TV Recap: ‘Mad Men,’ “The Grown-Ups”

Image courtesy of AMC

As viewers, we knew that Mad Men would eventually have to deal with JFK’s death in some way — especially when the writers put Roger’s daughter’s wedding the day after — but I cannot imagine that we expected this. After using the death of Marilyn Monroe, Nixon v. Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis as a way to show that even in the midst of crazy world events people are still really caught up in the drama of their own lives, Matt Weiner and co. allowed JFK’s assassination to completely stop the lives of the characters. And although that absolutely happened in the wake, the episode ultimately did not work for me because it felt as though we were watching people watch — especially coming after last week’s AMAZING episode. Thus, there really isn’t much to discuss in terms of plot for this one — because I’m hoping you know what the hell happened to JFK. If you don’t, please keep watching more television, it’s helping your brain. So let’s just talk about the characters and their reactions to the events, mmmk?

For the second week in a row, Roger Sterling gets a lot to do and honestly, thank God. This episode would have been so much more boring without Slattery’s Sterling, as he delivered a number of great lines and proved to us what we probably already figured — he would go through with his daughter’s wedding no matter what. With depleted attendance, lack of cake and overall (rightfully so) somber aura hanging over Margaret’s  nuptials, Roger pushed ahead, delivering one great speech that actually made his stubborn decision to go ahead with everything seem somewhat noble.

But though he put on a brave face, Roger was clearly bothered by the events. And in a continuance of last week’s  story, Roger keeps the phone tag up with Joan. However, he’s not looking to flirt exactly — he wants comfort. It’s interesting that Roger does not want to talk to his young (and drunk) wife about JFK. Or even his daughter or ex-wife whom he clearly still respects. It’s all Joan. The two have a connection that goes beyond sexual attraction, obviously.

Moving down the SC food chain, Don tries to make Betty feel better about the situation, but she’s clearly not having it. Still hurt by the secrets Don kept all those years, JFK’s murder throws Betty’s world into chaos and it’s actually exacerbated even more when Henry shows up at the wedding. After a comforting kiss from Don doesn’t help and she watches Oswald get gunned down by Ruby live, Betty snaps. Scared and feeling like she’s losing control, she calls up Henry who fawns all over her. Their kiss seemingly makes her feel better so she’s ready to tell Don the truth — she doesn’t love him anymore.

Shocked by Betty’s claim, Don goes to work, the only place he really feels at home anyway. There he finds Peggy alone working on the Aqua Net campaign that will now obviously have to be re-worked since it prominently features people in a top-down sedan car. Speaking of Peggy, like Don, she’s at work because she realizes that there isn’t really a place for her either (another instance that shows us how similar these two actually are). She was screwing Duck when things went down, but he just wanted to talk to his kids. Then her roommate invited too many people over to their apartment. And her mom was crying way too much. Peggy just doesn’t fit in unless she’s working at SC.

Finally(!) we get some meaty Pete Campbell stuff. Pre-assassination Pryce informs Pete that they are officially putting Ken over him on the account side, which obviously puts Peter in a bad mood to begin with. Then the assassination happens and Pete’s ready to give up on his life at SC. He talks himself into the fact that he gets nothing out of the relationship, he’s mistreated, etc. and wants to quit. Also, did you notice how his sadness led him again to act like a child as he ate out of that casserole dish all by himself? Though Trudy tries to talk him out of it, she sees his side of things and they decide to blow off the wedding and just sloth around watching TV. Much like Don and Peggy, Pete and Betty are so similar, so it makes sense that a tragic event would cap off their general frustrations with life and propel them to make a rash decision.

Other thoughts:

• Duck is clearly using Peggy as his new addiction right? This is going to end badly.
• Don and Pryce are arguing over hiring a new commercial director, does this leave room for a Sal return? Has to right?
• As much as I want more Pete, how about some love for Ken? The guy seems like the only legitimately happy person in this universe, and I guess that’s why we never see him? Hopefully S4 gives us some stories with Ken dealing with the struggles of his new position.
• Overall, I didn’t hate this episode, but it was surely the weakest of the season by-far. For anyone who thinks the program is boring, they should never watch this one, because well, damn.