Follies of the Living - Concerns of the Dead

Klinger is running a high fever, almost 105 degrees. He has been hallucinating when he wanders into the compound during heavy triage. In a stretcher is a soldier who has died, Weston, but the guy's spirit rises up and begins to talk to the Corporal. This soldier talks to everyone else, but there is no response. Meanwhile, there is constant conflict over the most trivial of problems, how towels are folded, for instance. How B.J. uses the same kind of fork in the mess hall. Klinger continues to talk out of his head and still has the ability to connect with the dead man. There is a touching scene where Weston's friend is told of his demise. People begin to worry about this soldier because he seems to be giving up. There are petty arguments going on among doctors, and Weston is amazed. However, the ending is utterly sappy and saccharine.

This is one of the best episodes of MASH. I really don't think it was meant to be funny in any way, but to show something truly terrifying. How it must be to shout at people you may know and receive no response. The writing is what sets this apart; it's so good and heartbreaking. I just can't sometimes.

If you've seen it then you know what I mean. And if you haven't...then you will. Haven't checked it yet. But the writers of this episode must surely have borrowed from a Twilight Zone episode with this exact same theme. But no matter. It's a GREAT episode.

For me, one of the most remarkable episodes of the serie. For delicate theme and for the wise manner to use it. For the bitter, delicate poetry about death and life. For the embroidery about small peaces defining us in insignificant objects or in memory of comrades or in the vision of fever or in the talks, so childish of living people. An episode like an old song , important for what it suggests , for the end , for the beautiful performance of Kario Salem , for powerful emotion and for a special beauty.

I've got to say that I cant understand all of the good reviews of this episode. I've been watching mash since the movie came out and this is one of their worst episodes. The day player extra playing a ghost just ruined it. The actor did zero research and clearly has less tgan zero knowledge of the words he's been given to deliver. "Sea RayShuns"?? With a hard A?? No. Just. No. This is almost as unacceptable as the inept focus puller who ruined 80% of the scenes he shot that were grossly mis measured and pathetically out of focus. The story was horrible. The acting was horrible.