MAD MEN “Hands and Knees” Review

This week’s episode of MAD MEN entitled “Hands and Knees” had more than one character begging for something whether it be forgiveness, redemption, or another chance. First we see Don trying to get Sally to talk to him on the phone and we learn that she hasn’t really spoken to him since she left his office and missed their last weekend together. However, the promise of a Beatles concert hit the right spot and Sally is, briefly, happy. Even Betty seems somewhat excited for Sally. The next time in the episode that Don has to beg someone to do something for him, it is not quite as simple.

Pete has been working on a client, North American Aviation, for some time. Finally, they get the execs in and all seems to go well with promises of a $4 million budget. Unfortunately, they all need security clearance. Even more unfortunate is the fact that Don’s new secretary, former receptionist, Megan, filled out the security clearance paperwork for Don and he signed it without reading it because “That’s what I do.” After two FBI agents show up at the former Draper house and spend 45 minutes questioning Betty about Don, Don starts to panic. Although Betty covered for him without his asking, he is not sure that he can say that everyone will do the same and immediately barks orders to have Pete see him as soon as he returns. Pete is then put into a bind by having to use his source at the Department of Defense to quash the security clearance, all to save Don, and at the expense of losing the client. Pete notes that Don is putting him in a difficult and uncomfortable position all because Don can’t figure out who he is. Pete does not relish or know how to even explain to the partners how they lost a $4 million account. Pete bears the brunt of the partner’s anger, especially Roger how is deflecting his own defeat, and Don barely steps in to defend Pete. I think Pete and Don’s relationship broke beyond repair at that moment. Right now Pete needs Don at the agency. Should that change in the future, I have no doubt Pete would turn on Don in an instant.

Meanwhile, that is not the only thing SDCP is losing. Roger meets up with the exec from Lucky Strike who breaks the news to him that Lucky Strike is consolidating their ad business and it is not with SDCP. Just like that, Roger has lost his only client and possibly the only thing keeping him at the agency. After all, aside from kissing Lucky Strike’s ass, what else has he done? Another problem is that Lucky Strike is one of SDCP’s major clients. Without it and with having lost NAA, the agency does not seem to be in the best financial position. Roger practically begs to be given a second chance, and when that doesn’t work, begs for 30 days to get his affairs in order. Apparently Roger does not plan to break the news to the other partners during that time period, but instead to find a bigger account. His contacts, though, are outdated and some even dead. Things look dire for Mr. Sterling.

Things look equally dire for Lane who has found some happiness here in the States since his wife has left him. He has a new girlfriend, an African American Playboy bunny that he has secretly been seeing. When Lane’s father arrives from London to bring back Lane who was expecting to see his son, all hell breaks loose, albeit in the calmest way possible. Lane wastes no time taking his father and Don to the Playboy club and introducing them to the bunny. Later, he invites his father over for dinner and again introduces the bunny, obviously as someone important to him. Lane’s father, always polite, although somewhat aloof, declines dinner and Lane sends the bunny on ahead of him. In an instant, Lane’s father brings Lane to his hands and knees literally with a cane to the head. He threatens Lane into submission until Lane has agreed to go back to London and his family. Lane announces his leave of absence during the partner’s meeting assuring them that the agency is on solid financial ground. Of course, he only just learned about the NAA withdrawal and has no idea about Lucky Strike.

Finally, there is Joan who finds out she is pregnant, again. Roger takes her to see a doctor, again. The doctor is disgusted with Roger and yells at him for using Joan and “ruining her.” But ultimately, the doctor gives them the name of a place where Joan can get remedy her situation. After all, her husband has been gone for seven weeks, so he couldn’t possibly buy the lie that the baby is his, right? Roger seems upset about the baby, but he is really upset that he and Joan aren’t together. He never would have wanted the child, but thought it was a sign of how they should have been. He offers to go with Joan to the clinic, but she goes it alone. There she encounters a bawling woman in the lobby who has brought her 17 year old daughter there to remedy her situation. The woman admits that she was just 15 when she had her daughter, but now thinks 17 is so young. She then asks Joan how old her daughter is, assuming that is the reason Joan is there. Joan, a bit taken aback and perhaps a bit shamed, responds “Fifteen.” I wonder if Joan went through with it after all.

This episode of Mad Men quietly hit you when you weren’t looking. I certainly wasn’t expecting Don’s dual life to catch up with him so quickly. Nor, I suppose, did he with the panic attacks it caused. Interestingly, it was Faye he told about his past this time and she continued to accept him. Betty lied for Don and then lied again when she told Henry that the FBI was there because she didn’t want any secrets, but kept secret the very thing at the heart of their visit, Don’s lies. The scenes with Lane and his father with ripe with quiet desperation on Lane’s part and bubbling disgust on his father’s part. Both characters were beautifully played.

What did you think of this week’s episode of Mad Men? It wasn’t until the end that I realized that this episode was Peggy free. The last few centering heavily around her, it didn’t bother me that much. Did you miss Peggy? Do you think Lane will return to his newly created life or be forced to remain in London? Do you think Roger will get new accounts to justify his role at SDCP? Share your comments, thoughts and ideas below.

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