The Daily Stream: M*A*S*H is an endlessly revolutionary anti-war sitcom

While many television classics pioneered a particular genre, cinematic format or philosophy, "M*A*S*H" succeeded in all three , then some. The show consistently pushed beyond the limits of what television was capable of. First, with kinetic movies that clearly took place outside of the studio, then with hard-hitting storylines that pushed the boundaries of what TV comedy could look like, and finally, with episodes that broke with familiar structures in an innovative way. One episode, for example, takes place entirely from the bedridden perspective of a wounded soldier. Another, a season finale, takes the form of a dark black-and-white documentary about the M*A*S*H unit. poignant and authentic goodbye, remains the most-watched television episode of all time.

"M*A*S*H" also has an amazing moral clarity that seems almost extinct on television today. Although her willingness to engage in polarizing topics fluctuates with the seasons, she always remains firm in a progressive viewpoint: one that argues that war is hell, that America is flawed, and that compassion and cultural understanding are essential. Its first three seasons aired during the Vietnam War, and while Hollywood at one point seemed afraid to broach the subject, “M*A*S*H” used the Korean War as a clear alternative. to the most controversial conflict. His duty, above all, was to constantly remind viewers - in minute detail and with heartbreaking example after example - of the absurdity of it all.