Mad Men – Episode 5 Recap

Wow, tonight’s episode was fantastic! Best episode yet of the season…I say that every week, though. Now that the writers took four episodes to catch us up on the months we missed at SCDP, they’re taking time to make things interesting again, Don Draper style. So, before I get into the good stuff, who all is thankful that Don’s new piece, Bethany, is back? I thought she was done. Apparently not! I don’t like her much though. Oh well, I don’t see longevity there. I see him with someone like Joan or the new market researcher, Faye.

First and foremost, THIS NEEDS TO BE SAID. AGAIN. And I’ll keep saying it until she’s gone. Don’s new secretary Mrs. Blankenship is a stain on the white sheet that is Mad Men. She is just awful. The wig, the exaggerated accent, the overacting, the unbelievable fact that Don Draper hasn’t fired her ass for messing everything up all the time. It’s all ridiculous.

The elephant in the room. Sally’s…….shall we say, “incident?” That was really awkward for me to watch. After every episode I go to AMC.com and watch the “Inside Mad Men” video where Matt Weiner talks about what he was trying to explain to viewers in the episode. It’s very interesting. This week he was talking about how it’s “normal” and Sally is “of that age.” So FYI Matt, if you ever read this… the actress playing Sally still looks like she’s 9. TOO SOON.

I think Betty’s recurring theme in this episode was arrested development. She talks about how she wanted long hair as a child, found joy in a doll house, was more worried about public embarrassment than the issues her daughter was experiencing… those little moments that say so much. I also thought it was interesting that Betty couldn’t talk like an adult with Henry. When he asked her what Sally did, she looked uncomfortable and just said, “she was, you know… playing with herself.” Almost like she was a child talking to a parent. And how awesome was it when she used the consultation with Sally’s psychiatrist as a session and was going on and on about her childhood. She’s like a grown-up child. Bitches be crazy! She’s got more issues than Don x10.

A few other small moments I read into. The fact that Sally was accompanied by her housekeeper/nanny to her first psychiatrist visit. Can you imagine how scary that would be, your first visit? And your mom didn’t care enough to go with you, and to add insult tin injury…she sent your housekeeper to take you instead?I know it’s just a show, but that pissed me off. They’re making me hate Betty this season!

Don’s plan to get the Honda account was genius. This new head-to-head with Ted Chaough is a new angle at Don we’ve never seen. Don has never had a competition with another male. He’s butted heads a few times with Roger, but Roger isn’t interested in workplace glory. He’s worried about glory in the bedroom, so there’s no competition. Introducing a new nemesis for Don is genius, and it was great to watch. I hope Ted is a recurring role, and I hope Don will outsmart him every time. But what a cop-out ending the episode with, “Ohhhh, no one the account. THE END.” Regardless, Don’s presentation moment was amazing. THE CHECK!!… Ahh, the check. He seriously wrote them a check. Fantastic. What a genius.

So, my favorite moments of the episode?

“You’re going to see a girl aren’t you?” – Sally
“Yes, I am.” – Don
“What’s her name?” – Sally
“Bethany.” – Don
“I don’t like that.” – Sally
“Well, you don’t have to.” – Don

“Are you and daddy doing it?” – Sally
“What?!” – babysitter
“I know what it is. I know that the man pees inside the woman.” – Sally
“Where did you hear that?!” – babysitter
“A girl at school.” – Sally
“You should talk to your mom.” – babysitter

*Don tries to hand the babysitter a $20 after she royally screwed up*
“No, I shouldn’t” – her
“You should. Consider it severance.” – Don

“I just wanted to know if you’d heard C.G.C. just signed Clearasil” – reporter
“I don’t keep track of accounts once I resign them.” – Don
“I just think it’s interesting they took the Jai Alai associate from you, and now this. How do you explain it?” – reporter
“I don’t think about it.” – Don
“Well, I talked to Ted Chaough and he said ‘Every time Don Draper looks in his rear view mirror, he see me.’” – reporter
“What’s your point?” – Don
“My point is do you have a response?” – reporter
“On the record?” – Don
“Please.” – Reporter
“I’ve never heard of him.” – Don

“Do you know how to use those?” – Don, when Bethany uses chopsticks
“Yes” – Bethany
“Want to teach me?” – Don… always thinking about work.