This is episode #45 of "Mad Men." Counting the two-part episodes as only one episode, when you finish watching this episode, you are exactly half-way through the show.
Congratulations.
The episode is unlike anything we've ever seen in Mad Men. Don's character, for once, is... different. Not "Gypsy" different, more like drunken fool different. And a drunken Don Draper only causes mayhem.
The acting, particularly from Jon Hamm, is fantastic. Especially in the first half of the episode. We always knew he had a big ego, but he had never been so obvious about it. It's also a brilliant way to set up "The Suitcase," the episode that follows it. Make us laugh here, while we still can.
The writing is also great, with the particularly memorable line from Peggy, "stop staring at women who will never stare back." Shots fired, Peggy Olson. The idea that the writers had to have them have essentially a contest to see who will break first ("break" referring to putting their clothes back on; they were working in the nude after Stan called clothes unnatural) was a very interesting choice. It's "Mad Men," so it probably symbolizes the nakedness of their emotions. I don't know. Some sh*t like that. The point is it's unlike anything we've seen in the show before.
Also, fittingly for the half-way point, we get to see how Don got his job at Sterling Cooper. However, these flashbacks were like those in "Lost:" confusing. Did Roger actually say welcome aboard? I honestly don't know. Frankly, the flashbacks were poorly executed. Half the time, I didn't realize they were entering flashback. But, I will give credit where it's due, which is to the makeup team, who did a great job of making Draper and Sterling look just a little bit younger.
Enjoy the next half of Mad Men.
Congratulations.
The episode is unlike anything we've ever seen in Mad Men. Don's character, for once, is... different. Not "Gypsy" different, more like drunken fool different. And a drunken Don Draper only causes mayhem.
The acting, particularly from Jon Hamm, is fantastic. Especially in the first half of the episode. We always knew he had a big ego, but he had never been so obvious about it. It's also a brilliant way to set up "The Suitcase," the episode that follows it. Make us laugh here, while we still can.
The writing is also great, with the particularly memorable line from Peggy, "stop staring at women who will never stare back." Shots fired, Peggy Olson. The idea that the writers had to have them have essentially a contest to see who will break first ("break" referring to putting their clothes back on; they were working in the nude after Stan called clothes unnatural) was a very interesting choice. It's "Mad Men," so it probably symbolizes the nakedness of their emotions. I don't know. Some sh*t like that. The point is it's unlike anything we've seen in the show before.
Also, fittingly for the half-way point, we get to see how Don got his job at Sterling Cooper. However, these flashbacks were like those in "Lost:" confusing. Did Roger actually say welcome aboard? I honestly don't know. Frankly, the flashbacks were poorly executed. Half the time, I didn't realize they were entering flashback. But, I will give credit where it's due, which is to the makeup team, who did a great job of making Draper and Sterling look just a little bit younger.
Enjoy the next half of Mad Men.
