Here's how I see it. This was a SHOCKer of an episode, to say the least. The story lines include Don visiting Megan, Betty getting into fights, and Ginsberg unloading the looney balloons from his pants. I'll start with the least stunning story. Betty continues to prove her claim of how her children hate her. She also begins arguing with Henry about political factors. Henry likes Betty as his beautiful wife who stands by her side and asks no questions, rather than an actual partner with a voice and opinion. This is how her character has always been portrayed: a beautiful, perfect housewife managed by her husband. However, Betty drops the line, "I can think for myself!". In the ever-changing climate of Mad Men-- hippies and computers-- women resiliency is a theme we see continuing to develop gradually over the series... Michael Ginsberg isn't a big fan of the computer, he's REALLY not a fan. The humming from the computer, that we've become so accustomed to, impedes his work. But they aren't just distracting noises to Ginsberg, apparently they're waves, or something else sinister, that have the power to change people's sexualities. Ginsberg, whose supposedly is still a virgin, lets loose sexually, which is a surprise, a good laugh, but ultimately something detrimental. It's interesting that Peggy is written to deal with Ginsberg's biggest episode. Her brash leadership lately has turned her somewhat villainous, but we're reminded that she's been with us since day one (or episode one), and when her and Don stand side-by-side in the beginning, swords tucked away, it's settling. Speaking of "day one" relationships, Harry Crane comes big in this episode. Him and Don link up in LA after Harry unknowingly crashes Megan's party for her acting class. What's Don doing in LA? His pregnant niece has called him for some help. She's one of the ones that call him "Dick". Don welcomes her with open arms even if it may be for money. He's purely happy and excited to see and take care of her; it's an odd, sentimental side of Don. Megan doesn't take a liking to this. Even though she is Don's niece, Megan feels threatened by the affection and closeness that the two share. "I know all of his secrets"... Perhaps better than any teary-eyed confession, Megan dancing with another man, then giving Don a crazy night of sex, shows her sad attempts to connect with Don in the way that only knowing him as Dick Whitman can bring. If there was any hope that the return of Don's niece might bring about this, it was hammered into the ground by a trademark Don Draper pitch. He's back, really back. And as much as Cutler and Lou, and Lou's cartoons, don't want him there, they're dealing with a creative genius that not only has unparalleled skill, but also the allegiance of most of the agency. Mostly a comeback episode for Don, but there is no telling where the next two episodes could go. I think Peggy's glare at the end isn't to be ignored. There's plenty left to see in LA with Pete and Ted. And the possibility of more LA expansion is given new air. 8/10.
4 Reviews
The Genius
AmiinKhhalid8 May 2021
You Can Almost Run Away from this Episode **1/2
edwagreen12 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers
The guy after Peggy pulls a stunt reminiscent of something even more disgusting that I read in the newspapers some years back.
Don is "subjected" to quite an evening with his wife and friend of hers in her California home. I know this is the 1960s, but give me a break already.
The best part of this generally weak episode was Don's very pregnant niece visiting them in California. The girl takes off before Don's arrival, but his wife is quick on the trigger to give her a $1000.00 for her effort.
Is Don actually taking on the tobacco organization at the episode's end, or is he just trying to save his job?
Don is "subjected" to quite an evening with his wife and friend of hers in her California home. I know this is the 1960s, but give me a break already.
The best part of this generally weak episode was Don's very pregnant niece visiting them in California. The girl takes off before Don's arrival, but his wife is quick on the trigger to give her a $1000.00 for her effort.
Is Don actually taking on the tobacco organization at the episode's end, or is he just trying to save his job?
Not Every Young Person Was A Dropout Hippie
TheFearmakers22 August 2021
This series tries making young hippies with their left wing ideals look good, I think, but they're all as shallow and hypocritical as those beatniks that Don chewed-out the second to last time he was with Midge...
These kids say the same thing, the same dialogue, the same political motivations, but it all seems written by a young person who dreams having nothing, with money...
Last episode was Roger's spoiled daughter turned hippie dropout, and here it's Don's "niece" who was always a pretentious hippie chick but now she's out of that evil thing called money, and, just know that not all young people were like this back then...
Also, from the beginning of the horribly overblown Ginsberg character, giving him and his dad their own story before he himself even got his feet wet on the series, has been forced upon viewers, and is able to scream at his bosses and be rude and he's just not a realistic character; just a wannabe Al Pacino "Attica" type seeming in his own movie separate from this series.
As for the rest... This season is much, much, much better than the last one. Season 6 of Mad Men was pretty awful and this is good stuff here, back to basics yet progressing at the same time as Don starts over...
Also the whole thing with Lou creating a comic book is confusing; why is this so awful and humorous? The comic is not about rich kid hippies blowing up buildings so that's something to bag on? That whole thing is just kind of odd... But there has to be a way to get Lou out of the office, which makes sense because he's keeping Don from his rule.
These kids say the same thing, the same dialogue, the same political motivations, but it all seems written by a young person who dreams having nothing, with money...
Last episode was Roger's spoiled daughter turned hippie dropout, and here it's Don's "niece" who was always a pretentious hippie chick but now she's out of that evil thing called money, and, just know that not all young people were like this back then...
Also, from the beginning of the horribly overblown Ginsberg character, giving him and his dad their own story before he himself even got his feet wet on the series, has been forced upon viewers, and is able to scream at his bosses and be rude and he's just not a realistic character; just a wannabe Al Pacino "Attica" type seeming in his own movie separate from this series.
As for the rest... This season is much, much, much better than the last one. Season 6 of Mad Men was pretty awful and this is good stuff here, back to basics yet progressing at the same time as Don starts over...
Also the whole thing with Lou creating a comic book is confusing; why is this so awful and humorous? The comic is not about rich kid hippies blowing up buildings so that's something to bag on? That whole thing is just kind of odd... But there has to be a way to get Lou out of the office, which makes sense because he's keeping Don from his rule.
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