Welcome to my viewing diary for Mad Men
. Every Monday I will review another episode of season three. Later seasons will be covered at another time. I have never seen this series before so there will be NO spoilers.
Story (aired on October 11, 2009/written by Dahvi Waller, Matthew Weiner; directed by Scott Hornbacher): The characters of Mad Men are reaching either an apotheosis or a freefall, and most of them are recognizing that they can't really tell the difference. Don's whirlwind, largely one-sided bromance with Connie Hilton is wrecking as much as it's building; certainly Don's once-cool demeanor with subordinates has become harsh and surly, as he hurls blame that begins to sound like petty self-protection (born from deep insecurity). Connie expresses wounded disappointment when Don's proposed campaign - "It's Hilton in every language" - feels (literally) too grounded for the old mogul, who wants to (again, literally!) shoot for the moon. If Don thought momentarily that Connie found an equal behind that bar, it's increasingly clear that he wants Don to be a plaything whose resources he can exploit, not a respected junior partner in developing the brand. The Hilton/Draper dynamic is more father/son than even big/little brother, very much tinged by Connie's emotional devotion. It seems clearer than ever that Connie's remarks about an "involvement," "substantial needs," and what to do when "my eye begins to wander" had more to do with his infatuation with Don than with some romantic affair.
A more literal male infatuation develops between Sal and Lee Garner, Jr., the Lucky Strike executive we met back in the series premiere. At that time Lee and his father appeared to be conventionally macho peas in a pod but when he's left alone in an editing suite with Sal, we learn his secret. Lee gropes Sal, who spurns his overtures. A disgruntled and perpetually drunken Lee calls Harry to demand that Sal be removed. Harry chokes, Lee storms out of a meeting when Sal is still present, Roger summarily fires Sal, and Don - knowing much more about Sal's private life than anyone else at Sterling Cooper - confirms rather than reverses Roger's decision. "You people," he grumbles, breaking Sal's heart before offering a handshake and a firm, "I think you know it has to be this way." At the end of the episode, in a phone booth surrounded by hustlers, Sal calls his wife to tell her he's working late and won't be home tonight. Don and Betty also give consideration to betraying their wedding vows, with only Don - as always - taking the plunge. He's been leaving for work early each morning and running into Miss Farrell who goes for a morning jog in the dark. Finally one night he lies to Betty, saying that Connie has called him back to the city before driving to Miss Farrell's in-law apartment instead. After hesitating, she accepts his embraces. Betty, on the other hand, ultimately demures. She begins writing letters to Henry, receives a visit from him (glimpsed by a very uncomfortable Carla), and even holds a Rockefeller fundraiser in her home as both a cover story and an opportunity to see him again (he sends another adviser, much to her disappointment). Finally she goes to his office and he locks the door but she can't go through with the fling: "It's too tawdry," she complains. I doubt she'll feel that way for long.
