Review: The final episode of 'M*A*S*H'

The final episode of "M*A*S*H," titled "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," is an emotional rollercoaster to watch even now, 40 years later.

While the episode is interspersed with the usual hilarious antics of the 4077th MASH unit, it's also interspersed with a dark undertone surrounding Hawkeye's (Alan Alda) stay in a psychiatric hospital in the wake of a mental breakdown caused by a traumatic event he experienced.

The reveal of the true nature of the traumatic event is a real sucker punch to the stomach that always leaves me in tears. I hate anything that involves hurting kids, pets, and other vulnerable populations. But damn if it isn't quality storytelling.

Fortunately, a lot of good things happen that lessen the impact of the traumatic event on the episode as a whole.

Characters such as Margaret Houlihan (Loretta Swit) and Charles Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) receive good news about their post-war job prospects, Klinger (Jamie Farr) marries Soon-Lee (Rosalind Chao), and the war ends, allowing everyone to go home.

The episode is a fitting end to a strong 11-season run, as evidenced by the fact that it was the most watched television broadcast in American history until the 2010 Super Bowl broke that record.

"Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" is a must-watch for anyone who loves "M*A*S*H."