Season 2 has a lot of champion moments. This is the season where we meet Jimmy and Bobbie Barrett who at the same time make a lot of money and a lot of trouble for the boys at Sterling-Cooper, particularly Don. It's the beginning of the end for Don and Betty as Betty begins to see her husband for who he truly is. Peggy begins her transformation into Independent Woman Peggy (The shoes on her feet? She bought 'em!) while combating the judgement of a young priest. She also gives Pete the ultimate denial when he says he loves her and she says that she gave birth to his child and gave it away. Joan, the office bombshell, goes through a series of ups and downs during this season, which brings me to my favorite Season 2 episode:
-----
Season 2: Episode 12:
"The Mountain King"
Joan is my favorite Mad Men character, so episodes that feature major events in her development tend to stand out for me. A lot of things happen to our girl in Season 2 that are worth mentioning. Things are looking up for Joan as she celebrates her engagement to Greg. But the presence of Jane, Don's new secretary who is as pretty as she is young, leaves Joan feeling threatened and frustrated. When she volunteers to help Harry Crane analyze television scripts to decide the most appropriate times to air commercial ads, Joan starts to feel important and talented. Just as she's starting to realize that there is more for her to do in the world of advertising than keep the office liquor supply full, Harry pulls all responsibility from her. Joan's character arc reaches its climax in this episode, though.
This is the famous episode where Joan brings her new fiance to work to show him off. Greg, a perennial asshat, rapes her in Don's office. The usually shark-tongued, no bullshit, tells it like it is Joan becomes powerless in a matter of seconds and makes the most heartbreaking dead expression as she's forced on to the floor. Christina Hendricks' performance is perfection in this episode. Over the course of the series, we see Joan transform from a gold-digging secretary to a fiercely independent and competent business woman. Although she suffers in this episode, I find it to be one of the most pivotal points in her growth. As the series continues, we come to find that Joan never forgets the incident nor does she seem to forgive Greg for it. Sadly, at this point in her development, Joan still harbors enough of the 1950's-style view of women to stay with Greg and go through with their marriage.
The other stand-out point in this episode is that it is the first time we meet Anna Draper! Anna, the widow of the real Don Draper, is a kind soul. She knows Dick Whitman, sees his faults, but loves him anyway. Any person who can forgive someone that literally stole their dead spouse's identity is a saint. We get to learn a lot about fake Don Draper's life before Betty and Madison Avenue. It helps remind us that he's just chasing the American dream like anyone else is. We remember that there are reasons to like Don and root for him. If Anna - the person he may have wronged the most in his life - can love him, why can't we?
-----
Who is your favorite Mad Men character and what are some of their defining episodes in your opinion? Also, what do you think of Joan?
I'll see you in a few days for Season 3!
-Laura
No comments:
Post a Comment