History Recap / MashS1E23Ceasefire

* CommitmentIssues: Hawkeye.

* OhCrap: Henry tells Radar to tell the person on the phone that he doesn't want to talk right now because he's beat. Radar reiterates that at once to General Clayton.

* SeriesFauxnale: Contrary to popular belief (and in spite of very real doubts at the time about the show's future beyond its poorly-rated first season), WordOfGod is that this episode was ''not'' originally written as one of these.

-> ''"Attention, all personnel. We just got a communiqué from Wiki/TVTropes. There is no ceasefire."''

* RealityEnsues: Klinger is just as jubilant as nearly everyone else about the ceasefire, but then realises that he's stuck with a dozen dresses.

* YourCheatingHeart: A [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocritical Frank]] admonishes Margaret after photographic evidence is shown of her cheating on him with General Clayton at the ceasefire party.

* RoleReprisal:
** General Clayton, not seen since the "[[Recap/MashS1E15Tuttle Tuttle]]" episode.
** Marcia Strassman returns as Nurse Margie Cutler, for one final time.

-> ''"Attention, all personnel. We just got a communique from Wiki/TVTropes. There is no ceasefire."''

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Trapper thinks that the ceasefire will fall through and sticks to that thinking the entire episode. The PA system also repeatedly announces that the ceasefire is ''not'' official yet.

* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: The P.A. announcer tells the camp to disregard the rumours of a ceasefire and return to their duties, while he's celebrating the ceasefire himself.

* SeriesFauxnale: Contrary to popular belief (and in spite of very real doubts about the show's future at the time it first aired), WordOfGod is that this episode was ''not'' written as one of these.

* RoleReprisal: General Clayton, not seen since [[Recap/MashS1E15Tuttle Tuttle]].

* DownerEnding

* BerserkButton: It's all fine for Margaret to mention Frank's wife, but the moment ''he'' does, Look. Out.

** Hawkeye is over come with joy about the news of the ceasefire.

* BerserkButton: It's all fine for Margaret to mention Frank's wife, but the moment he does, Look. Out.

---> '''Henry''': In a few days, I'll be back home, tripping over kids' roller skates again, cursing out the crab grass, fuming about my income taxes, being impossible with my receptionist, turning grey over my wife's checking account, and loving every minute of it.

---> '''Gen. Clayton''': I've just been on the phone with [=CinComPac=]. Is that good enough for ya?
---> '''Henry''': He got it from [=CinComPac=].
---> '''Hawkeye''': I don't care if he got it from [=NimComPoop=]! The fighting's over!
* HopeSpot: The entire episode. Hawkeye described it best.
---> ''It was a glimpse of daylight at the end of the damned tunnel.''

---> '''Hawkeye''': So I blew fifteen hundred bucks in [=IOUs=]. Gave up three nurses for an imaginary wife and family. Clayton's got my butt in his gun sight. But my hopefulness remains intact.
---> '''Trapper''': Good for you.
---> '''Hawkeye''': Would you mind turning the other way? I'd hate for you to see [[ManlyTears a grown man cry]].

* {{Malaproper}}: Frank keeps trying to find the right word for Margaret's (false) promises,
---> '''Frank''': Margaret, you're a real prince. I mean, cess. Cessprince. Princess.

---> '''PA Announcer''': Attention, all personnel. Any rumours regarding a ceasefire are not official. All personnel are ordered to continue regular duties until further notice. ''[pauses]'' Uh, honey, mine was the Scotch and water.

---> '''Gen. Clayton''': If there wasn't a ceasefire, Pierce...

-> ''We just got a communique from Wiki/TVTropes. There is no ceasefire.''

!!Attention, all personnel, attention! The tropes for this episode are as follows:

* StrawmanHasAPoint: Sadly, Trapper's done his history. Most real-life ceasefires never work out to a peaceful conclusion.

* HarsherInHindsight: Had the war ended here, it would have saved Hawkeye and the others from a lot of trauma. In real life though, well, let's face it. We really didn't want MASH to end after just a single year.
** The war not ending here with this episode becomes more worse with the harsh once you realise that a satisfying conclusion would have saved a particular main character's life.
*** The conversation between Henry and Radar about hanging out back home sometime in the future just makes that feeling worse.

The news that a ceasefire has been arranged reaches the ears of Colonel Blake, then onto Hawkeye, Trapper and Radar, and finally, the rest of the camp. Naturally, the MASHers of the 4077 celebrate the end of the war. Revelry runs through the compound. Hawkeye toasts to the end of the war and has to break things off with every one of his [[LoveInterest love interests]] when they each reveal they want to make plans with him for a future back in the States. Radar makes a scrapbook for everyone to sign. Frank and Margaret drink themselves stupid. Klinger puts on a bargain sale for the dresses he made and bought in his ongoing efforts to prove he's crazy. Unfortunately, there is one scrooge against every party of hope and faith; Trapper does not believe the ceasefire will go through and will not raise his own hopes until he hears that it is officially put into effect.

---> '''Hawkeye''': ''[incredulously]'' "Compliments of a friend"?

* WeReallyDoCare: Henry affirms this about the farewell note he wrote for Radar in his scrapbook.