While not many in today’s day have heard of this show, it is known as one of the most critically acclaimed television series of all time. Having a run of 11 seasons from 1972-1983 this show’s first 5 seasons are finally on Netflix. This show was so powerful that its finale had more viewers on its first run than most super bowls have had (until recent years).

M*A*S*H depicts the story of an army hospital during the Korean War. At that time doctors were just made eligible for the draft. This hospital is full of civilian doctors disguised in army drab trying to survive physically and mentally as they patch together countless casualties of war. They deal with snipers, insanity and sickness. Their chosen coping mechanism?  Comedy.

Despite that dark description of the show it is billed as a comedy. This show will have you falling out of your seat laughing and reaching for the last tissue in the box all in the same episode. While the first 3 seasons are definitely more jocular than the rest of the series it is still a comedy at the end of the day.

One of the main characters that the show follows, and one of the 3 actors who stay through the entire series, is the character Hawkeye. “Hawkeye” or Benjamin Franklin Pierce is the chief surgeon of the outfit. He is a flirtatious, devious and childish man and yet he is intelligent, compassionate and the best at what he does. What he lacks in respect for authority he makes up for in skill on the operating table. He is the character that the war affects the most as he has been there the longest as a draftee. He has a dry and punny sense of humor that acts as his defense mechanism against the war.

Hawkeye and his trusty right hand man Trapper “John” McIntire wreak havoc on the camp and their gung ho regular army Bunkie Frank Burns; or as they affectionately call him, ferrite face. These two are an inseparable comedic duo that helped to lighten the dark subjects laced in the episodes.

What makes this show stand the testament of time is its innovative nature. For a show that was released in the 70’s it was very progressive. It covered issues of racism, sexism and homophobia. All of these are issues that still are relevant today. They also used Avant Gard film techniques and plots that no one would have thought to use at the time. In fact they were one of the first shows to have a main character death instead of just saying they went away. While then it was scandalous it is now a common practice in most shows.

If there is anything that you should add to your Netflix queue it is this. You will not be disappointed.