MAD MEN: “The Fog”
Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) in Episode 5. Photo by Carin Baer / AMC.
Read on for my recap/ review of Mad Men 3×05:
The episode began with a little parent-teacher conference. It seems that little Sally Draper has been acting out, after the death of her grandfather. The obliviousness of her parents to the possibility or seriousness of this situation is very disturbing. It’s a miracle that Sally’s generation is not more messed up than it is. Both Betty and Don agreed that “children don’t belong in graveyards,” and Betty is eager to just sweep this under the rug–like all her problems. The teacher, Susanne Farrell, is the same one we previously met, who danced around the May Pole and caught Don’s attention. She and Don seem to have a some chemistry, but very pregnant Betty doesn’t notice. The young teacher was full of compassion and empathy that was wasted on her listeners: “Has anything changed at home recently. I feel terrible about bringing that up for you … Is this Grandpa Gene we’re talking about?” Betty: “I just want everything to be o.k. when the baby comes.” Sigh. Later in the episode, Miss Farrell actually calls the house and speaks to Don. She is very earnest, and explains: “My father died when I was 8 …” Is this harmless? Or are they setting things up for another affair? I hope for the former.
Back at Sterling Cooper, the new British boss, Mr. Pryce, is trying to tighten finances. Pryce brings up a discrepancy between Sal and Don’s expense reports from their recent trip. Sal: “If I were lying, wouldn’t I have made it a round number?… Not to say that Don’s lying. Don does not approve, and actually walks out of the meeting. Just walked right out. I would never have the guts to do such a thing. Also, Don has a new secretary, so Joan’s no longer taking care of things for him. The new British boss enters Don’s office, with the minutes of the meeting. Don sets him straight: “You came to us because we do this better. Part of that is letting our creatives be unproductive before they are. Lay off the expense reports.” Ha!
In other office news, the boys make fun of poor Lois, who caught her scarf in the xerox machine. Later, Duck calls Pete, very surreptitiously. It seems that Duck has moved on, and wants Pete to join him. It has a very bad stench to it.
Betty goes into labor and we are subjected to information about 1960s hospitals that is incredibly frightening and disturbing. Don, as the husband, must stay outside of the delivery men. It seems so odd now, in an age when many actually record births via video, etc. Betty also informs the nurse that she won’t be breast feeding. While Betty is in the titular “fog” of labor, she has a very odd dream that makes me feel like I’m on drugs. It involved a caterpillar and Betty in a gorgeous dress. As the dream continues, Betty meets up with her deceased father and mother. She informs them: “I left my lunch-pail on the bus, and I’m having a baby.” Grandpa Gene tells her: “You’re a house cat. You’re very important and you have little to do.” Wow. Talk about metaphor.
Meanwhile Don is in the waiting room, where there is another expectant father. He’s a prison guard. The guys attack the vending machine for cigarettes together, and share a drink. The prison guard was very worried about his wife’s health, as the baby was breached. However, Yeardley Smith (the voice of Lisa Simpson), comes out to tell him that he has a new baby boy and his wife is alright. Oddly, when Don sees him later, he doesn’t respond to Don’s greeting. Did his baby end up dying? Does anyone have any theories on that little scene?
The baby is eventually born, and Betty wants to name her new son Eugene, after her father. Don clearly doesn’t want to name the kid Eugene, and very pointedly tells her that they don’t have to decide that now. Hee. He returns to office, which is filled with lots of baby gifts. Roger Sterling calls, and greets him as “Da da.” Hee.
Cut to Peggy having lunch with Duck. What!?!? It seems that Pete wasn’t the only one called, and he isn’t too happy to learn this when he finally shows up. Duck reveals to the two that he knows about their secret relationship. He offers them places with his new company, but Pete is very hesitant. Peggy: “Do we have to go together?” Wow. She is quite the ambitious one, and I don’t blame her. Pete: “If you want to woo me, you’ll have to buy me my own lunch.” Ha. There’s the Pete we all know.
Back at Sterling Cooper, Pete is working on a TV account, and notices that the sales numbers among African-Americans is growing, while other numbers are static. He tries to get some first hand information from the elevator operator, Hollis, but Hollis gets angry. Pete: “Do you think I’m a bigot? I just want to know why you bought your TV!” I love Hollis for not giving Pete what he wants, but at the same time Pete is actually being much more progressive than the rest of the company. It’s a complex situation.
Back at the hospital, Betty is a proud mommy and waves at the kids and Don out the hospital window. When the Drapers return home, Sally wonders: “Is the baby gonna live in Grandpa Gene’s room?” Don: “It’s not Grandpa Gene’s room, it’s the baby’s room.” He and Sally have a sweet conversation about the surprise that the new baby was a boy, and how Don thought that Sally would be a boy. “Not all surprises are bad,” he quips.
At a meeting with the TV manufacturer, Pete gives his speech about the “growing Negro market” (his words, not mine). The clients are outraged that Pete even brought this up. When Pete mentions integration in the ads, one says “Is that even legal?” This is quite a disturbing scene.
Later, Peggy visits Don, and gives him her gift for the baby. Peggy pushes Don about getting a raise, mentioning how her secretary doesn’t respect her because she only makes $71 more. She shows herself to be a budding feminist: “I don’t know if you read in the paper, but they passed a law that women who do the same job as men, make the same amount.” Don is not swayed, as finances are so tight. Peggy sadly notes: “You have everything, and so much of it.” Don acknowledges this: “I suppose that’s probably true. … What do you want me to say?” Peggy: “What if this is my time?” Wow. What a powerful scene, and so representative of the struggles of a working woman with ambition in that era. Peggy is never more relatable than in scenes like this. I suspect she may leave with Duck now, but you never know.
As Peggy leaves Don’s office, she is accosted by Pete. He is worried that Peggy talked to Don about the meeting with Duck. Peggy does not confirm or deny it, and there is a lot of tension in the interchange. I’m worried about what Pete might do now. Will he sell out Peggy, and ruin her transfer? Or will he get himself in trouble by creating more problems?
Pete’s troubles continue when he is brought in to meet with the partners. They berate him about his mess-up, and explain to him the error of his ways. This actually serves to make Pete look better in my eyes, but not by much. Roger: “I’m going to have to pretend I’ve had you killed.” Wow. Mr. Pryce: “Are we done with the flogging?” Roger: “It’s never as good as you think it’s going to be.” Again, this show serves to fascinate and horrify.
Betty comes home from the hospital, wearing a perfectly pink outfit. With a perfectly pink headband. She never ceases to amaze. My favorite girl-friend of Betty’s comes over to keep her company. I love that actress. We end the episode on Betty’s hazy thoughts.
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