Red in the Face

Vincent Kartheiser was really good again. Funny when he was returning the dip thing "If you gave me cash I would spend it on you" and then the scene where he describes hunting. A little corny but he sold it. January Jones really looked great in the scene with the pregnant neighbor while drinking the wine and her acting was fine too. The walk up the stairs was funny as well. The Nixon political stuff was interesting but I did think about the fact that they were on the side of the loser but I guess that can be as interesting as being on the winning side maybe. The Dinner party scene was very good. John Slattery was funny.

This is a strong episode with standout moments, particularly involving certain characters striking back at those attempting to dominate.

For me it is the funniest episode so far thanks to some cringeworthy scenes involving the character Pete Campbell. Vincent Kartheiser has great material from the writers, but his performance does it justice. Whether or not you buy the visual response from Peggy to one piece of dialogue is up to you, but I put it down to a physical/psychological response partly affected by something revealed about her later on in the season.

One elaborate plot of revenge by one character on another is very amusing when it comes to fruition. John Hamm and John Slattery are on great form. Likewise January Jones who is in several painfully awkward scenes.

It is an 8.5/10 for me but I round up.

After six episodes that more or less highlighted the good side of the '60s (not least in terms of aesthetics), Red in the Face takes care of introducing one of the decade's less pleasant elements, who later went on to become one of America's most infamous characters: Richard Milhouse Nixon.

Actually, Tricky Dick himself isn't physically featured in the storyline, but rather as the subject of Sterling Cooper's latest project, as the election campaign is behind the corner and the men upstairs believe Nixon is the man to support. Bigger problems, however, are caused by Roger Sterling who, put on edge by the situation with Joanne and one drink too many during dinner at Don's, is the source of much tension. In other news, Pete finds it increasingly hard to live up to both professional and domestic demands.

The strength of the episode lies in its way of introducing a potentially hot-button subject (politics) without getting preachy, instead allowing the Nixon/Kennedy subplot to organically evolve as part of the show's narrative. Additionally, Red in the Face boasts two particularly superb performances: Vincent Kartheiser keeps taking his role to new exciting places, and John Slattery has never been better than in the few but precious minutes he is given here with the wonderful character that is Roger Sterling. No wonder he got an Emmy nomination.