Ep 20. As You Were

In the episode "As You Were" of M*A*S*H's second season, the unit's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake, receives news that his regular army commission has been reinstated. Excited at the prospect of finally leaving the chaos of the 4077th and returning home to his family, Henry prepares to depart, but not before a going-away party thrown by the rest of the staff. Meanwhile, the doctors and nurses of the M*A*S*H unit treat a steady stream of patients, ranging from a soldier with a head injury to a Korean woman about to give birth.

As the party begins, members of the unit--including Hawkeye, Trapper, Radar, Margaret, and Klinger--offer toasts and presents to Henry, reflecting on their experiences working with him over the past year. Despite their fondness for Henry, however, everyone seems excited at the prospect of new leadership coming in and shaking things up at the unit.

As the party winds down and Henry begins to pack his bags, he receives a shocking piece of news: due to a bureaucratic mix-up, his commission has been rescinded, and he will be staying at the 4077th after all. The news is a huge blow to Henry, who had been looking forward to seeing his wife and children again, and he spends the rest of the episode grappling with his disappointment.

As the doctors and nurses continue with their medical duties, they also spend time trying to boost Henry's spirits, reminding him of all the good work they've done together and emphasizing the importance of their mission. In one particularly poignant scene, Trapper sets up a makeshift radio station and, with the help of several other members of the staff, broadcasts a message to Henry's family back home, assuring them that their husband and father is in good hands and doing important work.

Throughout the episode, the audience gets a glimpse of the intense emotional toll that being part of a military unit can take on its members. Despite the frequent hijinks and silly pranks that are a hallmark of M*A*S*H, "As You Were" reminds viewers that the doctors and nurses who work at the 4077th are human beings with families, hopes, and fears of their own.

In the end, "As You Were" leaves viewers with a renewed appreciation for the sacrifices made by those who serve in the military, as well as a sense of solidarity with the members of the 4077th who are far from home and doing their best to make a difference in the midst of chaos and destruction.