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BeccaLeo1972

Posted:
10/31/2017 4:16:02 PM

Most complex

What character do you think was more complex than the others?

Ruptured Brook

Posted:
10/31/2017 11:18:45 PM

Definitely the cook. "I'm in charge of HIM? ... Ahhhhh."

LOL

phantomeagle

Posted:
11/2/2017 12:49:08 AM

Charles
BeccaLeo1972 wrote:
What character do you think was more complex than the others?

He was mean, obnoxious, pompous, and egotistical, as we heard in "Mr. Winchester and Mr. Hyde.

But at the same time we see that he genuinely cared about the patients. This was proven when he had a writer from Stars and Stripes come there to do a story on him. He could've ended up in Tokyo in the very least, and at the most home.

He tore up the article when Hawkeye had to come in and save the guys life because Charles was too busy mugging for the camera.

It's also proven in "No Laughing Matter". Col. Baldwin came to the 4077th, the very same Colonel that sent Charles to the 4077th. Said Colonel said he wanted to find some "Entertainment".

When caught, by Margaret entering his tent instead of the bimbo, Col. Baldwin offers Charles a position in Tokyo by lying about the encounter.

Charles: (To Potter, Margaret, and others)"He offered to have me reassigned to Tokyo if I would bear false witness against Majr Houlihan.
(To Baldwin) I've groveled! I have endured your insufferable cribbage playing. I have kissed your brass! But I WILL NOT(slams his hand on his knee), even for a return to that Pearl of the Orient, Tokyo lie to protect you while destroying a friend's career."

This brings loud clapping from everyone. Baldwin leave.

There are other examples. In "Point of View", where we are the patient via the camera, Hawkeye is checking on the patient when Charles comes in breathing fire about cartoons in his diary. Suddenly the patient has a problem breathing, and Charles forgets the diary instantly and not only suggests a diagnosis, he helps in surgery.

FinestKindinTN

Email: ryvan@aol.com

Posted:
11/2/2017 1:44:59 AM

Margaret

She changed and grew the most over the duration of the show. She started out as tough, unyielding, hard-driving, callous, and manipulative. She kept her toughness and discipline and added compassion, wisdom, independence. She turned out to be a very likeable character by the end of the show's run.

Big Daddy O'Reilly

Posted:
11/3/2017 10:46:38 PM

Frank Burns. No question.

He was rude, arrogant, and deplorable. He thought more highly of himself than he really way, he showed no respect for anyone, he felt people who of lower socioeconomic status (like the Enlistedmen, or even his tentmates) deserved no sympathy or compassion. He always wanted everything he way because he felt he deserved favors from the entire world. He always felt he was right about everything and everyone else was wrong, even if he himself was wrong and everybody else was right.

At the same time, he had no friends because he hated everybody and was a jerk who brought misery on himself. He was a crybaby, a wimp, a weasel, and an over all spoiled, entitled, rotten person.

Now, when you take into consideration what a terrible childhood he had, it all makes sense why he grew up into the messed up person he is: his father didn't even love him, and was implied to be physically and emotionally abusive towards him. He even confides in Trapper that he became a snitch as a kid just so he could have an excuse to talk to somebody. He never knew love growing up, so his marriage was a loveless one; meanwhile, Margaret was the only one who saw him as an equal since they were both dyed-in-the-wool, conservative, military brats, and considering Margaret also had that lucious body, Frank probably finally found himself a playmate (in more ways than one).

I have no doubts when I hear people say that of all the castmembers on the show, Larry Linville had the hardest job, because Larry himself was a kind, compassionate, intelligent, well-read man, and Frank was the exact opposite. I don't fault him at all for feeling he needed to walk away from the show the way Frank had de-evolved into a Flanderization of the pathological mess he became.

Big Daddy O'Reilly

Posted:
11/3/2017 10:52:56 PM

To continue the conversation, I would also say that in addition to Frank, that Father Mulcahy was perhaps the second most complex character on the show.

I don't think even Mulcahy himself even knew who he was very well while he was in Korea: there are times where he feels his spiritual guidance is of no use to anyone else in camp, and as such, he feels like he serves no purpose and isn't needed . . . but, then there are times where apparently he feels useful and important enough that he deserves a promotion, for whatever reason. When that happens, though, Mulcahy admits that he gets too wrapped up in the "glory" and "recognition" and forgets about the job he's tasked with. One thing is for sure: Mulcahy loves the Lord, and only wants to do His work to the best of his ability, even if he's in a camp full of undisciplined doctors and nurses who are evidently mostly atheistic or agnostic.

I'm not sure, but I believe the original novel also implied that Mulcahy, like Frank, had a physically and emotional abusive childhood, which is probably why in "The Interview," he doesn't say hello to anyone from his family specifically, but rather, just offers a general and vague hello.

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