Plot: Private James Weston dies during triage at the 4077th. His spirit lingers on, unwilling to believe that he is dead, observing the goings on, both major and petty. Klinger, suffering from a dangerously high fever, is the only one who sees him.

This entire episode is chilling, for so many reasons. It's probably the most disturbing episode of the entire series. Several scenes stand out in my mind -- the very end when no one is willing to listen to Klinger because of some argument, when Private Weston makes his way through camp and we hear various snippets of the inanities of conversation going on about him, the dead private's friend's grief over his death which is then underscored by how easily it is forgotten by the M*A*S*H personnel.
I particularly like the scene with Hawkeye, BJ, and Charles drinking in the Swamp. For once we actually see the surgeons drinking for the sole purpose of not being able to feel anymore, and it is very effective. The image of their socks being stained with "gay, magenta polka-dots" is not one I've been able to get out of my head.

You also notice that the show gives no pat explanation at the end. The nameless soldier beckons Weston, saying, "It's this way." Weston asks where they're going. "I don't know."

I just had a thought. Wouldn't it have been even spookier if the nameless soldier at the end had been Henry Blake instead?

That would be like Henry, taking all that time to figure out where he was going....

I was thinking more along the lines of Henry becoming a sort of "spirit guide" for the wounded who died at the 4077.

Actually this whole episode could have easily been done on "The Twightlight Zone."

Ignoring the fact that the creators killed Henry so they wouldn't have to ever deal with McLean Stevenson again, would you want Henry leading you anywhere?

I've never met McLean Stevenson. I have no idea what he was like. But Henry Blake seemed to be a nice and caring individual, so-Yes, I would.

"I've never met McLean Stevenson."
Not likely to, either. ;)

I liked Henry, too. I also thought he was nice, kind, compassionate person. But he was a bit if a bungler, and generally left much to be desired as a commanding officer. Which is why I (jokingly) asked, "...would you want Henry leading you anywhere?"

Maybe that nameless dead soldier at the end was the soldier who died in that episode "Private Finance" it sure looked like him.

I love this episode, and I love the drinking scene, but I don't think that it's the creepiest. . . the creepiest IMHO is still Dreams.

This episode, especially the end, reminds me of a couple episodes of the twilight zone.

Oh, my goodness. Watery eyes and goosebumps. That indeed was chilling.

I have to say that it really hit a point home: the soldiers who died don't just disappear as if they never existed; they had a life, and people who have to contend with their loss; and there were so many of them! Seeing those soldiers trudging away to the unknown was *quite* reminiscent of the Twilight Zone -- these boys were alone, with no one to guide them through death except each other, all trapped in the same predicament; the deceased leading the deceased.

And the follies of the living . . . you always tend to think that the doctors, and especially Hawkeye, tie themselves up in knots over death (remember Hawkeye's "don't let the bastard win"?), and yet they're concerned over ward duty, and drinking toasts that seem jocular if not for the fact that they parody the memory of a soldier whose spirit was watching from just behind them. That surreal sequence with Weston listening to the living's concerns was very sad, and it was a relief at last when the other soldier at the end was finally able to offer his modicum of guidance.

As the episode begins, there's a master shot showing Charles, Margaret, Hawkeye and Potter gathered around Klinger in Post-Op. Klinger, in bed, has part of his pyjama top open. Something like the last two buttons are undone and the right side of the shirt dangles to the side. However, in the close up shots of Max, the pyjama top is completely buttoned. As a matter of fact, we see Charles is the one who unbuttons it in the close up shot.

When Klinger fell on the stretcher, he fell on it crossways. Yet when Max and the stretcher are set down, Klinger is lying on it properly. How and when did the orderlies have time to adjust the Corporal on the stretcher?

Well, once again, it appears Father Mulcahy does rate having his own peg in the Changing Room (or Scrub Room). Sometimes there's a peg marked for the Father, sometimes there isn't.

Hawkeye tells Charles he's been a particular hook (nail) since before Winchester arrived. If this is true, then apparently the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital 4077^th has not moved from the place it's at since Winchester arrived. Considering the unit is supposed to keep pace with the war's frontline, that's hard to believe.

And considering that lives are stake, should these two surgeons be arguing over a nail (hook)? And given how much noise the two are making, why doesn't someone check to see what they're up to?

According to Margaret, B.J. will look for forks with long thin tines in the Mess Tent. How come we've never seen him doing that before?

Weston had $23.60 in his wallet? All I saw B.J. counting was bills. Where'd he come up with sixty cents?

I've gotta applaud Kario Salem's work as Private Weston. I think he did a marvel acting job in this ep. I particularly enjoyed his reactions to listening to Hicks describe the things he and Weston used to do. Very well done.

This is probably the best episode this season. It was offbeat (in a good way) and very thought-provoking - without going overboard. Brilliant!

"The undrinkable chasing the inedible."

This episode made me cry. Farr is just as spectacular a dramatic actor as a comedian, and the whole "surrealistic" kind of feel was very well done. One of my favorites, and one of the best serious ones.

Margaret storms out of post-op in frustration at not being listened to (the recurrent theme of the episode.) She kicks over one of two nearby metal cans, but these aren't the open steel barrels usually seen around the camp, they appear to be smaller and lighter galvanized steel trash cans with corrugated sides painted olive drab. I suppose kicking a steel barrel might actually cause Loretta Swit to injure her foot for real.

I've always enjoyed this episode. Love ghost stories.

Note that, among the dead soldiers at the end, we see both sides represented. Ghosts are beyond politics.