Ep 24. Margaret's Marriage

Margaret's Marriage is the 24th episode of the fifth season of the hit TV show M*A*S*H. Set during the Korean War, the show follows the doctors and nurses working at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Margaret Houlihan (played by Loretta Swit) is the head nurse at the unit, and in this episode, she surprises her colleagues by announcing that she is getting married.

The episode opens with everyone in the camp getting ready for the wedding of Margaret and Lieutenant Colonel Donald Penobscott (played by Beeson Carroll). As Margaret is getting dressed for the ceremony, she admits to her friend Father Mulcahy (played by William Christopher) that she is feeling apprehensive about getting married. She is worried about losing her identity and becoming just a wife.

Meanwhile, the rest of the staff at the unit are also dealing with their own issues. Hawkeye Pierce (played by Alan Alda) is trying to teach a visiting doctor (played by Charles Frank) about the realities of working in a war zone, while Radar O'Reilly (played by Gary Burghoff) is trying to organize a surprise for Margaret's wedding.

As the wedding begins, everyone is surprised to see that Margaret's fiancé is noticeably shorter than her. Throughout the ceremony, the unit's staff provide their own humorous commentary, which provides a much-needed break from the seriousness of their work.

After the wedding, the newlyweds throw a reception, which is attended by the entire unit. However, the celebration is soon interrupted when the hospital receives a patient with a severe injury. As the doctors and nurses work to save the soldier's life, Margaret begins to realize that her work as a nurse is just as important as her new role as a wife.

As the episode comes to a close, Margaret and her husband say goodbye to the unit as they prepare to leave for their honeymoon. However, Margaret is given a touching farewell when the staff sing her a song that celebrates her love of nursing and her dedication to her patients.

Overall, Margaret's Marriage is a heartwarming and humorous episode of M*A*S*H that showcases the importance of friendship, love, and duty. The episode deals with real issues such as the fear of losing oneself in a relationship, and the importance of maintaining an identity outside of marriage. It also reminds viewers that humor and laughter can provide relief from even the most difficult of situations.