MASHremains one of the most iconic series of all time, with equally iconic episodes. The series introduced many beloved characters, like Dr. Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda), Major Margaret Houlihan (Loretta Swit), and Maxwell Klinger (Jamie Farr).MASHcombined heartbreaking and dramatic stories with humor and fun character-driven stories. The series was ahead of its time and featured memorable stories that have stood the test of time.
As phenomenal asMASHis as a whole, there are certain episodes that stand out. Some episodes, like “Life Time,” are unique stories that provide different perspectives on the members of the 4077 and the work they do. Other episodes, like “The Life You Save” spotlight individual characters and explore what makes them so compelling.The bestMASHepisodes highlight poignant stories that have resonated with viewers across generations.
10"Yessir, That’s Our Baby"
Season 8, Episode 15 (1980)
This episode follows the members of the 4077 being upended by the arrival of a mysterious baby. As the team works to figure out where this baby came from, they must confront some troubling implications about her situation. While the members of the 4077 are immediately smitten with the baby, they have to reckon with the fact that she is in a particularly dangerous situation, as her mother is Korean and her father was an American GI. She faces a life of isolation and rejection.
“Yessir, That’s Our Baby” is an unexpectedlyheartbreaking episode in the comedic show.MASHfrequently struggled to portray the actual struggles of the Korean people during the war. This episode was an exception in that it highlighted the very real plight that those of mixed Korean and American ancestry faced.MASHnever shied away from tackling topical issues, and this was one example of the series painting an honest picture of the plight of ordinary people.
9"The Life You Save"
Season 9, Episode 20 (1981)
“The Life You Save” is a Charles-centric episode and is one ofDavid Ogden Stiers' best performances in the series. The episode follows Charles after he has an existential crisis when he is almost fatally hit by a bullet. After surviving this experience, he questions his purpose in life and goes on a kind of spiritual journey to look for answers. When confronted with his own mortality, Charles has to take a long, uncomfortable at his life.
This episode is one ofMAS*H’s best because it brings out Charles' humanity. This story is important because Charles was always a character who was easy to make fun of due to his sense of entitlement. In “The Life You Save,” Charles is shown to be at his most vulnerable, which makes him a much more relatable character.This is another example of an episode that highlights the personal stakes of war through the eyes of one character.
8"Point of View"
Season 7, Episode 11 (1978)
“Point of View” is one ofMAS*H’s most innovative episodes. The story follows a private who is injured on the battlefield and finds himself at the 4077. The entire episode is told from Private Rich’s point of view as he meets members of the 4077 going about their daily lives under fire. Because Private Rich can’t speak due to his injuries, he gets a uniquely personal look at how the 4077 works together to provide lifesaving care.
This episode showcases the fact thatMASHwas always on thecutting edge as a TV show. “Point of View” also provides a unique perspective on these characters who were well-established at this point. This episode highlights the fact that when the members of the 4077 weren’t engaging in shenanigans to pass the time, they were saving lives. Additionally, “Point of View” is one ofMASH’s best because it showcases how well this team always worked together.
7"Sometimes You Hear the Bullet"
Season 1, Episode 17 (1973)
“Sometimes You Hear the Bullet” sees Hawkeye reunite with an old friend, Tommy Gillis (James Callahan), who is in Korea to write about the war. In order to get a frontline perspective on the war, Tommy enlists as a soldier so he can be as close to the action as possible. This is aMAS*Hepisode that highlights the devastation of war. “Sometimes You Hear the Bullet” also highlights the random nature of the violence that is a hallmark of all war.
This episode represents a turning point for the series. Until this moment,MAS*Hhad focused mainly on the comedy that came from the members of the 4077 coming up with ways to entertain themselves. “Sometimes You Hear the Bullet” is a jarring and effective story that firmly reminds viewers that this series is set against the backdrop of one of the most destructive wars of the last century. This episode is the first example of the series showcasing how it could balance humor and heartbreak.
6"Good-Bye Radar: Part 2"
Season 8, Episode 5 (1979)
“Good-Bye Radar: Part 2” represents the end of Radar O’Reilly’s (Gary Burghoff) tenure on the series. Radar remains one ofMAS*H’s most memorable characters, and this episode is a touching send-off for him. This is the second half of the two-part episode that set the stage for Radar’s departure. In both parts, everyone at the 4077 has a chance to reflect on what Radar has meant to them, and how much he will be missed.
