Mad Men Musings: The Collaborators

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Mad Men is back! If you’re a fan, join us regularly for Mad Men Musings – a space to discuss selected highlights, low points, or just plain water-cooler worthy moments of each episode.

Mad Men

Is anyone else blushing, just a little? This episode was torrid, tawdry, and downright debaucherous. In many ways, the events mirrored one of Megan’s soap plotlines: a miscarriage, an opaque conversation about abortion, affairs, domestic violence, and, um, literal whorehouses, y’all.

This was a sex-centric episode that was less about sensuality (ok, except for the Don and Sylvia flash-cuts from the restaurant) and more about power, control, and prostitution of both body and soul.

Let’s start with the Lotharios, shall we? Don and Pete are the predatory wolves here – though Don is like a big, sleek, gonna-eat-you-up wolf, whereas Pete is more of the slinking, cringing variety.

Don is ravenous for Sylvia (but c’mon, they’re gonna HAVE to get caught in flagrante soon, right?) and when she acts coldly towards him, clearly feeling conflicted after her heart to heart with miscarrying Megan, he feeds her this line: “You want to feel shitty right up until I take your dress off…because I’m going to do that.” Not surprisingly, Sylvia totally succumbs.

So that was the hot sex, obvs. The truly squicky stuff happened when Don can’t bear to walk back into his own apartment and see Megan. Instead, he flashes back to his boyhood Dick days. In a whorehouse. Where he spies on his pregnant stepmother having sex with his “uncle” Mack.

Now, clearly, this back-story illumes some of Don’s deeply rooted sexual issues – his uncontrollable appetites, his longing for a connection that doesn’t exist, etc. But something about that seems a little heavy-handed…that early trauma lines up so neatly with who Don is today. I think I might prefer Don’s persona to remain more of a mystery, in that regard.

No whorehouse scenes with Pete, thank God. Well, unless you count his little love-nest in the city, with Pete obviously being the gigolo.

Pete to Brenda, his paramour: “Is the temperature okay? It’s been known to get hot.” Not gonna lie, I threw up in my mouth a little at that. And in typical Pete fashion, after he gets what he wants, he is nasty and dismissive to Brenda.

When Brenda shows up on his doorstep—screaming for help, blood running down her face, her wife-beating hubbie shouting in the background—Pete isn’t concerned about her at all. Rather, he wants to know what Brenda told her husband. Oh, Pete, you’re such a gem.

However, in a truly awesome scene, sweet, composed Trudy finally freaks the hell out. I always thought of Trudy as something of a Stepford wife, but I was awed at her grit here. She’s known about Pete’s dalliances all along, and apparently she was ok with it, as long as he stayed classy and kept it in the city. (Which makes me thinks of prostitutes again, incidentally – Trudy was willing to essentially sell herself to pimp-Pete for the nice house, the pool, and the adorable kid).

But she is done. The best line of the episode definitely goes to Trudy: “I’m drawing a fifty-mile radius around this house, and if you so much as open your fly to urinate, I will destroy you.” Man, I’ve been waiting for someone to say that to Pete.

Lastly, poor Joan (Joan needs more screen time, dammit) had to deal with her own “john”—sleazy, smarmy Herb made it a point to needle her. She got in a good zinger, but afterwards she had to pour herself a stiff drink. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of the repercussions from her “business” deal.

Other interesting, non-prostitute related points:

Ok, Peggy and Stan on the phone? SO FREAKING CUTE. I love them.
That cobalt blue suit that the Heinz Ketchup jerk was wearing—it was…interesting.
North Korea—that’s just eerie, right?
I do love how Don loathes Herb – at least someone is standing up for Joan.
Sylvia and Megan having that awkward conversation: such a study in opposites. You could see socio-cultural values clashing—younger, hipper Megan contemplating an abortion and bouffant-ed, crucifix wearing Sylvia being horrified. (Though cheating on your hubs is totally cool, apparently).

we heartsters – What did you think about Don’s keyhole view? Why does Peggy always seem to be wearing some kind of wool? And are you mad at her for betraying Stan’s trust with the ketchup scoop?

all photos: via AMC

Amity writes and teaches in Central PA. Her obsessions include: Rodarte (she can’t afford any Rodarte, mind you, but a girl can dream), espresso, books, vintage/thrift fashion and fountain pens. She thinks you should dress like a weirdo once in a while, just to shake things up.

Author

  • Amity

    Amity teaches rhetoric, composition, and creative writing in Central PA. Her non-fiction has appeared in xojane and Story, as well as on Snap Judgement and This American Life; her fiction has appeared in Hobart. She is the cohost of Bone Palace Ballet, a true crime podcast focusing on murder, mysteries, and the macabre.

29 Comments

  1. Yes, I totally am with you on the whorehouse flashbacks…I don’t know that I ever want to “figure” Don out. I like that pieces of his past periodically come up to F with him (doesn’t that happen to everyone, albeit to a lesser extent?).
    Joan definitely needs more screen time, and I do love, LOVE that Don sticks up for her in the most awesome, believable ways. I think Joan (and Peggy) are Don’s only true “loves.”
    Pete? Just ewww. In my opinion, Pete is just there to show us how bad Don is not. I’m ok with that. And Yaaaaay, Trudy!
    I loved the cobalt blue suit. My first thought was, “wouldn’t hubs look great in that?” Followed by, “Zara should have the jacket next week.”

