There are three plot lines at work here. First of all, B.J. is depressed because it is his anniversary and he is stuck in Korea again. His longings are frequently fodder for shows. He can be both a sad and an angry man. While he mopes around, the rest of his friends are working on a plan. In the second plot line, Charles had gone to look at another MASH unit to evaluate their conditions. It turns out it is a cesspool and Charles pulls no punches, so to speak, when he sends in his findings. A major from that camp comes and tries to reason with him, but when he proves unyielding, the guy punches him, knocking out a tooth. Charles is utterly embarrassed by being done in by this guy and not defending himself. The third item is a little Korean boy who has been hit in the leg by shrapnel. His grandfather tells the doctors that the boy has lost his mother, his father may be dead, and they no longer have a home. To make matters worse, he was given a harmonica by a GI and it was left behind when they escaped. All the factors come into play at the end, as if choreographed. A little maudlin and pat but quite emotional, to say the least.
4 Reviews
Rally Around B.J.
frankjosephsaraceno16 July 2019
The writers squeezed a lot of mileage out of B.J.'s "woe is me" homesickness. Sometimes it worked to great effect. Other times it was unbearable. This was one instance where it hit the mark, in large part, because it didn't dominate the entire half hour. In an episode that had two "a plots", we see Charles looking to get his manhood back after being humiliated by a drunk major. It's laugh out loud funny watching Charles (David Ogden Stiers) learn karate and then...actually attempt to use it. The episode pays off with an anniversary surprise from home for B.J. Mike Farrell gives a very poignant, yet, subtle performance.
BJ and the Karate Kid (and Hawkeye's provocative line)
safenoe25 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
One of the more provocative lines from Hawkeye was in this episode, "Time flies when we have a good holocaust" in response to BJ's boredom with the War and all that. I'm not sure if that line would be allowed today, in 2020 if you know what I mean.
Anyway, Charles becomes the Karate Kid, and BJ pines for a lost wedding anniversary, and Soon Chi Lu (Michael Choe) pines for his lost harmonica. The plot points all come together at the end.
Anyway, Charles becomes the Karate Kid, and BJ pines for a lost wedding anniversary, and Soon Chi Lu (Michael Choe) pines for his lost harmonica. The plot points all come together at the end.
Only those deployed will appreciate it in full
kndnowak24 September 2023
To cut the long story short. This episode brought memory when while deployed (silent service, 4 months away from homes) my friend had his first child born.
And again, as shown here, when we pulled alongside for a short "replenish and maintain" brake he got a video from home with his girls.
As for BJ it was a surprise for him. Thanks to friends thousands of miles away he was able to have this special moment with his wife and daughter.
I recall lots of tears that evening. Good tears that no one was ashamed for. And this episode shows how it was. Because your unit, crew - whatever branch you're in - is your family far from home.
This series brought another year to my eye.
And again, as shown here, when we pulled alongside for a short "replenish and maintain" brake he got a video from home with his girls.
As for BJ it was a surprise for him. Thanks to friends thousands of miles away he was able to have this special moment with his wife and daughter.
I recall lots of tears that evening. Good tears that no one was ashamed for. And this episode shows how it was. Because your unit, crew - whatever branch you're in - is your family far from home.
This series brought another year to my eye.
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