M*A*S*H backdrop
War & Politics•Drama•Comedy

The Best Episodes of M*A*S*H Season 1

Every episode of M*A*S*H Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of M*A*S*H Season 1!

Binge this in 10h 0m•Peaking at 8.0/10

The 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital is stuck in the middle of the Korean war. With little help from the circumstances they find themselves in, they are forced to make their own fun. Fond of

Airs on
CBS
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons11

All1234567891011

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    6.8/10(14 votes)

    #1 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    At the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (M.A.S.H) unit in Korea, two army doctors by the names of Hawkeye Pierce and Trapper John McIntyre receive some exciting news in the mail. Their Korean house boy, Ho-John got accepted into Hawkeye's old college. Hawkeye and Trapper decide to hold a party filled with music, dancing, and alcohol to raise money for Ho-John's plane trip to the U.S. They achieve this by raffling off a weekend pass with a nurse, Lieutenant Dish for R&R in Tokyo.

    Director:Gene Reynolds
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 2 - To Market, to Market
    6.6/10(14 votes)

    #2 - To Market, to Market

    S1:E2

    "To Market, to Market" is the second episode of M*A*S*H. It was first aired on September 24, 1972 and repeated on April 29, 1973. Like many other M*A*S*H episodes, this one parodies army bureaucracy. Thieves hold up a truck load of medical supplies for the 4077, thus rendering them in desperate need of Hydrocortisone. In retaliation, Hawkeye and Trapper meet with a notorious black marketer, hoping to get some replacements. When they realize they have nothing reasonable to trade with him, they go to drastic measures to get what they need.

    Director:Michael O'Herlihy
    Writer:Burt Styler

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 3 - Requiem for a Lightweight
    6.7/10(10 votes)

    #3 - Requiem for a Lightweight

    S1:E3

    Trapper and Hawkeye seek to keep a new nurse from being transferred by Hot Lips, and they vie for her affection. Henry Blake, challenged by another commander to a boxing tournament, makes Trapper fight a big, intimidating soldier in exchange for keeping the nurse at the 4077th. Hawkeye and Ugly John employ the use of a glove soaked with ether to insure Trapper's victory, which impresses the nurse. Margaret and Frank's attempts to unfix the match collapses, as they are flattened by the unconscious boxer!

    Director:Hy Averback
    Writer:Robert Klane

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 4 - Chief Surgeon Who?
    6.9/10(11 votes)

    #4 - Chief Surgeon Who?

    S1:E4

    Frank Burns complains about Hawkeye Pierce's disrespect...and Henry appoints Hawkeye chief surgeon, to Burns's shock. The rest of the 4077th "coronates" Hawk while Frank and Hot Lips complain to General Barker. The General's visit provides him with a view of life at the 4077th M*A*S*H unit: camp hijinks, a poker game, and a surgery session. This shows him M*A*S*H has fun but gets the job done.

    Director:E.W. Swackhamer
    Writer:Larry Gelbart

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 5 - The Moose
    7.1/10(10 votes)

    #5 - The Moose

    S1:E5

    Sergeant Baker arrives at the camp with his Moose. Hawkeye decides to find a way of getting her away from Baker. He tries ordering him to release her, tries buying her, and then resorts to cheating at cards. He releases her but she won't go, so he tries to teach her how to be independent.

    Director:Hy Averback
    Writer:Laurence Marks

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 6 - Yankee Doodle Doctor
    7.1/10(12 votes)

    #6 - Yankee Doodle Doctor

    S1:E6

    The 4077th is designated as the setting for the making of an army film on Mobile Army Surgical Hospital units. Hawkeye is chosen as the star while Margaret and Frank compose a screenplay. The Eye Of The Hawk objects to the piece of propaganda that filmmaker Lt. Bricker is producing and, having exposed the original film, reshoots a new one his way, starring himself as Groucho Marx-ish Yankee Doodle Doctor, and poking fun at glorifying doctors while concluding with a rather serious speech about the hell of war.

    Director:Lee Philips
    Writer:Laurence Marks

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of M*A*S*H

    READ
  7. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 7 - Bananas, Crackers and Nuts
    6.5/10(10 votes)

    #7 - Bananas, Crackers and Nuts

    S1:E7

    When Henry goes for some R&R, Hawkeye pretends to crack up so that Frank will let him and Trapper go on some R&R.

    Director:Bruce Bilson
    Writer:Burt Styler

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 8 - Cowboy
    6.4/10(9 votes)

    #8 - Cowboy

    S1:E8

    John Hodges, a chopper pilot referred to as The Cowboy because of his gun holster belt and cowboy hat, has been hit in the shoulder, and arrives at the 4077th. He is expecting a letter--he's worried his wife Jean at home is leaving him for another man ("She's probably off with some rodeo rider; she's a sucker for a 10-gallon hat!"). He wants to go home, but Henry refuses, stating Cowboy's wound isn't serious enough to merit a stateside ticket. Bad luck then follows Henry Blake like the seat of his pants: he gets shot at while golfing, his tent gets flattened by a driverless jeep, and the latrine explodes while he's inside. The Cowboy offers to fly Henry to Seoul and then threatens to shove him out! The letter finally arives for Cowboy, assuring he is loved. Hawkeye and Trapper uses the radio to convince The Cowboy to spare Henry's life and come down, at which they succeed.