    1. Agreed…Joan’s outfits are killing me so far!

    2. The whorehouse flashbacks were a little too Boardwalk Empire for me. And how about that Buster Brown haircut on Little Dick?

    3. @turboterp – that buster brown haircut was a hoot. And sorry, there’s no way I’m believing Don EVER looked like that!

    4. I was kind of digging the colbolt blue suit too @sherrishera!

      And @stef I totally thought the same thing about Child Don not looking anything like Adult Don. And for a split second when the flashback started I thought the boy was supposed to be Child Pete.

    5. They did do a mighty poor job casting young Dick. It took me a couple minutes to grasp that he was our Don. Perhaps Don had mad scientist-like facial reconstructive surgery upon assuming his post-Korea identity.

  2. Oh yes, I am not digging Peggy’s wool nor am I liking Joan’s bulky double-breasted-ness. I hope they ease through this unfortunate fashion time without too much dependence on double knits.

    1. Joan’s double-breasted apparel seems so big and bulky, it reminds me of a suit of armor. She wears it like a shield. A hideous, poly-blend shield.

  3. I clapped when Trudy told Pete she would destroy him. We were all thinking it was about time.
    I figured Trudy knew what his pad in the city was all about all this time because she’s been written as being intelligent and savvy–she couldn’t be that naive. I figured eventually he’d push his luck too far because he isn’t exactly known for his discretion. Pete does what he wants and what feeds his ginormous ego and eventually that was going to get him in trouble.
    Trudy could pretend he wasn’t a stupid man whore if she didn’t have to deal with the evidence of his indiscretions. She could pretend that her marriage was perfect and be comfortable in the appearance of a solid and happy marriage (in that generation, especially, appearances mattered most).
    You don’t sh*t where you eat and he took a huge, steaming dump in the middle of the idyllic neighborhood that Trudy loves by bedding the neighbor lady. I love how she tore him a new one. Go, Trudy!

    1. As long as Pete doesn’t piss in the neighborhood–cause, you know, Trudy will destroy him if he opens that fly….

  4. I want to like Mad Men… I love the fashion on the show. But I just can’t get past how bummed the storylines make me! Dramas aren’t for me–comedies all the way.

    1. Although I’m a rabid Mad Men fan, I do understand how you feel, @lipglossandspandex … sometimes the episodes are full of smart humor, but sometimes they’re dark and pensive and keep me from sleeping!

  5. Oh, but I love the darkness! I feel like there’s always a moment or two of levity that provides a great balance. This episode, we had Don humiliating Herb in front of the Jaguar execs….

  6. I agree that Joan’s clothing is now her armor, but I feel she is doing it on purpose. She did become partner partly because of her sexuality and body but she’s going to prove now that she has the brains to back it up. Hence no more figure hugging dresses and low cut necklines. Heck, that neckline was soooo high, yet she covered even more with a scarf.

    1. @krista and Divya – I didn’t think about that before but Joan is totally using her clothes as armor. And she just looks so sad doesn’t she? Her sexuality was how she advanced and now it seems like she’s almost ashamed of it (her sexuality).

    2. Love this observation Divya – I totally thought Joan’s new style was a direct result of the Jaguar exec storyline – but I can’t decide if it’s a conscious decision or not by Joan. Did she change her style deliberately or without realizing it? I can’t wait for a Joan-centric episode!!

    3. Interesting premise. But don’t you remember the purple from the first episode? Her breasts look more ginormous than ever! I think there is a touch of diminishing sexuality but perhaps because she’s a mom as well as an executive…a natural progression? I think the fashion moda of the time is as much to blame…she couldn’t quite pull off Megan-type mod in the office.
      If this is the case, though, my mom, my (much) older sister and Joan had the same issues in the late sixties.

  7. This episode made me feel like I needed to take a shower afterwards! A smut fest. Here are my thoughts…

    -I feel we are brewing up to an epic Joan episode. Each “previously on” has alluded to her Jaguar deal. I had hoped she would be confident when we saw her this season. But combine Lane’s death, how she got to be a partner and the fact that she is wearing clothing like a armor (as @krista pointed out above) and I think poor Joanie is quite tortured. OH! And a divorce. And your baby daddy selling you off like a hooker. Not good. Which seems to be par for the course this season, no one is happy it seems. Except Peggy…

    -Yes, I was so disappointed in her sharing Stan’s news with her boss, then acting like she’s going to use it to her/the firm’s advantage! I’m still hoping she does the right thing.

    – Sylvia is bad news. She listens to Megan’s confession, seems to be sympathetic, even tries to give Don the cold shoulder because I thought at first she was feeling some guilt. But what she was really mad about is the fact that Megan had a miscarriage meant that Don was still having sex with her! This too is going to be EPIC when it blows up.

