Mad Men Review: The Warm and Fuzzy Side of Don

In the first two episodes of this fourth season of Mad Men we have seen Don Draper in a near robotic state of self-destruction and pain. He has become a man full of self-hate and I was starting to believe that nothing and no one would be able to reach him emotionally. But this week’s episode, aptly titled “The Good News”, took Don back to a place where things are a little bit brighter and he can be himself again – California.

We last saw Don visit sunny California back in season two when we learned that in a small house in LA lived a woman named Anne, who happened to be the wife of the real Don Draper before he was killed in the war and Dick Whitman (the Don Draper we know and love) assumed his name and identity. Our Don has never had a romantic relationship with Anne (Melinda Page Hamilton) but it is clear that when he is with her, he is a different man. Gone are the many walls he puts up to become the tough and flashy ad executive around everyone else. With her he is simply Dick Whitman again and its great to see him shed that weight and actually open up to someone emotionally from who he has nothing to hide.

This particular visit to Anne is a mere 24-hour stopover before continuing on to Mexico for New Years but he finds her in a somewhat weakened state with a broken foot and crumbling house, which makes him immediately concerned. That night, Don and Anne dine with her niece, Stephanie, a burgeoning hippie who naturally lights Don’s fire (does any woman not these days?).

When driving Stephanie home, she reveals that Anne has cancer with almost no time left but the real clincher is that Anne isn’t even aware. Stephanie’s mom (Anne’s sister) has checked with numerous doctors who agree that Anne is beyond treatment and suggest keeping her in the dark about it to ensure that she lives out her remaining days without fear. It’s hard to fathom this being a reality but sure enough – it is the truth and it visibly breaks Don’s heart.

Jon Hamm is simply amazing in this episode as he finally gets to let Don emote and the scenes where he is grappling to tell Anne about her affliction and whether or not he should extend his stay are superbly executed. I imagine most viewers, like myself, wanted to see Don stay there and care for her. But sure enough, he departs back to New York to work instead of relaxing in Mexico.

Upon returning to the office, Don finds Lane Pryce working away on New Years Day when he should be back in London with his family. So far this season, Lane has been a bit of a cranky pill and we assumed he was just concerned about money issues at the new firm but it turns out his grumpiness stems from a more personal base as well.  He at first appears to be keeping the British stiff upper lip but when Don arrives they begin drinking heavily, go see Godzilla completely smashed, and then have a nice steak dinner where the truth comes out.

Lane is going through the process of a divorce and these two vastly different men finally have something in common. It seems that through this encounter both men are able to temporarily escape their pain and this is readily apparent when the usually prim and proper Lane grabs his steak with his bare hands, slaps it against his crotch, and proclaims it to be a Texas belt buckle. Embarrassing? Yes. Amazingly cathartic and happy to see? Very big yes.

The night ends as most nights in Don’s company do with sex – but not between them. Don orders up some hookers and take them back to his place for some coitus. And after everything the two of them have been going through I can genuinely say to them “whatever gets you through the night!” and feel okay about it.

The rest of this episode gave us some much needed screen time for one of my favorite characters – Joan who continues to be played marvelously by Christina Hendricks. Things still appear to be rocky with her husband, Greg (Sam Page) as he waits to be called up for his Army Basic Training and then likely sent off to Vietnam. Joan has apparently been putting on a bright face despite her worries and has even taken preparations to get pregnant before he leaves. But to say that she is happy about their life and relationship potentially being put on hold indefinitely is completely false and just when she is about to explode she cuts her finger and the good doctor steps in to mend her.

Now despite his sometimes doofus exterior I have to say that while Greg was stitching Joan up  I’ve maybe never been more attracted to a human being in my life! It was painfully adorable to see how gently he fixed her and it occurred to both us as viewers and Joan at the same time why they are together and how much they actually love each other. It was a beautiful scene and may end up being a highlight of the season for me.

The episode ends with the major staff of SCDP sitting around a table with Joan asking, “Shall we begin 1965?” We then cut to Don who has a look of fear on his face. Is this a look of concern about facing another year alone? Is he worried about Anne? Or did the words that Stephanie said to him finally sink in? While in the car on the night he learned about Anne’s cancer Stephanie said, “No one knows what’s wrong with themselves but everyone else can see right away.” Is Don now paranoid that everyone can see through his facade and know that he is unraveling or is it worse than even he suspects? Regardless of how you look at it I am utterly fascinated and can’t wait to see how it plays out.

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Season 4, Episode 3: The Good News (originally aired on August 8, 2010)

Sundays at 10PM/9C, AMC

Photographs courtesy of AMC and imdbpro.