Finished my rewatch of S1
This has been my first experience binge watching MASH- I don't think I've ever watched more than 4 episodes in a row before, and usually not in order. So it was really interesting actually watching the show this way...
Hawkeye- his characterization stood out to me. While he's definitely not doing a Donald Sutherland impression, his portrayal is closer to movie than late series. Very laconic. In "Bananas, Crackers, and Nuts" there's a line where Frank calls him "a rock" which retrospectively feels like a joke, but in S1 isn't- he's clearly very stable and pretty unflappable.
I actually was tallying the amount of times Trapper and Hawkeye explicitly hook up with nurses and the crimes they commit lol and was surprised by how low the number is for both lol. Between the two of them they hooked up with women in 7 episodes, though they're referenced as doing it more often and they flirt/get shot down/refuse sex a little more often, bringing total up to 12. Only two episodes really featured pranks, which was also surprising
I know Major Fred C. Dobbs is in the running for worst MASH episode but I liked it lol. It was funny and had some quality TrapHawk moments, and the Hawnk kiss at the end made me laugh even as I added it to the rap sheet
Just tallying up the days that pass on screen gets us to just over 3 months, giving me little a hope for my horrible timeline ldkkdjf
I really liked the recurring characters- they didn't have a lot of depth per se but they made things feel fleshed out. It was nice having recurring nurses I could recognize and I will miss my boy Ugly John. God that we lived in the alternate universe where the writers had figured out what to do with Oliver...
Also was thinking about how a lot of the racist moments kinda come from the writers trying to engage in a neutral-to-well-meaning way but alas they were all white guys raised in a white supremacist culture and cannot escape that influence so it comes out horrifically dated, but I think they do try more in the early seasons
I had forgotten what a minor character Mulcahy is in S1. He gets a couple little moments, but I think Margie and Dish have more scenes lol...
Trapper my baby Trapper, he does not necessarily have a lot to do besides be lovable but he does it well. Him providing pediatric care for local kids is deffo going in my note document for Shit Trapper Is Doing lol...
Henry and Radar's relationship 🥹 I really liked both characters, scamp!Radar is so good, and Henry is so funny with these little moments of genuine wisdom and compassion... Good shit
I really liked both Margaret and Frank, not a lot to say beyond that, but they're just so good. Just enough nuance to make 'em pop.
Gaaaaah many more thoughts than I can type, but in conclusion I Love MASH
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer (No, not the series), Part 1
(Thanks to 20th Century Studios)
[All images are owned by 20th Century Fox Disney and Mutant Enemy Productions. Please don't sue, bite, or stake me]
I had mentioned that the Buffy movie was almost a backdoor pilot to the series, but was not what Joss Whedon wanted (instead of a horror/adventure film with humorous elements, he got a comedy with vampires)
There were a few details that were altered on the series that I'll cover, and there was some definite (if at times questionable) star power to the film as well, but enough background. Let's get to our feature presentation! If you would like to watch, you can find it on Max or behind your favorite paywall.
We open to a brief exposition as to what the Slayer and the Watcher are, then…
…we cut to present day, where we see Buffy (no last name is ever given, but fans of the series know it’s Summers) and the rest of the Hemery High School cheerleading squad at a basketball game as the opening credits roll.
Following the credits game, Buffy and her fellow cheerleaders are being typical 90s teens at the mall when she comes face to face with…
…an older man played by Donald Sutherland (who played Hawkeye in the film version of M*A*S*H and was a member of Team Daedalus in Space Cowboys), who totally doesn’t give off a “hey kids, I’ve got candy!” vibe.
Buffy and her friends immediately blow the creepy old dude off and go about their day as Buffy talks about spending the night alone at home with her boyfriend Jeffrey.
Meanwhile, one of the members of the basketball team is wandering around a deserted carnival for some reason and sees…
…Amilyn (played by Paul Reubens
(Thanks to ET Canada)
Yes, THAT Paul Reubens!)
The next scene has a newscaster reporting his death by…hickey? as Buffy’s parents leave for the weekend, leaving Buffy and Jeffrey alone in the house.
We then cut to a flashback, where a Slayer is killing a vampire (first change between film and series: in the series, Vampires turn to dust when staked. In the movie, they just die) when…
…Amilyn shows up, as well as his master…
…Lothos (played by Rutger Hauer). The pair then proceed to kill the Slayer as Buffy wakes from a really weird dream.
Meanwhile…
…Amilyn has apparently been busy.
The next day, Buffy and her cliq are working out details for the Senior Dance (and we have our second major change: Buffy is a sophomore going into the series, not a senior as she is in the movie) at the local café when in walks…
…a pair of the local not-so-pretty boys (Pike and Benny, played respectively by Luke Perry (who played Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills 90210) and David Arquette (who was the spokesman for a collect call service (you remember collect calls, right?) and would go on to become the world champion for (at the time) the second-largest professional wrestling promotion…
(Thanks to WhatCulture)
…really!)
