Mad Men “Lost Horizon”: Change, Change, Change

Peggy Making a statement on Mad Men

Photo Credit: AMC TV

My review of tonight’s Mad Men as soon as I roller-skate around the office to organ music…

“I did it, I just needed a push.”
-Roger

After last week’s rocking heist gone wrong episode of course Mad Men had to let us slow down and settle into the new world that these characters occupy. “Lost Horizon” was maybe not the type of plot driven romp that many (I include myself in this) were hoping to accompany the final season of this show at this point, but it sure was one heck of an entertaining episode of Mad Men. I may have no clue where this series is ultimately going, how we are going to get there, or if there is even going to be a definitive “this is an ending” at all but at this time, while at points it can be a bit frustrating, I’m glad that Matthew Weiner is making the show he has always made because at this point I would have it no other way.

“Lost Horizon” did provide some plot movement and character change just not with Don. Don going to chase after Diana seems strange at this point in the season, especially an episode revolving around how bad he is at doing this. It just seems like we are going nowhere with Don not only plot wise but character wise as well. Running away from a meeting to try and get the woman who doesn’t want him feels like an arc that we’ve seen before. Maybe the whole being shut down by Diana’s old husband thing provides a new horizon for Don. I also think that I have been hoping for this now for just about this entire season of Mad Men.

Probably the best bet, as potentially hinted at in the final scenes of the episode, is that Don may go all Hobo (maybe it’s unfair to call the guy who hitchhikes with Don a Hobo but we’ll go with it for now) on us and attempt one final “run away from the situation he does not want to be in.” It certainly seems like it at this point, there really is not anything for him at McCann, nor does he have anyone to consult with in this time of need. Either way by the end of the series I’m hoping for either some kind of change for Don Draper or no change at all. Honestly to me change would be the more interesting of the two but if Matt Weiner has wanted to hammer home the point that ultimately people can’t make fundamental changes to their core personality he has put in so much time and effort with Don that I am willing to run with it at this point.

While Don was off doing whatever he was hoping to do there were some awesome moments in “Lost Horizon” involving different characters trying to adapt to the idea and reality of working at McCann in a variety of different ways. Let’s start with Joan as this certainly seems to have the potential to be Joan’s last episode (or at least an episode with a focus on her). Joan has the worst position of everyone who has adapted to McCann as being a woman in a position of power is still something relatively unheard of in the early 1970s. It’s not only that Joan has to deal with sexism, incompetence, and guys constantly trying to hit on her, but she really can’t get help to rail against it in any particular way. As soon as she goes right to the top Joan is shut down by Jim Hobart, who not only takes no credence to the complaints but then proceeds to chew Joan out because of them. Joan ends up having to back down and accept only half her money, and she’s almost lucky for it. It’s an escape from this awful place, a final push towards what could be a potential happy ending. Sure it might have been more satisfying for her to fire on all cylinders it would also be a heck of a lot more painful for Joan and not the way for her to ultimately get out.

Peggy is taking the transition head on despite it seemly as though they really don’t want her to get there. The entire Peggy arc revolves around her trying to get out of the old office and towards the adventure ahead. Along the way we get a few amazing scenes with Roger, including lots of drinking, a great metaphorical boat story, and ROLLER-SKATING THROUGH THE OFFICE WHILE ROGER PLAYS THE ORGAN! It all leads to what is potentially one of the greatest Peggy moments that the series has ever gives to us as she enters the McCann offices in sunglasses, a sly smirk, a cigarette hanging from the side of her mouth, and the old octopus porn painting that Burt Cooper had in his office for so many years. It’s very possible that Peggy is going to be completely broken down from all the terrifying things that the people of McCann could do to her, but for now seeing the progression of Peggy as a character, from the terrified secretary to the super confident creative master who has command over every hallway she walks down was glorious and a fantastic example of just how amazing this show has been and still is.

While “Lost Horizon” did not really advance the characters towards finality or move the plot forward in maybe a way you would see in a final season, it was still another really great episode of this show. Everything surrounding the frustrating Don arc (which was still very good in its own right) was wonderful as our characters explore the new horizon that is the potentially horrible McCann. This is a great show that has managed to do great things in terms of payoffs with its characters and I hope we continue to get that as the final season nears closer to its close.

Some other musings:

• Bert Cooper was all over this one in a variety of different ways. Not only does the ghost of Cooper again talk to Don on his ride towards Dianna, but we get the magic of that Octopus painting that Peggy ends up getting.

• Nice little call back to Conrad Hilton whom it would nice to get a cameo from eventually.

• Pete and Teddy seem to be the ones making the best transition to McCann.

• Interesting callbacks in terms of Don’s office and the McCann boardroom both of which look like they are respectively ripped straight from the old Sterling Cooper offices.

Only two more episodes left. I’m not ready.

That’s just me though. What did everyone else think?