Mad Cap: "Meditations in an Emergency"

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 2, Episode 13

"Meditations in an Emergency"

"I sell products, not advertisements."

- Don Draper (Jon Hamm)

Plot:

Don Draper (Jon Hamm) is back in town to tack account of everything that has happened. Betty Draper (January Jones) discovers that she is pregnant and decides to disobey the doctor's orders and physically abuse her body to avoid care. Sterling Cooper is being sold thanks to Herman "Duck" Philips (Mark Moses) who is in return being made the head of the company. Everyone is becoming paranoid because they are being asked to show off their pay stubs for security reasons. There's speculation that they are moving to a west coast branch. Nothing is confirmed, though those who do know are aware of the merger. Father Grimly (Colin Hanks) disowns Peggy Olsen (Elisabeth Moss) because she doesn't believe that she is faithful. Meanwhile, everyone in the office is glued to their radios and TV's because of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Don discovers that Betty is pregnant and is not entirely sure how to respond to that. He also doesn't know if he is still going to be working at Sterling Cooper with Duck in charge. Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) leans that Peggy had his baby but gave it up for adoption, leaving him defeated.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Jon Hamm

MVP:

Don Draper (Jon Hamm)

While the season could claim to have ended on a nuanced beat, it is quite an exciting one that is full of promise for whatever lies ahead. For an agency that mostly drinks and schmoozes with clients, this series has managed to find compelling drama that when intertwined with history produces something wholly authentic. The society influences the messages and beliefs of the characters. None of them feel as necessary in this episode as Don discovering that everything is changing and he isn't even sure if he cares enough to go along with it. Where he was a policy man at the start of the season, he is now a defeated husband who is trying to get over a traumatic separation from his wife. This is as much an informing piece as it is a reflection of just how important he actually is. His name as a boss doesn't mean anything. People are already stepping up to replace him. The Draper who seemed unstoppable at the start of the series is now just another pawn in the game. How unfortunate.

Left to right: Elisabeth Moss and Vincent Kartheiser

Best Scene

When Betty was announced to be pregnant, it seemed a little redundant. Sure, there's the mystery of who, but considering that we just saw Peggy give birth during the previous finale, it felt like the series had run out of ideas for its female characters and was playing a strangely specific card yet again. Yes, it changes a lot of the dynamics for Don going forward, but it still contradicts his desire to move on and forget the small details. Likewise, Pete has been trying to be accepted by his father and employees all season. He has done a great job, though the only thing missing was that he was in need of a child with his DNA. In a defeating blow, Peggy decides to inform him that she had his baby and gave it up for adoption. This blow that could have solved a lot of his problems comes as a surprise that not only is he capable of impregnating women, but also had the chance to prove himself as a father figure. It's all gone and like Don with his marriage, the shambles are shocking to him in ways that are irreparable. 

Season 2 Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

If season 1 was all about establishing the motifs and mysteries of Mad Men, then season 2 was about playing them out to their logical conclusions. We know who Dick Whitman is, but there's still a lot to learn. He is the kind of man who buys a new car and uses his wife to sell products now. He wants to get ahead and live the fabulous life without a sense of emotional investment. Meanwhile, the motifs of planes, Cuban Missile Crisis, and Sterling Cooper's merger are all aspects that reflect that the world that Don Draper knew is changing. He is no longer happily married. He is a shell of his former self who'd rather move to California than deal with his problems. He may still wear a smile and have class, but when the company drunk manages to change the direction of the establishment, then there is problems. It is fascinating to see Don's peers catch up to him, leaving a sense of inferiority. He is still important, but for how much longer? Also, is there a chance that he will be moving back to California anytime soon?

UP NEXT: "Out of Town"