Colonel Flagg (who appeared earlier under another name) is the star of this, part of the CIA or is it the CIC or he may be a CPA. He crashes in a helicopter and breaks his arm and Hawkeye sets it for him. Anyway, the whole espionage thing is hilarious. He comes in and immediately intimidates Henry who would give the camp away to save his own skin. Eventually, Flagg finds his way to the Swamp and puts everyone on notice that he can do horrible things to them. Soon another guy shows up named Stone. Apparently, these guys keep an eye on one another. Of course, Margaret is taken with the big lunk and Frank is his usually jingoistic self. That is short lived as Trapper and Hawkeye falsify Frank's records, making him look like a subversive. All in a day's work.
6 Reviews
Remarkable Prediction Of Intelligence Services
DKosty12321 February 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This is a flat out funny episode. I mean, we have the camp invaded by 2 spies who are like a MAD Magazine Spy Versus Spy. The difference is these 2 spies get their routines hacked by Hawkeye and Trapper John. "These guys don't have to find leaks, they are self leaking ." Hawkeye quips.
What is funny is that just about everybody gets a chance to throw zingers into this episode. Frank Burns and Hot Lips get used by Col. Flagg almost as much as Flagg gets used by Hawkeye and Trapper. The practical jokes here fly faster than cream pies in this 30 minutes.
I really missed Trapper when he left this show and this one is a reason why. Hawkeye and Trapper make a great comedy team in how they handle a ridiculous threat of intelligence people who just are more funny than they are intelligent. It is very hard not to laugh at this one.
Fun is the key here, the only person who takes any of this seriously is Frank Burns, though he joins in on the fun of slamming these guys too which is the ultimate insult to intelligence everywhere - at least until the someone tried to rig the election by getting Donald Trump the Republican nomination. That even makes Col. Flagg look intelligent, which is an amazing thing.
What is funny is that just about everybody gets a chance to throw zingers into this episode. Frank Burns and Hot Lips get used by Col. Flagg almost as much as Flagg gets used by Hawkeye and Trapper. The practical jokes here fly faster than cream pies in this 30 minutes.
I really missed Trapper when he left this show and this one is a reason why. Hawkeye and Trapper make a great comedy team in how they handle a ridiculous threat of intelligence people who just are more funny than they are intelligent. It is very hard not to laugh at this one.
Fun is the key here, the only person who takes any of this seriously is Frank Burns, though he joins in on the fun of slamming these guys too which is the ultimate insult to intelligence everywhere - at least until the someone tried to rig the election by getting Donald Trump the Republican nomination. That even makes Col. Flagg look intelligent, which is an amazing thing.
Rally around the Flagg
safenoe16 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Edward Winter makes another famous appearance as Col. Samuel Flagg, and he pretty much chews the screen big time. In fact, he made a guest appearance in the M*A*S*H spin-off AfterMASH.
Anyway, here this is the final episode of season two, yes the season finale. I've seen every M*A*S*H episode at least once (I haven't seen AfterMASH at all) and for me yes, the first three seasons were enjoyable, but I really am a fan more of seasons four onwards. By the end of season two, who would have thought that Blake and Trapper John would abruptly depart at the end of season three. That really changed M*A*S*H.
Anyway, here this is the final episode of season two, yes the season finale. I've seen every M*A*S*H episode at least once (I haven't seen AfterMASH at all) and for me yes, the first three seasons were enjoyable, but I really am a fan more of seasons four onwards. By the end of season two, who would have thought that Blake and Trapper John would abruptly depart at the end of season three. That really changed M*A*S*H.
Two agents arrive at the camp at separate times, each working under-cover for different branches of government intelligence.
alisonmacfshields22 May 2006
I think this is one of the funniest episodes of MASH. The one-liners are hilarious and the whole concept of different branches of government intelligence spying on each other is brilliant irony. It is an episode which pokes fun at the paranoia which people can develop towards any group or individual who is outside their particular circle. As usual our heroes (or should that be "anti-heroes")are left wondering whether it is they or the world which is going crazy.
