New Amsterdam

Mark here...Laurel and I are settling in for the next episode of "Mad Men".  This one is called "New Amsterdam".  Laurel has made us some roasted pork chops in an amazing apple and onion sauce, and scalloped potatoes that were equally delicious.  I made us a side of sauteed kale with garlic, lemon and a hint of anchovy paste.

On to the episode!  This one was very interesting as we get to see a bit more insight into Pete Campbell, who is quite an ass.  He and is wife are interested in buying an apartment in Manhattan that is out of their price range.  When Pete asks his dad, dad balks and clearly doesn't think much of Pete's career in advertising.  It's funny now to think this type of career was considered somehow unserious or frivolous.  Next we see Pete taking out his issues on Don in a client meeting.  He goes out of his way to sabotage Don's pitch to the client and then fill the client's head with this own ideas.  This nearly gets him fired, but his mothers famous name forces the bigwigs at Sterling Cooper to reconsider. Wisely though, Roger Sterling tells Pete that it was Don who saved Pete from being fired.  In doing so, he is hopefully preventing Pete from feeling too invincible and reluctant to do the same thing again.

Meanwhile, there's a subplot with Betty agreeing to babysit for Helen Bishop, the neighborhood's resident divorcee (or maybe she's just separated?).  In any case, Helen's son is bordering on or just reaching puberty and makes a point of barging in on Betty in the bathroom.  She ends up forgiving him but then agree to give him a lock of her hair before sending him to bed! Not exactly the best way to handle his crush on her! In fact she pretty much encourages him to grab a lock of her hair and go jerk off!  Later, in her psychiatrist's office, she confesses to feeling sorry for him and it sort of borders on creepy...

Laurel here...I agree with Mark on all points.  It's hard to know if Pete is taking out his daddy issues on Don, or whether he is just a rich entitled asshole, but I sense it might be a bit of both.  Growing up with a famous name must have trained him his whole life to think he can do whatever he feels like all the time, but he definitely has some issues with Don where he wants desperately for Don to recognize him and give him credit for things.  Sorry to break it to you Pete, but that's not how work works...You work hard, put out good ideas (to your boss first, not directly to the client after hours!), and keep your mouth shut about it because that's your job, if you expect a pat on the back every time you meet the needs of your job you're in for a lot of disappointment.

We also see a little insight into Trudy, Pete's new wife, in this episode.  She seems like a girl who gets what she wants, and it seems like her marriage to Pete might be a means to an end for her instead of a marriage based on love...

I'm interested to see where this thing goes with Betty Draper and the kid from the neighborhood, Glen. Giving the kid a lock of your hair might not be the best way to handle the situation.  You are the grown up here Betty, act like it!