Customer Reviews

"M*A*S*H: Season Two (Full Screen, Collector's Edition, 3 Discs)"

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I used to collect the M*A*S*H shows on videotape from Columbia House many years back. I didn't imagine that one day I'd be able to buy a complete 24-episode season of the show on a much better format (DVD) for practically the same money as each of Columbia House's 3-episode VHS tapes. Season two is even better than season one. My favorites include: "The Trial of Henry Blake,""The Incubator,""Crisis,""Five O'Clock Charlie,""Divided We Stand,""Hot Lips and Empty Arms," and "For the Want of a Boot." The only real downfall to this collection is, like the first season, there are no bonus features or material of any kind. Also, Fox is taking their time releasing these collections. It will probably be at least 6 or 7 years to get them all out. I guess it's worth the wait.

As I said in my previous review of Season One, I am absolutely DELIGHTED to finally have the MASH episodes uncut and in order. I'm collecting the whole set. However, at the rate they are releasing these, I'll probably be on Social Security before I fnally have all eleven seasons. Come on, production folks, let's speed things up!

The DVD set itself is pretty bare-bones. There are 3 disks in a nice plastic case, but no extra whistles and bells. There's not even a sound track for the menu -- a minor complaint, but, since each episode goes back to the menu at the end, it would be nice to have something else besides silence to fill the gap while I decide what to watch next. I would also like a "play all" option so I could watch continuously without having to reach for the remote. On the other hand, the price is very reasonable, compared to a lot of other TV shows. That could be why there's no extra material. So, I'm still giving this five stars, because MASH is THE BEST sitcom ever produced!

By the end of its first season "M*A*S*H" had established its foundation as television's first dramedy, a show that could combine comedy with drama, as amply proven in the landmark episode "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet." More importantly, CBS saw enough to move the show to its powerhouse Saturday night lineup and put "M*A*S*H" in between "All in the Family" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (think about that: three of the Top 10 situation comedies of all time back-to-back-to-back). Not surprisingly, "M*A*S*H" was suddenly the number 4 show in the Nielsen ratings. Compare the original pilot with the first episode of the second season, "Divided We Stand." Essentially a second pilot, this episode introduced the major characters to new viewers, but it also showed returning viewers the new direction of the show. When an army observer (Anthony Holland) shows up to check out the 4077th for reassignment, everybody pretends to get along--as long as they think the guy is not watching. His critique of the 4077th serves as a fitting description of what the group (and the show) was all about in its second season.

What we see in Season 2 of "M*A*S*H" (1973-74) is that Hawkeye (Alan Alda) is most definitely the star of the show and the central character, but the others are now being developed as feeling human beings and not just comic characters: Trapper John (Wayne Rogers) decides to adopt an orphaned Korean kid ("Kim"); Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) is shown to be less of the bumbling commander ("The Trial of Henry Blake") and as a human being ("Dear Dad...Three"); and even Radar shows signs of growing up ("The Chosan People"). However, the biggest change is in Margaret "Hot Lips" Hoolihan (Loretta Swit). In "Carry On, Hawkeye," the 4077th is devastated by a flue epidemic that leaves only Hawkeye and Hot Lips standing. This is the episode that first gives her character a viable connection to Hawkeye and the rest of the camp. Then, in "Hot Lips and Empty Arms" she questions everything in her life, from her hopeless affair with Frank to the way the army has become her life, and demands a transfer. As Henry Blake reminds her in trying to talk her out of it, "After all, we are family, Margaret." This becomes one of the most significant character evolutions in the history of television, as "Hot Lips" becomes Margaret.

"M*A*S*H" is definitely more serious in the second season, although not reaching the depths it would in future years. The military tries to cover-up accidentally bombing a local village ("For the Good of the Outfit"), frowns upon army personnel marrying local girls ("L.I.P. (Local Indigenous Personnel)"), and thinks it knows better than the doctors what sort of equipment then need to save lives ("The Incubator"). The parallels between the Korean War and the Vietnam War becomes more obvious than ever. However, there are still some rather silly military comedy episodes, involving inept North Korean pilots ("Five O'Clock Charlie"), the question of the sanity of Corporal Klinger (Jamie Farr, "Radar's Report"), and even a sniper taking shots at the camp ("The Sniper"). Then there is the first memorable appearance of Colonel Flagg (Edward Winter, "A Smattering of Intelligence"). The best of these are when the comedy has to do with the characters, such as when Hawkeye starts a long chain of deals to get a new pair of boots ("For Want of a Boot") or frigid conditions force everybody to bunk together in the Swamp ("Crisis").

