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| Left to right: Jon Hamm and Maggie Siff |
Welcome to Mad Cap: a daily rundown of every episode of the acclaimed AMC series Mad Men. During this time, I will be compiling my thoughts and highlights as we travel through every moment and season of the Emmy-award winning drama that has come to define modern TV. The goal is to be a refresher on every moment for Don Draper and his band of advertisement executives leading up to the final season. Stay for all of the shocking moments and the brilliant acting performances, and make sure to chime in with your thoughts and criticisms on why the show means something to you.
Season 1, Episode 6
"Babylon"
"Mourning is just extended self-pity."
- Don Draper (Jon Hamm)
Plot:
Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and Betty Draper (January Jones) celebrate Mother's Day with a little cuddling. Don is also trying to land a client who will produce a Paul Newman movie adapted from the book "Exodus." Meanwhile, Roger Sterling (John Slattery) is revealed to be having intimate relations with Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks). She is also put in charge of running a testing session for a line of lipsticks that cause all of the women to get ecstatic. However, Peggy Olsen's (Elisabeth Moss) choice to be selective of her lipstick causes the company to become enthused by her efforts. In an effort to relieve tension, Don calls Rachel Menkin (Maggie Siff) to talk and go out to a poetry reading with an eclectic mix of content. Roger buys Joan a bird and it is revealed that he doesn't want anyone knowing about their chemistry. Don keeps thinking about his past through flashbacks and pictures that connect imagery.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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| Christina Hendricks |
MVP:
Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks)
For majority of the season so far, the show has focused on Don and Peggy's personal lives and how they influence their work careers. While this is fine, it is important to note that another striking character is deserving of more recognition. From the beginning, Joan walked with large ounces of confidence and controlled every crises that was thrown her way. In this episode, we not only learn about her relationship with Roger, but also that she is more than capable of controlling situations at work involving the lipstick panel and other more menial tasks. She bites like a firecracker in this episode and her sensuous seduction of the male characters begins to become more apparent. She isn't just a sexy lady. She is confident and capable of getting things done her way.
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| Elisabeth Moss |
Best Scene
While there were more important scenes scattered throughout the episode, there is something about that lipstick testing that sticks. Maybe it is the giddiness that comes with the men behind the two-way mirror. It also helps that it feels different from the other marketing aspects of the series and allows the characters to show a more casual and intriguing approach to their work. Serving in some ways as comedic relief, the best moment comes when Peggy is forced to reveal why she was selective about her lipstick choices. She is a women of selective interests and cannot be dissuaded. With Joan watching over her shoulder, it is a moment that helps Peggy to have her own identity established while working within the confines of the company in important and intriguing ways.
UP NEXT: "Red in the Face"
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