The latest group of casualties includes an air force bombardier who claims he's Jesus Christ. Frank and Margaret think he's faking battle fatigue in order to get a discharge, and they bring in Colonel Flagg to help expose him. Hawkeye has Col. Potter bring in Sidney Freedman to analyze the patient and give his views.
Attention! Attention, all personnel! Our Lord and Savior will deliver these blessed tropes:
- Actually Pretty Funny: This is BJ's reaction to Frank's "washing my hands of the both of you" retort. Unfortunately Frank then ruins it with his weaselly laugh.
- Ambiguous Situation: Even though Flagg and Sidney provide answers about Chandler, there remains throughout the episode a sense of mystery as to whether Chandler might be the real Jesus Christ or not.
- Anachronism Stew: Hawkwye refers to Flagg as a "khaki Godzilla". However, the first Godzilla film would not be released until 1954, and not in English until 1956.
- Answer to Prayers: Sidney asks Chandler if God answers people's prayers. Chandler says yes, but that the answer is sometimes no.
- Blackmail: Col. Flagg attempts this with Sidney, but threatening to have him discharged for not signing a loyalty oath at the time of his recruitment if he doesn't back Flagg on Chandler's case. Sidney points out that were he truly a Communist plant, he would not have hesitated to sign.
- Briar Patching: Col. Flagg accuses Sidney of this during his rant in Potter's office. By arguing for Chandler's discharge, Sidney will prompt Flagg to turn him in for not signing his loyalty oath - leading to Sidney's own discharge, which will send him home with no negative effect on his professional life whatsoever.
- Call-Back: Col. Flagg introduces himself to Sidney with "We played poker once."
- Companion Cube: Radar asks Chandler/"Jesus" to bless his teddy bear.
- Curse of The Ancients: Colonel Potter saying "Horse Hockey" to Frank and Margaret's accusations against Chandler.
- Double Take: Radar's first reaction to hearing the wounded captain's name at the beginning of the episode.
- Dude, Not Funny!: When Hawkeye starts making his usual snarks towards Frank as they prepare for surgery, Frank criticizes the man's humour.Frank: You're about as funny as a crutch.
- Due to the Dead: During his attempts to convince Colonel Potter to hand Chandler over to him, Flagg derisively insults the late Henry Blake. Knowing clearly how much his predecessor means to the people at the 4077, Potter is understandably more than a little miffed and he gives Flagg a "The Reason You Suck" Speech in response.
- Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: As stated above, Flagg thinks Sidney recommending Chandler be sent home must be a scam to get himself sent stateside. It doesn't occur to Flagg that Sidney is just genuinely looking out for the well-being of his patient.
- Given Name Reveal: This episode marks the first use of Radar's first name, Walter.
- Heroic BSoD: Chandler's Jesus delusion is the result of suffering from heavy guilt over his bombing missions.
- Hypocrites: In their hastiness to level accusations of blasphemy at Chandler for calling himself Jesus Christ, Frank and Margaret are rather blind to notice that they are acting the exact same way as the naysayers who condemned Jesus to die on the cross in The Bible.
- Laugh Track: Like the earlier episode, "The Bus", this episode is laugh track-free throughout the entire episode.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Flagg is on the receiving end of two of these:
- From Potter:
Potter: I'm not fond of personal abuse, Colonel. I was in this man's army when the only thumb you cared about was the one you had in your mouth.- From Dr. Freedman:
Sidney: You're a victim too, Flagg. But you're such an unbelievable example of walking fertilizer, it's hard for me to care. - Shell-Shocked Veteran Chandler, big-time. He flew fifty-seven missions as a bombardier, and he finally couldn't take the knowledge of what he was doing anymore.Sidney: Finally something inside this kid from Idaho said, "Enough! You're Christ! You're not a killer! The next bomb you drop, you drop on yourself!"
- The Stool Pigeon: When Col. Potter refuses to have Chandler court-martialed for blasphemy and cowardice without evidence, Frank and Margaret call on Col. Flagg to give it to them. This is the last time the two ever go over a CO's head for the remainder of the series, as well as the only time they do to this to Potter.
- The Tag: Hawkeye and B.J. are playing a game with city names when Klinger arrives dressed as Moses, complete with his own set of Ten Commandments tablets, hoping for a discharge.
- This Is Gonna Suck: When Radar reports to Hawkeye just who Captain Chandler has named himself as, the doctor realises the kind of day he's in for.
- Unishment: Hawkeye and B.J. are quick to point out that Flagg's plan to blackmail Sidney (who in civilian life would be self-employed) with a dishonourable discharge is this.B.J.: Where do we go to not sign?
- Wham Line: After Hawkeye learns about Captain Chandler from Radar, he turns to Father Mulcahy and tells the chaplain they've got a friend of his in surgery before he walks out of the room. Mulcahy, with a curious B.J. and Frank behind him, asks Radar what he meant by that.Radar: Father, we've got a guy who says he's Jesus Christ.
- While You Were in Diapers: Potter's above-mentioned comment about the many years of service he has compared to Flagg.
