Plot: After a rash of thefts, Hawkeye is accused, then turns detective to clear his name.

What ever happened to Ho Jon? In the pilot, he was supposed to be going to the States to enter medical school, but he hung around the 4077th for a while after that. No further mention was ever made of medical school, and if he had family that he was worried about, why would he want to leave in the first place?

Ho Jon must have seen how upset everyone was getting over the missing things, yet he said at the end, "I didn't think anyone would miss their bits and pieces."

The title is from a radio show of the period "I Love a Mystery".

Last I heard the actor who played Ho Jon is gay and has AIDS.

In the pilot, when Ho Jon was told that he would be able to go to medical school, he said, "I gotta tell my folks!" and ran out of the tent. Just trotted up North to enemy territory, did he?

Great line from Trapper: "I've seen you strike out in a geisha house."

This episode takes place earlier in the series than this. Colonel Barker is the General in charge of the sector.

Henry gives Leslie the box with the tackle in it. It turns out to be empty. Couldn't either of them tell it was empty by how light the box is? (And the fact that there's no sound of the contents shifting?)

My how time flies! The pilot takes place in 1950. When Trapper asks what time it is, Hawkeye says it's Tuesday, 1951.

There's a scene where Trapper sneaks up on a nurse in the supply room. It's during this scene that McIntyre learns his watch is missing. The scene is also missing thanks to syndication. Also cut is the scene where Hawkeye's swizzle stick is revealed to be missing.

Everyone's in the Mess Tent and Henry announces that at 1900 hours the lights would be turned off and whoever stole the missing articles could leave them, no questions asked. Did Colonel Blake really think the thief was walking around with the purloined property on him at all times? That would been really awkward. I wanna know where the picture and tackle were hidden!

Another thing, Henry using military time? In another episode the Colonel would wonder why the Army doesn't tell time like everbody else.

When the lights are turned back on, it turns out that the thief had struck again. This time he steals purses. (I don't remember anyone carrying purses on M*A*S*H, btw. Except Klinger.) It'd be difficult for the thief to conceal those purses on his person. That means the thief had to leave the Mess Tent. Yet no one seems to have noticed anyone going out the door. Radar didn't. He was by the door.

And really, this makes solving the crime easier. All they have to do is figure out who wasn't in the Mess Tent any more. That person is the thief.

This episode marks the debut of Radar's teddy bear.

When Henry walks into the Swamp to search it, he's not as wet as he should be. (The Colonel got soaked in the showers looking for the stolen items.)

Henry was looking in some weird places, wasn't he? Most of the stolen goods would never fit into the shower nozzle.

While Radar is in the Swamp keeping Hawkeye under surveilence, Trapper walks in. He seems to be mad at Pierce. Captain McIntyre seems to refuse to speak to Hawkeye in this sequence. (I think it's also cut from syndication.)

In OR, Margaret is watching Hawkeye to make sure he doesn't steal any of the instruments. She walks over to Radar, pulls her mask down and says, "One scalpel." She needed to pull her mask down to say that?

In this ep, Father Mulcahy's hair is red. I guess the TPTB were still planning on calling him "Dago Red".

Hawkeye turns on the mike in Radar's office and Pierce and Henry carrying on their conversation about fingerprints on the stolen articles. Uh, no one's hand is the P.A.'s mike. Isn't there a button on it you have to push to send out messages?

After the articles are stolen from Henry's desk, Hawkeye calls specific people to the Mess Tent. Ho Jon shows along with the people Pierce named? Why? His name wasn't called. (I realize if he doesn't show up, we wouldn't know who the guilty person is.) For that matter, does Ho Jon live in the camp, and if so where?

This is the only episode where Hawkeye smokes a cigarette.

Ho Jon says, "Look! No blue" on his finger nails before he even looks at his hands.

For the record, Ho Jon earns about $2 a week. Charles' houseboy earned more than that.

If Ho Jon's North Korean, how was he going to go stateside to attend college? Why doesn't Frank and Margaret make a fuss about him being "the enemy"? They should be screaming that Ho Jon is a spy.

Margaret sure parted with those brushes her father gave her more easily than I thought she would. Frank didn't give up the picture frame though. It surrounds his mother's picture for the rest of the series.

Colonel Barker is the General in charge of the sector.

Huh?

D'oh! I meant General Barker! That's what I get for IMing with people while posting! I should point out that Barker is only mentioned by name in this ep. He never makes an appearance.

Thanks for the correction Scott!

When Hawkeye uses the PA to call people to gather in the mess tent, they all seem to be on their way already as the announcement is being read.

My first nit, and I think it's a good one! (He says very proud of himself)

Kail! Longtime no see! Anything new on ST:TAS over on your site (I lost the link)?

Hello Scott! I lurk around here all the time, just have not had anything to contribute. Just got the MASH DVDs, and am loving it. Especially being able to turn off the laugh track.

LOTS of new stuff over at TAS. Have a look!

http://www.mainengineering.hispeed.com/tas_main.html

Let me know what you think!!

D.K. said: Ho Jon must have seen how upset everyone was getting over the missing things, yet he said at the end, "I didn't think anyone would miss their bits and pieces."

Margaret, for example, said that the brushes were a present from her father. From the reactions, it's clear that the things have an emotional value. Yet when Ho-Jon tells what he needs the money for, most of them say to keep the stuff. Why not take the stuff back and give him money directly? Besides, money would be a better help than a tackle or a brush which ho-Jon will have to sell first.

I thought it was funny when Hawk does the detective-with-coat scene in the mess tent.