    Director:Don Weis
    Writer:Robert Klane

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 9 - Henry Please Come Home
    6.7/10(9 votes)

    #9 - Henry Please Come Home

    S1:E9

    Henry receives a citation for the camp achieving the best efficiency rating, and then General Hammond reassigns him to Tokyo. Frank then changes the camp to be more military, and he confiscates Hawkeye's and Trapper's still. They use forged passes to go to Tokyo to convince Henry to come back and end up pretending Radar is sick.

    Director:William Wiard
    Writer:Laurence Marks

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 10 - I Hate a Mystery
    7.0/10(7 votes)

    #10 - I Hate a Mystery

    S1:E10

    A rash of thefts breaks out in the camp. Missing pieces include Frank's silver picture frame, Margaret's hair brush, and Trapper's watch. The camp is searched and everything is found in Hawkeye's locker. Everyone thinks he did it. Hawkeye manages to announce to the camp that the items will be dusted for prints to identify the real thief, and catches Ho-Jon. He needed money to bring his family from the North, and to bribe border guards.

    Director:Hy Averback
    Writer:Hal Dressner

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 11 - Germ Warfare
    6.6/10(8 votes)

    #11 - Germ Warfare

    S1:E11

    Hawkeye moves a wounded North Korean soldier into The Swamp, rather than let him be shipped out before he's stable. During the night he and Trapper play Dracula, and siphon off a pint of Frank's blood. The soldier then contracts hepatitis, so they have to test Frank without him knowing, and have to keep him away from Margaret and the patients.

    Director:Terry Becker
    Writer:Larry Gelbart

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 12 - Dear Dad
    6.6/10(9 votes)

    #12 - Dear Dad

    S1:E12

    Hawkeye writes home, describing Christmas in Korea: Radar ships a jeep home, a piece at a time; Henry gives the monthly lecture on sex, with the aid of figure A and figure B; Trapper helps deliver a calf; Klinger and Frank get into a fight, but Father Mulcahy smoothes things over; Hawkeye and Trapper sabotage Margaret's tent; Hawkeye flies to the front line dressed as Santa, to help a wounded soldier.

    Director:Gene Reynolds
    Writer:Larry Gelbart

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 13 - Edwina
    6.5/10(8 votes)

    #13 - Edwina

    S1:E13

    The nurses go to extremes lengths to find a date for Nurse Eddie - they won't go out with anyone until Eddie gets a date. The men draw straws, and Hawkeye is the big loser, especially after Eddie nearly kills him in a scene resembling teenage "mating" rituals.

    Director:James Sheldon
    Writer:Hal Dresner

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 14 - Love Story
    6.6/10(8 votes)

    #14 - Love Story

    S1:E14

    Radar gets a Dear John recording from home. Hawkeye and Trapper try to set him up with a date, but fail. Radar is taken by a new nurse at the camp and she is into poetry and music, so they coach him. Margaret wants to stop the relationship, so Hawkeye and Trapper get between her and Frank until she relents. Radar's "Ahhhh, Bach!" and "That's highly significant," quotes win him the girl.

    Director:Earl Bellamy
    Writers:Larry Gelbart, Laurence Marks

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 15 - Tuttle
    8.0/10(9 votes)

    #15 - Tuttle

    S1:E15

    Hawkeye creates a fake doctor, Captain Jonathan S. Tuttle, to give supplies to the local orphans. Henry wants Tuttle to be officer of the day, so Hawkeye creates a fake personnel file, and all his back pay is given to the orphanage. When General Clayton wants to reward his generosity, Hawkeye is forced to invent a story about Tuttle jumping from a chopper without his parachute! Of course, Trapper's new friend, Captain Murdoch, obtained the fake dog tags and parachute...!

    Director:William Wiard
    Writers:Bruce Shelley, David Ketchum

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 16 - The Ringbanger
    6.9/10(9 votes)

    #16 - The Ringbanger

    S1:E16

    Hawkeye and Trapper operate on a famous Colonel - after discovering that he is particularly ruthless about sacrificing his men, they come up with a scheme to get him sent back to the states with a little unwitting help from Frank, Margaret, and a drunk Henry.

