The letter was a staple for this series. In this case, psychiatrist Sidney Freedman writes a letter to Sigmund Freud. He tells of the antics of the various characters, trying to analyze them as he goes. There has been a practical joker in the camp and he is trying to figure out who it may be. In the process, he talks to Margaret, Hawkeye, and the rest. While he is there, an ambulance accident takes the life of the driver. A second plot line has to do with a bomber pilot who simply flies out, drops his load, and returns for dinner at the officer's club. Hawkeye makes sure he sees what the results are. Sidney has been feeling sad because a boy with whom he was working killed himself. He is doubting himself as a giver of advice. In the end we get to see who the practical joker is and learn a lesson.
3 Reviews
Sidney's War
jakebirkel7 September 2020
One of the best recurring characters, Dr. Freedman, the psychiatrist, gives us a take on the insanity we're practically numb to at this point. His insight on each character from the outside is like a love letter to the camp; devastated yet optimistic, Sidney watches the system of MASH persevere. He watches in his despair and looks to these people for hope in the hopeless; it's a wonder to see.
Written and directed by Alan Alda
safenoe20 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Even though this episode has a 8.7/10 and 429 votes (a lot for a M*A*S*H episode) only one person has reviewed, the loyal Hitchcoc. This is a serious episode, to be expected of one written and directed by Alan Alda, where suicide is touched upon, and its impact on Sidney. We see BJ developing his reputation as a joker, which saw the denouement in the final season The Joker is Wild. Interestingly, we see Margaret more drawn into the gang, as she was part of the poker game at the beginning. But Frank wasn't present.
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