The early or the later ones?
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bogeybob1 — 9 years ago(January 03, 2017 02:27 PM)
The later ones, because of Winchester and Colonel Potter.
Winchester was a much more interesting and complex character than Frank Burns, and he could hold his own with Hawkeye. Seeing Hawkeye and Trapper continuously pick on Frank (who admittedly was not likable) was almost painful to watch after a while - like watching someone kick a person in a wheelchair.
Colonel Potter also seemed a more complex character than Henry Blake, who was sort of a one-note, good-natured buffoon. Potter was an interesting mix of stubbornness, gruffness and kindness. -
desmet1879 — 9 years ago(January 05, 2017 04:59 PM)
I agree 100% with bogeybob1 and pchrp.
While I agree a bit with those who thought the later seasons got a bit preachy and repetitive, and seasons 1-3 were funny, the depth of character and complexity of the storytelling in the later years were far preferable, in my opinion. Trapper, Henry and Frank were just too one-note for me. Colonel Potter and Charles (my favorite) brought so much more to the show. They also benefitted from fleshing out Father Mulcahy's part. -
michaelward15 — 9 years ago(January 12, 2017 09:19 AM)
The first three seasons are all I would watch.
Same here, but the last few times I've caught an episode, I've noticed that even the first three seasons aren't as good as I remember. I'd like to watch a few episodes from just the very first season some time to see if maybe it is as good as I remember. Maybe I'd still like the first season, and maybe it just went down hill sooner than I remember. -
Doug-Oh — 9 years ago(January 03, 2017 05:43 PM)
While I love Winchester, I personally prefer the first 5 seasons or so.
The writing was far better as was the comedy.
Same with
Law & Order,
I prefer the first 8 seasons of that great drama, the seasons which had better writing. -
pchrp — 9 years ago(January 03, 2017 07:33 PM)
Henry Blake was a clueless buffoon, while Sherman Potter was more than competent.
Frank Burns became a pathetic punching bag, while Winchester could dish it out as well as he could take it.
Later Margaret became a woman who deserved respect, early Margaret was insufferable.
Getting Klinger back into his fatigues and out of the dresses ended a schtick that was funny at first but eventually wore out its welcome.
Definitely later seasons. -
woodhouse-85051 — 9 years ago(January 04, 2017 05:26 AM)
Can't really answer this one until I've seen more of the first three seasons. I've only just recently got into MAS*H. Over here in the UK they're showing at least two episodes nightly on True Entertainment (Freeview Ch.61) and I was too young to catch the series first time around.
They're heavily playing the later stuff plus, for some reason, frequent weekend four-ep chunks of seasons 4/5 on rotation; but neglecting the Trapper/Henry years, with only one repeat showing of this era so far as I'm aware.
I was going to start a new thread of "what's the best mix of characters?" So far it's S.4/5: Frank to represent the early years, plus we've already got Potter & BJ on board, and Radar hasn't faded from the scene yet. -
indy_go_blue44 — 9 years ago(January 04, 2017 05:04 PM)
1-4 and 6.
When I'm watching my disks those are the seasons I usually watch, though maybe once a year my wife and I will marathon the entire series.
I liked S-4 when BJ and Potter first came onboard and S-6 when Charles comes aboard.
I probably like S-5 least; Frank is on his own. Margaret is insufferable with her "Donald Penobscot" bs and Frank is so spiteful and humorless that I was really happy to see him go.
It's more of a personal thing, but when S-7 started I had graduated nursing school and was working 3-11pm so I saw very little of the last 5 seasons until years later; they just never grew on me like the earlier years.
Inaugeral Countdown:
15
days
16
hours
55
minutes -
dnasty68 — 9 years ago(January 05, 2017 10:56 AM)
I like the earlier seasons better because like the funny episodes better than the serious ones.However two of my favorite latter-season episodes that I Iike because they were pretty much all comedy are No Sweat and The Moon is Not Blue.
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ExplorerDS6789 — 9 years ago(January 05, 2017 12:41 PM)
I prefer the later ones, because that's when I first got into the show. "Life Time" was the first full episode I watched, and I became more familiar with Seasons 8-11. The earlier shows felt too much like a different show. In fact, Season 1 closely resembles Hogan's Heroes.
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crypticanomaly73 — 9 years ago(January 05, 2017 07:01 PM)
Ideally I would like to combine the best elements of both, Blake and Radar were definitely more interesting and better suited to each other than Potter and Radar. A more mature Radar was also better than the childlike one he became.
Winchester over Frank.
Hawkeye not moralizing as much as he did later on.
Sometimes a movie or tv show plot is so stupid that only the stupid can understand it. -
weemidge — 9 years ago(January 09, 2017 11:23 AM)
Later for meI liked Charles', and how he could give it as good as he got itI also liked the fact that Col. Potter & BJ, while tempted at times, did remain faithful to their spouses unlike Henry and Trapper who were little horn dogs after everything and anythingThis reason alone is why I detested both Henry and TrapperHenry wasn't a leader, Potter while IMHO a little to lenient with especially Hawkeye, was military and did adhere to military protocol, whereas Henry was just a doof who never should've been placed in a command position.
"Life is like a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death."