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Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: "Christmas Waltz"

Shannon Vestal — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:38:08 PDT

This week's Mad Men brings back a character we haven't seen in a while, Paul Kinsey, and gives us a look at a relationship between two characters - Joan and Don - who we don't often see interact (but wow, when they do, is it entertaining). Financial problems also start to make Lane Pryce sweat in a subplot that's obviously leading to something far more serious.

The Paul story line kind of feels like a filler-y diversion, but I still liked seeing the old character and getting to see a side of Harry Crane, who's been relegated to being made fun of by Don lately. There are big moments this week I want to discuss, though, so to get to it, just read more.

Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: "Dark Shadows"

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:44:57 PDT

It feels like just yesterday it was summertime in Mad Men world, but alas, we've already arrived at Thanksgiving. It's not exactly a celebratory episode: Betty's cranky about both her new diet and Don's new wife; Pete's still struggling to figure out his life; and Don and Ginsberg have a showdown at work.

Roger, on the other hand, is still using his money to get everything he wants, which includes using Jane for some help landing a new client and paying off Ginsberg. And Ginsberg's success is Peggy's lack thereof; with him cleaning up, she has less and less to show for her work. Ready to break down the big moments? Just

Carry that weight: Betty's already looking noticeably thinner than the fat suit episode, and it's because she's joined Weight Watchers. Her weekly meetings seem to be helping with her portion control, but despite measuring her sad little grapefruit dinners on the scale each night, she still can't resist sucking down a little whipped cream every now and then. As much as Betty irritates me, my heart went out to her at the end of the episode when she eats her tiny Thanksgiving dinner and seriously savors her one allotted bite of stuffing.
Green-eyed monster: While Betty's picking up the kids, she gets an eyeful of Don's swanky new apartment - and his new wife. Clearly shaken up by the incident, she retaliates by spilling the beans about Anna to Sally while Sally is in the midst of making a family tree. Betty easily manipulates Sally into thinking that Megan is a liar, but the joke's on Betty in the end. After a squabble, Don explains the Anna situation to sassy Sally and Sally reports back to her mother without even mentioning the argument. Betty proceeds to freak out. I've got to hand it to Megan for convincing Don not to call Betty in a rage; not only is Megan spot-on about giving Betty what she wants, but she also diffuses the argument pretty quickly.
Fantasy land: Pete is particularly smug because he's been chatting with a reporter from the New York Times Magazine who's doing a piece about ad agencies. Once he's done bragging about his connection with Roger and Don, he assures them that he'll be the only one contacted for the interview. Pete then proceeds to have gross sexual fantasies about how the article will help him win Beth back, but - surprise - he doesn't even make it into the article! He calls Don enraged, but it's clear that Pete's really just mad at the world since, once again, things are not going his way.
Wine time: Bert asks Roger to court a potential new client, and since it's Manischewitz wine, he suggests that Roger's Jewish wife could be of service. Though Bert is a bit behind on his interoffice gossip, Roger still takes the client and asks Jane for help. In return, she asks for a small favor, and by that I mean a brand-new apartment. Roger agrees, and then proceeds to um, christen the new apartment with Jane after dinner. She's angry that he's tainted her new place, but there's a much bigger concern at play here than Jane's whining: when is all the money that Roger's been throwing around going to catch up with him?
Still got it: While Don's putting in a little overtime at the office, he comes across Ginsberg's folder of sketches, and is inspired to get back to basics. His idea is a little dark (you know, because it's based in hell and all), and he puts it head to head against Ginsberg's childlike pitch for the same product, SnoBall. The rest of the team likes both ideas, and agrees that Ginsberg should be the front-runner. Too bad Don conveniently leaves Ginsberg's pitch in the taxi, and sells his snowball's chance in hell idea to the company. Ginsberg obviously isn't in a celebratory mood, but when he confronts Don about what happened, Don just shuts him down. Now that both Don and Peggy feel threatened by Ginsberg, might we see them teaming up against him?

There's also more death omens in this week's episode, including Megan teaching Sally how to fake cry by focusing on something sad, and of course, the mysterious toxic smog that invades Thanksgiving. How'd you feel about the episode overall?

