A big challenge of reviewing seasons of a long-running TV show is that the basic premise and structure of the program doesn't usually change much over the years. This can make it hard to find things to say about it that you haven't said already. Season four of M*A*S*H made my job easier by having a couple of significant cast changes.
This season is not so obliging: it's pretty much just twenty-five episodes of the usual 4077th shenanigans. This isn't a negative thing from the perspective of entertainment value, mind you. M*A*S*H's cast and writers have by now refined their formula to a pretty precise art, and if you've been enjoying the program up to now, you will almost certainly continue to do so. But it does make it rather hard to find new things to say about it!
One thing I can mention though is that there has been a slight shift in the overall tone of the show over the five years so far. The characters in general are softer and more rounded, less acerbic if no less witty. Personally I appreciate the change as I found the first season a bit mean-spirited (and definitely showing its age in its attitudes toward gender).
For my tastes, highlight episodes for this season include "Lt. Radar O'Reilly", "Dear Sigmund" and "Movie Tonight".
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