What I’m Watching: Mad Men

Mad Men: Season 3, Episode 6 “Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency” (B+)

This episode feels very different from the rest, but it’s still absolutely terrific. The invasion of the British becomes even clearer as a young new face bursts in prepared to take over all the operations. The rather glaring omission of Roger on the new organization chart was pretty crazy, but nothing made him seem even more irrelevant than his needless repeating of Cooper’s statement that he wasn’t on the chart. Seeing Don get so excited about the possibility of a new job and Roger noting how the suspense was killing him was a rare treat, and Don’s very suggestive but subtle conversation with Betty was a real delight. The concurrent depiction of Joan’s marriage and how she is the stronger party fit so well in contrast with the Drapers, and seeing Joan calm down her crying husband and put him to bed was a great showcase of Christina Hendricks' acting abilities. The John Deere truck incident at Sterling-Cooper was pretty shockingly bloody, and it’s certainly not something that the poor secretary who was operating it will soon forget. The most jarring part of the whole incident was the emphasis on the fact that the man wouldn’t be able to play golf and therefore couldn’t possibly continue with his career in advertising. It’s reassuring that Don stood up for him and defended his future potential since he’s usually much more stoic and cool, and his very personal conversations with Peggy and especially Joan in this episode were very moving. Don’s meeting with the head of Hilton was another fantastic moment for the show. The quip about Don being hard to find because he’s not one for long conversations was amusing, and the way he told Don that he should ask for more next time someone asks him what we wants was an incredible moment. Don, always ready for any situation, responded with an even more astounding parable about biting off more than you can chew, once again proving the fact that this show is a cut above the rest.