Mad Men - S02E06: Maidenform

I love that we get some focus on Duck this episode, he always seemed a very empty, boring, and underdeveloped character - It seems I was right, at least, about the empty part.

A heavy theme in Maidenform is about how the characters see themselves, and how they think they are perceived by others. Pete takes advantage of his position and sleeps with a vulnerable model - they go back to her place where her elderly mother is in the other room - creepy. When Pete returns home he gives himself a smug and satisfied look in the mirror - he is so proud of what he has done, he actually likes what he sees in the mirror - such a despicably childish character.

Betty bumps into Arthur at the war memorial day service and is embarrassed for him to know she has children. I think Betty wants to be desired on a more extreme and child-like level - Arthur is the second 'young' character to draw these kind of feelings from her. Off her exchange with Arthur she buys a bikini at the auction. When Don sees her wearing it at home he humiliates her by telling her he doesn't like it, it attracts attention, and it is desperate - Betty replies with "I didn't know that", before covering herself up. Don selfishly wants his wife to be one thing and somebody like Bobby to be the complete opposite. As Don keeps repressing and talking down to Betty, I wonder when she will suddenly crack, instead of half-rebelling - It will be a long time coming.

Roger organises a lunch between Don and Duck to resolve their issues together - However, Don says he doesn't have a problem with Duck. Don goes to see Duck in his office and Duck thanks him for keeping him with the company and asks Don to accept his apology - he acknowledges that he would be expendable anywhere else. Don accepts. Duck's ex-wife comes to drop his son and daughter, and their dog Chauncey off with him for the night but shows up early: she says he usually isn't good in the afternoons (due to alcohol) - Duck quickly dismisses it. Later, the children tell Duck that their mother is remarrying, and that Chauncey is being left with him - this upsets Duck. Many people have said that Duck did not like Chauncey - but I think he loved Chauncey. When the kids tell him he is being dumped with the dog he says that their mother can't make them do that, and that he learnt to live without Chauncey so they could have some consistency. Also, he is constantly communicating with Chauncey which I doubt he would do unless he cared for him. After all of these feelings of regret and remembrances of the past, Duck's professional and personal problems push him to have a drink - after struggling to stay sober for a while. His drinking probably ended his relationship with his family, and nearly destroyed his career at another job. While just about to take a drink from the bottle, he sees Chauncey staring at him - he cannot stand to see Chauncey looking at him, to be reminded of everything that he has lost, and what a vapid shell of a man he has become. He takes Chauncey down to the door and sends him out onto the streets of New York - so he can drink without being reminded of his past. Duck walks back up to the office with a furious expression on his face, as Chauncey waits at the door - barks - then turns and wanders off into the streets. Duck has chosen slow suicide as opposed to something immediate which I am sure he would have done otherwise.

Peggy finally takes some advice from Bobby and Joan. So far she has gotten herself very far, career wise, but things start to go downhill when she misses out on an opportunity at work, due to her not being told about a meeting at a bar - and not at all fitting in, even if she had attended. Peggy goes to Joan for assistance at work, but Joan tells her she doesn't understand the business in which Peggy is in - though, she is the master of her own turf. Joan advises Peggy to start expressing her femininity on the job to get ahead. Bobby advised her of this once before, and finally she does it - Peggy finds out about the guys going to a men's bar for a job related event she was left out of, and decides to dress up for it. The guys are surprised to see her there and dressed up. They warmly welcome her,Len gets her on his lap, asks her what she wants for Christmas, and tells her she has the best seat in the house. Peggy is quite taken aback by this but begins smiling shortly until she catches Pete's eye. Pete is upset that she is acting in this way - much like when she dances for him in the first season, and he says "I don't like you like this". Perhaps he doesn't like her reducing herself to this level. But, I think it is a parallel (one of the very, very many) with Betty and Don; Pete does not like Peggy being different to what he has pinned her down to as in his own mind - maybe there is also some jealously in there.

I think Don telling Bobby not to talk, parallels the scene at the end of the episode with his daughter, "I'm not going to talk. I don't want you to cut yourself". Don may realise this is the way he is treating the women in his life, he may be conscious of the fact he treats them the way he did. He tells her to leave - just like Duck got rid of Chauncey - he cannot handle his daughter being proud of him, and also cannot stand his daughter reminding him of how he treats the women in his life.

Kudos, Matthew Weiner. I have only touched on the complexities and nuances of this episode - fire up some discussion below if you wish.