I'm watching the episodes in production order, every night. I've just gotten to season four. Both Henry and Trapper are gone now. I find myself missing Henry more than Trapper.

Which do you think was the bigger loss to the show?

I find myself missing a different one while watching each episode-sometimes one would have been perfect in it...or a line sounds as if it were written for that character.:D Also I miss Henry because of the fact that he died and because of Radar. I miss Trapper's happy-go-lucky nature and the interaction between him and Hawkeye. I get too into the show-I start feeling sorry for the characters they left.:rolleyes: :lol: ;)
~:cool:Jillian:p

I really missed Trapper but was happy when BJ showed up.

I think Henry was a bigger loss, because his exit had more of an impact.
You saw him saying goodbye to the other characters, then fly away in a chopper, then witness everyone's grief when they were told he had been killed.

Originally posted by TJL
I think Henry was a bigger loss, because his exit had more of an impact.
You saw him saying goodbye to the other characters, then fly away in a chopper, then witness everyone's grief when they were told he had been killed.

That's true. And no matter how much you missed Trapper, you knew at least he was at home with his family.

That's a good question. I'd have to go with Henry. Could you image if both of them had stayed and later had to put up with Winchester!!!!!

Alas, poor Trapper, I knew him well.

Henry was a bigger loss in that his replacement - Potter - was regular army and that took away some of the main conflict of the show. Frank and Hot Lips now had a CO who was regualr army also - though he sided more with Hawkeye and BJ then with Frank and Hot Lips.

I love Trapper, but I would say Henry was the bigger loss.

Trapper

Trapper was really the bigger loss. The show grew way too serious under whiny BJ. Potter replaced Blake fine but BJ, most think, was worse than Trap. Although it was a good to very good show right to the end, it'd been even better if Trap had stayed. The scripts never would have taken the extra sappy turn they did under Mike Farrell. Wayne Rogers never would have played it that extra-whiny way.

I MISS Trapper more, cuz I like him more than BJ, but the sadder loss, of course, is Henry, since he dies.

And that ain't no spoiler, if you dont' know that by now you shouldn't be in here :P

I like them both, but I think Trapper was the bigger loss.

I prefered Trapper to BJ, though, i liked both...Blake was funnier than Potter, but Potter was a BETTER , more believeable character who made the whole series go in a new , more interesting direction,,,so my answer is Trapper...ps, I hated Winchester, Frank Burns was 1000 times better!!

Henry. I think I actually cried when Radar came into the operating theatre and told everyone. It was so sad. He was so excited to be going home, and he doesn't get there.

I think Henry was missed most because he was killed...atleast Trapper was home safe. I do miss Trapper but I like BJ better, just b/c i act like BJ sometimes

I miss Trapper more 'cause he's always been my favorite character...and not just b/c he was hot. But, I did like Henry...Potter just wasn't the same...but I think that Potter's character allowed the show to go in a different direction.

Trapper was really the bigger loss. The show grew way too serious under whiny BJ. Potter replaced Blake fine but BJ, most think, was worse than Trap. Although it was a good to very good show right to the end, it'd been even better if Trap had stayed. The scripts never would have taken the extra sappy turn they did under Mike Farrell. Wayne Rogers never would have played it that extra-whiny way.
Good perspective.

I would say Henry def..........

Trapper's by far the bigger loss. Mike Farrell as BJ just can't be funny.

The departure of the two characters has to be viewed as a tandem, the series begins its transition from a comedy series with dramatic scenes to a dramedy with emphasis on the drama. Even though the departures were on the surface separate they really are connected. Stevenson wanted more money, but he also wanted a contractual commitment from the producers that his character would be the lead character in a certain number of episodes (I think it was 20%), he was turned down so he left. Rogers felt his character had been reduced to the guy who reads the line "does anyone want a martini". Both actors were concerned that Alda's character was dominating the series, and his vision of the series was the only one that mattered.

Overall It’s Henry Blake

I read once that if no one quit, that the show would have died off years earlier than it did. It was that the show did revolve with new characters that it didn’t get tiresome as quickly. The article I read stated if no one quit, the show might have lasted five years and would have been sort of dismissed as a military comedy.

I think they both just got tired of the show very quickly. Radar did also, eventually, but for different reasons.

Funny thing about Henry, Trapper, and Frank. I liked all three of their replacements better.

I'd say Henry was the bigger loss though, he had a more distinct personality than Trapper, who often just seemed like Hawkeye's cohort.

I find myself missing a different one while watching each episode-sometimes one would have been perfect in it...or a line sounds as if it were written for that character.:D Also I miss Henry because of the fact that he died and because of Radar. I miss Trapper's happy-go-lucky nature and the interaction between him and Hawkeye. I get too into the show-I start feeling sorry for the characters they left.:rolleyes: :lol: ;)
~:cool:Jillian:p

Good points, and although I miss both Trapper and Blake, I think the overall sweeping epic of M*A*S*H is richer with all the later characters, Potter, B.J. Winchester and so on.

Trapper was really the bigger loss. The show grew way too serious under whiny BJ. Potter replaced Blake fine but BJ, most think, was worse than Trap. Although it was a good to very good show right to the end, it'd been even better if Trap had stayed. The scripts never would have taken the extra sappy turn they did under Mike Farrell. Wayne Rogers never would have played it that extra-whiny way.

Definitely true, the show went into the serious and politically correct mode where the original concept of M*A*S*H (novel and film) was all about surreal anarchy and rebellion, which the early seasons with Trapper and Blake, continued on well.

I loved Harry Morgan as Potter, but he was very different from Henry Blake, who could be as wild as they come (especially in the novel and film), while Potter was the kind voice of reason who helped bring calm to the 4077.

B.J. was decent enough but a mild character compared to Trapper John.

By the way, did television version ever explain how he got the name Trapper?

If not, no spoilers, it's a good reason to seek out the original novel or the movie. Definitely not a nickname B.J. would ever have.

🙂