Revisiting Loretta Swit's Critique of the MASH Finale's Handling of Margaret's Ending

Many people consider the MASH series finale to be one of the best television finales ever. However, Loretta Swit, who played Major Margaret J "Hot Lips" Houlihan, felt that her character's ending was unfair. Swit portrayed Margaret as the Head Nurse at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in South Korea during the Korean War. She appeared in a total of 239 episodes over the show's 11 seasons, with Margaret undergoing significant character development.

In the final episode of MASH, the characters, including Margaret, celebrated the end of the Korean War. Margaret was torn between choosing to go to Belgium or Tokyo for her next assignment. Ultimately, she decided to return to the United States to be with her family. Swit believed that this ending for Margaret did not align with the character's journey throughout the series. After all that Margaret had experienced during her time at the 4077th, going back home seemed out of character for her.

Why Margaret's MASH Ending Didn't Work

Margaret Houlihan in MASH - Why Margaret's MASH Ending Didn't Work

During an interview with Yahoo Entertainment, Loretta Swit shared her thoughts on the ending of her MASH character and how she disagreed with the direction the NBC comedy writers took for Margaret during the series finale.

Swit expressed her disagreement with the decision for Margaret's character, stating that she believed Margaret, being military like Potter, would have been off to the next war after MASH. She felt that her character's next move should have been towards Vietnam. Although the writers had a different plan for Margaret, Swit felt it wasn't quite right for her character in her heart.

Margaret's MASH Ending Reveals The Bigger Problem Of Her Character

Swit's logic regarding Margaret's conclusion to her story in the MASH series finale ultimately didn't make sense. It would have been more believable if she had continued her stint in the military and stationed herself at a different international post. Instead, MASH writers Larry Gelbert and Gene Reynolds chose an ending for Margaret that didn't work despite it appearing as if it was a happy one. Even if they were setting her up for a spinoff (which never came to be), Margaret's return to the United States in the MASH finale still wouldn't be deserved.

Larry Linville's Burns, Loretta Switt's Margaret, Wayne Rogers' Trapper, Alan Alda's Hawkeye, Gary Burghoff's Radar, and McLean Stevenson's Blake in MASH season 2 - Margaret's MASH Ending Reveals The Bigger Problem Of Her Character

Margaret faced another issue besides leaving the military in the series finale - her nickname. Known as "Hot Lips" in MASH, Loretta Swit, who played Margaret, believed this nickname limited her character. She emphasized that Margaret was much more than just a nickname based on her physical appearance. Fortunately, the show decided to let go of the nickname after season 5, allowing Margaret to evolve into a more well-rounded and intricate character.

MASH is available to stream on Hulu.

Source: Yahoo Entertainment

Editor's P/S:

Loretta Swit's critique of Margaret's ending in the MASH series finale is compelling. Margaret's journey throughout the show suggested that she would continue her military career, not return home. Swit's reasoning that Margaret would have gone to Vietnam aligns with the character's determination and loyalty to her profession. The writers' decision to have Margaret return home seems out of character and undermines her development.

Furthermore, Swit's observation that Margaret's nickname, "Hot Lips," limited her character's growth is valid. The nickname focused on her physical appearance, overshadowing her intelligence and strength. The show's decision to drop the nickname after season 5 allowed Margaret to become a more complex and well-rounded character. Swit's insights highlight the importance of character consistency and nuance in storytelling.