Mad About Men

Mad Men is perfection. It’s the ultimate dirty martini…smooth, fun and leaves you feeling giddy. If you’re not a drinker, well then, it’s just plain good. With over 11 Emmy nominations, including Best Drama and Best Actor, it’s back for a second season and judging from this episode, it definitely wasn’t a fluke. This is TV at its best.

The season opener picks up two years later. Last season ended with shockers like Peggy‘s pregnancy and Betty discovering Don had been contacting her therapist. None of these story lines were neatly tied up, though I’m sure the truth will be revealed as the season unfolds.

It’s Valentine’s Day and the gang at Cooper Sterling are still trying to create magic. Don is behaving himself (as much as Don can) and trying to be a better husband and father. He hits a snag in that plan when he’s not able to perform and their romantic night ends in room service and TV.

Peggy is officially a copywriter but she’s struggling to find her footing, both as a writer and as an equal counterpart of the men in the office. Pete is still Pete, striving to make a name for himself but coping with the infertility of his wife.

Betty has taken up riding and she’s as sharp as ever. My favorite line from the episode is when her riding partner asks “don’t you mind getting manure in your car?” Betty, with her lilting laugh and “little children, what’s the difference?” captures her character, as a perfectionist struggling to break out, to be seen. Her fascination after running into a former roommate who now seems to be an call girl forces Betty to look at her own ability to control men, even if it isn’t her husband. When her car breaks down and she barters with the mechanic, I couldn’t help but wonder if Betty is looking for a little danger outside of her safe suburban life.

Back at Sterling Cooper, Duck urges Sterling to bring in younger talent, and the current ad men find themselves facing competition from a younger generation. Future episodes will no doubt have them all battling for the spotlight.

While the men of the show were recognized by the Emmy’s, the women continue to deliver honest and layered performances. This episode wasn’t jam packed with plot but was more of a setup, establishing where our characters are at this point in their lives. It was a seductive tease, easing us into the surprises and twists and turns. If there is one show that you’re watching this summer, Mad Men must be it. Go on, tune in next week to AMC at 10pm and check back here to get more Mad Men goodness.