One of the very first plot-progressors of the night was Petey Campbell's demotion. I call him Petey because for most of the show, I think of him as a little boy playing house. Of course, this all changed due to other events that would take place during the episode. After coldly walking (literally. apparently it was freezing in the office that morning) to Mr. Pryce's office, he was made aware of some difficult news. He was taken down a level while his buddy Ken Cosgrove was taken up a level and made Senior Vice President of Accounts blah blah blah. As Petey pointed out, his great haircut was also promoted. This of course was a real bummer to Petey; in his mind he was fired. Well, as any Manhattan ad man in the 1960's would do, he left in the middle of the day because he did not feel well. And while he was back home, eating a casserole, little wife Trudy comes waltzing in from a busy day of shopping. Being the dutiful wife she is, she sits down next to him, gently holds his wrist and asks if he lost his temper. We all know it wouldn't have been the first time. But I have to say Mr. Campbell handled the situation quite well, and I understand why he would have qualms with it.
Meanwhile, back at the Draper residents, Betty awakes to find Don holding little Gene and rocking him back to sleep. Um, Jon Hamm in a plaid robe, hair a mess, and holding a sleeping babe was almost too much for me to handle.
Giving me hardly enough recovery time from that sweet little moment, we moved swiftly back to Sterling Cooper where Peggy and nameless roommate (I just can't remember her name right now and I don't feel like looking it up) shot the breeze about men in the apartment, and Duck's name--SHUDDER--came up. Isn't it just hilarious that nameless roommate is baffled as to why Peggy's dating him if he isn't even married? I just about threw up in my mouth when he called Ms. Olsen during office hours to arrange a little roll in the hay and referred to her as PeeWee--SHUDDER SHUDDER!
But, it was there, in Duck's soon-to-be traumatized hotel room that we first saw the historic announcement of JFK being shot in Dallas. Walter Kronkite of course made a cameo appearance, along with several other newscasters from the day. Soon, the event was the only thing anyone could pay attention too. Work stopped at Sterling Cooper as everyone stood together to get updates on Kennedy's condition. As Carla hastily dropped Sally and Bobby off at the Drapers, we learn, along with Betty, that JFK was officially dead, and so the mourning begins. One of the most notable grown-up moments of the night was seeing Sally Draper calmly console her mother, almost like a parent. That Kiernan Shipka knows what she's doing. Fine, that was just an excuse to say her name.
Of course, we all knew this tragedy would coincide with Roger Sterling's gem of a daughter's wedding. Yes. Margaret Sterling was due to be married that day. And judging from her earlier scene with Mona where she cried like a selfish brat and made dramatic and false threats, I'd say she's about ready to take on the role of a wife. I understand that she's still upset that Jane is trying to be a part of her life but c'mon Maggie, just get over it already! So the question is, who's going to this magical event and who's staying home to mourn the loss of the president? Don was doing his duty as the creative director of the father of the bride's company and attending. Naturally, he wanted Betty with him despite the fact that she clearly did not want to go--yet something tells me she's glad she went. The Campbells stayed home. One of the most grown up things I've seen Pete (yes, he deserves the Pete) do is loosen his tie in defiance and remain at home on his couch with his wife.
At the nearly empty wedding reception, guests swapped their "where were you when" stories. Roger and Don glared at each other. Margaret confessed that her "Mommy" was right. Jane and Ken and others watched the news in the kitchen. Betty wore a fur-lined ice-blue skirt and jacket. Henry Francis was late in meeting his daughter. HENRY FRANCIS WAS THERE. That's right, and why wouldn't he be? We could even see Betty mumble, "Of course" under her breath.
Roger made a sweet little announcement and then it was time to dance! Roger danced with Margaret. Henry Francis danced with nameless daughter. Don danced with Betty--but after some convincing. What is it with these two never wanting to dance with each other? Don didn't much feel like it at the derby party, and Betty didn't much feel like it at the wedding. I have to say though, I think Betty has her reasons more than Don does.
Speaking of Betty not feeling too hot about Don, there was quite (that's right, I italicized that guy) a turnaround in this episode. Betty was clearly batting her eyes at Henry Francis right under Don's nose. Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to make an announcement: the role of "Naively Unsuspecting Spouse" will now be played by Dick Whi--uh--Jon Ha--uh--Don Draper. And as much as it may have solved any problem with life I might have had, a spontaneous kiss from that dashing husband on the dance floor did absolutely nothing for Bets.
So the wedding ends. Margaret is now Brooks' probl--wife. Betty walks out of the powder room with a literal choice between two men, thanks to that shot of Don and Henry staring in her direction. This would never have happened but how awkward would it have been if she went straight for Henry?? Don would think, "What the Hell?" Henry would think, "What the Hell?" We would think, "What the Hell?" But that didn't happen so I guess I'll just drop it.
And I can't forget to mention Roger's phone call to Mrs. Joan Harris--I really hate calling her that. I can't wait until her husband inevitably gets killed while fighting for his country (I wouldn't be surprised if one of his fellow servicemen shot him, he's such a little baby/hot-head/rapist) and she can go back to her maiden name. I need more Joan in my life. Granted now that she no longer works at Sterling Cooper, it only makes sense that we'd see less of her. Damn those writers and their logic. I just hope this phone call means we'll see her...and Roger...together. I know, I know, I said it. I'm terrible. I'm advocating adultery on both sides. And Roger wasn't even that great to her when he cheated with her on his first wife. But I don't care. I like these actors' scenes together. They have amazing chemistry and I'd like to see a little more of it, ok? OK?!
The JFK mourning continues. Everyone's staying home, their eyes glued to a television. Pete Campbell is looking very adult in his turtleneck. Moments after Lee Harvey Oswald is shot, Don answers Betty's scream with a strong, manly arm around her but she coldy rejects it. Clearly, after what happened in last week's episode, Betty has the go-ahead to give Don attitude. She's really using his vulnerability to her advantage. So much so that without any explanation she tells Don she's going for a drive. And who does she meet on this drive? Francine! No, just kidding, she meets Henry Francis. I don't really care for their scenes so I'll just say that they talk and flirt and kiss and he wants to marry her. He wants to marry her!? Maybe he's genuine but I think there's something a bit off about this. He doesn't know anything about her. He flirted with her, touched her baby bump, and helped her with some politics. And he wants to marry her?
We finally see Betty return to her unsuspecting husband only to tell him she doesn't love him. Poor Don. Poor Don. That's right! He's cheated on her. He's lied to her, but I still feel bad for the guy. Maybe it's the whole tall-dark-handsome thing? No, it's more than that. He opened up his entire life for Betty last week. And although it's way too many years and way too many women overdue, he still did it. And I personally thought it made their marriage stronger.
And so it was the end of the world. No, literally, The End of the World was playing over the credits. And appropriately so. Here's the thing: I truly truly believe that Don does love Betty. And I think his world and everything he has built in it will crumble without her. On that note, I really don't know what to expect from the season finale. It's true, AMC wouldn't even show a preview. But here are just a few things I hope to see more of:
- Pete Campbell in a turtleneck.
- Don Draper in plaid.
- Jane Sterling in giant earrings.
- Betty Draper in pink sweater sets.
And here are a few things I hope to see less of:
- Peggy in bed with Duck.
- Duck in bed with Peggy.
- Duck and Peggy in a hotel room together.
- Duck and Peggy in an office together.
I just don't like them, okay?
Until next week!
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