Mad Men “Long Weekend”

When you drink and smoke like the guys on Madison Street your bad habits are going to catch up to you eventually.  Don and Sterling’s “Long Weekend” puts their lives in perspective when Sterling has medical troubles that put him in the hospital.  With death hovering over them, both men crawl to whom they really desire, revealing their deepest needs.  Of course, from here on out there be spoilers.  And yes, I’m fluent in pirate lingo.

At the beginning of the episode we learn that Betty is leaving for vacation early with the kids, her dad, and her dad’s new girlfriend (which she obviously despises).  Don is to meet them the next day due to work.  He, of course, is generally happy to avoid an extra day with the in-laws, but puts on a different face for Betty.  While at work he finalizes the deal with Rachel Menken’s department store, and learns that Dr. Scholl’s has withdrawn his account with the company.  Roger Sterling knows Don isn’t taking the loss of their client very well so in an attempt to cheer Don up he picks up a couple of twins that are auditioning to be depicted in an advertisement.  While fooling around with his half of the bargain, Sterling has a heart attack and is rushed to the hospital.  This episode becomes truly interesting after Sterling’s heart attack.  Both men, who moments before were damn near invincible, are facing death.  Roger is facing it head on, but Don is witnessing a friend, and arguably a father figure, almost die.  Roger cries for his wife Mona and his daughter when they arrive at the hospital, which sounds normal but he’s spent the whole episode rejoicing that they were gone and cheating on his wife, so it is a rare moment when we see who really matters in Roger’s life.  After seeing that reaction I’d almost guess that he loves his wife and daughter, but his lifestyle of alcohol and women has become so common place he feels compelled to continue.  Then Don does something unexpected.  Instead of going to see his wife, or his mistress, he shows up at the apartment of Rachel Menken.  He is distraught and the only person he wanted to see was her.  He makes a move and she initially rejects him, but gives into her emotions.  After they are done Don reveals a secret about his life that I never saw coming.  He is the son of a prostitute who died giving birth to him.  The doctors dropped him off at his dad’s house where he was raised.  He’s an orphan.  No wonder he’s hiding from his old life, he barely had a life before this it was all basically a lie.

This episode was fantastically character driven and had plenty of comedy and heartfelt moments.  Joan has to deal with almost losing Roger who she has always kept on her hook, always playing games with him, never letting him in.  Don starts an affair with Rachel.  And Peggy FINALLY tells Pete off for being an ass-bag (Jesus, it is about time!).  Mad Men has definitely become one of my most anticipated shows every week.  Good call getting me to watch it Zip.