What I'm Watching: Mad Men

Mad Men: Season 2, Episode 11 "The Jet Set" (B+)

What a packed episode! I've always felt, now more than ever, that "intoxicating" is a perfect word to describe this show. Away on a business trip in California, Don scolds Pete for thinking that perhaps he might go swimming before they meet up with the clients, and then Don abandons Pete completely by going off with a woman he just met. Don's heat exhaustion and seeing him actually happy, not dressed so stuffily as he usually is, is a wonderful exploration of his character. And that phone call he made at the end - who could he be calling using his real name? Pete's adaptation to Don's absence is rather amusing, since he seems to be doing just fine without Don and is enjoying the poolside nature of things. Back at the office, the coming out of one of the characters provides a disturbing scene that reminds of the closemindedness of the time. Really too bad for Sal, who is clearly silently distraught that Ken does not approve of homosexuals. Peggy takes it in stride, though, undergoing a makeover sure to attract the attention of her coworkers. Last but not least, Duck's attempts to plan his future at Sterling-Cooper are ardent, and he's really giving it his all to make sure things turn out the way he wants them to.

"Mad Men" just got renewed for a third season (next week is the finale), and talks are already underway for a fourth. Exciting news for a great show!