M*A*S*H: Season Three

Let's start counting the days in M*A*S*H Season Three.

3.1: The General Flipped at Dawn (2 days)

Note: The final scene could arguably take place on a third day but since it's not explicitly stated, we'll play it safe and say two days.

3.2: Rainbow Bridge (3 days)

3.3: Officer of the Day (1 day)

3.4: Iron Guts Kelly (2 days)

3.5: O.R (1 day)

Note: Adding some weight to my theory that at least a month had passed before the events of the pilot episode, Frank remarks in this episode that he and Trapper "got on well for the first two weeks."

3.6: Springtime (3 days)

Note: 36 hours had passed before this episode began, according to dialogue in the opening scene in the O.R.

3.7: Check-Up (2 days)

3.8: Life With Father (2 days)

3.9: Alcoholics Unanimous (2 days)

3.10: There Is Nothing Like A Nurse (2 days)

Note: Although there is no observable night sequence, after 5 O'Clock Charlie shows up, Radar says he can have the nurses back by breakfast. In the very next scene, the nurses return suggesting an evening has passed between the two scenes.

3.11: Adam's Ribs (2 days)

3.12: A Full, Rich Day (1 day)

3.13: Mad Dogs and Servicemen (1 day)

Note: It is more than likely that the events of this episode took place over the course of more than just one day. However no observable night sequence occurs during the course of this episode. So to play it safe, we'll just say one day.

3.14: Private Charles Lamb (2 days)

3.15: Bombed (1 day)

3.16: Bulletin Board: (2 days)

3.17: The Consultant (4 days)

3.18: House Arrest (2 days)

3.19: Aid Station (2 days)

3.20: Love and Marriage (3 days)

3:21: Big Mac (2 days)

Note: Although there is no observable night sequence, there are two verbal cues which we can use to show that this episode takes place over the course of two days. Firstly, on the first day, Henry tells Klinger that he wants to see him in his office at 4pm that afternoon. We are also told MacArthur will be visiting the camp at 1100 hours (although it is not specifically said how many days away the visit actually is). We then see Henry's meeting with Klinger, and then later we see MacArthur visit (obviously at 1100 hours). So it is safe to say that at least two days have passed, despite no observable night-time sequence.

3:22: Payday (2 days)

Note: Most of this episode takes place at night. However there is an observable day sequence at the beginning of the episode, and right near the end a nurse says it's 3 O'Clock in the morning. Hence, 2 days are accounted for in this episode.

3:23: White Gold (3 days)

3:24: Abyssinia, Henry (2 days)

Note: Just as an interesting side-note, the pen Radar gives Henry as a farewell gift indicates Henry is sent home in 1952. In episode 2.9 (Dear Dad... Three), historical events mentioned in that episode suggested that it took place on either January 6, 1952 or March 12, 1952. This means that Henry left the 4077 at least some time after March 1952, which in turn means Potter was in command of the 4077 for, at most, 1 year and 4 months.

This means nothing in terms of the aims of this project, but it will be interesting to see if a future episode during Potter's tenure breaks internal series-continuity by placing an episode before March 1952.

TOTAL DAY COUNT: At the end of Season Two we had determined that a total of 196 days (28 weeks) had passed in the fake version of the Korean War. With a start date for the real Korean War of June 25 1950, this placed the approximate date of the final episode of Season 2 on January 6th, 1951.

In Season Three we saw a further 49 days pass. This means that a total of 245 days worth of time had passed at the end of the third season. This means that the approximate date (but not the actual date) at the end of the third season would be 24th February 1951.

Still plenty of time (about 2 years and 4 months) until the end of the real war, then. But with 8 seasons left to go, will M*A*S*H run out of time, or have time left to spare? Keep reading to find out!