Most of the better episodes in the second season were written by Larry Gelbart and Laruence Marks (e.g., "Deal Me Out"), but we also see Alan Alda ("Dr. Pierce and Mr. Hyde") and McLean Stevenson ("The Trial of Henry Blake") taking an added interest in the characters they played by writing episodes that explored new aspects. The M*A*S*H ensemble also starts to expand in terms of recurring characters, not just Flagg but psychiatrist Sidney Freeman (Allan Arbus) and Captain Sam Pak (Pat Morita). The latter was only there for a couple of episodes, but at least there was finally an intelligent oriental character on the show. Certainly the South Koreans are treated a lot more seriously at this point. The result is that "M*A*S*H" is still a situation comedy as well as a dramedy, mainly because as long as Frank Burns (Larry Linville) is around trying to play soldier and remains a liability in the operating room, the show is limited. That is why as good as "M*A*S*H" was at this point, it was going to be a whole lot better once Sherman Potter and Charles Emerson Winchester were on board. So these 24 episodes are pretty good, but the best is yet to come.

There isn't much that can be said about M.A.S.H. that hasn't been said already. Among the most popular sitcoms ever made, the show still stands the test of time despite being set in the Korean War. The jokes still work, the characters are still charming and feel like old friends, and the show still more enjoyable than most of the shows that have come and gone since.

During this second season the show really began to find its stride, more boldly playing with serious topics. The actors are really at home in their characters.

Like the other sets, this DVD collection is bare bones (though not poorly produced). We get the episodes spread out over several discs in a sturdy triple-case and a small booklet with info on each episode. That's it. No extras. No commentaries. No documentaries. Just the episodes.

And that is just fine, because the episodes are great. Good picture far quality, good sound, and an option to turn off the laugh track are about all we really need.

Even better is the price. Because this is so bare bones, we're paying only about $35 rather than the $50 or $70 so common with TV-on-DVD sets.

A no-brainer buy for M.A.S.H. fans.

I never watched MASH as a kid, and in fact hearing the music when the show came on at night prompted me to quickly change the channel.

Then a few months ago I was driving cross country and picked up a TV station broadcasting MASH on the radio. It was a laugh every 20 seconds, I couldn't believe it. After that trip I started collecting the DVDs.

I'm a big fan of Friends, Seinfeld, and other funny sitcoms, but MASH is just hands-down the most hilarious series ever to hit the tube.

The quality of the DVDs are great. I strongly recommend biting the bullet and getting all seasons and watching them from the beginning.

I was so glad when these collections were finally released. The first 3 seasons with Trapper and Henry are the absolute best. What I liked better in the first season was that they kept it light and fun. They started dealing with deeper issues later. I also liked Radar's character better in the first season. He was sharp and clever and not as innocent. On the other hand, Klingers character started to blossom after the first season. I never get tired of his crazy, side slitting antics. He is such a colorful character. The only thing about MASH that never sat well with me was all the infidelity. That's what I appreciated about Col. Potter and B.J. in the later shows. They proved that you can still be funny when faithful.

After spending years waiting for TV reruns, we are finally able to watch our favorate episodes whenever we want. Excellent production.

For me, the first, two seasons of this show, were the best.

The loss of the comedic mix of Larry Gelbart, Maclean Stevenson, Larry Linville, and Wayne Rogers, resulted in making it a "message" show. Like the man said, if you want to send a message, use Western Union !

With the next seasons additions of Col. Potter, B.J., and Charles Emerson Winchester, and the ascendency of Alan Alda into the Producer/Creative Consultant slot, were necessary and insured the longevity of the show, but let's face it...the show lost it's special charm, and turned bittersweet, in character and content.

In the context of the Times the show was produced and aired, this all was inevitable, because the STRONG anti-war message was what WE ALL wanted to hear, then, and we were more receptive to this message, that was pounded, relentlessly into us, weekly.

But now, age seems to have tempered those sentiments, some, and made it, itself a joke. Time does wound all heals !!

Can't wait for the rest of the MASH seasons to come out on DVD! My husband enjoys collecting them.

The cast come together again to give us a bunch of laughs. I have watched this season over and over again, and have never gotten tired of it. I am planning on getting the whole series, and if you are a MASH fanatic like I am, you will enjoy this season and all of them to come.

(I am not really twelve. I'm acually 25.)