User Reviews

I love this episode, mainly because of Alan Alda's super acting in the last half. The plot (just one, no B-story this time) involves a handful of patients brought to the M*A*S*H compound late at night, one of whom will affect Hawkeye as he begins to have sneezing fits that night. He insists it's nothing, but the sneezing persists. Tests are run and he's found to be fit, but once he comes into Col. Potter's office saying he's "going to die," he's put into the V.I.P. tent and another try at a cure is attempted. This involves Maj. Sidney Friedman (the wonderful Allan Arbus), who tries to get to the bottom of whatever is affecting Hawkeye. And how he goes about is a wonder, with Hawkeye resisting along the way, but the problem is revealed. Alan Alda's acting is superb when he cries and rages at the revelation. The way Sidney pulls it out of Hawkeye reminds me of the way he gets to the heart of another problem Hawkeye had in the M*A*S*H series finale, "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen." They're much different causes but the skill of Sidney Friedman is awesome in both cases. But this episode, "Bless You Hawkeye," is my favorite over the last one. This is definitely in my Top Ten M*A*S*H episodes.

We often remember things differently than how they actually happened it's often a shield to protect us from something hard to face . This is what happens with Hawkeye a long buried memory comes to the surface that devastated but ultimately heals Hawkeye physically and emotionally. He's held on to his cousin Billy as his boyhood hero but he's anything but a hero. Sidney Freedman once again has the key and unlocks the long deeply buried memory. The most realistic part is how a young Hawkeye is thanking his cousin his Billy does the unspeakable it rings so true of how we sometimes can't defend ourselves and come to terms with the reality . It's not only Hawkeye but everyone who loves this cousin. Did only Hawkeye know this side of Billy ? Probably not but perhaps like Hawkeye others couldn't expose him either it's how bullies go on so long. A later episode that couldn't have taken place early on in the series.