This is one of my favorite MAD MEN episodes. It's so thrilling to watch the big payoff as wormy little Pete Campbell finally confronts handsome mystery man Don Draper about the real truth of his murky past. There's no violence, yet as Pete himself points out the confrontation is just as suspenseful and just as deadly as if one mad man had a gun pointed right at the other man's chest!
I also love the way real history comments on the fictional story line. Pete Campbell is such an unappealing character -- mean-spirited, self-centered, and a born snitch. He's Richard Nixon, and yet (like Nixon) he's sincere in his prejudices and oddly pitiable at the end. Don Draper, of course, is JFK, and what makes this fascinating is that the comparison is not entirely complimentary. The writers seem to suggest that as handsome, sophisticated, and appealing as Don may appear to be, on the surface, he's merely an actor playing a part, or projecting an image. There's no real man underneath, no real identity, no real convictions. Daring stuff considering everything that JFK has come to mean to liberals and the elite in the fifty years since his tragic death!
Meanwhile, on Election Night the boys and girls at the office throw a wild party, and there's plenty of drinking and frisky goings-on. It's really striking how carefully the writers balance the cruelty and sexual harassment with genuine passion and heartbreak. The party scenes are sordid, scandalous, exciting and exhilarating all at the same time. The women at the office are really at the mercy of the men, and their bitter commentary and facial reactions when Harry and Ken are on the prowl really hit home. (My heart went out to Allison, sensationally portrayed by the stunning Alexa Alemanni!)
Others will disagree with this, but to me the weakest part of the episode was actually the "flashback" scenes to the Korean War. Jonathan Hamm is at a disadvantage having to play himself ten years younger. The sets are transparently fake. Clothes, weapons, tents, everything looks too new and clean. Even the explosion looks fake, and is almost comically abrupt!
But this is MAD MEN, not M*A*S*H. And this episode is one of the best!
I also love the way real history comments on the fictional story line. Pete Campbell is such an unappealing character -- mean-spirited, self-centered, and a born snitch. He's Richard Nixon, and yet (like Nixon) he's sincere in his prejudices and oddly pitiable at the end. Don Draper, of course, is JFK, and what makes this fascinating is that the comparison is not entirely complimentary. The writers seem to suggest that as handsome, sophisticated, and appealing as Don may appear to be, on the surface, he's merely an actor playing a part, or projecting an image. There's no real man underneath, no real identity, no real convictions. Daring stuff considering everything that JFK has come to mean to liberals and the elite in the fifty years since his tragic death!
Meanwhile, on Election Night the boys and girls at the office throw a wild party, and there's plenty of drinking and frisky goings-on. It's really striking how carefully the writers balance the cruelty and sexual harassment with genuine passion and heartbreak. The party scenes are sordid, scandalous, exciting and exhilarating all at the same time. The women at the office are really at the mercy of the men, and their bitter commentary and facial reactions when Harry and Ken are on the prowl really hit home. (My heart went out to Allison, sensationally portrayed by the stunning Alexa Alemanni!)
Others will disagree with this, but to me the weakest part of the episode was actually the "flashback" scenes to the Korean War. Jonathan Hamm is at a disadvantage having to play himself ten years younger. The sets are transparently fake. Clothes, weapons, tents, everything looks too new and clean. Even the explosion looks fake, and is almost comically abrupt!
But this is MAD MEN, not M*A*S*H. And this episode is one of the best!