Spoilers. It's not that "The Benefactor" is bad, merely that both of its main storylines felt more pedestrian than usual, although I appreciated a subplot that focused on Harry (Rich Sommer) and there's always a bedrock of greatness and small gems that raise it a notch...
The main story gets underway when comedian Jimmy Barrett (Patrick Fischler), filming a TV commercial for one of Sterling Cooper's clients, Utz Potato Chips, insults the portly wife of the company's owner when they arrive on-set. Don (Jon Hamm) tries to limit the damage by approaching Jimmy's wife Bobbie (Melinda McGraw) about arranging an expensive dinner, where Jimmy can apologize for his behaviour. For the first time this season (having been led to believe Don's been faithfuil to his wife for over a year), it doesn't take much for him to give in to Bobbie's advances in a car being pelted by symbolic hailstones... arriving home to his family, and immediately scrubbing the scent of another woman from his fingers and mouth in the kitchen sink.Betty (January Jones) remains faithful to her husband, although she suspects Don's adulterous ways, and coolly blocks a clear advance from Arthur (the man she rides horses with at the stables) -- a man who can see through her ice queen visage at the terrible sadness beneath. Betty can only deflect his insight with a killer explanation for her glassy expressions ("it's just my people are Nordic"), before walking away from the situation and shakily lighting a cigarette. Clearly she wants to have an affair to punish her wayward husband, but doesn’t really have the brazen attitude to go through with it.
Later, Betty is present at the dinner arranged by Don and Bobbi for Jimmy to apologize for his hurtful remarks to SC's clients, Hunt Schilling (Steve Stapenhorst) and his wife Edith (Jan Hoag). Jimmy's apology doesn't seem likely to materialize, as the comedian appears more interested in flirting with "Miss America" Betty -- meaning Don pushes the matter with Bobbie in a restroom. After realizing Bobbie plans to extort $25,000 from Sterling Cooper for the apology, Don shows a darker side than usual: threatening to destroy her husband's career, while reaching up Bobbie's skirt. Jimmy's apology is given shortly after, rescuing the Utz Potato Chips account, and Don notices Betty crying as they drive home together -- apparently because she's "so happy", but possibly because it's such a rarity for her to feel so included in Don's working life.There's a very enjoyable subplot for Harry, who is accidentally handed Ken's (Aaron Staton) pay-cheque and decides to sneak a look inside -- discovering his colleague makes £300 a week, compared to his £200. Unable to re-seal the ripped envelope, he seeks help from Salvatore (Bryan Batt), who tells him to throw the slip away and pretend it got lost in the mail. Still, feeling cheated that bachelor Ken makes more money than he does with a family to feed, Harry is particularly keen to prove his worth to the company -- and tries to help sell advertising space to Belle Jolie lipsticks during the commercial break of a particularly harrowing episode of TV show The Defenders (entitled "The Benefactor", with a storyline concerning abortion.)
Belle Jolie don't agree to associate their product with the subject-matter (despite assurances young women will be drawn to the controversial plot), but Harry's efforts are still noted. Indeed, Harry later approaches Roger (John Slattery) about possibly heading up a new TV department of Sterling Cooper, and is half-surprised to see his idea taken seriously. Now confident, he even negotiates a pay increase to $225 -- although Roger tellingly claims nobody in the company earns anywhere near Harry's opening request for $310.Overall, I wasn't particularly gripped by any of the stories this week. But, as usual, the cumulative punch of so many excellent moments helped smooth any reservations. This episode saw Don revert to his unfaithful ways (and fire secretary Lois for, basically, failing to keep his extra-curricular activities secret!), Betty's defences will surely crack sooner or later if Arthur persists, and it was great to see Harry given more screentime -- with Pete notably absent and Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) reduced to one scene. The history lessons Mad Men provides are also great fun, as The Defenders was a genuine TV show from 1962 that really did lose sponsorts when it aired an episode about abortion.
24 February 2009
BBC Four, 10pm
Writers: Rick Cleveland & Matthew Weiner
Director: Lesli Linka Glatter
Cast: Bryan Batt (Salvatore), Michael J. X. Gladis (Paul), Aaron Staton (Ken), Rich Sommer (Harry), Jon Hamm (Don), John Slattery (Roger), January Jones (Betty), Christina Hendricks (Joan), Elisabeth Moss (Peggy), Gabriel Mann (Arthur), Missy Yager (Sarah Beth), Mark Moses (Duck), Joel Murray (Freddy Rumsen), Crista Flanagan (Lois Sadler), Kiernan Shipka (Sally Draper), Denise Crosby (Gertie), Laura Regan (Jennifer Crane), Cameron Goodman (Tara), Melinda McGraw (Bobbie Barrett), Patrick Fischler (Jimmy Barrett), Jan Hoag (Edith Schilling), Paul Keeley (Elliot Lawrence), Steve Stapenhorst (Hunt Schilling) & Nat Faxon (Flatty)
