By Michelle Lerner

One of the hallmarks of great drama, whether it be a film, a play, a novel or a T.V. show is that revelations often lead to more mysteries. A good revelation is at once satisfying and thought provoking. This is certainly the case with MAD MEN. The more we find out about the enigmatic lead character Donald Draper, played perfectly by Jon Hamm, the less we know, and more we want to find out. Who is this guy?

Tonight we learn something huge. Donald Draper was originally a Lieutenant in the Korean War. A different Don Draper then ours. He was a certain Private Dick Whitman’s Lieutenant and was killed when Dick dropped his Zippo lighter on gas. Bam! Blown to bits. Dick switches the dog tags with the corpse, becomes Lt. Draper and gets a new life.

Pete Campbell discovers Don’s charade after stealing a box from Don’s office, and tries to blackmail him. Don denies everything. Then, feeling trapped like a fox, he runs to a lover and tries to get her to leave with him, forever. She calls him on his cowardice, without fully knowing the circumstances that brought him to this. Watching Don struggle with himself is absorbing. He pulls himself together, and like a man, calls Campbell’s bluff. And when Campbell turns out not to be bluffing and tells Bert Cooper what he knows, Don gets his reward. Silence is a powerful device not much seen on T.V. these days, what with the nattering doctors of GREY’S ANATOMY, and the chatty terrorists on 24. Heck there’s even a show about talking, called GOSSIP GIRLS. Don keeps silent as Bert thinks. Bert’s verdict is astonishing: “Who cares?” He asks. It doesn’t matter who Don is as long as money is made. Brilliant.


I wonder if Don/Dick’s fraud is what makes him such a great ad man. If he, the son of a prostitute, can sell himself as a corporate shark then he can probably sell you the Brooklyn Bridge.

Tonight’s episode unfolds against the 1960 Kennedy/Nixon election night. There’s a huge office party after the bosses leave. Offices were way more fun in 1960. I can understand why people never wanted to leave them! Gorgeous mid-century couches, all the booze you can drink, smoking allowed everywhere, young men and women. Sounds like a party to me!

The downside is getting your trash bin vomited in, like Peggy, Don’s assistant. She, after witnessing an executive tackle one of the secretaries to find out what color panties she is wearing, decided to go home. She comes in the next day to a wrecked and reeking office, and green vomit. (They ran out of good booze, and had to go to the Crème de Menthe.) Someone has also stolen three dollars and shirt from her locker, which she reports to security. Security then fires the black elevator operator and the janitor.

Peggy crumbles. She takes refuge in Don’s office. He returns from his failed flight attempt and is not happy to find her there. But it was poignant to see them there together. They are two outcasts. Everyone else in the office plays his or her roles with joy, the rich kids, the sexy secretaries, the bosses and the copywriters. Don and Peggy are both trying to rise above that. Peggy is hated for playing by the rules. Don is feared for not playing by them. Seeing them together, separately trying to figure out what to do was a great moment and a nice juxtaposition.

Next week is the season finale. I have a feeling that much more will be revealed, leaving plenty of new unanswered questions for next season.