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| Left to right: Ryan Cutrona and January Jones |
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 3, Episode 4
"The Arrangements"
"Everyone on the first floor loved your
humourous ad. You seem like someone I
could really be friends with, not like the last girl."
- Karen Ericson (Carla Gallo)
Plot:
Gene Hofstadt (Ryan Cutrona) is bonding with Sally Draper (Kiernan Shipka) and Bobby Draper (Jared Gilmore) by having them drive him places and do things. Meanwhile, Don Draper (Jon Hamm) is at work trying to help Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) land a jai alai client, which he doesn't think will work. There's also concern over the diet soda commercial parodying Bye Bye Birdie. It doesn't feel right. Peggy Olsen (Elisabeth Moss) is looking for a roommate, but is having trouble being taken seriously. When Joan Harris (Christina Hendricks) gives her some advice, she lands someone right away. She then proceeds to tell her mother that she is moving to the city in order to cut down on her commute. Her mother isn't happy about this. Salvatore Romano (Bryan Batt) is having marital problems with Kitty Romano (Sarah Drew). It is soon discovered that Gene had an accident and died, leaving Sally too traumatized to deal with anyone's lack of overwhelming emotion.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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| Left to right: Jared Gilmore and Cutrona |
MVP:
Gene Hofstadt (Ryan Cutrona)
With everyone trying to move on, it only seemed unfair that Gene would get the same treatment. While Don has fallen out with some ridiculous clients, Gene has proven himself to be one of those grandparents you kind of want. He lets Sally drive him places and shows Bobby his old wartime memorabilia. While he didn't get much time on the series, it is nice to know that he at least had one small moment to show that he wasn't just a senile man who insulted his daughter. He meant so much more to the point that it tears Sally up inside. There's some shock in his sudden disappearance because of it. He leaves a mark of something that isn't entirely familiar, but with occasional moments of humor, he is a character that I end up wishing that I knew more about, if just to understand Betty Draper's (January Jones) problem with him.
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| Kiernan Shipka |
Best Scene
While Sally has slowly turned into a revolting figure against her parents, it didn't feel like a problem until this episode. Having bonded with Gene, there was a sense that she had a mentor to look up to. Maybe she did some illegal things during their bonding, but it still was so sweet that in an episode where people become disappointed by their prospects, somehow Sally ended up the worst. When she sees that her parents don't have much reaction to Gene's death, she cannot help but yell. Let it out! It is a cry of frustration and a shift in Sally's persona that is likely to lead to some interesting growth as a character. While I wish that Bobby had some room to steal the show, I feel like Sally has quickly went from an underestimated figure to one of towering potential. She is convincingly sad and Kiernan Shipka delivers something profound that makes her more than just a child actor. This episode definitely has her in the running for something bigger and greater as the season progresses.
UP NEXT: "The Fog"
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