A man returns from combat, thinking he is Jesus Christ. He has a gentle demeanor about him and begins to have an affect on the camp. Margaret and Frank, of course, immediately turn on the guy, and try to have him punished. Who should show up but Colonel Flagg who is going to do his usual CIA job on this man. He has the actual information on the guy, showing that he is a bombardier who has flown close to sixty missions. We also have a visit from Sidney Freedman (one of the best minor characters in this series), who must deal with the fact that the guy actually does believe what he is saying. This is one of those cool episodes where what is right overcomes the bigotry that is Frank Burns. The paranoia of Flagg and the abject cruelty that continues with Frank and Margaret isn't terribly funny here.
8 Reviews
Alan Fudge guest stars
safenoe23 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Alan Fudge was one of the actors who auditioned for B.J. Hunnicutt, and here he appears as Captain Chandler who thinks he is Jesus Christ. This is an episode that strikes the right tone, and you never really sure how it will end. Colonel Flagg (Edward Winter) makes a memorable and menacing appearance as always.
Interesting
rgxdzrybr16 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The reactions are interesting here. When a wounded soldier claims to be Christ there are varying opinions. The worst comes from Margaret and Frank who are nothing more than troublemakers in this episode or as Colonel Potter calls them "creeps' . Potter is more compassionate and calls in Sid Friedman while Margaret and Frank call in Flagg . This is just irresponsible behavior and stirring things up unnecessarily. This is the absolute worst version of Flagg .Hawkeye and BJ take the situation with their patient more in stride and let Friedman do his job. The soldier simply doesn't want to kill understandable but it's had such an effect on him he's taken on another identity .
The most touching moment comes from Radar and the patient bringing us back to the innocence that was sorely needed then as it is now.
The most touching moment comes from Radar and the patient bringing us back to the innocence that was sorely needed then as it is now.
Funny and Sad - M.A.S.H.
campbell-russell-a15 September 2013
This is my favorite M.A.S.H. episode. Alan Fudge's performance as Captain Arnold Chandler is utterly convincing and very moving. This episode also contains turns from my two favorite cameo characters, psychiatrist, Sidney Freedman and Army Intelligence spook, Colonel Flagg. In fact every character was given something to do. Gary Burghoff as Radar asks for his Teddy Bear to be blessed by the gently deluded Chandler and pulls off a poignant moment. There is sadness, absurdity and insight that made the best of M.A.S.H. more than just a comedy. As is evident in this episode, comedy is sometimes the least important element in what makes M.A.S.H. worth watching.
Must - See
tomronning5016 June 2019
A Script in Primetime We Will Never See Again...
clacura14 April 2018
If you came to review this episode it is because it touched you...you couldn't get it out of your mind. We most likely will not see an episode of TV like this on primetime anytime soon. I have always argued a comedy when doing hard drama has far more impact due to the contrast. This is a brilliant script and the performances are amazing. A TV sitcom like MASH is in full flow, cranking out over 22 episodes per year. The groove allows for a very significant episode about what mental health is.
MASH is an example of perfect casting
Ed Winter is just amazing as Col. Flagg. His acting is really intense, over-the-top masculine energy and represents the letter of the law pertaining to life.
Allan Arbus as Psychiatrist Maj. Sidney Freedman is as brilliant as Winter. The contrasting personalities works to perfection. He goes beneath surface, uses a form of reason Col. Flagg simply cannot fathom. It is here we see the contrast in American culture between military and compassion. Liberal Vs Conservative.
Alan Fudge as Captain Arnold Chandler, a traumatized soldier who takes on the persona of Jesus Christ (this was a very risky script at the time) again is perfectly cast. A movie could have been developed on this episode and this one epsidoe of MASH is better than most movies! Fudge is so convincing of being Christ with his zen-like calmness. The scene with Gary Burghoff as Cpl. Walter 'Radar' O'Reilly is very touching. Burghoff was equally amazing and had a lot of vulnerability to his character, never more than his asking for a blessing from Chandler.
When you add the stellar performances by the rest of the cast, MASH became extremely satisfying. it had a depth of soul unlike most TV shows, especially today. There was more of an adult feeling over today's more juvenile sex joke over extreme violence TV world.
MASH is an example of perfect casting
Ed Winter is just amazing as Col. Flagg. His acting is really intense, over-the-top masculine energy and represents the letter of the law pertaining to life.
Allan Arbus as Psychiatrist Maj. Sidney Freedman is as brilliant as Winter. The contrasting personalities works to perfection. He goes beneath surface, uses a form of reason Col. Flagg simply cannot fathom. It is here we see the contrast in American culture between military and compassion. Liberal Vs Conservative.
Alan Fudge as Captain Arnold Chandler, a traumatized soldier who takes on the persona of Jesus Christ (this was a very risky script at the time) again is perfectly cast. A movie could have been developed on this episode and this one epsidoe of MASH is better than most movies! Fudge is so convincing of being Christ with his zen-like calmness. The scene with Gary Burghoff as Cpl. Walter 'Radar' O'Reilly is very touching. Burghoff was equally amazing and had a lot of vulnerability to his character, never more than his asking for a blessing from Chandler.
When you add the stellar performances by the rest of the cast, MASH became extremely satisfying. it had a depth of soul unlike most TV shows, especially today. There was more of an adult feeling over today's more juvenile sex joke over extreme violence TV world.
A Classic Episode
tomronning509 December 2018
Character error
kkodey-706002 December 2020
In the scene in Colonel Potter's office, BJ shares a picture of his son to Sydney Freedman. This is the only time BJ ever refers to having a son. He only talks about his baby daughter Eryn. I don't think BJ had a son.
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