# Mash: Late Episode **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860 "2012-06-30T23:31:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/1 "2012-06-30T23:31:56Z")
In the episode of kids letters, how did Charles answer the little girl who sent him an allaeged birch tree leaf tree from New England? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/2 "2012-06-30T23:48:03Z")
I don’t know the answer, but in cast it helps find it the episode is called _[Letters](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0638345/)_ and it was the 200th episode. ETA: Also counted as episode 196. It depends on how you count a couple of two parters. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/3 "2012-06-30T23:54:43Z")
Dear Virginia, It is with indescribable joy that I accept your gift. It is indeed testimony to the beauty that exists in all creation, but perhaps nowhere more than in a young girl’s heart. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/4 "2012-07-01T00:32:27Z")
Thank you both so much. This brought tears to my eyes as my daughter becomes a teen. Also, I noticed at least one episode that seems like a two-parter yet plays as one episode. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/5 "2012-07-01T02:12:04Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Dear Virginia, > > It is with indescribable joy that I accept your gift. It is indeed testimony to the beauty that exists in all creation, but perhaps nowhere more than in a young girl’s heart. As much as Winchester was a PITA, a snob, and a bunch of other stuff they did a good job of implying that when push came to shove he was none of those things and was perhaps the most sensitive and moral of the whole bunch in his own way. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/6 "2012-07-01T03:30:18Z")
> [@](#): > > As much as Winchester was a PITA, a snob, and a bunch of other stuff they did a good job of implying that when push came to shove he was none of those things and was perhaps the most sensitive and moral of the whole bunch in his own way. And an excellent doctor, to boot. All around, a better character than Frank Burns, but still useful as a foil for Hawkeye and BJ when the plot demanded a Frank-like action. ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/7 "2012-07-01T14:17:46Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > As much as Winchester was a PITA, a snob, and a bunch of other stuff they did a good job of implying that when push came to shove he was none of those things and was perhaps the most sensitive and moral of the whole bunch in his own way. Exactly. I don’t know the name of the episode, but it’s one in which Hawkeye’s dad is in the hospital, and Winchester’s in Radar’s office with Hawkeye, while Hawkeye’s on the phone waiting to talk to his dad. Winchester says, “While I have a father, you…have a Dad.” Brings a tear to my eye when he says that. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/8 "2012-07-01T18:58:56Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Dear Virginia, > > It is with indescribable joy that I accept your gift. It is indeed testimony to the beauty that exists in all creation, but perhaps nowhere more than in a young girl’s heart. Right before that, he looks at the leaf and says, “Autumn in New England…” And I agree that Charles could be a very nice guy on occasion. He found classical music that could be played with one hand for a soldier who couldn’t play anymore due to an injury, he defended Margaret from a corrupt politician’s aide, and stood up for a soldier who stuttered. (His sister stuttered.) And when Hawkeye was being bullied by a superior officer, Charles said thoughtfully, “Save your hands, Pierce. Use a rock.” And he took down Colonel Flagg. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/9 "2012-07-02T01:07:21Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > Right before that, he looks at the leaf and says, “Autumn in New England…” > > And I agree that Charles could be a very nice guy on occasion. He found classical music that could be played with one hand for a soldier who couldn’t play anymore due to an injury, he defended Margaret from a corrupt politician’s aide, and stood up for a soldier who stuttered. (His sister stuttered.) And when Hawkeye was being bullied by a superior officer, Charles said thoughtfully, “Save your hands, Pierce. Use a rock.” > > And he took down Colonel Flagg. And he was a good listener when Hawkeye’s Father was having surgery. It’s the difference between Charles and Frank. Frank was a character who never developed. Charles developed into a full person. ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/10 "2012-07-02T21:32:10Z")
Don’t forget the chocolate he donated to the orphanage. It ended up on the black market in exchange for rice, but the thought was there. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/11 "2012-07-02T21:47:39Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > And he was a good listener when Hawkeye’s Father was having surgery. It’s the difference between Charles and Frank. Frank was a character who never developed. Charles developed into a full person. The writers definitely learned a lesson from Burns. When I was younger, I loved to hate Burns and Winchester as the soggy wet blankets who ruined everything. Watching Winchester now, though, I sometimes appreciate far more the things he did than Hawkeye and BJ’s good guy routines. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/12 "2012-07-02T22:18:38Z")
