
So. Is there a reason Kellye's, Igor's, Zale's, Goldstein's, Able's, Baker's, Bigelow's, etc. families weren't invited to this reunion, too? Or was this to be a very exclusive party?
This is the second episode in a row in which Hunnicutt has a patient who's success is questionable and Beej worries about them. In both cases, the patients are shipped out. They also improve when they get to their next stops.
Klinger reveals to Captains Pierce and Hunnicutt that his mom doesn't know he's in Korea. During this sequence, B.J. is getting ready to shave. The amount of shaving cream on his neck changes in a couple of shots.
How'd they get the "Welcome to Fort Dix" sign made so quickly (and so professional looking)?
Did the power go out in the Officers Club? Is that why B.J. is writing his letter to Peg in a Club with so many candles?
I love that Charles' parents were "taken with" Radar's mother and Uncle Ed. Winchester's reaction to that news is priceless.
So what was Father Mulcahy's sister's name? Sister Teresa or Sister Angelica? In this ep, it's Angelica. (Her real name is Kathy, IIRC.)
The events of this episode take place over one of the longest spans of time in the series. (Only "A War For All Season" covers more time.) It starts out most likely in December of 1952. The MASHers then receive letters from their family in early January most likely.* They then take several days to consider possible dates for the party. The party takes place at the end of March. (The 28th.) Add in another three weeks for the letters to arrive and this ep ends near the end of April. That means this ep takes place in about a five month span. I don't think any other ep covers as much time.
*It is possible that the genesis of the party and sending the letters took place in November and December, rather than December and January. I pick the former dates because at no point do they consider having the reunion in January, thus I assume they began to organize it in January. I also assume 1952 because of Colonel Potter's arrival date - September of '52.
"All that good whiskey shot to hell."