    Director:Jackie Cooper
    Writer:Jerry Mayer

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 17 - Sometimes You Hear the Bullet
    7.5/10(11 votes)

    #17 - Sometimes You Hear the Bullet

    S1:E17

    Frank throws his back out whilst spending the evening with Margaret, and ends up in traction. He promptly applies for the Purple Heart, having been 'technically' wounded at a frontline unit. Tommy Gillis, an old friend of Hawkeye's, is writing a book about the war, and pays him a visit. Later, Tommy is brought into the camp, seriously wounded, and Hawkeye can't save him. A 15-year-old kid is in the hospital to have his appendix out. He joined up to be a hero back home, but Hawkeye has him sent home, giving him Frank's purple heart.

    Director:William Wiard
    Writer:Carl Kleinschmitt

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 18 - Dear Dad...Again
    7.3/10(10 votes)

    #18 - Dear Dad...Again

    S1:E18

    Once again, Hawkeye writes home to his father, telling him of the latest gossip: the camp gets a new surgeon, who turns out to be a fake; Hawkeye bets he can walk into the mess tent naked for lunch, and no one will notice; Radar cheats on his final exam from the High School diploma company; Margaret rejects Franks advances and he gets drunk late into the night; the camp have a no talent night.

    Director:Jackie Cooper
    Writers:Sheldon Keller, Larry Gelbart

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 19 - The Longjohn Flap
    7.3/10(9 votes)

    #19 - The Longjohn Flap

    S1:E19

    The camp suffers from the severe cold, except for Hawkeye who has received some long john's from his father. They get passed around from person to person, as a gift, a gambling stake, a trade, a bribe, stolen, given up to Father Mulcahy, who gives them to Henry, who returns them to Hawkeye as thanks for taking out his appendix.

    Director:William Wiard
    Writer:Alan Alda

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 20 - The Army-Navy Game
    6.5/10(8 votes)

    #20 - The Army-Navy Game

    S1:E20

    The camp tunes into the Army/Navy football game, only to be shelled and have an unexploded bomb land in the middle of the compound. They ring around trying to identify the bomb, and the camp prepares for the worst. Hawkeye and Trapper are left the task of following instructions to disarm the bomb, which turns out to be full of propaganda leaflets from the CIA.

    Director:Gene Reynolds
    Writers:Sid Dorfman, McLean Stevenson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 21 - Sticky Wicket
    6.8/10(8 votes)

    #21 - Sticky Wicket

    S1:E21

    Hawkeye and Frank argue over Frank's surgical ability. Hawkeye performs a difficult operation and the patient does not recover, as he should. Hawkeye begins to doubt his ability and moves out of The Swamp. He decides to open up his patients again, and discovers a nick in the colon that even Frank admits anyone could have missed.

    Director:Don Weis
    Writers:Richard Baer, Larry Gelbart, Richard Baer

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 22 - Major Fred C. Dobbs
    7.0/10(10 votes)

    #22 - Major Fred C. Dobbs

    S1:E22

    As usual Frank's normal drone of verbal abuse upsets Ginger, so Hawkeye puts his arm in a cast while he is asleep. Frank puts in for a transfer, and after a broadcast goes out of Frank telling Margaret he's leaving, she decides to leave as well. As a result, Col. Blake puts both Hawk and Trap on double post-op duty until he finds replacements for Majs. Burns and Houlihan. Unwilling to lose their two favorite patsies, and to be worn to a frazzle from doing 2 shifts in O/R, Hawkeye and Trapper hatch a scheme to prevent Frank and Hot Lips from leaving. That night, Hawkeye and Trapper pretend they have found gold, letting Frank overhear them. Frank then withdraws his request when he thinks he's found gold himself, although the joke is on him when he finds, amongst other things, a gilded jeep!

    Director:Don Weis
    Writer:Sid Dorfman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 23 - Ceasefire
    7.0/10(9 votes)

    #23 - Ceasefire

    S1:E23

    General Clayton calls to say that a ceasefire is to be declared. The camp celebrates, Klinger gives away his dresses and locals start to take pieces of the camp. But Trapper does not believe it. Hawkeye claims he is married to avoid promises he made to several nurses. The party to celebrate the cease-fire, which never really took place, is interrupted by incoming wounded.

    Director:Earl Bellamy
    Writers:Robert Klane, Larry Gelbart, Laurence Marks

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. M*A*S*H Season 1 Episode 24 - Showtime
    6.8/10(9 votes)

    #24 - Showtime

    S1:E24

    Captain Kaplan is to be shipped home, but becomes paranoid that something will happen to him before he leaves. He takes the wheel of the jeep to drive to Kimpo himself, but crashes and ends up in plaster. Henry's wife is in labor and gives birth while he has Radar calling the hospital every 5 mins.An entertainer, Jackie Flash, visits the camp to entertain the troops.

    Director:Jackie Cooper
    Writer:Larry Gelbart

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "M*A*S*H" season 1. It scored 6.8/10 based on 14 votes. Directed by Gene Reynolds and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/17/1972. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "To Market, to Market".