Photo courtesy of AMC

Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: "Lady Lazarus"

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 07 May 2012 06:30:14 PDT

Megan and Pete have been center stage for much of this season of Mad Men, and they're back in the spotlight this week. Pete's journey to rock bottom continues with more self-destructive behavior, while Megan makes a major life change that affects Don and her co-workers.

We haven't seen a lot of Don and Peggy standoffs lately, but Megan's decision throws them back together - and not necessarily in a good way. There's a lot to chew on, so let's get into it when you

The lying game: Megan receives a call at work that's suspiciously from someone who's using her maiden name. That night, she tells Don that she's working late, but then tells Peggy that she's going to dinner with Don. It doesn't take long for their wires to get crossed, with both Peggy and Don realizing that something isn't quite right.
Pack your ads and go: As it turns out, Megan's basically the only character on this show that's not sneaking around with someone else; rather she was at a late-night callback for an off off Broadway play, and comes clean to Don about the lie almost immediately. That's only the tip of the iceberg though: she also admits that she's not happy at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, despite her obvious talent for advertising. Don tries to talk her out of quitting, but eventually succumbs and says he's willing to help her chase her dreams. Joan draws the obvious connection between Betty's background as a model and Megan's acting, but Don's disappointment really shows the differences between his two marriages. He truly wanted Megan to succeed as a copywriter rather than be relegated to a trophy wife; will his feelings toward Megan change now that he's realizing she's not the complete anti-Betty?
Getting the shaft: Despite his endorsement, Don's obviously not that excited about Megan's decision to leave SCDP, and he gets a creepy omen when Megan leaves the office for the last time: an empty elevator shaft. Not only is it an unsettling sign, but the moment is reminiscent of the Mad Men season 5 poster that featured a falling man.
Gilmore girlfriend: Pete's obnoxious train buddy Howard brags about his new floozy in the city over a morning chat about life insurance. Right on cue, Pete finds Howard's wife Beth (it's Gilmore Girls' Alexis Bledel!) stranded at the train station waiting for her husband, and asks if Pete will give her a ride home. It doesn't take a genius to predict what happens next: she's vulnerable, he's desperately unhappy, so they end up doing it. Though Beth tells Pete she doesn't want to see him again, Pete becomes fixated on her and even worms his way into their household at dinnertime. He proposes that she meet him for a hotel rendezvous, but she stands him up. However, when he sees her later in the car with Howard, she sends him a very mature message: a heart drawn in her steamed-up window. Pete seems to be looking for anything to latch onto these days, but with the casual mentions of suicide and life insurance, I'm a little worried about what will happen to him if he plays into Beth's mind games.
Just try it: Don's not just emotionally affected by Megan's decision to leave; she also leaves Don hanging with his new campaign for Cool Whip. Peggy is once again caught in the middle, this time tasked with playing Don's wife for their little skit for the "head of desserts." Peggy mucks up the bit, leading to an all-out bickerfest between her and Don that feels a lot more like an authentic married couple than their skit. They blame each other for Megan's departure, and Peggy eventually shuts him down.

Photo courtesy of AMC

Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: "At the Codfish Ball"

Shannon Vestal — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:26:21 PDT

This week's Mad Men puts the spotlight on Megan, who has a career breakthrough at work, though she's less successful with her visiting parents. Peggy's domestic situation is also highlighted when she takes her relationship with Abe to the next level, and Roger is bouncing back from his separation from Jane quite nicely - though it would have been nice if he could have kept his pants on.

This week's episode is far less stressful than last week when Megan goes missing, but there's still plenty of fodder to chat about. To see what I thought were the five maddest moments of the night, just read more.

Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: "Far Away Places"

Shannon Vestal — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:32:43 PDT

The relationships of Peggy, Don, and Roger are the focus of this week's Mad Men, and we see them each engage in some pretty dramatic behavior while dealing with their personal lives. Peggy and Don can't find the best balance between their partners and their careers, while Roger seems to finally get the resolution he needs from his marriage in order to move forward.

There are a couple of jarring scenes this week, though nothing quite so crazy as last week's fistfight between Lane and Pete. Still, there are lots of mad moments to get to, so let's break them down after the jump.

Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: "Signal 30"

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:49:04 PDT

It's all about Pete Campbell on Mad Men this week, as we get a little more insight into what's making him so miserable. Though he's guilty of a few despicable acts, we also get to see Trudy in her best form, plus the added bonus of seeing Pete get put in his place in a very unexpected manner.

The Campbell comeuppance isn't the only twist: there's also an awkward kiss that takes place within the walls of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, and some great zingers from Don. Is it just me, or is Don funnier than ever this season? Just another reason why I'm a fan of the Megan effect. Let's break it down when you

The company you keep: Despite his resistance, Don and Megan get roped into a dinner party at the Campbells' new suburban home at Trudy's urging. Don's the man of the hour, as Pete can't stop brownnosing, and Don comes to the rescue when the sink starts flooding. The real hilarity is that no one can remember poor Cynthia's name (Don gives a classic "Hello, you" when he arrives, and Megan even blurts out Cynthia's name during her "eureka" moment). It's a nice insight into Pete's seemingly perfect life, complete with an adoring wife, cute daughter, and of course, a brand-new stereo.
Hail to the king: We've known that Pete's been unhappy for quite some time, but his issues with both work and his home life come to a head this week. First off, he's taking driver's ed, but he's learning a lot more about a fellow teenage student than he is about the rules of the road. His blatant ogling is enough to make my skin crawl, but then he takes it up a notch by actually asking her out on a date. Multiple times. (Even she appears to be a bit weirded out by the situation). No matter though, because she finds herself a suitable lad her own age, and Pete turns to a hooker for a self-esteem boost, but more on that later. The real bottom line here comes from Pete himself, who says to Don, "I have nothing."
Big leagues: After a jolly good World Cup outing, Lane befriends a fellow Brit named Edwin, who's interested in using Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce to represent Jaguar. Even though he's not an account man, Lane wants to wine and dine Edwin on his own, and Roger even preps him for the dinner. Unfortunately, Lane can't deliver the goods, so Roger, Don, and Pete take over. They court Edwin with a lobster dinner, but he's got more sinister ideas on his mind. He asks the SCDP guys to show him a good time, which is essentially code for a prostitute party. Everyone wastes no time shacking up - except Don, who seems to be sticking to his guns and staying faithful to Megan. Everything seems to be well and good, until Edwin's wife finds some chewing gum in an, um, unfortunate area, and Edwin pulls the plug on working with SCDP.
Dukes up: Lane's furious about the guys going behind his back, and puts all the blame on Pete. Pete insults Lane in return and they settle the score with a legitimate fist fight right there in the meeting room. Bert, Don, and Roger can't help but watch as the two throw punches, and Lane eventually knocks Pete out. Pete's obviously mortified, and even Lane doesn't get much time to celebrate his victory, since he makes a fool of himself a few minutes later. When Joan comes in to talk about the situation, he makes a pass at her. Lucky for him, Joanie just sweeps it under the rug and it doesn't seem like it'll affect their friendship.
Writer's block: Ken and Peggy seem to be butting heads a little, until we learn that they've got a secret pact: if either of them leave, they'll bring the other one along. It's not a main focus of the episode, but it's definitely something that will likely pop up again later this season. What is a major focus of the episode is Ken's writing career. Posing as his alter ego "Ben Hargrove" (so clever, Kenny), Ken's been getting his sci-fi works published under the radar. At least he is until Cynthia spills the beans at the dinner party and Pete reports the information back to Roger in no time. Ken claims that he's giving up to "leave the writing to the writers," but it's clear that he's still indulging in his passion at the end of the episode - and perhaps using Pete as inspiration?

Were you surprised to see Lane and Pete come to blows? How much longer do you think Don can stay faithful?

Photo courtesy of AMC

Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: "Mystery Date"

Shannon Vestal — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:18:20 PDT

Sex and violence play a huge part in this week's Mad Men, and this episode has one of the most shocking scenes I've ever seen on this show (even though it turns out not to be real). Don is suffering from a cold that gives him disturbing dreams, and Joan's happiness about welcoming Greg home from Vietnam turns sour fast. Peggy gets an assignment from Roger, which leads to her spending quality time with Dawn, the new receptionist. Michael Ginsberg is quickly making his presence known at SCDP, though his tactics very nearly get him fired immediately.

