Temporary Duty

I have to agree with another reviewer how the absence of Hawkeye makes this episode a milestone. Without Alda's ego the relationship between Charles & BJ makes progress and shows us a side of Margaret that makes her more human.

Hawkeye does a surgical exchange with another MASH unit. His counterpart is a guy named Dupree, played by George Lindsey, Cousin Goober on the "Andy Griffith Show." He is a boorish windbag who is also an excellent surgeon. He is sort of idiot savant cowboy. Anyway he riles things up for B.J. and Winchester to where they want to be rid of him. Meanwhile, his impressive skills catch the eye of Potter and he is ready to join the party permanently. The second plot is a nurse who arrives with the cowboy. She is an army brat like Margaret and they were partners in crime when young. The problem is that she is still a bit of a wild child, while Margaret is now the mature, responsible one. This leads to conflict and tension between them, and, finally, a really nice conclusion.

I thought George Lindsey was great Capt. Roy Dupree! Producers should have looked beyond his former character Goober Pyle from Mayberry. I think they should have given Lindsey a part on Trapper John, M. D. as Dr. Roy Dupree.

He would added some more comic relief to the show!