Mad Men: Dirty Laundry

Mad Men gave us a look inside the world of Duck Phillips this week and it wasn’t pretty.  Duck’s personal life has been a bit of a mystery, though we know he’s a teetotaler avoiding alcohol in an office where whiskey flows like water.

Duck’s son and daughter come to visit, along with Chauncey, their adorable Irish setter, for the Memorial Day weekend.  We learn quickly that Duck is soon to be divorced and, while he deals with the family, he’s also convincing the team that Playtex needs a sexier approach.  With just days to do this, Duck and Don clash again.  Sterling warns Don to put away his sword and play well with others.  Don isn’t thrilled with the idea, but he sucks it up and makes nice for the sake of the company.

Peggy, Pete, and Sal discuss directions for Clearasil, with Pete wanting to be the creative genius and Peggy clearly hesitant.  She struggles with finding her own footing after a boys’ night out leaves Paul Kinsey heading the Playtex account and Peggy out in the cold.  She finds herself asking Joan how she can break through.  Joan tells her, “I’ve never had your job or wanted it.”  But, her advice is that if Peggy wants to be taken seriously, she needs to stop dressing like a little girl.

Peggy takes note and shows up where the guys are celebrating in a low cut dress and stylish hairdo.  Is she ready to sell out a little to climb the ladder?  Maybe she’s following Bobbie’s lessons, but it doesn’t look like Peggy’s content to sit on the sidelines any longer.  Even Pete’s disapproving glances may not be enough to stop her from doing whatever it takes.

While Don is being honored at a country club for his military service, Betty has a friendly encounter with Arthur Case, who tells her that he’s sorry she changed her riding schedule.  Betty says, “Let’s be friends.”  Don certainly wasn’t feeling friendly towards Betty.  Instead, he leaves the club to rendezvous with Bobbie, who then cancels their date.

When she reschedules, Bobbie is full of other surprises.  She reveals that she seduced Don because she’s heard of his reputation.  While Don might be up for a good time, Bobbie’s manipulation infuriates him and he leaves her (tied to the bed, no less) and heads back home.  As he’s shaving and his daughter watches, he asks her to leave.  Don sits down and we wonder what Don saw that made him feel that way.

Meanwhile, Duck and the rest of the creative team pitch their Playtex campaign, that every woman is a Jackie or a Marilyn.  The clients love it, but are content with their current campaign.  After all that work for nothing, Duck learns his wife is getting remarried and all he’s getting is Chauncey.  He finds himself facing the temptation to drink.  While he resists, he ends up abandoning Chauncey and leaves us wondering if he can hang on to his sobriety.

Next week, we’ll see if Don decides to mend his cheating ways, if Duck’s divorce affects his drinking, and whether Peggy has to continue using her womanly wiles to get ahead.

Sundays at 10PM/9C, AMC

Photographs courtesy of AMC

Check out a sneak peek of Mad Men Episode 7 “The Gold Violin”:

http://www.amctv.com/videos/madmen/?bcpid=895162757&bclid=1264609526

Don buys a brand new car which befits his image as an executive who has “arrived.” Pete, Harry and Ken strategize to attract new business. Don’s secretary makes a grave error, which could spell trouble for Joan. Cooper has a new piece of art in his office that attracts the interest of the employees at Sterling Cooper.

Also, help pick the winner of Mad Men’s “Win A Walk On Role Contest”.  The finalists have been chosen.   With Matt Weiner’s participation, AMCTV.com will select the final winner, who will be announced on Sept. 15.

Vote here: http://blogs.amctv.com/mad-men-contest/

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For a look at last week’s Episode 6 “Maidenform”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCc014mluIw

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MAD MEN

Sundays @ 10PM | 9C

For all things Mad Men visit: http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/