Even though the maddest moment of this week's episode doesn't really happen, I'm still having a hard time getting the image out of my head (I guess I know exactly how Sally feels). Let's chat about those scenes and more after the jump.

Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: "Tea Leaves"

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:32:43 PDT

On this week's episode of Mad Men, Betty's back - and in an, um, "big" way. Thanks to January Jones's real-life pregnancy, Mrs. Francis has packed on a few pounds after what appears to be more than one afternoon spent on the couch with a box of Bugles. Things take a dramatic turn when Betty's mother-in-law advises a trip to the doctor, and he finds a tumor in her throat.

As Betty contemplates her mortality, Don and Harry take a little work offsite to a Rolling Stones concert in the name of Heinz. Back in the office, Peggy adds a new copywriter to Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, and the tension between Roger and Pete continues to build. It's a relatively slow episode ("Zou Bisou Bisou" is a tough act to follow), but let's break down the biggest moments when you

Scary situation: Betty's clearly a bit bored in her life as Mrs. Francis, and as her mother-in-law points out, Betty is starting to let herself go. She heads to the doc in hope of scoring some diet pills, but he finds a tumor instead. Betty begins contemplating what will happen to her kids if she has cancer, and starts having nightmares to go along with it. Ultimately, the tumor is benign, but the scare doesn't shake Betty into reevaluating her life: it only makes her help herself to more ice cream.
Wise beyond her years. Betty's not the only one who's initially shaken up by her tumor: Don is also starting to panic. He's suddenly caring and introspective (perhaps because he recently lost Anna to cancer), but he's also pushing Megan away. When bikini-clad Megan is hurt that he wants to blow off their trip to Fire Island because he's upset about Betty, he tells her that she's 26 and basically insinuates that she's too young to understand. Megan handles the situation nicely, reminding Don that she's old enough to handle death and even manages to convince Don to come along on the trip. Yet another case of Megan proving that Don's temperament doesn't scare her.
Let's spend the night together: Don and Harry head backstage at a Rolling Stones concert in hope of scoring the band for the new Heinz campaign. They basically redefine "fish out of water" standing in their suits and ties among teenage girls smoking joints. Harry gets an in with a groupie, which leaves Don fraternizing with a young fan - and for the first time, Don actually seems fatherly instead of trying to hit on her. It's all for naught though: Harry ends up signing a band called The Trade Winds thinking he got the Stones. Whoops!
Tension in the ranks: Even with his new office, Pete and Roger are still butting heads around SCDP. Pete concedes the Mohawk account to Roger, much to Roger's pleasure - only to essentially take it back at the end of the episode. As he pops a bottle of champagne, Pete announces that Roger will be dealing with the day-to-day, but he'll still be the one in charge. Roger is obviously disgruntled about this and laments to Don that he's starting to feel like he's being shoved out the door at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. This relationship seems like a ticking time bomb, but what will prompt the big blowout?
New guy: With Mohawk airlines back on the client list for SCDP, Roger demands that Peggy find a new copywriter. Enter Michael Ginsberg, whom Stan dismisses as too qualified (he warns Peggy of hiring someone who might be her boss someday), and Roger likes because of his Jewish background. Peggy is immediately turned off when he thinks she's a secretary, and is concerned how Don will feel about his off-putting remarks. As it turns out, Don's completely fine with Ginsberg, and he gets a job. There's just one late-breaking twist: despite Michael's claim that he has no family, friends, or ties of any kind, we learn at the end of the episode that he lives (and cares for) his father. Wonder how this one will affect his promise to live in the office 24/7.

I was happy to see Betty back on the show, but I'm not sure where they'll take her character throughout the season. Plus, it felt like more Betty meant less Joan, and I definitely missed Joannie this week. How'd you feel about the episode?

Photo courtesy of AMC

Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: Season Premiere "A Little Kiss"

Shannon Vestal — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 07:44:39 PDT

Mad Men is finally back this week, and we've jumped about a year forward with the two-hour season five opener. It's a new year, and there are new secretaries, new accounts, and new adjustments in the personal lives of the denizens of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. It's the brink of Summer and Don's 40th birthday, and where SCDP was scrambling after losing Lucky Strike at the end of last season, business seems pretty stable now, but as usual, there's still discord within the ranks of the company.

