Three Up, Three Down: Mad Men, "Person to Person"

Three Up

1. Joan Harris. The episode opens with Richard telling Joan that her life is undeveloped real estate, and in time (and after a lunch with Ken Cosgrove), she finds something she wants to develop - a film production company, doing industrial films for Dow to start. She offers a partnership to Peggy, who declines, but Joan presses on. Her desire to build something of her own winds up driving Richard away. It's the crowning moment for Joan in the series, really, as she finally has true independence. And Kevin is also now getting part of Roger's estate when he dies, so he's even secure.

2. Peggy Olsen and Stan Rizzo. They're both staying at McCann, but in talking over Joan's offer to Peggy, and Peggy insulting Stan, they learn in their make-up phone call that they're in love with each other. There will be fans that will hate this, but it's the sort of professional and personal synthesis that kind of makes sense for someone as driven as Peggy. And Stan hanging up the phone while Peggy was talking to run up to her office was too cute.

3. Don Draper. Don starts the episode in Utah test driving cars, and now looks every bit a Whitman with his plaid shirts, jeans, and (relatively) untamed hair. He finally learns that Betty is sick, and calls her to say he's coming home, but she (and Sally before her) tell him to keep his distance. This leads him to California, and to Anna's niece Stephanie, where he's looking to crash a bit before heading back. But Stephanie takes him to some sort of New Age retreat up north, which eventually leads to him breaking down after calling Peggy to say goodbye. He's completely adrift until, in one session, he listens to an office worker talk about how he feels unloved and ignored. It's a cathartic moment for Don, as the troubles of this guy put his own issues in perspective. It also apparently leads Don to realize that the best solution for his issues is the one he used before: reinvention. The episode closes with Don in a meditation group, chanting om and smiling. He's at peace and one with the universe, the yin to New York Don's yang.

Honorable Mention: Roger Sterling and Marie Calvet. Marie has left Emile and come to New York, but she and Roger get in a fight because Marie thinks Roger will eventually throw her over. He responds by marrying her and apparently moving to Canada. They seem very happy in the last scene we see them in. As Joan noted, the timing finally worked out.

Three Down

1. Sally Draper. Sally breaks the news about Betty to Don, and then has to make the argument that it's better that he not come back to assert his fatherhood. She thinks it would be too much for Bobby and Gene, and that living with their uncle and aunt would be more stable. She makes no argument about herself, already assuming the mantle of adulthood. She later assumes a maternal role when she comes home to check in on everyone, and finds out that Bobby already knows (he overheard the fights between Betty and Henry). Sally cooks them dinner (Bobby tried but failed), and is still home washing dishes in the last scene we see her in, Betty sitting at the kitchen table and smoking. Welcome to adulthood.

2. Richard Burghoff. For all of Richard's talk about Joan's ability to do whatever she wants, Richard really wants Joan to be with him and not tied down. Her new business will tie her down, and he knows that, so he calls it off before things get ugly. Which is a wise move, but giving up Joan is a mistake.

3. Stephanie Horton. When Don arrives on her doorstep she assumes her folks sent him over to cause trouble over her son, who is being raised by the father's parents. Once they straighten out that Don is there simply because he wanted to check in, she invites him to the retreat. Which she leaves after people in a group session judge her on not wanting to be with her son. She leaves the retreat, going back into the world with the same baggage and problems as before. On the plus side, her conversation with Don before she leaves helps him, I think, as he talks with her about reinvention, potentially getting him to realize that starting over will be best for him.

Honorable Mention: Meredith. She gets canned once McCann realizes that Roger has been using her in addition to Caroline. She's still perky about her chances, agreeing with Roger that she'll land on her feet. Hopefully with a translation service in need of a pig Latin expert.