M*A*S*H (TV Series) Check-Up (1974) User Reviews

Trapper's best moment

[robrosenberger · 8/10 · 5 July 2011]

Trapper gets an unexpected ticket home, in the form of an ulcer (until the army changes its mind). Wayne Rogers' best episode. Watching it, one becomes entirely sympathetic to why he left the show. Instead of being one half of a comedic duo, as he had been promised, he became an afterthought almost immediately. Perhaps the show's success can be attributed to Hawkeye, but if this episode is any indication, Wayne could have carried so much more than what they gave him. This episode is also a schizophrenic study in the evolution of American mores. Hawk and Trap reach a place beyond the jokes, to become unabashedly emotional over their imminent separation. In 1974, American men were still taught that emotion wasn't "manly". In terms of changing that, it's no exaggeration to say that M*A*S*H was the most influential show in TV history. And yet fascinatingly, in the very same episode, there is a scene between Hawkeye and Margaret that is absolutely appalling in terms of putting a happy face on sexual harassment.

Margaret scene stealer!

[kellielulu · 8/10 · 20 July 2022]

No one could play tipsy like Loretta Swit! Much like no one could laugh on cue like Alan Alda . A few times they show this side of Margaret obviously they didn't want to overdo it. Loretta was wonderful in how she changed her voice, said things backwards, moved differently, even looked different!. She would either act sillier or get more honest and emotional. She should have won an Emmy for her performance in one of those episodes. I don't remember which season's she won.

I do agree they didn't always treat Margaret respectfully . For me this is one of the biggest improvements with bringing in characters like BJ, Potter and Charles . The womanizing also declined sharply once Trapper, Frank and Blake left. Hawkeye still hadn't left it behind but he slowly got better.

Wayne definitely was capable of more and this episode shows it.

He Almost Escaped

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 5 March 2015]

Somebody mentioned sexual harassment. One thing this show didn't do a very good job of (at least in the early years) is treat women as equals. Hawkeye and Trapper are always using and abusing women, particularly Margaret. Drinking and having sex with nurses is a sport in these shows. This is really obvious now. The talk is really demeaning. That aside, this episode focuses on Trapper. He is not feeling well and all the symptoms point to a duodenal ulcer. In Hawkeye's view, this is a one way ticket home. As usual, he jumps to conclusions and assumes things that are not final. A big party is planned where everyone gets hammered. I think the issue of alcoholism is addressed in the future, but it certainly dominates their lives. They drink in the morning and before they go to bed and whenever they are tired. That still would be producing pure grain alcohol.

It was set in 1950 and filmed starting in 1972

[pjc93 · 10/10 · 24 May 2022]

Sexual harassment was not invented in the 1950s. Sure, men harrassed women, but, it is just the way it was back then. You cannot view the show from a 2022 point of view

As far as sexual activities, hey, they were all consenting adults. Adults have sex. Women have needs, too. No one was forced to do anything. Plus, they were in a war zone and knew everyday might be their last, so, " let's live while we're alive," was their motto.

I have watched this show from 1972 when the showed premiered I remember the first time I saw the finale episode. It has been running every day on different networks since it went into syndication. This is a great show. It has informed generations of people about the Korean war, (or Police action as it was also called.)

Watch it, and you will learn just how much that things have changed.

Trapper John

[safenoe · 7/10 · 17 March 2024]

This episode, Check-Up, debuted 50 years ago, wow, five decades ago, and it kind of highlighted the significance of Trapper John. I was thinking, what if Wayne Rogers had played Hawkeye and Alan Alda had played Trapper, like would the atmosphere of the series have changed init.

This episode also has Jeff Maxwell in his recurring supporting role as Igor, and also Kellye Nakahara as Nurse Kellye. In fact, in 2018 Jeff and superfan Ryan Patrick launched the M*A*S*H Matters podcast which I enjoy listening to very much, as we get Jeff's recollections of his days on M*A*S*H. He and Ryan interviewed Kellye, and also the son of the late Roy Goldman, who also was a supporting actor in M*A*S*H.