Recap / M*A*S*H S7 E24: Ain't Love Grand

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The original TV Guide description of this episode began with "Cupid's arrows misfire". Charles is inexplicably attracted to a South Korean working girl who is alternately baffled and annoyed by his attempts to instill culture in her. Meanwhile a nurse from the neighboring 8063rd MASH is intrigued by Klinger despite his wardrobe, and B.J. and Hawkeye are driving each other nuts with their various eccentricities, compounded by B.J.'s worry over a patient of his who was in poor condition when he left the 4077th.

Attention all personnel! Charles and Klinger are smitten with the following tropes:

• Above the Influence: Charles seems to be this at first when Sooni offers her services to him. Subverted when it turns out he needs her companionship more than her working skills.
• Born Lucky: Margaret is an infallible winner at Bingo, much to everyone else's consternation.
• Cassandra Truth: When Klinger shows up serving food in the mess tent while wearing his dress uniform, Col. Potter thinks this is another way of Klinger trying to get a Section 8 (and thinks it's a pretty funny one), even when Klinger insists he's going out with a woman later.
• Drowning My Sorrows: Charles and Klinger do this in The Tag and duet on a drunken version of "Stormy Weather."
• Foreshadowing: B.J. gets upset with Hawkeye snoring and keeping him awake. B.J. complaining about the others in the Swamp keeping him from getting sleep will become a major issue with him the next couple of seasons.
• Hypocrite: Hawkeye complains that B.J. is obsessing over a patient of his and worrying if he's going to be okay, when we know Hawkeye has obsessed over patients before.
• I Need a Freaking Drink: When the three of them get into a shouting match, Charles proposes a trip to Rosie's, which Hawkeye immediately seizes on, as he thinks they all need a drink. When Charles clarifies he'll go to Rosie's, and B.J. and Hawkeye will stay in the swamp, Hawkeye is fine with that, as he admits Charles needs a night out more than they do.
• Knew It All Along: When Hawkeye breaks the news to B.J. that his patient is off the kidney machine and looks like he's going to make it, B.J., who had been obsessing over the patient, now acts like he knew the patient was going to be okay.
• Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places: Charles in particular, as his efforts to get Sooni interested in classical music and literature prove futile. But Klinger also runs afoul of this when he realizes Debbie just sees him as an amusing distraction rather than a potential life partner.
• Tsundere: Debbie gives off a mild version of this. After the first conversation she has with Klinger, she says "I think I'm in love." But when Klinger makes it clear he's serious about her, she cools to him.
• Vitriolic Best Buds: Hawkeye and B.J., never more than in this episode. They berate each other for the smallest of peccadilloes, and their friendship strains to the point where Hawkeye moves into Radar's office temporarily. But they have a joyful reconciliation when Hawkeye learns that B.J.'s patient is going to pull through.