The MASH timeline was so broken that the final seven seasons took place in less than a year

The continuity of MASH became so confusing that the last seven seasons of the classic comedy took place in less than a year. MASH it ran for 11 seasons, and it’s fair to say that no one involved with the series expected it to last that long. The Korean War lasted three years, although given the high-stress environment in which the 4077th operates, the “premature” aging of the main characters is easy to explain. MASH The record-breaking finale saw the surgeons finally returning home after the conflict ended.

Now, it should be noted MASH it was almost canceled during its first season due to terrible ratings and was only saved thanks to well-performing repeats. Although most episodes told self-contained stories, during earlier seasons the show occasionally referenced years and dates with little concern for the timeline. For example, the first episode of MASH season 4’s “Welcome To Korea” clearly states that it takes place in September 1952 – less than a year after the end of the Korean War.

Potter’s MASH season 4 entry proves the final seven seasons take place in a single year

MASH timeline becomes very vague after Colonel Potter’s arrival

“Welcome To Korea” features two important events; the off-screen departure of Trapper (Wayne Rogers) and the arrival of his replacement BJ Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell). The fourth series also arrived after the shocking death of Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) at the end of the previous season, which forever changed the tone of the show – and television in general. Blake’s permanent replacement, Colonel Potter (Harry Morgan), would arrive at the camp during Season 4’s “Change of Command”, with the Palestinian Authority declaring the date as September 19, 1952.

This confirms that since the opening of MASH fourth season until the end where the war ended in July 1953, only ten months had passed. Of course, trying to keep up with the timeline from this stage becomes a total nightmare. An excellent example is “A War for All Seasons”, from season 9, which covers the entire year 1951. The episode itself is funny and creative – and completely breaks continuity. Characters who should be around, like Trapper and Blake, are entirely missing, while Potter is somehow commanding 4077 long before it arrives.

There are countless other examples. In the Season 7 episode “None Like It Hot”, BJ states that he has been in Korea for nine months – which would place the episode only about a month or two before the end of the war. Considering MASH ran for four more seasons, that doesn’t make sense.

How the MASH Timeline Got So Broken

Blame MASH’s success for creating a continuity mess

While modern television shows tend to map out possible future seasons, in the 1970s things were freer. Again, MASH came dangerously close to finishing after just one series, so neither CBS nor the producers thought it would last a decade and change. This explains the lack of premeditation when announcing dates, but when it became clear MASH was a success with potential legs, the timeline has become very confusing during the last seven years.

This was also long before the internet and fan culture took hold, or the public had access to VHS recordings or DVDs. It’s doubtful anyone would tune in MASH week after week I actively tried to map out the dates and years. Only in hindsight do people realize that continuity makes little sensewith later episodes taking the characters back to 1951, when key players like BJ or Charles (David Ogden Stiers) couldn’t be present.

The main events that happened in the final seasons of MASH

MASH’s final seven seasons had no shortage of drama

If MASH seasons 4 through 11 took place in just under a year, so it was a very dramatic year. During that time, the hated Frank Burns (Larry Linville) was sent home and replaced by Charles at the start of Season 6, while the beloved Radar (Gary Burghoff) left the 4077th at the start of Season 8.. A big reason for Frank’s departure was due to his heartbreak over Margaret’s (Loretta Swit) engagement and marriage to Lt. Col. Penobscot, with the two ultimately divorcing in what must have been a matter of months.

The series also references the real-life First Battle of Pork Chop Hill, which took place in April 1953. Again, MASH released few concrete dates in the final years, but events such as Radar’s departure or Hawkeye’s PSTD-related nervous breakdown must have occurred in the summer of 1953. Other successful series such as That 70s show encountered similar issues with your timeline, but MASH it is a uniquely broken case. Still, this never affected the quality of the series or the performances, so it’s an easy issue to overlook.

Source: MASH4077TH