M*A*S*H (TV Series) Dear Comrade (1978) User Reviews

From the North Korean Viewpoint

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 10 April 2015]

A North Korean spy infiltrates the unit, posing as Charles' houseboy. Charles abuses him verbally and expects him to do every little thing for him. He is critical of the medical people because he feels they live in luxury and complain constantly about their lot. An epidemic of soldiers with an unidentifiable skin rash stumps the doctors, but the infiltrator comes to the rescue with a home remedy (which stinks but works). One other subplot involves a poker game where Hawkeye wins a jeep, but when it is delivered, the supply sergeant that he bet with sends a Howitzer. The North Korean gives us a perspective on what is going on and is frequently confused by the strange activities of the doctors and their compadres. It is a pretty entertaining episode.

Unique Of Its Time!!

[ellisel · 10/10 · 10 July 2006]

Major Charles Emerson Winchester, III enjoyed his daily dosage of classical music in "The Swamp" at the show's opening. Little did he know that Captains Pierce and Hunnicutt returned to the 4077th to find out a surprise ailment was inflicting on the soldiers' well-being and recuperation. Kwang (played by Sab Shimoto) did his best to survive the Major Winchester's non-stop barrage of work. Colonel Potter does everything possible to find an answer to a mysterious rash problem afflicting the patients in the post-operation ward (all to no avail over the telephone). Even the surgeons and doctors had no clue of finding the malady from a pool of 10,500 plants in all of Korea. Kwang then found the cure: Korean boiled bark -- consisting of rank blue liquid to cure their rashes in a large bowl. Everybody from the 4077th (including Major Winchester with reluctance) praised Kwang for his hard work during the malady: a diploma. The Korean boiled bark had more stench than all of the Gold Dial soap in the show.

Sab Shimono guest stars

[safenoe · 10/10 · 9 October 2020]

This has one of the best endings of any M*A*S*H episode, with Kwang (Sab Shimono) bonding with Potter, Hawkeye and BJ. Just proves the bonds of friendship can overcome the lines of war.

I really like the Hawkeye/BJ/Potter/Winchester quartet.