The lengths to which the character Col. Flagg goes to perform his duty (as he sees it) are breath-taking. Of course, this provokes admiration from Houlihan and Burns and utter astonishment from our young draftee surgeons, who provide the final ironic twist in the story.
The lengths to which the character Col. Flagg goes to perform his duty (as he sees it) are breath-taking. Of course, this provokes admiration from Houlihan and Burns and utter astonishment from our young draftee surgeons, who provide the final ironic twist in the story.
A humourous insight in the reality of our world
jordanclewans22 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I grew up on 'M*A*S*H*' as a child. As I got older, this one stuck in my mind and I would have to say is one of the best-written episodes of the series, and one of my favourites.
Unlike episodes in the later seasons, many of which failed to be compelling even with two timesharing storylines, this episode focussed on one, attention-holding story throughout. Bill Fletcher and Edward Winter joined together to outshine all of the regular cast in this story. As is the tendency with mystery stories, the flavour is much more complex than the usual 'M*A*S*H*' episode in which there is the clear but usually lighthearted antagonist (in the earlier seasons Frank, and sometimes Margaret), and Hawkeye and Trapper perform the trickery. The unfolding of this story places Frank in a rare situation to garner sympathy from the audience. The audience is left pondering what is going on almost right to the end, when Pratt and Flagg reveal privately to the audience after the regular cast leaves the scene that they were working together the whole time.
I call this food for thought because it makes one wonder how many of the "conflicts" we are presented by government figures and media figures really are genuine. What is presented as a conflict between nations by politicians is oftentimes just a conflict between rival politicians amongst themselves. How many of our supposed allies really care about us, and how many of them are just creators of clever presentations designed to elicit our help - help that they would never in turn give to us in our time of need? How much of what we see is really kayfabe, designed to elicit a reaction of the population, in order to create the conditions power-players desire to take actions they might not otherwise get away with?
The world is more complex than it seems, now more than ever.
Unlike episodes in the later seasons, many of which failed to be compelling even with two timesharing storylines, this episode focussed on one, attention-holding story throughout. Bill Fletcher and Edward Winter joined together to outshine all of the regular cast in this story. As is the tendency with mystery stories, the flavour is much more complex than the usual 'M*A*S*H*' episode in which there is the clear but usually lighthearted antagonist (in the earlier seasons Frank, and sometimes Margaret), and Hawkeye and Trapper perform the trickery. The unfolding of this story places Frank in a rare situation to garner sympathy from the audience. The audience is left pondering what is going on almost right to the end, when Pratt and Flagg reveal privately to the audience after the regular cast leaves the scene that they were working together the whole time.
I call this food for thought because it makes one wonder how many of the "conflicts" we are presented by government figures and media figures really are genuine. What is presented as a conflict between nations by politicians is oftentimes just a conflict between rival politicians amongst themselves. How many of our supposed allies really care about us, and how many of them are just creators of clever presentations designed to elicit our help - help that they would never in turn give to us in our time of need? How much of what we see is really kayfabe, designed to elicit a reaction of the population, in order to create the conditions power-players desire to take actions they might not otherwise get away with?
The world is more complex than it seems, now more than ever.
Least Remarkable Episode of M*A*S*H
happipuppi1317 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I love watching MASH. I started with it in reruns in the summer
of 1978 at age 10, then new shows that fall (Seasons 7 to 11).
Love the actors, the characters & story lines and the orginal MASH movie from 1970 and the novel by Richard Hooker.
I even cried watching the farewell show on Feb. 28th,1983.
... But, even with that kind of admiration, I have to honestly say, I've never been that enamored of this episode about Col. Flagg and a 2nd spy "Vinny Pratt" aka 'Stone' , looking for security risks at the 4077th.
As MASH viewers know, Colonel Flagg is in a chopper, which he causes to crash at or outside the camp (off camera). He's purposely done this to spy on the 4077th. (He couldn't just walk in under cover of darkness?)
