Indian Summer

Indian Summer is a strong episode with memorable character moments.

As far as Mad Men episodes go it is comparatively eventful and plot driven. There are some shock moments, interesting character development and it ends at a point that intrigues you about what might happen next.

For me strongest scenes involve Don and Peggy. These characters appear single minded in their pursuit of success. The writers and filmmakers do a great job of portraying their sadness and isolation, plus the impact it has on others.

There are some downbeat themes that continue from previous episodes, including characters being self driven and cold. The opening and closing sequences are a reminder of an incredibly sad interaction in a previous episode and portray its fallout.

That being said there are some fairly amusing aspects. The irony associated with the product Don and Peggy are attempting to market is very well done considering what is happening in their personal lives. Pete Campbell in sycophant mode again is something to behold. Roger Sterling has some outrageous one-liners that John Slattery delivers brilliantly.

As ever the actors do a great work and the visuals are splendid.

Approaching the end, the first season of Mad Men starts building up a solid narrative arc that merges plot strands from previous episodes to form something that will greatly impact the season finale and, hopefully, what comes next, as well.

The main arc of Indian Summer concerns the future of Sterling Cooper in the wake of Roger's heart attack: Bertram Cooper asks him to come in to help with the Lucky Strike account, but the effort proves too much for Roger, who is promptly sent home and replaced by Don, now named a senior partner. This event prompts several employees to consider job offers elsewhere, but Pete Campbell decides to openly challenge fate and ask for a promotion. When Don doesn't pay attention to his request, Pete reacts in a way that could have devastating consequences. Amusing subplot: Peggy is asked to test a weight loss machine so she can write copy for the ad campaign, and discovers through that humiliating experience that the apparatus can have another unexpected function.

The joy of Indian Summer is all in the performances, the nuances that make each interaction between the actors a treat to watch and hear: Slattery is excellent in the few scenes he's given, Robert Morse is valuable support as his partner and the Don/Pete scenes are as tense and brilliant as one has come to expect. The plotting is equally exquisite, showing that beneath the immaculate facade there's much more, as is evident in the closing moments, which provide a powerful build-up for the finale. A lesson in televised storytelling.

Indian Summer was yet another strong episode in the first season. This is one of the few episodes where I remember pretty much the whole main cast given the same amount of screen time, and it holds the ensemble cast even higher.

To everyone's dismay, Roger has another heart attack, which Don is then asked to be taken over for Lucky Strike. We also have Betty Draper in a different sense, and being sexually frustrated, which all in all, is completely realistic given her circumstances. We have Pete snooping around the office for a higher position, but also something that will impact his opinion of Don. Peggy is also dealing with her weight gain in an unusual manner. All of the performers shine here, and this is an excellent episode of a lighter Mad Men.