Plot: The 4077th decides to adopt the British practice of exchanging jobs between officers and noncoms for Boxing Day. Things stumble on fairly well, until incoming wounded forces everyone to switch back. Everyone is left with a new appreciation for the work others do.
The only people that we see switching jobs in this are Klinger and Potter. Kellye has taken over Margaret's position as head nurse, but Margaret's over in the kitchen with BJ AND Igor, who apparently doesn't rate a day off. Hawkeye and Mulcahy are orderlies, and Charles is cook's assistant, but where are the people they're replacing? Does the normal cook's assistant get to spend the day in the Swamp listening to Winchester's records? And why doesn't someone else take over the cook's job? He seems like he could use a day away from the kitchen.
I find it hard to believe that it takes a head nurse to notice the stove is on when they need it cold. Kellye doesn't come off as very competent if she can't notice that.
Charles sure gets picked on a lot in this episode. Hawkeye wasn't exactly very enthusiastic about his job either, but no one cared about that. And everyone else switches back to their normal positions pretty quickly, but Charles has to stick it out for the whole day.
Seems to me we've seen Potter typing before -- he's filled in as company clerk a couple times -- and he'd have to be a little better at typing than shown here. You can sit and poke at the keys with one finger, having to search for each one, and still do better than he was.
I did like the way Potter was wearing the Mudhens hat and shirt while Klinger had on Potter's winter hat with the colonel insignia. That was a nice touch.
I think that Potter was typing in the episode where they get 500,000 tounge depressers. Also, I think there was another episdode where Potter filled in for Radar.
If I'm not mistaken, the 4077th has only seven officers. (Kellye is a lieutenant, I believe.) There was Captains Spalding and Pak, but they seemed to be temporarily assigned to the 4077th. There are a few other nurses who are probably lieutenants. Still, it appears to me that the 4077th is predominantly comprised of enlisted men. That means most of the camp did not get to participate in Boxing Day.
Actually, there should be more officers than seven. In "Temporary Duty", Margaret said she was in charge of 10 nurses. And I believe all nurses are Lts. She was probably rounding off but it sounds about right, which makes 11 counting her. With the 4 surgeons that makes 15.
Also, if Kellye was head nurse, what were all the other nurses doing?
This is the fifth (and final) Christmas episode of the series. That's more than anyone serving the full term of the Korean War would have experienced. The other Christmas eps were "Dear Dad" (from the first season), "Dear Sis", "Death Takes a Holiday" and "A War For All Season". (And while the latter does not focus on Christmas, it does mention it.)
Margaret's an officer. Why didn't Colonel Potter call her over after he got Pierce, Hunnicutt and Father Mulcahy to discuss having Boxing Day at the 4077th?
Klinger's assignments are actually pretty good ones when it comes right down to it. I especially like that Max put Charles in with the cook.
Isn't this episode kinda similar to last season's "The Life You Save"? The ep where Charles was in charge of the motor pool, Hawkeye worked in the Mess Tent, etc.?
As a CNA (Certified Nurse Aide) working at a nursing home, I can tell you that Kellye was (from what little shown) telling Hawkeye and Father Mulcahy the proper way to change the linens on an occupied bed. I wonder if Hawkeye had to learn that when he attended Med School, though?
I love how Potter was temporarily distracted by the fact that Klinger had appropriated one of the Colonel's cigars.
When Igor goes to get B.J. out of Post-Op, Hunnicutt's hands are on his chest. In the next shot, the hands are not there anymore.
Margaret tells Hawkeye there's no ice in the unit since the generator's been shut off. But the generator couldn't have been turned off for more than a couple of hours. Surely not all the ice in the refrigerator melted in that short a period of time?
I find it hard to believe that it takes a head nurse to notice the stove is on when they need it cold. Kellye doesn't come off as very competent if she can't notice that. - Khaja
Kellye, however, had already left Post-Op when the doctors and Margaret began discussing the need for ice and cold. Therefore, it's not at all surprising that the Major noticed the heat and ordered it shut off while Kellye did nothing about it. Of course, Kellye does mention the fact that she didn't think of it in the tag. But still, I wouldn't expect her to notice it.
While it's good thinking on Hawkeye's part to cut away the windows in O.R., you've gotta wonder what they'll do when the next load of casualties arrive? Freeze for sure. Unless the windows were replaced immediately. And just how well will Pierce operate when he's freezing half to death? And what about the patient? The only thing he had on was a sheet. His legs were exposed. Pierce was running the risk of exposing the soldier to hypothermia.
I can't help but notice that Kellye, Igor and Klinger didn't get to take full advantage of the 4077th's Boxing Day event. They were quickly demoted due to (scripted) circumstances. Only Father Mulcahy and Charles stayed demoted for the duration of the day.
"The undrinkable chasing the inedible."