Ep 19. Hot Lips is Back in Town

Hot Lips is Back in Town starts with Major Margaret Houlihan arriving back at the 4077th MASH unit in Korea. The nurses and enlisted men are thrilled to have her back, but the arrival of Colonel Potter's new secretary Lieutenant Regina Hoffman creates tension between Hot Lips and her former commanding officer.

As the episode progresses, we see the dynamics between Margaret and Regina worsen, with Regina seemingly out to get Margaret at every turn. Meanwhile, Hawkeye and B.J. operate on an injured tank driver who is convinced that he's a bird, and Klinger tries to convince Father Mulcahy to invest in a shady oil well scheme.

The tension between Margaret and Regina comes to a head when a visiting General is incorrectly informed that Margaret is responsible for a mix-up in a shipment of medical supplies. Margaret becomes convinced that Regina is trying to sabotage her, but when Regina is injured in a minor accident, Margaret comes to her aid and reveals that she was wrong about her colleague's motives.

The episode concludes with Margaret admitting that she has a newfound respect for Regina, and the two women agreeing to start fresh as colleagues and friends.

Overall, Hot Lips is Back in Town is a classic M*A*S*H episode that showcases the complexity of relationships under the unique stress of war. The strong performances from Loretta Swit and guest star Mary Kay Place elevate the already excellent writing, resulting in an episode that's both funny and poignant.