Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Written By: Lisa Albert, Andre Jacquemetton, and Maria Jacquemetton
Original Air Date: October 11, 2007
Watch It On: Netflix
What It’s About: The Sterling Cooper crew waits for Don (Jon Hamm) and the rest of the execs to leave for the night before throwing a rowdy all-nighter as they watch the results from the election roll in. Earlier that day, Pete (Vincent Kartheiser) all but begs Don for the new account manager’s position, but Don has his sights set on someone with more experience. Pete goes home that night and decides to take matters into his own hands.
Why It’s So Good: We see Don Draper truly shaken for the first time after Pete threatens to blackmail him if Don doesn’t grant him the promotion. Don Draper’s real name is Dick Whitman. The real Don Draper died in battle and Whitman took on his identity and cared for his family after his death. No one knows about Don’s true identity except for Pete, who’s by far the smarmiest, nastiest member of Sterling Cooper.
Don’t Forget The B-Plot: The Sterling Cooper election night office party was one for the books. Putting liquor in the watercooler, hooking up in offices, acting out plays, and throwing up in Peggy’s (Elisabeth Moss) wastepaper basket — it almost makes you wish HR wasn’t so prevalent these days.
The Best Moment: When we learn about Don’s past for the first time as he remembers the Korean War and the real Don Draper. Also, when Pete gets his ass handed to him from Mr. Cooper.
One More Thing: Like all episodes in the first season of Mad Men, it was a bonafide history lesson without the bore. Creator Matthew Weiner used actual election coverage footage every time a box-set TV was shown and made sure the complications with the infamous recounts were emphasized just as Don’s world seemed to be crashing down around him, reiterating that one’s destiny is at the hands of someone else. This episode was voted Number 8 on TV Guide‘s Top 100 TV Episodes of All Time back in 2009; considering how drastically this episode changed the course of the series, it might still make the top ten if a new list came out today.
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Photos: AMC/Netflix