“Good-Bye Radar: Part 2” is another turning point forMASHsince Radar was always such an integral part of the series. Radar’s departure was a milestone forMASHbecause the 4077 ran as well as it did because how him. This episode is a final opportunity for the characters to let Radar know what he meant to them.“Good-Bye Radar: Part 2” is a reflection on everything that made this character so endearing.
5"Death Takes a Holiday"
Season 9, Episode 5 (1980)
“Death Takes a Holiday” is one ofMASH’s holiday episodes. The story follows the 4077 navigating the chaos of the holiday season while the war rages on around them. “Death Takes a Holiday” combines a charming holiday story with a devastating look at the cost of war, in trueMASHfashion. Charles showcases his sweet side with a heartwarming gift to a group of orphaned Korean children. B.J. (Mike Farrell) also fights to keep a soldier alive over Christmas.
“Death Takes a Holiday” isMASH’s best holiday episode because it so perfectly addresses the holiday season, and what it looks like during wartime. This is one ofMASH’s best episodes because it highlights how the holiday season is a uniquely emotional time, and even more so during wartime. “Death Takes a Holiday” is another example of the series using heartfelt character-driven stories.This episode highlights how war is always all-consuming, and never takes a holiday.
4"Life Time"
Season 8, Episode 11 (1979)
“Life Time” is another one ofMAS*H’s most unique episodes. The episode features a countdown clock when a soldier is brought to the 4077 with potentially fatal injuries. The entire episode is centered around the race to save this soldier and the lengths the members of the 4077 have to go to save his life. The countdown on “Life Time” represents the amount of time the staff has to save the soldier and prevent long-term complications.
What makes “Life Time” one ofMASH’s most memorable episodesis that it effectively highlights the tension these characters faced on a regular basis. While the episodes that feature the 4077 managing the tedium of war remain incredibly charming, “Life Time” is a reminder that in between these moments of boredom, the 4077 was fighting the clock to save as many lives as possible. In typicalMASHfashion, the episode is a poignant reflection on what saving lives actually means.
3"The Interview"
Season 4, Episode 25 (1976)
Many series use their season finales to change character dynamics or to ramp up the drama andMAS*Hwas no exception. “The Interview” is a documentary-style look at the 4077. This black-and-white episode follows a journalist who compiles interviews with members of the 4077 as they describe the work they do. “The Interview” is a chance for the characters to describe their experiences in their own words, and how they find themselves impacted by the war’s destruction.
“The Interview” is another example of an episode that provides a shift in perspective. This is one ofMAS*H’s best episodes because it provides a pause in the action and comedy to allow the characters time and space to reflect on their experiences. “The Interview” effectively uses an outsider’s perspective to highlight what the members of the 4077 face on a daily basis.Hearing the characters describe the horrors they are regularly exposed to makes them easier to appreciate.
2"Abyssinia, Henry"
Season 3, Episode 24 (1975)
“Abyssinia, Henry” is a season finale that completely changed the trajectory of the series. When Colonel Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) is told he can be discharged, he celebrates with the 4077, who are all overjoyed for him. The episode is mainly an opportunity for the 4077 to talk about what Henry meant to them, and how his leadership, as chaotic as it was, got them through so much. Tragedy strikes when it’s revealed that Henry never made it home as his helicopter crashed.
What makes this episode one ofMASH’s best is the fact that itfeatures the death of a characterwho had been part of the main cast since the beginning. Henry was always a flawed character, but he was loved by so many of his colleagues. “Abyssinia, Henry” is essential viewing for anyMASHfan, because it makes the war personal for these characters. Until this moment, even though they were treating the injured, they were still somewhat removed from much of the death and destruction.
1"Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen"
Season 11, Episode 16 (1983)
“Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen” isMAS*H’s unforgettable series finale. This final episode is the length of a movie, and wraps up everyone’s stories as the war comes to an end. “Goodbye, Farewell, Amen” not only ties up the stories that were introduced across the show’s eleven series, but it sets up these characters' futures for a post-war existence. Like the rest of the series, the finale has a perfect mix of humor, horror, drama, and poignant reflections on everything that made these characters so charming.
This series finale perfectly summarizes everything that madeMAS*Hone of the best TV series of all time. “Goodbye, Farewell, Amen” gives the characters a chance to say goodbye to one another. Watching this, it is clear that they will always share a bond, even if they never see one another again, because of the trauma they experienced. “Goodbye, Farewell, Amen” is a bittersweet send-off for these characters who were about to live entirely different lives going home from the war.
