Mad Cap: "The Gold Violin"

Left to right: Bryan Batt, Sarah Drew, and Aaron Staton

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 2, Episode 7
"The Gold Violin"

"Philanthropy is the gateway to power."

- Bertram Cooper (Robert Morse)

Plot:

During the off hours, Salvatore Romano (Bryan Batt), Ken Cosgrove (Aaron Staton), and Jane Siegel (Peyton List) decide to sneak around the other rooms, which include a visit to Bertram Cooper's (Robert Morse) room where he has a mysterious painting. When they go in for interviews the next day, Cooper decides not to tell them why he has it beyond its increase in value. Don Draper (Jon Hamm) is working on a deal to make young audiences drink coffee. It succeeds. Jimmy Barrett (Patrick Fischler) informs Betty Draper (January Jones) about a party that is being thrown in honor of ABC picking up his TV series. Meanwhile, there is a flashback to when Don bought a really nice car. Betty is happy and he takes the kids on a nice ride. However, he is still confused on why he was confronted by a woman who doesn't believe that he is Don Draper. Jane gets fired by Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks) for breaking the rules. She is immediately rehired when she confronts Roger Sterling (John Slattery) about it. After Ken asks Salvatore to read his short story, the two decide to meet up for dinner. After a conversation goes a little too sensuous, Kitty Romano (Sarah Drew) suspects her husband of being gay, which leads to some awkward moments. During the party, Billy decides to confront both Betty and Don separately about  Don's promiscuity, leaving both in shock on the ride home.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Jon Hamm

MVP:

Don Draper (Jon Hamm)

As Betty vomited leading into the closing credits, things may have appeared to be changing for the Draper family. They have come a long way since those wonderful days of driving around in a luxury car. Thanks to Billy, they are aware of each other's problems. Billy knows about Don and Bobbie (Melinda McGraw), which sends him overtly defensive. His smoothness is fading away. People know his secrets and the chances of his persona staying in tact are starting to prove faulty. Along with several revelations this episode about secrets coming out, including Jane sneaking around and Salvatore possibly being gay, this is an episode all about revealing the true selves. Hidden in between a very easy sell of a coffee company to young people, it appears that Don must work on more than appealing to the youth.

Left to right: January Jones and Patrick Fischler

Best Scene

For most of Mad Men so far, it does honestly feel like we have simply been living in Don Draper's world. We are all scheduled to do what he wants and forget the bad moments. It is a high life and if he is mad, let him be. When Billy decides to break that mold and shatter the allusion of Don flirting with other women, he sets in motion a series of dominoes that include revealing to Don that he knows about his affair with Bobbie. The episode ends shortly after, not letting the aftermath to really set it. However, there's clearly unsettling feelings in Betty that result in her vomiting in the car. This could be the start of the next stage of Mad Men. It has been hinted at before, but now it is time for some action. Your move, Don.

UP NEXT: "A Night to Remember"