Don Draper makes the Jaguar presentation.
/ Courtesy: AMC TV.
Don Draper reaches for Peggy's hand and supplicates himself in her honor with a longing kiss to the back of the hand of his protege. He does not want to let her go. He had just finished telling her how he gave her all that she is, but somewhere he admits he has also relied on her to provide the labor of his success. It is the richest of scenes in television drama.
It is the resolution of nearly five seasons of rising action. The Don and Peggy relationship may be the longest latest man/woman connection in the four time Emmy award winning drama Mad Men. This fairwell scene for Peggy near the end of "The Other Woman" is carefully crafted in its writing, direction and acting. It holds theatrical quality and the captivation of those who have made this AMC drama a part of their viewing life.
I have to confess to a passion for Mad Men and a fascination with the way its creator Matthew Weiner has led us through the culture of the 1960's. He has created imperfect people in his nearly perfect characters. What began as a program that overwhelmed us with the an abuse of cigarettes and cocktails in the workplace and sex at lunch or in the office has taken dedicated viewers on a journey far deeper.
I have yet to hear of a professor grabbing on to Mad Men and creating a class around it, but it would quickly fill all the available seats on the lecture hill. It could be about sharp, intelligent scripting. It could be about culture reference and recent American history. It could be about social mores. It could be about cut throat ambition, creative business thinking and the miisguided pursuit of happiness.
Mad Men 101 would be one of those courses where students think they will pull an easy A. Yet somewhere along the way the self-examination and critical thinking that comes along with the lessons will have them making a pitch by semester's end to remain at the top of the class.
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The opinions expressed in this blog are the sole responsibility of the author and are not reflective of the views or opinions of Barrington Broadcasting, WSTM-NBC3, its management or employees.