Enter yet another spy, who happens to be an "old buddy" of Trapper John's. (Old is right, like 20 years too old to have grown up as a childhood friend of McIntyre. ) With all due respect to actor Bill Fletcher, he really isn't very funny or convincing here.
After this comes a series of jokes by Alda that didn't make me laugh, as they came across as "flat' in delievery. What I mean is, it honestly seems to me that not only Alda ...but Rogers, Stevenson, Linville, Swit and Fletcher are not giving 100% here.
Hawkeye's jokes :
("Trapper) "He means he's gonna break into Frank's file tonight. Right?" (Pratt) "It's called breaking and entering." (Capt. Pierce) "It's a good thing you're a cop. Otherwise, that's illegal."
"Radar, if you're captured, you'll have to eat those binoculars!"
Pratt : "He's pretty gung-ho!" / Pierce:"..and I don't care". (as if singing "Jimmy Crack Corn').
"I'm one that said this hospital would never fly"
Flagg: "I'd like to use him (Radar) for messages." Pierce : "Sure, he fits into any envelope".
(Pierce) : "You gotta keep on your toes with the Russian Ballet."
It's all in Alda's delivery and if you look at his expression & listen to 'how' he says these, he just doesn't seem to have the usual energy of the Hawkeye wit, as there's a certain inflection in Pierce's voice when he makes comments / jokes / remarks. It's more like Alan's walking through this outing.
I'd have to put in my DVD and watch the episode to recall the lines of the others, but I just know that, their delivery of lines and jokes are just as non energetic as Alda's.
To continue...the main purpose of all this spying, is whichever spy and their dept. Are the one's to come up with "something", they'll be able to appropriate funds to keep their dept. Running and save their jobs.
I rated this FOUR stars because the 2 actors who actually are funny here are Gary Burghoff and Edward Winter as Flagg. This is Flagg dictating a telegram to his superiors :
Col. Samuel Flagg : "Now read that back to me."
Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly : "Uh...Mary had a little lamb." "Stop" "My dog has fleas. Stop." Col. Samuel Flagg : "OK, continue." "Mares-eat-oats and does-eat-oats, and I'll be home for Christmas." "Signed ...your loving son .... Queen Victoria."
Then, Flagg to Blake : "Colonel, I want to talk to you in private, without the corporal." Blake : "Oh, you can say anything you want in front of him." Flagg : "Okay, I will..... Get out!"
That's about as good as it gets.
The clincher of this show is, Pierce and MacIntyre, trick the two spies into investigating Maj. Frank Burns. They put in his file enough to convince both of them that Frank is a security risk, as well as a possible Communist or Facist.
The climax? When Flagg & Pratt wake up Burns to arrest him, Hawkeye & Trapper reveal that they've tricked the spies.
Burns : "Their all lies!" Pratt says, "Well someone is lying".
Hawkeye says, "It's us" ... you two were so intent on finding some breach of security, some leak." "You don't need the real thing, you 2 are self leaking." (???)
Not a terribly funny conclusion.
The end tag of the show, is Col. Flagg (in a voice over) showing slides of the camp and deciding to keep them under close scrutiny from now on. So ends Season 2 .
Again, I don't 'hate' any episodes of MASH and love the series and I don;t even skip this episode on a rewatch...but, it's still a weaker effort in my opinion. 4 **** Stars, mainly for the performances of Gary Burghoff and Edward Winter.
Winter always was on top of his game as Col. Flagg and Gary never missed a beat playing Walter "Radar" O'Reiley (even when 35 in 1978, playing age 20) .
M*A*S*H is a classic , but even the classics in TV have an epsiode or 2 that just may have needed a little more work. (END)
Love the actors, the characters & story lines and the orginal MASH movie from 1970 and the novel by Richard Hooker.
I even cried watching the farewell show on Feb. 28th,1983.
... But, even with that kind of admiration, I have to honestly say, I've never been that enamored of this episode about Col. Flagg and a 2nd spy "Vinny Pratt" aka 'Stone' , looking for security risks at the 4077th.
