Mad Men 6:03 The Collaborators

  

This episode (directed by Hamn-Bone himself!!) seemed to explore the differences in how the two very different characters of Don and Pete commit adultery. I’m shocked at how Don picks women that are so close to his life. Bobbie Barrett and Rachel Menken were clients, his daughter’s school teacher Miss Farrell lived right around the corner, Allison and Faye Miller both worked with him. Now he see’s Sylvia (and her husband) socially and in his building, just one floor below. Why? Does he want to get caught, or is he just lazy? When Don gives Sylvia the money and suggests that she should say she found it in the cookie jar, it felt a little dirty; almost like he paid her for sex.

Pete on the other hand picks someone who is close to home and she starts off a little clingy. I’m not sure what Don would have said to a woman putting her stockings on, telling him about how where she parks her car is sending him messages; but I don’t think whatever he said would have made her feel like it’s a good idea to run to him if she needed help. How is it that Pete didn't learn anything from the last neighbor he cheated with? Does he not have to see the guy on the train now that he has an apt. in the city? Trudy’s speech to him was awesome. She is truly a badass and Pete should not be messing with her. She must feel so foolish that she gave him permission and he still found a way to dag her. At least she will still be beautiful when he is bald. (He is getting so bald)

We find out a lot about Dick Whitman in his flashbacks to his youth in the whore house. What are the odds that his birth mom would be a prostitute and his Father’s wife’s sister would also be running one in a different state? I guess it is the oldest profession. It explains a lot about how Don is disconnected from sex and cheats on even the most sexual partner.  He has to have it be bad or wrong for it to feel good. I’m thinking mostly about the hooker slapping him during sex when he was this close to rock bottom of the bottle; or even when he and Megan have these epic fights (chasing and plate throwing) and then get it on. I don’t know how you can really fix that twisted notion of sex if that’s what you knew as a child.

I want to address Megan’s miscarriage and then on to brighter parts of this episode. Is she really so isolated that the person she chooses to confide her guilt about her relief is her catholic neighbor? I get the feeling that Sylvia wanted more children and hearing Megan talk about not wanting them now is rubbing her face in not only the fact that she and Don were still sleeping together but that she’s still young enough to make that decision. I was truly sad for Megan in this scene. Of course she shouldn't want children right now, she’s step mom to three kids already one of which is still a baby. She has a career that is more than just a job for her but a dream. Peggy didn't know she wanted to be a copy writer when she was a child (maybe if she knew what one was) but Megan always knew. She also didn't have the most supportive parents a performer could ask for but at least they are dramatic.

Okay a little Peggy. . .  I love that she has this great relationship with her secretary Phillis. She tells her to “get me whatever book you read and save me these little lectures,” and it doesn't  sound mean or even mocking. She says it with a smile and a hint of respect. I hope we see more of them together.

Then I got all grossed out when the slimy Herb came to the SCDP (how long are they keeping the P?) office and wanted to have a meeting. Is it really this important to keep a dealer happy to a car brand? It was worth it to get my favorite line of this episode: “I know there’s a part of you that you haven’t seen in years.” Yes Joan!!!!

I love the way Don spoiled the pitch in such a way that the super gross Heb didn't even know he was acting. Getting people to do what you want is the quality that makes Don a good pitch man. He sees how gross this guy is because he himself was once a used car sales man. The first time we see Anna in a flash back we see Don in the middle of selling a kid his first car. Don understood that the day a kid gets his first car is a memory and story that gets told over and over for years. It’s not just money in your pocket. When we flash back to when Don meets Rodger we see that he’s an excellent salesmen, picking out the perfect gift for Joanie. So it’s just another example of how dumb this guy is for him to say that Don isn't a good salesman. (Did I mention that he’s also gross?)

Alright, enough Mad Men for the moment, after reading this post I noticed that I ask a lot of questions about this season. I hope we get the answers but I suspect there will be just as many new questions.