81. Quo Vadis, Captain Chandler?

November 7, 1975 (G-513)

Written by: Burt Prelutsky
Directed by: Larry Gelbart
Guest Stars: Alan Fudge, as Captain Chandler/Jesus Christ.
Alan Fudge is essentially one of the eternal TV show guest stars - he's been in everything from Murder, She Wrote to Baywatch, 7th Heaven to Knight Rider and everything in between. And as another nice MASH tie-in, he turned up in Trapper John, MD.
Semi-regulars: Allan Arbus, as Dr Sidney Freedman. Edward Winter, as Colonel Flagg. William Christopher, as Father Mulcahy.

Plot: A captain is brought in claiming to be Jesus Christ. While BJ and Hawkeye try to help him, Burns and Hot Lips want him court-martialed for cowardice and blasphemy. Colonel Flagg is brought in to try to sort it out, and puts his usual spanner in the works. Hawkeye decides to get Dr Freedman in to help out. Sidney's diagnosis - Chandler has lost his identity, through the stress of dropping bombs on innocent civilians. He's shipped home.

Great Lines: Freedman: 'Tell me, is it true that God answers all prayers?' Chandler/Christ: 'Yes. Sometimes the answer's no.' Very pithy.
Freedman: 'You're a victim too, Flagg! But you're such an unbelievable example of walking fertiliser, it's hard for me to care.'

The Klinger Collection: A nice nurse's cap with his fatigues for bed-pan detail. Later, a very nice polyester dress in a pink houndstooth check, with matching hat. And then he dresses up as Moses. (His tablets with the commandments on them read 'Thow [sic] shalt not steal' etc).

Continuity is for Wimps: I don't remember anyone hanging x-rays in the changing room before.
Colonel Flagg refers to the time he and Dr Freedman played poker (in Episode 37. Deal Me Out (Season 2)), despite the fact that Edward Winter's character had a different name in that episode. I'm guessing it was one of his many secret identities. (Maybe he's also Batman.)

Notes: Dr. Freedman has a very young son - he and BJ swap photos which is awfully sweet.

Comments: Chandler/Christ blessing Radar's teddy bear was just gorgeous. This episode was lovely - aside from getting to see Major Freedman again, who is one of the coolest semi-regulars in M*A*S*H, it shows that when something does go wrong in the military, occasionally they can put it right. The tussle between Flagg and Freedman is an interesting situation - a shame we don't get many more appearances by our favourite loony spy. Then again, Flagg is one of the least plausible characters in the series, so maybe it's just as well he's on his way out.

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