Between bean ballets, French dance numbers, and the party, there's a surprising amount of lightness this week (and an unusual amount of jokes for Mad Men). The episode serves mostly to catch us up with the characters after a year rather than lots of plot development, but there are plenty of mad moments to go over. To see them, keep reading.

Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: Season Finale "Tomorrowland"

Lauren Bradshaw — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:15:36 PDT

"Tomorrowland" is an extremely appropriate title for the season finale of Mad Men - and not just because Don is taking his kids to Disneyland. It's also an indicator of Don's newfound optimism, as he looks ahead to the future with rose-colored glasses (he even does a cannonball into the pool!). The reason for his sunny disposition? Love. And the decision he makes as a result is jaw-dropping.

Don's not the only one thinking good thoughts; things are getting better for Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce as well. I can't really divulge much about the episode without giving away spoilers, but allow me to say this: the finale is a nice close to an already fantastic season. For details about the biggest shockers of the evening, just

Meet Mrs. Draper No. 3: Is Don a hopeless romantic? He takes the kids on a business trip to California (they can see Disneyland; he can attend meetings), but unfortunately, Carla can't help babysit (more on that later). So in her place, Don asks Megan. She quickly becomes (as Don notes) a regular Maria von Trapp, even teaching the children to sing in French. Don gets so swept up in it that he proposes to Megan, and she says yes! It's no wonder Don's smitten; Megan is basically the anti-Betty. She tells Don that she could never be an actress because of her teeth (Betty was a picture-perfect model), and when the kids spill a milkshake, Megan just shrugs off the accident, whereas Betty would've had a conniption. But poor Faye. When Don and his new fiancée return to New York, he breaks the news to Faye over the phone. I like Megan, but she's just another woman who doesn't know the truth about Don's identity. Megan tells him what he wants to hear, but at least Faye told him what he needed to hear.

New business: When a model gives Peggy a tip about a pantyhose manufacturer that's not happy with its ad campaign, she swoops in to claim the client for Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. She goes with Ken Cosgrove to the company to pitch them ideas and lands the first client since the Lucky Strike debacle. Her win is unfortunately overshadowed by Don's engagement news, which makes Peggy vent to Joan. First the CLIO award; now this. It's just one more incident where Don's stolen Peggy's limelight.
You're fired! Betty is on the rampage after Glen shows up to bid farewell to Sally before the family's move. Carla takes the blame for Glen's visit, and Betty retorts by letting the nanny go. Not to worry, because Carla is perfectly capable of defending herself. She gets in a jab before she leaves, telling Betty "someone has to watch the children." Ouch. And Glen gets in a hit too, saying "Just 'cause you're sad, doesn't mean everyone has to be." Hurts to hear the truth, doesn't it, Betty?
Lovers quarrel: Henry lets Betty have it after she fires Carla. She argues, telling him he's not on her side, to which he replies, "No one is ever on your side, Betty." The two have their first truly serious fight, and Betty is finally coming to the realization that her new life isn't so perfect. In fact, she seems to start longing for her old life with Don. When he comes to the house to meet the Realtor, Betty "happens" to be in the kitchen to have one last drink with her ex, confessing to him that things aren't doing so great. He responds by telling her about his engagement. Betty may have been looking for a reconciliation, but Don definitely puts the kibosh on that.
Baby on board: I knew it! Joan walks into Pryce's office, where he announces that she's being promoted to Director of Agency Operations (just a title change, not a wage increase, unfortunately). But that's not the big news. She's also sporting a stomach bulge that definitely isn't just a lunch bump. She later calls Greg on the phone, and he mentions a baby. Looks like Joan decided to keep Roger's child after all, but either Greg can't do math, or Joan is lying to him about how far along she is. She's visibly upset by Don's news of his engagement; not only has he stolen her promotion thunder, but he's also marrying his secretary, which brings out Joan's own animosity toward Roger. Speaking of Roger, I'm curious to see how he reacts when Joan's baby arrives.

What did you think of the finale? Were you shocked to see Don get engaged so quickly? What about Joan's pregnancy? Share your two cents in the comments below or add them to the Mad Men community group!

Photo courtesy of AMC