so, what does everyone think of this? I thought it had 3 or 4 parts that were just OK, (mostly they involved Charles) but that's it.

And that part with the fire seemed to be just tacked on-which it was, because a real fire in the hills where some of the show was filmed destroyed the set during filming.

To me the final episode of M*A*S*H is the textbook example of a perfect series finale.

It's not like say "Cheers" where the characters are still going to be together after the final episode, it's just that we're no longer watching them, the ending of the Korean war (which brought the characters together) means every person at the 4077th has to go thier seperate ways. Thier time together is over. The emotions the characters show is genuine, because they all know that the chances of them ever being together again will most likely not happen.

The storyline with Winchester and the Chinese musicans was the highlight of the finale.
According to "The Complete Book Of MASH" it was inspired by a true story Exec Producer Burt Metcalfe had heard from a Korean War Doc, and was just one of many story ideas they still had lying around that they decided to incorporate into the finale.

If the story was used in a regular episode, it would have lost it's dramatic impact, because Charles would be back the next week with the rest of his cohorts and in true sitcom fashion, the events of the previous week's episode would have been forgotten. But because this is the final episode, when Chrles tells everyone that he will never love music the same way again, it hits home more, because we won't ever get to see if he ever recovers.

"Goodbye, Farewell, Amen" was the perfect ending to arguable one of the finest shows on TV.

idt couldn't have been better. the story was great as well as all the different emotions everyone had.

Originally posted by TJL
"Goodbye, Farewell, Amen" was the perfect ending to arguable one of the finest shows on TV.

UNarguably one of the finest shows on TV.
I never liked the show before, but its growing on me thanks to this marathon.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TJL
[B]To me the final episode of M*A*S*H is the textbook example of a perfect series finale.

It's not like say "Cheers" where the characters are still going to be together after the final episode, it's just that we're no longer watching them, the ending of the Korean war (which brought the characters together) means every person at the 4077th has to go thier seperate ways. Thier time together is over. The emotions the characters show is genuine, because they all know that the chances of them ever being together again will most likely not happen.

The storyline with Winchester and the Chinese musicans was the highlight of the finale.
According to "The Complete Book Of MASH" it was inspired by a true story Exec Producer Burt Metcalfe had heard from a Korean War Doc, and was just one of many story ideas they still had lying around that they decided to incorporate into the finale.

If the story was used in a regular episode, it would have lost it's dramatic impact, because Charles would be back the next week with the rest of his cohorts and in true sitcom fashion, the events of the previous week's episode would have been forgotten. But because this is the final episode, when Chrles tells everyone that he will never love music the same way again, it hits home more, because we won't ever get to see if he ever recovers


I strongly disagree! The GFA had much stronger moments like Hawkeye realizing he accidentally caused a woman to kill her baby. Also, Potter's goodbye was outstandingly dramatic. I cannot believe more than one of you really think Charles's rather trivial classical music bit was actually the highpoint.

For me, Winchester's storyline had more poignancy.
Charles was always a very reserved character, but his love for music enabled us to see a rare glimpse at his passionate human side. His loss of his love for music was very touching.

Alan Alda had many opportunities on the show to really act his heart out and take Hawkeye through the entire spectrum of emotions. The few times they allowed David Ogden Stires to really shine are quite memorable.

I have no idea what the high point of GFA was. But whatever it was it wasn't Charles's subplot. And we had lots of chances to see CW go boringly goody-goody (in the regular series) on us and thus we did not need to see him do it again.

I never liked GFA. It has a few so-so parts (like Charles' music); but thaat's it.

The curse bald men (like David Ogden Stiers) have over people is scarey---and wrong!