Mad Men Recap: Betty’s back, Don gets a lesson in girl behaviour, Sally learns how to fake cry and Pete can’t stop thinking about Rory Gilmore
She ain’t heavy, she’s just Betty! The last significant taste we got of Mrs. Francis was when she was having a health scare and a sundae. While she’s the focus this ep, the rest of the cast (except Lane, who must be fist fighting in a pub somewhere) gets at least a little time to whine: Pete’s affair with his train bud’s wife is still distracting him when he’s not busy giving New York Times interviews; Ginsberg joins Peggy in some late night sidelining; Don’s back in the office on weekends and seems to be done with his “love leave” now that Megan has resigned; and last week may have been all about the phone booth but this week the elevator gets some major play. Let’s see where everyone is getting off…
Grab a can of whipped cream and read on! »
When Betty weighs out her food and chews her toast like a child, what she’s really showing us is…
She’s only one grapefruit away from humming while she eats in order to make her portion palatable. We are happy to see she she’s following some kind of plan though, rather than starving herself (or taking a Valley of the Dolls route!) and thus becoming extra-Betty mean.
When Megan teaches Sally the key to fake crying is thinking about something that makes you sad, what we wonder is…
What makes Sally sad? We know what makes her angry: Grandma Pauline, chores and missing out on TV. Also, Sally is overdramatic enough at this age, does she really need to know how to fake cry, too? That one’s going to bite you in the ass, Megan.
When Betty surveys the apartment, knocking into things and spying on topless Megan, what she’s really thinking is…
“I used to be a fur coat model.” Oh Betty, dressing like Queen Elizabeth in a tweedy check coat, pearls, sweater, sensible shoes and scarf is not making you look any younger, and you certainly wouldn’t fit into this new life. You’re better off in your suburban castle, trust us.
When Don is inspired by Ginsberg’s work and stays late at the office to come up with creative, what he’s really showing us is…
He hasn’t lost his creative drive. With Megan in the office he might’ve continued running on autopilot, but now with Ginsberg’s name on most of the creative they submitted to the Times he wants to see if he still has the golden touch.
When Betty stress-eats whipped cream but doesn’t swallow, what we’re thinking is…
She’s really serious about no more sundaes. Stay strong, Betty!
When Ginsberg is surprised by how impressive Don’s SnoBall idea is, what we’re wondering is…
How many times will Ginsberg have to put his foot in his mouth before someone cuts him off at the knees?
When Betty tells her Weight Watchers group about her “trying experience,” what we’re really thinking is…
Finally Betty is seeking therapy. Fair enough it’s not with a psychologist but at least she’s talking to someone, even if it is in the most vague words possible.
When Megan and Julia run lines for the Dark Shadows audition, and Megan gets guilted for her prosperity, what Julia is really telling Megan is…
“I deserve to be in this TV show that will eventually be a Johnny Depp movie more than you because I need it.” Will Megan put in the same effort to get silly parts even if she ultimately won’t starve if she doesn’t get them? Does her wealth mean she won’t have the same drive to succeed and willingness to take anything offered her?
When Roger ropes Ginsberg into a secret Jewish-only Manischewitz project, what we’re really noticing is…
Ginsberg is so offbeat he forces Roger to be the straightman in their conversation. Roger! We love that Ginsberg flat out admits he can’t keep a secret, with no shame.
When Henry and Betty have their own Weight Watchers meeting over a steak at midnight, what Betty is really showing us is…
She may be jealous of Megan, but Henry really is the better match. While Don is calling her fat behind her back, Henry is supportive and reminds her the weight isn’t her fault. This is the guy to grow old with, Betty.
When Jane trades a dinner with Roger for a new apartment, what we’re thinking is…
Roger can be tricked into paying anyone for anything. First he paid Peggy for Mohawk, then Ginsberg for Manischewitz and now Jane gets an apartment for a meal. What’s next? A tight shirt shopping spree for Stan after he does some ad hoc art? At this rate, Roger is going to be broke by the end of the season.
When Beth shows up at Pete’s office in nothing but panties and a fur coat because she saw him in the New York Times Sunday magazine, what we’re really thinking is…
Enough with the dream sequences this season, Matthew Weiner. It’s not nice to play with our emotions. Also, was Alexis Bledel wearing some pasties? Because her breasts certainly looked like those of a mannequin.
When Bobby does a drawing of a whale being harpooned and Betty sees a letter from Don to Megan, what we’re really thinking is…
Never mind the love note Betty, you should be more concerned with the happy harpooning Bobby is colouring. What does the whale symbolize for Bobby? Or is he already reading Moby Dick at that fancy suburban school he goes to?
When Betty tells Sally about Anna Draper, the real reason she does it is…
Because Megan doesn’t have to eat awful celery sticks. Too much health food makes people do terrible things, I am sure of it.
