The Color Blue

The color blue as told by Miss Farrell (the school teacher), while in bed with Mr. Don Draper.

This 8 year-old Charlie asks, "How do I know if what I see is blue, is the same as it is to you?". It's such a simple, sweet question, do we all see color blue the same way. Yet, the answer is not simplistic. In fact, the teacher has been posed a question by an 8 year-old that she rightfully does not know the answer to. This simple question takes her back to the roots of curiosity; back during that time when the smallest of detail and the most innocent of thoughts could bring a smile to one's face. He's so cute, sweet, and smart, she thinks. Her mind is taken to that magical spot where fascination with simplicity has reached beyond the philosophical ... to a place that's made her ponder, imagine, and curiously contemplate the very depths of the human spirit.

This episode is rich.

I love the glaring, staring eyes. I could mute the sound and know every thought in everyone's minds because I know how they all think. That is fascinating.

Here-for-to, if you have not seen this episode, you probably won't want to read on. I may spoil some of the mood you'll encounter.

Two parts of the show I could have lived without: The teacher's brother (who we may never see or hear from again), and Paul Kinsey's bout with the bottle. I do not like the way he pours a drink and frankly we saw too much of him. However, I do like how his bout ends in Don's office. "I had a great idea, and then nothing". But in the end, he has something: Resolute with his fellow employee, who was never trying to back-stab him in the first place, and some direction on an idea that stemmed from a simple line he quoted from someone else.

"See, it all works out."

I love the chemistry between Don and Miss Farrell; the way she whispers in his ear, I want you to stay the whole night. Then in bed, Don says, nobody feels as good about what they do as you do. "That's sweet". She is curious how he would have been at 8; Don begins dozing off and says how he would have liked her, "that long curly hair, noone has it anymore". She softly kisses his lips.

What a dazzling, screen-capturing moment. That is the type of scene that makes an episode great.

Last week's previews had that fateful knock on the door, and the momentary panic of Don and Miss Farrell in bed. The obvious answer, and honestly the only answer was Betty. As it turns out, we were sold out by the irrelevant brother. That was disappointing.

So it wasn't Betty Draper; she didn't find a piece of paper with a phone number or an address, but what she did find were the keys to Pandora's Box.

Betty didn't have a chance to interrogate Don about her findings from his stash, because they had to go to a function that Don would be speaking at.

In the end, we see Betty's eyes glaring at this stranger named "Don Draper". Her deep, brown eyes reveal intensity, rage, hatred, deceit, and sheer curiosity... the same curiosity that makes an 8 year-old boy wonder if we all see the color blue the same way.

What a truly intriguing, thought-provoking episode; it is one of my favorites the show has to offer.

The Colour Blue is a strong episode that cleverly shows characters having their perceptions challenged in numerous hard hitting moments.

For me the strongest scenes involve the Drapers, particularly Betty's discovery, which is a big moment in the overarching narrative of the show. Don's scenes are equally interesting, with a great moment that follows on well from the episodes with Adam.

At this point filmmakers have you on edge with the behaviour of one recurring character. Is she going to turn out to be a bunny-boiler or not? On the other hand, the damage to the Drapers marriage may already be done regardless of how the affair turns out.

Other characters have interesting scenes, such as Paul Kinsey and Peggy, plus Lane and wife.

All performances are excellent, but January Jones gives one of her strongest so far.