It is Christmas and the supply truck containing dinner has been hit by the enemy. So everyone ponies up with their treats from home to help the orphans celebrate. All except Charles, who gives up a can of smoked oysters. This seems chintzy, but it turns out he follows a tradition. He has large packages of candy that he delivers to the poor on Christmas every year. This is no exception. He drives to the place the kids live to carry this on. Of course, everyone calls him Charles Ebeneezer Winchester because they don't understand what he is doing (anonymously). The other plot is an attempt to keep a sniper victim alive long enough so he doesn't die on Christmas Day. An incredibly touching episode.
3 Reviews
Almost midnight...
safenoe12 November 2020
Mike Farrell co-wrote and directed this Christmas episode which is bittersweet.
We get more insight into Charles's humanity when he secretly helps out the orphanage. Hard to imagine Frank Burns responding this way really.
This episode along with a Charlie Brown's Christmas and Die Hard are part of Christmas viewing for sure.
We get more insight into Charles's humanity when he secretly helps out the orphanage. Hard to imagine Frank Burns responding this way really.
This episode along with a Charlie Brown's Christmas and Die Hard are part of Christmas viewing for sure.
Sentiment Good, But Big Flaw In Plot
DKosty12321 February 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This episode goes for tears and sentiments at Christmas. It accomplishes that, as Charles Winchester's tradition of a special gift for children is quite a big thing for his character to actually show a tenderness for children. Of course, he gets upset about his gift going in a different place than he intended until he gets a very logical explanation why.
The flaw here is in BJ Honeycuts trying to keep a dead man alive so he does not die on Christmas has great sentiment. In reality though there are a couple of flaws. First, in a real MASH precious resources, especially plasma, would not be wasted on a man who is dead on arrival. This just would not happen. Second, Hawkeye moving the clock ahead proves that they could have done this in the beginning, and saved the precious supplies used for really wounded men who could be saved.
This sentiment is a tear jerk-er, but earlier in the series, I do not feel this plot line would be written this way. Dates of death actually get changed in the real world, without trying to keep someone alive to do it. One state government actually pushed back a politician's date of death by 3 days after they actually died so that his family would get extra benefits the 3 days would have given them.
I give the episode credit for having Hawkeye set the clock ahead. That is more real world than the other plot which was designed so BJ could do some acting.
The flaw here is in BJ Honeycuts trying to keep a dead man alive so he does not die on Christmas has great sentiment. In reality though there are a couple of flaws. First, in a real MASH precious resources, especially plasma, would not be wasted on a man who is dead on arrival. This just would not happen. Second, Hawkeye moving the clock ahead proves that they could have done this in the beginning, and saved the precious supplies used for really wounded men who could be saved.
This sentiment is a tear jerk-er, but earlier in the series, I do not feel this plot line would be written this way. Dates of death actually get changed in the real world, without trying to keep someone alive to do it. One state government actually pushed back a politician's date of death by 3 days after they actually died so that his family would get extra benefits the 3 days would have given them.
I give the episode credit for having Hawkeye set the clock ahead. That is more real world than the other plot which was designed so BJ could do some acting.
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