Ep 21. Crisis

It is 1951 and the Korean War is raging. The 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) is a medical unit offering support to soldiers injured in battle. This season 2 episode titled "Crisis" begins with a group of surgeons trying to cope with the fact that one of their own, Captain John Black (played by Patrick Adiarte) is dying from blood poisoning.

In this episode, the surgeons at the MASH unit are under a lot of pressure as they have to deal with a series of crises. In addition to Captain Black's declining health, they receive a large number of wounded soldiers, making it a very busy day at the unit. The surgeons work relentlessly, trying to save as many soldiers as possible.

Apart from the medical emergencies, tensions are also rising due to the deteriorating relationship between Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda) and Frank Burns (Larry Linville). Hawkeye, the chief surgeon, is a wisecracking and irreverent character while Frank is his polar opposite and very much by-the-book. Frank, who thinks he should be the one in charge, is unhappy with Hawkeye's leadership style and often clashes with him.

As the episode progresses, the surgeons are hit with another crisis when the water supply at the MASH unit runs low. Now they have to perform surgeries without running water, forcing them to be even more creative in their methods. Hawkeye and the other doctors at the unit also have to deal with military bureaucracy, which causes further delays and frustrations.

While all this is going on, Captain Black's condition continues to deteriorate. His situation becomes critical just as the MASH unit is hit with an incoming wounded soldier on the helicopter pad, creating a chaotic scene. This forces the surgeons to choose between helping Captain Black and treating the patient who just arrived.

The episode ends on a poignant note, where the surgeons save the incoming patient but tragically lose Captain Black. The doctors are left questioning whether the choices they made were the right ones.

"Crisis" is a classic episode of M*A*S*H that showcases the incredible skills and expertise of the medical staff at the 4077th MASH unit. Despite the numerous challenges they face, they remain steadfast in their mission to save as many lives as possible. This episode also highlights the frustration and bureaucracy that often come with military service, as well as the emotional toll the job can take on those serving.