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Big Daddy O'Reilly

Posted:
12/8/2017 6:45:07 PM

I've Made My Mind Up. . . .

I really enjoy both "Dear Dad" and "Dear Sis" as Christmas episodes, however over the years, I never really had a stronger preference for one over the other, I've always really liked both very well.

However, the more I think about it, I think I've made my mind up over which of the two I think I would have a stronger preference for: "Dear Dad."

Of the two, "Dear Dad" is far more festive (for the most part), there's all kinds of nutty things going on, from Henry's sex lecture, to Trapper delivering a calf, to Frank and Klinger's fight, to Hawkeye and Trapper sabotaging Margaret and Frank's date, to Hawkeye dropping into battle dressed as Santa.

"Dear Sis" is a more poignant episode, and it definitely gives Mulcahy an opportunity to shine, but it's also more solemn: Mulcahy feels sorry for himself, the others feel sorry for themselves, Charles really feels sorry for himself, everybody's depressed, it isn't until the Christmas party in the Mess Tent that everybody perks up - not to mention it ends with the "Christmas miracle" of snow, capped with Potter's remark, "All of the sudden this place is pretty."

phantomeagle

Posted:
12/8/2017 11:44:46 PM

Agreed.

The look on the face of the good Father, when everyone cheers him is great.
The look on the face of Charles is absolutely priceless when he finds his mother sent his favorite toboggan hat. This is after Charles, upon the prodding of Radar to see if there's a gift. Charles reflects on walking the Boston Common, with the bell of the Old North Church, and sipping 100 year old Brandy. Then he looks around and says "it is to weep". Then he says "it's probably just a gag gift from one of these cretinous yahoos.

Charles is ecstatic upon finding his old toboggan cap. He even gives Mulcahy money for the orphanages, "Buy them whatever they need" He then turns, giving even more money. "Buy them whatever they don't need."

He then says that Mulcahy "You saved me Father. You lowered a buckeet into the well of my despair, and you raised me up to the light of day."

I've always preferred Charles over Frank. For all his ego and vanity, he had numerous moments like this, where he seemed to be just one of the guys. He also genuinely cared about the patients.

FinestKindinTN

Email: ryvan@aol.com

Posted:
12/9/2017 3:45:05 PM

Death Takes a Holiday

I'm a big fan of this one as well. I like the interaction between Charles and Klinger at the end.
The Christmas episodes largely stayed clear of the syrupy-sweet Christmas episode storylines found in many series (the most overused being the "A Christmas Carol" adaptation). Although there were happy elements, they never forgot where they were and what they were doing.

Big Daddy O'Reilly

Posted:
12/11/2017 7:12:12 PM

I got to thinking about the Christmas episodes, and something new has just occured to me: they always decorate the tree in the Mess Tent with surgical equipment: clamps, tweezers, retractors, thermometers, what have you. . . .

Don't they kinda need that equipment, for, y'know, surgery? The 4077th always seemed to be low on supply at any given moment, I guess we're supposed to suspend belief and assume they had extra supply of said equipment to hang on the tree.

Big Daddy O'Reilly

Posted:
12/11/2017 7:56:11 PM

Something else I noticed about "Dear Dad": Trapper has a martini by his bedside much like a child would a glass of water, lol.

FinestKindinTN

Email: ryvan@aol.com

Posted:
12/12/2017 12:19:04 AM

Big Daddy O'Reilly wrote:
I got to thinking about the Christmas episodes, and something new has just occured to me: they always decorate the tree in the Mess Tent with surgical equipment: clamps, tweezers, retractors, thermometers, what have you. . . .

Don't they kinda need that equipment, for, y'know, surgery? The 4077th always seemed to be low on supply at any given moment, I guess we're supposed to suspend belief and assume they had extra supply of said equipment to hang on the tree.

I suppose if they had any real Christmas decorations, Frank wouldn't let them load it up whenever they had a bug out. You know, it's not official military equipment.

FinestKindinTN

Email: ryvan@aol.com

Posted:
12/12/2017 12:21:14 AM

Big Daddy O'Reilly wrote:
Something else I noticed about "Dear Dad": Trapper has a martini by his bedside much like a child would a glass of water, lol.

Well, they drank martinis like water, so I guess that's appropriate.

Beth

Posted:
12/14/2017 5:16:02 PM

I like Death Takes a Holiday the most of the Christmas episodes. It's sad, but I like BJ's fighting spirit, plus Charles's subplot was unexpected and golden. It shows a side to his character we don't expect and gives more respect for him.

BeccaLeo1972

Posted:
12/24/2017 11:18:27 PM

I prefer Dear Sis and Death Takes a Holiday. The first Dear Dad is not a favorite of mine.

AB

Posted:
1/22/2018 10:43:55 AM

BeccaLeo1972 wrote:
I prefer Dear Sis and Death Takes a Holiday. The first Dear Dad is not a favorite of mine.

I prefer the latter two episodes as well.

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