> [@Fir\_na\_tine](#): > > Don’t forget the chocolate he donated to the orphanage. It ended up on the black market in exchange for rice, but the thought was there. As I recall it, Winchester was briefly angry when he learned that his gift had been sold, then properly chastened when he realized why. I am willing to bet he turned around and bought the kids rice. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/13 "2012-07-02T22:25:48Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Watching Winchester now, though, I sometimes appreciate far more the things he did than Hawkeye and BJ’s good guy routines. Heck, watching the show now, it’s easy to start viewing Hawkeye and B.J. (especially the former) negatively. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/14 "2012-07-02T22:35:52Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Heck, watching the show now, it’s easy to start viewing Hawkeye and B.J. (especially the former) negatively. BJ’s a mensch, but in the case of the doctor from Crabapple Cove, I think a little of that is intentional. Late-seasons Hawkeye clearly hated himself. Consider not only his discomfort with Radar’s hero-worship but his rejection of the advances of the comely brunette USO girl who had a crush on him; in letting her down, he listed most of his faults. I don’t think he was doing it to be ethical, either (or not simply to be ethical). Being with someone like her would have emphasized how utterly different the real Hawk was from her infatuation-goggle version. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/15 "2012-07-02T22:42:14Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > As I recall it, Winchester was briefly angry when he learned that his gift had been sold, then properly chastened when he realized why. I am willing to bet he turned around and bought the kids rice. That’s also the episode when he calls Klinger “Max”, when Klinger brings him a plate from the party to his tent, where Winchester has retired in embarrassment and contemplation. > [@](#): > > BJ’s a mensch, but in the case of the doctor from Crabapple Cove, I think a little of that is intentional. Late-seasons Hawkeye clearly hated himself. Consider not only his discomfort with Radar’s hero-worship but his rejection of the advances of the comely brunette USO girl who had a crush on him; in letting her down, he listed most of his faults. I don’t think he was doing it to be ethical, either (or not simply to be ethical). Being with someone like her would have emphasized how utterly different the real Hawk was from her infatuation-goggle version. Hawkeye’s self-loathing increased in direct correlation with Alan Alda written and directed episodes. My theory is that Alda wanted a more meaty role to work with and worked hard to create a three dimensional character out of what started as a pretty simple caricature. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/16 "2012-07-02T22:59:07Z")
Well, it’s not like Hawkeye hating himself is a monopoly. I kinda hate him, too. Jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/17 "2012-07-02T23:21:45Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > That’s also the episode when he calls Klinger “Max”, when Klinger brings him a plate from the party to his tent, where Winchester has retired in embarrassment and contemplation. My memory may be wrong, but as I recall it, he occasionally called Klinger “Max” after that point. It wasn’t invariable, but it wasn’t unusual either. > [@](#): > > Hawkeye’s self-loathing increased in direct correlation with Alan Alda written and directed episodes. My theory is that Alda wanted a more meaty role to work with and worked hard to create a three dimensional character out of what started as a pretty simple caricature. Yep. And I’d also say that Alda realized that Hawkeye had become such a jerk that he could only remain tolerable if it was recognized that he _was_ a jerk. Someone had to point it out, and the best person was Hawk himself. It turned his jerkiness from Frank Burns caricature to character development. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/18 "2012-07-02T23:31:41Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > My memory may be wrong, but as I recall it, he occasionally called Klinger “Max” after that point. It wasn’t invariable, but it wasn’t unusual either. Thats how I recall it as well. While I think it showed him being a little more familiar with Klinger/Max, it was also a way that he showed more genuine respect to him as well. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/19 "2012-07-03T00:07:55Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > As I recall it, Winchester was briefly angry when he learned that his gift had been sold, then properly chastened when he realized why. I am willing to bet he turned around and bought the kids rice. He was briefly completely outraged. Another good thing about Winchester is that although he had a high opinion of his surgical competence, his opinion was accurate - he was a darn good surgeon (unlike Frank, who was portrayed as either ridiculously sure of himself, or completely uncaring about his (low) level of competence). I saw Larry Linville speak once, at my college. He was a very nice guy - when he was introduced, the host gave him a Bucknell sweatshirt, and someone in the audience yelled “Put it on like Frank” and sure enough, Larry wriggled into it in that stiff way Frank had. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860/20 "2012-07-03T00:12:15Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Thats how I recall it as well. While I think it showed him being a little more familiar with Klinger/Max, it was also a way that he showed more genuine respect to him as well. “And hog jowls. We have seconds on them.” Klinger called Winchester “Charles” first. Then Charles replied with “Max.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mash-late-episode/626860.md?page=2)