My thoughts on the series finale - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Chocoholic · 02-28-2006, 05:38 PM

Personally, I really don't care for the series finale. I think it was way too long, drawn out, and depressing. I think the episode before the finale, "As Time Goes By" would have been a much better ending for this wonderful series. They could have had the war ending and in their last few days together, the 4077th gang could have said their goodbyes, created the time capsule, remembered those who had already gone home or never made it home, and maybe get a chance to get a few more practical jokes in. The episode could have lasted an hour.

gilligan fanatic · 02-28-2006, 05:41 PM

I like Goodbye.... I think it does a good job of rapping of the series. One thing I did not like about it was the musicians being killed. You do got to admit though, the Goodbye in rocks has to be one of the best ending scenes of any series.

TJL · 02-28-2006, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilligan fanatic

You do got to admit though, the Goodbye in rocks has to be one of the best ending scenes of any series.

Agreed. "Goodbye Farewell, Amen" is the textbook example of a series finale.

Chocoholic · 03-01-2006, 05:34 PM

Oh yes, I did love the very last scene of the camp with "Goodbye" spelled out in rocks.

Ohio8 · 03-01-2006, 11:53 PM

I like it! It's one of the best series finales in TV history.
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Hawkeye (to Col. Tucker): "Do you know you squish when you walk?"

treky · 03-03-2006, 04:08 AM

Well, I HATED it!

It had a couple OK scenes; but that was it. Of course, a long time before that it had "jumped the shark" and became "the Alan Alda show". It was too much of "oh, we're doctors, and we're so good, and so this, and so that, and death is such a bummer".

And, that fire scene was obviously just tacked on. (because a real fire burned down the outdoor set while they were filming)

tdf4077 · 03-04-2006, 01:15 AM

I loved it, too. I still get a little teary when I watch it. But, I do think there are places when it lagged on a bit too long (little too much w/hawkeye...we get the point). So, maybe it could have gotten shrunk down a half hour by editing away some of Hawk's stuff, but I agree, the rocks...that was absolutely amazing!

Did they ever do (or consider doing) a reunion episode based on the idea of the party at the hotel that was mentioned earlier in the series?

treky · 03-04-2006, 04:21 AM

no, they never did.

magellan333 · 03-04-2006, 10:10 AM

The rocks were quite touching. However, I have served in a distant land far from home. When we were told it was time to go home, nobody would have been taking the time to write things in rocks, they'd have been packing their bags.

retrochick9 · 04-09-2006, 12:04 AM

I liked the finale, I agree, the Goodbye in rocks was really moving. It really is hard to say goodbye to people you've worked with for a long time, if you're all close that is.

treky · 04-09-2006, 03:02 AM

well, I'm sticking with my original reply. Only 1% was good. In other words, 99.9% of it sucked!!!

Adamantium · 04-09-2006, 01:54 PM

Being a fan of the early years, the finale would have meant alot more if it had the original cast finally going home. I think the episode was good, although I would have preferred just an hour episode.

I liked how in the previous episode (which i understand was the last episode shot) "As Time Goes By" the gang remembered the past characters. Henry, Radar and even Frank. However, they could have given something from Trapper. At least Trapper gets mentioned in the finale (Hawkeye: "Trapper didn't leave a note, either.").

It must have been a pressure-filled job to write the finale of "M*A*S*H".

gilligan fanatic · 04-11-2006, 09:05 PM

tdf4077 · 04-11-2006, 10:43 PM

I agree! I would never have wanted the responsibility of writing the finale! For those of you who disliked the finale, what would you have done instead?

Mr. Television · 04-11-2006, 10:50 PM

This was probably the greatest final episode ever made.

02-28-2006, 05:38 PM	#1
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	My thoughts on the series finale Personally, I really don't care for the series finale. I think it was way too long, drawn out, and depressing. I think the episode before the finale, "As Time Goes By" would have been a much better ending for this wonderful series. They could have had the war ending and in their last few days together, the 4077th gang could have said their goodbyes, created the time capsule, remembered those who had already gone home or never made it home, and maybe get a chance to get a few more practical jokes in. The episode could have lasted an hour.

02-28-2006, 05:41 PM	#2
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954	I like Goodbye.... I think it does a good job of rapping of the series. One thing I did not like about it was the musicians being killed. You do got to admit though, the Goodbye in rocks has to be one of the best ending scenes of any series.
	__________________ Matt Filmaf ~ Twitter ~ Last.FM

03-03-2006, 04:08 AM	#6
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	Well, I HATED it! It had a couple OK scenes; but that was it. Of course, a long time before that it had "jumped the shark" and became "the Alan Alda show". It was too much of "oh, we're doctors, and we're so good, and so this, and so that, and death is such a bummer". And, that fire scene was obviously just tacked on. (because a real fire burned down the outdoor set while they were filming)
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her." Last edited by treky; 03-04-2006 at 04:26 AM.

04-11-2006, 10:50 PM	#15
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	This was probably the greatest final episode ever made.
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03-01-2006, 05:34 PM	#4
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Oh yes, I did love the very last scene of the camp with "Goodbye" spelled out in rocks.

03-01-2006, 11:53 PM	#5
Ohio8 Member Forum Star Join Date: Jul 29, 2003 Location: Wherever you aren't. Posts: 18,965	I like it! It's one of the best series finales in TV history. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hawkeye (to Col. Tucker): "Do you know you squish when you walk?"

03-04-2006, 01:15 AM	#7
tdf4077 JaJa Senior Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,678	I loved it, too. I still get a little teary when I watch it. But, I do think there are places when it lagged on a bit too long (little too much w/hawkeye...we get the point). So, maybe it could have gotten shrunk down a half hour by editing away some of Hawk's stuff, but I agree, the rocks...that was absolutely amazing! Did they ever do (or consider doing) a reunion episode based on the idea of the party at the hotel that was mentioned earlier in the series?

03-04-2006, 04:21 AM	#8
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	no, they never did.

03-04-2006, 10:10 AM	#9
magellan333 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 26, 2003 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 822	The rocks were quite touching. However, I have served in a distant land far from home. When we were told it was time to go home, nobody would have been taking the time to write things in rocks, they'd have been packing their bags.

04-09-2006, 12:04 AM	#10
retrochick9 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 07, 2006 Location: On the couch, in my jammies, watching TV! Posts: 620	I liked the finale, I agree, the Goodbye in rocks was really moving. It really is hard to say goodbye to people you've worked with for a long time, if you're all close that is.

04-09-2006, 03:02 AM	#11
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	well, I'm sticking with my original reply. Only 1% was good. In other words, 99.9% of it sucked!!!

04-09-2006, 01:54 PM	#12
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,836	Being a fan of the early years, the finale would have meant alot more if it had the original cast finally going home. I think the episode was good, although I would have preferred just an hour episode. I liked how in the previous episode (which i understand was the last episode shot) "As Time Goes By" the gang remembered the past characters. Henry, Radar and even Frank. However, they could have given something from Trapper. At least Trapper gets mentioned in the finale (Hawkeye: "Trapper didn't leave a note, either."). It must have been a pressure-filled job to write the finale of "MAS*H".

04-11-2006, 09:05 PM	#13
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954

04-11-2006, 10:43 PM	#14
tdf4077 JaJa Senior Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,678	I agree! I would never have wanted the responsibility of writing the finale! For those of you who disliked the finale, what would you have done instead?