User Reviews

Most are happy. Hawkeye doesn't for a second think it may not be real. Most are just happy . Trapper remains skeptical . This is one of the few times they would show a stark contrast between Hawkeye and Trapper . One of the problems they had is that Trapper and Hawkeye were too similar in a number of ways. BJ provided more contrast.

Margaret probably comes off looking the most pathetic. She can't imagine life without Frank even wanting him to take her back home with him!

Klinger provides a lot of the episodes humor. Selling off his dresses! Trapper warns him he will regret it.

Hawkeye is suddenly in the position of having various nurses expecting a future with him. He then claims marriage and children because he doesn't want to commit to any one of them. I don't think they could show Hawkeye this way now and keep him as the shows hero. Flawed is one thing but this just wouldn't fly now with good reason.

In the end of course there is no cease fire but it was interesting to see how they all reacted.

Interestingly, it's hard to believe but at the time this episode was screened over 50 years ago, there was some uncertainty about M*A*S*H's future because the ratings weren't high, but thankfully the course of history changed when the network decided to renew this fine series.

Patrick Adiarte makes his final appearance as Ho Jon, and Marcia Strassman makes her final appearance as Nurse Margie Cutler. She would later be a regular in the smash hit sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter.

I'm enjoying reflecting on M*A*S*H, especially after being a fan of the M*A*S*H Matters podcast hosted by superfan Ryan Patrick and Jeff Maxwell, who starred as Igor in this fine series.

I'm not sure why I dislike this episode so much. I guess because I am kind of cynical sometimes. After a particularly tough stretch in surgery, the boys are having a drink with Henry when General Clayton calls and announces that there is the possibility of a ceasefire. Of course, word gets out and everyone goes bananas. I'm sure there is going to be some hope and celebration. Hawkeye, whom I find less appealing, especially in these early episodes, assumes there is no chance this is wrong news. Trapper is much more subdued and tentative, refusing to celebrate until word is official. Hawkeye, who has been cavorting with some of the most gorgeous women imaginable, tells them he is married, which makes him an even bigger ass than normal. He also takes over the whole celebration, running the show. We know that this popular show wasn't going anywhere, so there is no question how it will end. It's nice that as the role matured, he began to have some feet of clay at times. Watching this made me uncomfortable.

It's interesting watching this episode, knowing how the final episode will be presented ten seasons later, when an actual ceasefire does occur. In this episode, discussion of a military ceasefire is premature. General Clayton (Herb Voland) calls Henry and says the war may soon be over, which is overheard by Hawkeye, Trapper and Radar.

Hawkeye becomes so excited by the news that he jumps up on Henry's desk and starts to dance. He then takes the phone from Henry and tells Clayton he wants to have Clayton's baby. Many episodes in the first season convey gay humor, typically involving Hawkeye and some other male character.

While everyone starts to celebrate going home, Trapper maintains a more practical point of view. In fact he is the only one who seems to not believe they will be heading home soon. He feels as if any notion of a ceasefire won't really take hold, and of course he's right. What's ironic about this is that Trapper will actually be sent home before most of the others, with the exception of Henry.

In a way this episode is just an excuse for the characters to throw caution to the wind and behave a bit more erratically than usual, before their short-lived happiness ends and they are once again faced with the reality of war.

One of the nicer moments involves Father Mulcahy making a short speech when everyone thinks the war is ending. He says: "This is the happiest, In fact the only happy, day of the war. And it is fitting that we pause to offer a prayer of thanksgiving to the merciful god who has delivered us from this terrible conflict. Let us pray in silence and remember those of our comrades who have fallen...amen."