Ep 6. Kim

In M*A*S*H season 2 episode 6, titled "Kim," the staff of the 4077th are forced to treat a North Korean POW named Kim who has been gravely injured while trying to escape. While the staff initially holds resentment towards Kim due to his status as an enemy combatant, they soon discover that he was not a willing participant in the war and was forced to fight for his country.

As they work to save his life, the staff members must navigate their conflicting attitudes towards Kim. Hawkeye and Trapper are both sympathetic towards him, with Hawkeye going so far as to demand that the Army officially recognize him as a prisoner of war rather than a criminal. On the other hand, Frank and Margaret are strongly opposed to treating an enemy POW and make their feelings known.

As the episode progresses, the staff members begin to learn more about Kim's past and how he ended up fighting for the North Koreans. Through flashbacks, we see that Kim was a farmer who was conscripted by the North Korean army and had no choice but to fight for them. He was severely injured while trying to escape and was left behind by his own comrades, leading to his capture by the Americans.

Despite the initial tension between the two sides, the staff at the 4077th ultimately comes together to save Kim's life. They perform a risky surgery and manage to keep Kim alive, despite the odds being against him. This leads to a newfound respect for each other, as both sides realize that they are all just trying to survive the horrors of war.

Throughout the episode, the theme of dehumanization is explored. Both the American staff and the North Korean POWs are guilty of seeing each other as nothing more than stereotypical enemies. However, as they begin to understand each other's stories and motivations, they begin to see each other as human beings instead. This is exemplified in a scene where Hawkeye shows Kim pictures of his family, leading to a moment of connection between the two men.

In the end, Kim is sent back to a POW camp. Hawkeye offers to smuggle him out of the country to safety, but Kim refuses, stating that he wants to stay with his fellow POWs. The episode ends with the staff members reflecting on the humanity that they saw in Kim, and wondering if they will ever be able to reconcile their differences with their enemies.

Overall, "Kim" is a powerful episode that explores the complexities of war and the ways in which it dehumanizes even those who are trying to help. Through its nuanced portrayal of both the American staff and the North Korean POW, it challenges viewers to reexamine their own attitudes towards enemy combatants. By the end, viewers are left with a sense of hope that even in the midst of war, there is still the possibility for empathy and understanding.