    -I could be totally reading into this, but does anyone have this feeling that the new guy Bob may play a hand in Don going down as Dick Whitman? He was so nice, too nice almost, trying to get into the office. And he’s sitting in on meetings already? I think something’s a-brewin’ there.

    -Did you catch Pete’s quote when he was trying to woo the girls into the city to see Hair “I’ll even through in a hot dog!” EUWW.

  8. @Stef EW, totally didn’t get the hot dog reference. Barf.

    I don’t even like Trudy but I was so damn proud of her when she lit into Pete. That’s right girl!

    Love Peggy and Stan’s friendship and sweet little phone calls. I don’t think she intentionally tried to betray him. She’s smart when it comes to the campaigns but a little slow in the social cues. I want to feel bad for her about the harassment she’s receiving from the creatives but she’s being a pain in the ass! You would think she would have a little more understanding, not only having been in their position but also in having to work even harder (presumably) to rise through the ranks. That said, I’m glad to have more screen time with her than I expected.

  9. Finally after 5 seasons Trudy stands up to Pete and it was amazing. You go girl! It was totally a disturbing episode. I wonder where they are going with Don. It’s such a rollercoaster with him. And I feel for Joan. It’s a crappy situation.

  10. Ok so I’m thinking that Don is channeling back to his original Dick Whitman. He lost the lighter in the first episode and I’m still thinking that might be a point on Don losing himself and returning back to his whorehouse days. Maybe it was done on purpose that he looked so different and awkward as a young man and really his true path in life was to be more like his “uncle” and and not the Madison Ave. Don Draper.
    I’m reading that all of you ladies hate Pete, but I LOVE him! He’s so wrong that he’s right to me. I also loved Trudy in this episode too. But he had this preconceived notion of what he thought he was supposed to be, and these times are a changin’ and he’s realizing he moved too soon into the suburban life, and I think she’s realizing that she’s still a hot commodity and doesn’t need him anymore.
    Sylvia is trouble! i think her taking the money from Don after they screwed plays into the whorehouse flashback. i thought it was really odd that she took his money so willingly. She also played the Catholic card on Megan, knowing it would throw her into a tailspin. And it worked!
    @stef I agree that Bob is up to no good! I agree with everything you s aid. He knows. It’s almost like he presents the opportunity for them to sleep together. Remember in the first episode they were asking about what they paid for their apartment? And even notice the entry doors to their apartments, they have a dingy fuse box and Don has these beautiful double entry doors. Maybe they’re trying to swindle him?
    Love it!!!!

    1. Wait, is Bob the name of Sylvia’s husband? I meant the new guy Bob in the office, the one who gave Don coffee in episode 1! I think HE’S up to no good. But wow, maybe the Dr. is up to something too?

      @Winnie@tyna loves Pete too, but just because he was in one of her vampire shows!

  11. You know, I need a Don family recap, I’m a bit confused. I thought Don’s Mom died in childbirth? And I think he’s Dad was mean, but his stepdad was nice? I’m confused – can anyone help on this?

    1. Perhaps we should spend a nice Sunday revisiting the first couple of seasons before the main event. ..a marathon Mad Men party…a refresher course with fancy cocktails and fashion from the better end of the decade? It could only help.

  12. So many good comments my head is spinning!
    *I am really liking the observation about how child Dick is so different from Don–that always seemed like such a mythic transformation. To go from such hardscrabble, Depression-y origins to suave, beautiful Don-land…he has spent soooo long locking that little boy away. Reminds me of that old saying, “and blood will tell…”
    *I also am thinking that Dr. Bob knows whats going on between Don and Sylvia; he’s clearly intelligent and just seems too calm, too knowing. And another weird layer is the fact that Don almost acts like he has a crush on the Doc–Don seems to view Bob as noble and clearly admires him. Perhaps that plays into why he started the affair w/Sylvia…
    *@ Stef–I had to look up the family origins thing, because I couldn’t remember how Don’s dad died. The official story is that, yes, his mom died in childbirth, and then his dad married Abigail (who, in the flashback this episode, I am assuming is pregnant with Dick’s brother, Adam) . When Dick was ten, his dad was kicked by a horse and died, and then Abigail hooked up with creepy “uncle” Mack. I don’t know much about the dad, though–was he an alcoholic or am I making that up?
    *I was curious to see what vampire show Pete had been on, and when I checked on Wikipedia, this info came up (of course, it’s Wikipedia, so take it w/a boulder of salt:) “Kartheiser lives ascetically: he eschews car ownership, instead walking or taking mass transit; he currently lives in a bungalow he describes as a “wooden box” with no mirrors; and he has been selling or giving away everything he owns.[11] Kartheiser is a vegetarian[12] and has chosen not to have children describing both decisions as ‘green choices.’ He has since stated that he now owns a car.” Interesting…

  13. @stef oops your right I thought you were referring to the doctor, but yes that Bob is up to something. I still think the Doctor knows exactly what’s going on with Don and his wife and I think it’s $$$$.
    Yeah the actor who plays Peter is totally different then his charater! So is the actress who plays his wife. @tyna what vampire show was he on? Buffy?

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