Ep 16. Goodbye, Farewell and Amen

In the final episode of M*A*S*H, titled "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," the war in Korea has finally come to a close, and the doctors and nurses of the 4077th are preparing to say their goodbyes and return to their lives back home. As the episode opens, bursts of artillery can still be heard in the distance, and as the camera pans across the empty mess hall and deserted tents, it's clear that the camp is all but deserted.

In the operating room, Hawkeye is treating a young soldier whose face is badly burned. As he works, he flashes back to a painful memory from his childhood that sheds light on how he became the person he is today. Meanwhile, Potter is packing up his office and handing out gifts to his staff, including a jar of homemade honey to Hawkeye and BJ.

Klinger is frantically trying to get all of his belongings into his duffel bag before the troops come to take them away, and trying to convince Father Mulcahy to smuggle his beloved goat, Sophie, out of the country with him. Father Mulcahy is struggling with saying goodbye to the members of his unit who have become like family to him, and is heartbroken when he learns that one of his fellow chaplains has been killed.

Throughout the episode, the characters all grapple with the profound sadness and complex emotions that come with the end of a war. For some, like Margaret, the end of the war brings a sense of relief and joy, while for others it is bittersweet. BJ is mourning the loss of his friend Hawkeye, who has retreated into himself after the trauma of the war, and is struggling to connect with him before it's too late.

As the episode draws to a close, the characters each make their way to the helipad, where they will be leaving Korea and returning to their lives back home. There are tearful goodbyes, heartfelt speeches, and moments of levity that help to break through the sadness. Ultimately, the characters all find their own way to say goodbye to the war and to the people they have come to love and rely on over the past several years.

As the final helicopter takes off, the camera lingers over the empty camp one last time. The two-hour finale of M*A*S*H was watched by over 106 million people when it originally aired on February 28th, 1983, making it the most-watched episode of a television show in history at the time. The episode remains a powerful and emotional testament to the impact of war on the individuals who fight it, and the power of friendship and connection to heal even the deepest wounds.