When Ginsberg gloats by quoting from “Ozymandias” and Stan tells him to read the rest of the poem, what Stan is really showing us is…
He’s not just a tight shirt–wearing, brawny blond who appreciates photography and can draw a mean devil; he understands the meaning of sonnets. We get it Stan, you’re the perfect Renaissance man and we’re sorry you don’t have more of a storyline.
When Sally manipulates Megan into telling her about Anna, what she’s really showing us is…
She’s not going to use that fake crying to get what she wants as long as guilt trips about friendship work just fine. We could hear that old Sally lisp creeping in, too.
When Judy says to Betty at the Weight Watchers meeting: “You know, maintaining is better than gaining,” what she’s really saying is…
“Don’t piss on my one pound parade, Francis.” Betty is a sore loser, and an even sorer non-loser.
When Megan explains to Don why Betty told Sally about Anna, what she really gives Don (and Sally) a lesson in is…
Girl behaviour. Don’t let on that your ex did upset the boat and she’ll soon give up trying to rock it. We’re guessing Megan dealt with a bully or two when she was younger. (Actually, with her quirky teeth we’re pretty sure of it.)
When Ginsberg pops into the office—not to steal something, as Peggy quips—but to work on the kosher wine account, what we really love is…
He is incapable of keeping a secret at all. That, and his cute winter hat.
When Don yells at Pete: “Don’t wake me up and throw your failures in my face, it’s Sunday for Christ’s sake!” What he’s really saying is…
“Leave the newspaper work to me, Pete. Or better yet, don’t talk to the newspaper at all, it’s brought me nothing but problems.” We wonder what kind of dream Don was having when he was woken up by the phone? Damn it Weiner, you’ve got us fixated on dreams now.
When Don says to Sally: “Your mother doesn’t care about hurting you, she just wants to hurt us.” What we’re wondering is…
Does that “us” just mean him and Megan, or does it also include Sally? The gloves are off now, bitching about your kid’s mom to your kid is a pretty low move and certainly won’t help his relationship with Sally in the long run. We wish Sally still had that nice child psychologist to go to, or even a Weight Watchers group would do.
When Peggy accuses Roger in the elevator: “You’re not loyal, you only think of yourself.” What she’s really saying is…
“I thought we were partners in crime!” Roger barks back at her about them not being married, but she doesn’t want a work husband—Peggy needs a father figure, since Don has checked out of his mentor duties. (The $100 Roger gave Ginsberg would be nice too.)
When Don leaves Ginsberg’s pitch in the cab, what he’s really showing us is…
He’s a petty, petty man. That he’s never pulled something like this with Peggy shows he’s not worried about her outshining him creatively. It’s funny to imagine Ginsberg trying to be Don though—nevermind keeping sercrets, the guy can’t even tell a white lie.
When Sally doesn’t give Betty the satisfaction of knowing her little scheme upset things at the new Draper household, what she’s really showing us is…
She’s learned the art of manipulation well from her mother. But for now she’s siding with Don and Megan, protecting them from Betty’s attempts to undermine. Her lies even earned her some TV. A Sally victory!
When Roger pitches Ginsberg’s Manischewitz idea for the bus ads, what we’re really thinking is…
That it would make a great campaign. We love that Roger doesn’t take credit for the idea and gives it to the young creatives at his agency. At least someone’s ego at SCDP isn’t attempting to write cheques it can’t cash.
When Harry shuts down Ginsberg’s whining with: “We made a sale, anything else?” What he’s really saying is…
“I may have to put up with Don and the other partners picking on me but I don’t have to suck up to you, Ginsberg.” We love the looks Stan and Peggy exchange as Ginsberg has a hissy. They’re like two parents letting their teenager storm off from dinner to play loud music in his room.
When Pete angrily tells Howard Dawes he’s going to screw Beth over the Thanksgiving weekend, what he’s really saying is…
“That New York Times reporter is going to pay for blocking my suburban game.” Pete, we doubt Beth even reads the Times, she seems more of a Ladies Home Journal type to us. Get a recipe published in that magazine (Pete’s Post-coital Party Dip?) and we’re sure Beth and plenty of other housewives will be putty in your hands.
When Ginsberg and Don spar in the elevator and Don gets the last word: “I don’t think about you at all,” what he’s really showing us is…
He believes Megan’s advice about Betty is just as relevant with keeping young copywriters in their place. But is it? Ginsberg idolized Don, but now that he’s pulled back the curtain and seen the Wizard for what he truly is, we’re wondering if he wants to click his heels and catch the next air balloon to another agency?
When Jane tells Roger he ruined her apartment, what we’re really thinking is…
This divorce is hurting her more than we thought. Also: where can we get Jane’s couch?
When everyone at the Francis house says why he or she is thankful, the question we’re left with is…
But what is Gene thankful for?
Mad Men airs Sundays at 10 p.m. on AMC. Tune in next week when another someone in the cast gets to have a sex dream, and let’s just hope it’s not Harry.
