This episode only served to prove that last week’s episode really was one of the better of the season, if not the best so far. Tonight felt like we were getting the scrapings from the bottom of the writers’ barrel of material. I held out hope for something really remarkable to come out of it, but wound up disappointed. At least the pre-taped Party segment was decent. It was a shame that we didn’t get a traditional sign-off, though. ‘Peas fans probably loved it.

Cold Open: Vice Presidential Address — Oh, what a surprise: more politics. However, I’ve always loved Sudeikis’s Biden impression, so this was one of the better ones in my book.

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Well, I think it’s safe to say that this week’s Mad Men was the episode of the season … so far, at least. After last week’s episode I was sure that things were going to be dragged out over a couple episodes, but I was happily wrong. Just about everything between Don and Betty came to a head in this installment, and with fantastic results.

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AMC

(Season 2, Episode 13 – Season Finale)

“Congratulations?” – Francine, about Betty’s pregnancy

Wow, they really packed everything into this season finale, eh? You can’t say that fans were cheated out of drama. Not only do they increase the cliffhanger tension (I bet fans are already craving for Season 3, Episode 1), but they also made several secrets known to the people those secrets were being kept from, progressing those plots in a way I bet fans aren’t expecting.

And a few questions were answered for loyal viewers too…

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AMC

(Season 2, Episode 12)

“The only thing that’s keeping you from being happy is the belief that you’re alone.” – Anna, to Don

Finally, a question is answered that I’ve had since we found out Don is Dick: what about the real Don’s family? Certainly they would be wondering where their Don was after “Dick Whitman” died in the explosion in Korea. I actually didn’t think the show would answer that question. I thought it would be one of those TV show plots that we’re just supposed to accept and go along with, so it’s great that they’re not only answering the question, but it’s a major plot point as we get ready for next week’s season finale.

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AMC

(Season 2, Episode 10)

“I hate my mother. What do you think of that?” – Pete, to Peggy

It’s amazing how much terrain a single episode of Mad Men covers. It tonight’s show we get sadness and fear and jealousy and confusion and anger. Children dealing with difficult parents, couples unable to have kids of their own, the civil rights movement, couples about to have a child of their own, families with money problems, and a whole lot more.

Oh, and two undeniably uncomfortable scenes, including one involving a dad feeling up his adult daughter. Hey, no one said this was My Three Sons.

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AMC

(Season 2, Episode 9)

“If I don’t go into that office every day, who am I?” - Freddy

So here we are with Mad Men’s first new episode after winning two Emmys last week for Best Drama and Best Writing (plus four others). Not sure how many new viewers will check out the show to see what all of the buzz is about, but it has me worried. You can’t just jump into this show. There are too many characters, too many plots, it’s too delicately paced, and it’s so damn layered that it’s hard to penetrate it if you’re new. That’s probably why it was good that AMC ran the marathon the other day, but even that was only a second season marathon. Better to buy the first season DVD set so you know what’s going on.

This week: someone dies, someone gets punched, someone gets promoted, and someone wets themselves.

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