#(not done maliciously of course he's grieving his best friend leaving but it still stings) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

youngpettyqueen · 2 years ago

Text

The Joker is Wild is an episode that really doesnt work where it is in the show

the idea that BJ is set off by like. jealous rage or whatever over Hawkeye comparing him to Trapper just doesnt work so late in the show when there's been 0 indication that BJ is jealous about Trapper at all. it feels like it comes out of nowhere, just a half-assed sort of reason given to set him off

ive mentioned this before here and I know its a hot take within this fandom but the supposed Trapper Complex just doesnt exist. in the 8 seasons that BJ is present in the show, I can think of three times Trapper's name comes up around him

Period of Adjustment, where he brings up that he feels like he hates Trapper. should be noted that BJ here is at about the lowest point we see him at, he's in complete despair, and he's also blind drunk. he also specifically brings up that he feels this way because Trapper has gone home- it has nothing to do with Hawkeye

Depressing News, Hawkeye refers to BJ as being the 'same size, same shape' as Trapper, and BJ's reaction can be construed as being not exactly pleased about it. I think this reads more as him just not being happy about literally being called Trapper's replacement, not him being jealous

then, of course, The Joker is Wild

because of this it really just doesnt make sense for BJ to suddenly have this jealousy in The Joker is Wild, not this late in the show. it would've honestly worked so much better if this episode happened back in season 4, because then you could've made that jealousy believable with BJ still establishing himself in camp and Hawkeye still dealing with Trapper's departure. but as it is, set in season 11, it really just doesnt work. its such a He Would Not Fucking Say That episode

#mash #bj hunnicutt #its one of those episodes I want to rewrite cause I think it had all the potential to be a very very good episode #like I said I would've set it in season 4 #and I would've made it clear that Hawkeye has been comparing BJ to Trapper a lot #and in some not-so-nice ways where he's said Trapper was better at X Trapper's way with Y was better etc #(not done maliciously of course he's grieving his best friend leaving but it still stings)#and BJ finally has enough when the prank thing comes up and Hawkeye is going on about how great it was when it was him and Trapper #so he decides to get back at Hawkeye with a series of escalating pranks #there wouldnt be a bet element here he wouldnt rope anybody else in on it #he's still new he's still establishing himself and this is him just desperately trying to be seen as his own person #not just Trapper's replacement #and finally he goes too far and it blows up in his face somehow #maybe Hawkeye gets hurt #and everyone's rightfully pissed off with BJ about it! he's been mean he's been acting out what the hell is wrong with him?#and BJ feels fucking horrible about it and explains himself and how he's just so sick of feeling like #all anyone sees him as is Trapper's replacement #at this point implying Hawkeye's not the only one who's done the comparing and everyone can reflect on that a bit #BJ then avoids Hawkeye for a few days because he feels so awful about what happened #until Hawkeye hunts him down and forces the conversation to happen #BJ apologizes profusely and says he was being stupid and Hawkeye's like yeah you were being stupid #but he also admits he was stupid to not see what constantly comparing BJ to Trapper was doing #and apologizes for making him feel like he was just a replacement and not his friend #have a real heart to heart about it!! BJ character depth episode!!#it could've been so interesting the potential was there just not in season 11 #a plot line like that just didnt have a place anymore #and im mad about it 40 years later #invents time travel so I can write MASH episodes #anyways.#can you tell I think about this a lot

26 notes · View notes