Anyway, Pike and Benny try (sorta) drunkenly hitting on Buffy and her friends before leaving and start staggering home. They get partway there when Pike’s legs decide “eh, close enough” and he collapses on a bridge. As Benny laughs at his friend’s misfortune…
…Amilyn shows up to invite Benny home for dinner.
Fortunately for Pike, the creepy old dude shows up before Amilyn comes back for seconds and takes him home (Pike’s home. He’s not that creepy!)
The next day after cheerleading practice, Buffy’s hanging out in the gym doing some solo work on some routines when…
The creepy old man (Merrick) shows up in the gym and says he’s been looking for Buffy and wants to show her something in the graveyard (yeah, THAT’S not creepy AT ALL! Does he have an unmarked panel van too?) Merrick tries to explain about the Slayer.
Well, when you put it that way, it does sound kinda suspect, doesn’t it?
Merrick then starts talking about the weird dreams Buffy’s been having…in detail. Now, I’m not saying this convinces Buffy, but at least she’s not contemplating finding a cop any more and she’s curious enough to go with Merrick.
Merrick takes Buffy to the grave of a man who was killed with damage to his neck and shoulder, then tells her to wait. Just as Buffy looks like she’s about to die of boredom…
Buffy is scared out of her wits, but Merrick moves in…and is quickly overpowered. Then…
Looks like he wasn’t the only one who died with a neck injury. Buffy escapes from the second vampire and helps Merrick, driving a stake into his dance partner. Merrick then tosses his stake to Buffy so she can deal with the other one.
Meanwhile, at Pike’s place…
(Thanks to John Maverick)
Fortunately for Pike, vampires can’t enter unless invited. (however, unlike the series, they can fly)
Later that night, Merrick brings Buffy home and arranges to meet after school the next day.
However, Buffy blows him off to go to cheerleading practice. Merrick isn’t happy, so he shows up in the locker room and lectures her about how unready she is, then throws a knife at her head!
She may be more ready than she thinks. Merrick then continues to lecture Buffy (despite her wishes to deny her birthright) until she decks him right in the nose, something she admits she’s never done before.
Cue the training montage as Merrick tries to cram years of training into a week.
Unfortunately, her attendance at school suffers…
…earning the attention of Principal Murray (played by Stephen Root, who would go on to play Milton in Office Space). Fortunately for Buffy, Murray is kind of clueless.
Meanwhile, Pike isn’t taking the idea of Benny floating around town very well.
That night, Buffy is wandering around the warehouse district bitching about how horrible walking around at night is when…
If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was trolling for vampires! Anyway, she makes short work of the vampire, but not short enough for Merrick (who was timing her)
Meanwhile, Pike’s van breaks down (never a good sign). Worse…
Fortunately, Pike manages to get his van started! Unfortunately, Amilyn hops on the windshield! Pike decides to take his van off-roading (I don’t know if it was a conscious decision or simply that he couldn’t see past Amilyn) Amilyn eventually climbs onto the roof, punching through in an attempt to get to Pike.
Eventually, Pike finds a low-hanging branch, knocking Amilyn loose (but leaving his arm in the van. Guess Amilyn should call himself Righty now) Unfortunately, Pike crashes his car into a tree. Even worse…
…Amilyn brought friends to the party. Fortunately…
Buffy invited herself, evening the odds a bit. Buffy makes short work of Amilyn’s goons as Merrick shows up and Pike passes out (he seems to do that when Merrick shows up)
For whatever reason, Buffy takes Pike to her place (good thing her parents are NEVER around) and gets him sorta-kinda up to speed with everything.
The next day, Buffy is with the squad at the basketball game (despite Merrick’s wishes).
And it’s a good thing!
Eventually, the coach puts his power vampire in, who dominates (and creeps out) the court. Until…
…Buffy can’t sit on the sidelines any more. The vampire flees the gym with Buffy in pursuit. She steals a motorcycle and chases him down. They eventually pass Pike, who’s helping fix a bike himself (how convenient!), so he chases after them as well.
Eventually Buffy catches up with the vampire. Unfortunately…
…he brought friends. Fortunately…
Buffy was followed by a friend. Buffy and Pike make short work of the remaining vampires.
…then share a Moment.
As the pair try to leave, Lothos finds them. He then entrances Buffy. Fortunately, Merrick arrives to assist.
…guess he should’ve left the slaying to Buffy. Merrick’s last words are to tell Buffy to listen for the music to stop (whatever that means)
Will Buffy be able to defeat Lothos without her Watcher to guide her? Check out the exciting conclusion to find out!
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