Radar prepares to go home, but the state of things at the 4077th makes him rethink leaving. As he leaves the OR is full and busy, as he boards a jeep to star his voyage home.
Attention, all personnel! The following tropes have come out to wish Radar a fond farewell:
- Asshole Victim: Major Van Kirk is fairly well justified in his rage at the supply depot...right up until he reveals that he was the one that stole the 4077's backup generator. All sympathy for his losing a third generator to Klinger goes out the window.
- Big "WHAT?!": Potter when Radar says he's turning down the hardship discharge.
- Both Sides Have a Point: Hawkeye and Radar's arguments of whether Radar should return home. On the one hand Radar is being given a clean discharge to leave and his family needs him at home. Radar however points out that Klinger is an inexperienced company clerk and that, unless he can find creative ways to help his unit, they still need him there. It's only after Klinger is able to secure the new generator that Radar decides to leave.
- Dude, Where's My Respect?: When answering the phone, Klinger grouses about Radar's standing by saying Radar is off posing for a statue somewhere and that he's the guy who never does anything right.
- "Eureka!" Moment:
- Klinger when he gets the idea to swipe the generator
- Radar when thinking to use jeep lights as a workaround so that the doctors can operate at night.
- Foreshadowing: Klinger briefly grouses about having to live up to Radar's lofty reputation, and B.J. later says that Peg and Erin will be greeting Radar in San Francisco. Both of these set up plot-points in the next episode.
- It Was a Gift: At the end of the episode its revealed that Radar left behind his teddy bear on Hawkeye's bed, both as a way of saying goodbye to him, and also as a symbol that he's no longer a kid anymore and has left the war a man for better or worse.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Upon hearing Major Van Kirk talk about stealing the 4077's backup generator, Klinger immediately gets to work screwing him over.
- Long Last Look: After saying goodbye to his animals, Radar goes over to O.R. and takes one last look through a window before leaving camp. Hawkeye sees this and gives him a proper send-off by saluting him.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: When he sees Radar taking one last look through the window, Hawkeye salutes him.
- Passing the Torch: Before he leaves, Radar gives Klinger his clipboard, signifying the official changeover of company clerk status. This proves to be too much for Klinger, who gets misty eyed afterwards.
- Rousing Speech: Potter gives one to convince Radar to accept the hardship discharge, calling him a good friend that's grown quite a bit and now has to move on to the next phase of his life. Radar says that (in light of Klinger's success) he's already decided to go home, but he says he liked the speech.
- Title Drop: The last line of the episode, as Hawkeye is holding Radar's teddy bear.
- Trying Not to Cry: Potter when hugging Radar goodbye.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Hawkeye chews Radar out when he finds out that he intends to turn down his discharge considering the number of people who would give anything to leave the war, himself included.
- Radar turns it around on Hawkeye, pointing out that with as hard as Hawkeye is still working even with his sprained finger, he wouldn't take a discharge if he felt he was more needed at the 4077.
- You Keep Telling Yourself That: Hawkeye rebukes Radar's claim that he'd turn down a discharge, if he thought he was needed more at the camp, saying he'd be out of there as quickly as possible. Radar retorts that Hawkeye continued to work, despite a sprained finger that he otherwise won't stop complaining about.
