Fallen Idol was the 125th episode of the CBS-TV series M*A*S*H. The episode, the third of Season 6, was written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, and directed by Hy Averback. It originally aired on September 27, 1977.
Storyline[]
Hawkeye sends Radar to Seoul to sow some wild oats, but he comes back to camp as a casualty, much to Hawkeye's horror. Despite his guilt, Hawkeye finds himself lashing out at the corporal when his own behavior falls short of expectations.
Full episode summary[]
Radar opens up to Hawkeye and B.J. about his insecurities, particularly his relative lack of "experience" as a ladies' man. He fears he'll return home no more of an adult than he was when he arrived. Hawkeye says if it's bothering him so much, he should just go to Seoul and "find a nice lady that reminds you of your father and let nature take its course." B.J. is dubious, but Hawkeye cajoles Radar until he decides Hawkeye is right, and he grabs a Jeep and heads out.
Later, wounded arrive in camp, and to Hawkeye's horror, one of them is Radar! B.J. orders him prepped while a guilt-ridden Hawkeye chastises himself saying, "What a dumb, stupid thing! I sent him through the middle of a war on a date! I could've killed him!!" He insists on performing the surgery on Radar himself, and it turns out while there was muscle damage, Radar's vital organs were okay.
After surgery, Hawkeye and B.J. go to get drunk at Rosie's, but while there all Hawkeye can do is ramble on about his guilt over Radar getting wounded. They return to the Swamp very early the next morning, but another batch of wounded unexpectedly arrives just two hours after Hawkeye passes out. B.J. tells him to stay behind and sleep, but Hawkeye is adamant about doing his share - and so is Charles. During surgery, Hawkeye becomes nauseous and has to run out to throw up. Charles, who has to finish on Hawkeye's patient, is amused, B.J. is apologetic, but Potter is furious, and later verbally reprimands Hawkeye before demanding an explanation; all Hawkeye can say is "I screwed up", and then remark on how he tried to drown his guilt over Radar, but it didn't help. Potter tries to allay his guilt by telling him that Radar is doing well in Post Op and suggests that Hawkeye pay him a visit. (The scene in Rosie's Bar, and their subsequent return to the Swamp in the dark, are usually cut from syndicated airings.)
Finally building up the nerve, Hawkeye goes to see Radar. But their talk soon devolves into an argument; Radar is harsh and judgmental, saying that people in camp look up to Hawkeye and that he let them down by walking out on his patient that morning. Hawkeye, already overwhelmed by the pressures of his job, tells Radar "You can't lay all that on my shoulders". He loses his temper and then curses everything about Radar shouting, "I'm not here for you to admire! I'm here to pull bodies out of a sausage grinder, if possible, without going crazy! Period!" Radar is on the verge of tears as Hawkeye continues his tirade; he yells at Radar to stop, but then calls him a ninny and storms out.
In the Swamp, Hawkeye is filled with regret. He is soon visited by Father Mulcahy who initially seems understanding, but then furiously lashes out at Hawkeye for going off on Radar in his vulnerable state. After Mulcahy angrily kicks over the tent stove and leaves in pain, Potter enters and (with some unwanted assistance from Margaret) angrily reads Hawkeye the riot act saying, "[Radar] is told he's nothing more than a pimple on a flea, by the man whose opinion he values more than anyone in the world!" Potter then tells him that he needs to do something about it, to which Hawkeye agrees and abruptly goes back to Post Op to apologize (leaving Margaret crestfallen that she didn't get her chance to reprimand Hawkeye). But Radar, now angry himself, justifiably refuses saying, "The hell with me, huh? The hell with you! How 'bout that?" Hawkeye lets Radar finish his response and then quietly leaves in well-deserved shame.
Winchester is actually supportive of Hawkeye's situation, because he too had a time when he let down someone who looked up to him (but, of course, he turns it into an indirect insult; this scene is usually cut from syndicated airings). Potter later comes to talk to Radar, and tries to get him to see that despite what happened, Radar might find that Hawkeye is the same man he was when Radar looked up to him, and that he and Hawkeye may get along even better now that he can see him a little more "eye-to-eye", but Radar is noncommittal.
Days later, Radar is back on his feet and sees Hawkeye walking into Rosie's. He follows him in and sits at a neighboring table. They both order their usuals: Hawkeye gets a beer, and Radar his beloved Grape Nehi. They awkwardly make small talk about the weather and the bad food in the Mess Tent, but then Hawkeye finally levels with Radar about his remorse over getting him wounded, but Radar eases his regret telling him it wasn't his fault, and also mentions that, from here on in, that he would "just soon not" worship Hawkeye like he did before, which Hawkeye accepts. They trade each other's drinks - Hawkeye takes Radar's Nehi, and Radar takes Hawkeye's beer, and the two quietly toast one another, drinking to their reconciled friendship.
Later, Radar, still on the mend but well enough to return to duty, is filing paperwork in his office when Hawkeye comes in with something for him: a Purple Heart. He pins it on Radar's shirt collar, and then does something he rarely does for anyone: he gives Radar an official military salute. Radar finally feels that he'll return home with something to be proud of.
Research notes/Fun facts[]
- Radar is wearing his paratrooper scarf as he drives to Seoul. This scarf is mentioned in "The Chosen People". He also wears this on dates as in "Springtime" and "For Want of a Boot".
- This is a strange change of opinion for Hawkeye, encouraging Radar to just go out and hook up with a business girl. In at least two previous episodes, he not only comforts Radar over his lack of experience ("The Chosen People"), but encourages him to remain celibate until he meets that special someone "you'd like to introduce to your mom" ("Hepatitis").
Guest stars/Recurring cast[]
- Frances Fong as Rosie
- Patricia Stevens as Nurse Baker
- Robin Riker as Nurse Perry
- Larry Gilman as G.I. #1
- Michael Talbott as G.I. #2