As MASH viewers know, Colonel Flagg is in a chopper, which he causes to crash at or outside the camp (off camera). He's purposely done this to spy on the 4077th. (He couldn't just walk in under cover of darkness?)
Enter yet another spy, who happens to be an "old buddy" of Trapper John's. (Old is right, like 20 years too old to have grown up as a childhood friend of McIntyre. ) With all due respect to actor Bill Fletcher, he really isn't very funny or convincing here.
After this comes a series of jokes by Alda that didn't make me laugh, as they came across as "flat' in delievery. What I mean is, it honestly seems to me that not only Alda ...but Rogers, Stevenson, Linville, Swit and Fletcher are not giving 100% here.
Hawkeye's jokes :
("Trapper) "He means he's gonna break into Frank's file tonight. Right?" (Pratt) "It's called breaking and entering." (Capt. Pierce) "It's a good thing you're a cop. Otherwise, that's illegal."
"Radar, if you're captured, you'll have to eat those binoculars!"
Pratt : "He's pretty gung-ho!" / Pierce:"..and I don't care". (as if singing "Jimmy Crack Corn').
"I'm one that said this hospital would never fly"
Flagg: "I'd like to use him (Radar) for messages." Pierce : "Sure, he fits into any envelope".
(Pierce) : "You gotta keep on your toes with the Russian Ballet."
It's all in Alda's delivery and if you look at his expression & listen to 'how' he says these, he just doesn't seem to have the usual energy of the Hawkeye wit, as there's a certain inflection in Pierce's voice when he makes comments / jokes / remarks. It's more like Alan's walking through this outing.
I'd have to put in my DVD and watch the episode to recall the lines of the others, but I just know that, their delivery of lines and jokes are just as non energetic as Alda's.
To continue...the main purpose of all this spying, is whichever spy and their dept. Are the one's to come up with "something", they'll be able to appropriate funds to keep their dept. Running and save their jobs.
I rated this FOUR stars because the 2 actors who actually are funny here are Gary Burghoff and Edward Winter as Flagg. This is Flagg dictating a telegram to his superiors :
Col. Samuel Flagg : "Now read that back to me."
Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly : "Uh...Mary had a little lamb." "Stop" "My dog has fleas. Stop." Col. Samuel Flagg : "OK, continue." "Mares-eat-oats and does-eat-oats, and I'll be home for Christmas." "Signed ...your loving son .... Queen Victoria."
Then, Flagg to Blake : "Colonel, I want to talk to you in private, without the corporal." Blake : "Oh, you can say anything you want in front of him." Flagg : "Okay, I will..... Get out!"
That's about as good as it gets.
The clincher of this show is, Pierce and MacIntyre, trick the two spies into investigating Maj. Frank Burns. They put in his file enough to convince both of them that Frank is a security risk, as well as a possible Communist or Facist.
The climax? When Flagg & Pratt wake up Burns to arrest him, Hawkeye & Trapper reveal that they've tricked the spies.
Burns : "Their all lies!" Pratt says, "Well someone is lying".
Hawkeye says, "It's us" ... you two were so intent on finding some breach of security, some leak." "You don't need the real thing, you 2 are self leaking." (???)
Not a terribly funny conclusion.
The end tag of the show, is Col. Flagg (in a voice over) showing slides of the camp and deciding to keep them under close scrutiny from now on. So ends Season 2 .
Again, I don't 'hate' any episodes of MASH and love the series and I don;t even skip this episode on a rewatch...but, it's still a weaker effort in my opinion. 4 **** Stars, mainly for the performances of Gary Burghoff and Edward Winter.
Winter always was on top of his game as Col. Flagg and Gary never missed a beat playing Walter "Radar" O'Reiley (even when 35 in 1978, playing age 20) .
M*A*S*H is a classic , but even the classics in TV have an epsiode or 2 that just may have needed a little more work. (END)
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