Ep 8. Life With Father

In the M*A*S*H season 3 episode 8 titled "Life With Father," the camp faces a major crisis when Colonel Blake is informed that his father has passed away. While the loss hits Blake hard, he struggles with the fact that he never had a close relationship with his father, who was always too busy to spend time with him. As Blake grieves, the rest of the M*A*S*H team takes turns trying to help him cope.

Throughout the episode, we see different characters offer their support to Blake in their own unique ways. Hawkeye tries to lighten the mood by cracking jokes, while B.J. offers a shoulder to cry on and listens to Blake's stories about his childhood. Margaret, who is secretly in love with Blake, also tries her best to be there for him and offers to take on some of his duties so he can take time to mourn.

As Blake tries to come to terms with his loss, he is forced to confront some long-buried feelings about his father. In flashbacks, we see the younger version of Blake trying to impress his disapproving father in various ways, such as joining the military and becoming a doctor. It's clear that Blake has always felt unworthy in his father's eyes and has carried that insecurity with him throughout his life.

As the episode progresses, the team becomes increasingly worried about Blake's emotional state. He becomes distant and withdrawn, and they fear that he may be headed for a breakdown. It's only when Hawkeye proposes a symbolic funeral for Blake's father - complete with a mock casket and eulogies from the rest of the team - that Blake finally starts to open up about his feelings.

The funeral scene is a poignant moment that showcases the strong bonds that have formed between the M*A*S*H team members. It's clear that they all care for Blake deeply, and they want to help him in any way they can. Even Frank, who usually provides comic relief, gets a heartfelt moment as he expresses his sympathy for Blake's loss.

In the end, "Life With Father" is a touching episode that explores themes of grief, family relationships, and the importance of friendship. While it's a departure from the show's usual hijinks and pranks, it's a reminder that even in the chaos of war, human connections are what carry us through the toughest times.