Mad Men Season 5: 11 Most Talked-About Moments

August 18, 2024

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‘Mad Men’ Season 5: 11 Most Talked-About Moments

Beth Dawes Gets Electro-Shock – Episode 513, “The Phantom”
Despite Pete’s otherwise repulsive personality, he still manages to appear sympathetic in the season 5 finale, when he goes to visit his mistress Beth Dawes (Alexis Bledel) in a mental hospital, where she is receiving electric shock therapy for her chronic depression. After her treatment, Dawes is apparently unable to recall Pete, who nonetheless recounts that his love for her made him reevaluate his life and who he is as a man.
Lane Punches Pete – Episode 505, “Signal 30”
The proper British gentlemen punches weasely Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) after Lane found out that Pete took his client to a high-end brothel. The two had at it in the SDCP conference room, with Pryce knocking out Campbell with two punches to the face.
Lane’s Suicide – Episode 512, “Commissions and Fees”
After he discovers that Lane Pryce (Jared Harris) stole money from the company, Don fires Pryce, suggesting that his former business partner make an “elegant exit.” Since the beginning of the season, Lane had been plagued by financial hardships and workplace quarrels, all of which, ultimately, prompted the junior partner to hang himself in his office.
Peggy Quits – Episode 511, “The Other Woman”
Feeling under-appreciated and after being overlooked yet again for a deserved promotion, the SCDP copywriter decided to take a copy chief position at rival firm CGC. Elisabeth Moss, the actress who plays Peggy, told THR that she was unaware of her character’s decision to leave until they “were shooting Episode 10, the one right before it.” The actress adds, “Not knowing Peggy would quit allowed me to find it for myself, to really feel Peggy's growing frustration with Don [Jon Hamm] all season."
Zou Bisou Bisou – Episode 501/502, “A Little Kiss”
In the Season 5 premiere, the new Mrs. Draper (Jessica Pare), performed a sultry rendition of the catchy French tune “Zou Bisou Bisou,” originally preformed by Jillian Hill in 1961, at Don’s surprise 40th birthday party. In an interview, Pare talked to The Huffington Post about her previous singing experience, which was limited to “around the bonfire, in the shower, in the car … and that’s about it.”
Betty’s Weight – Episode 501/502, “A Little Kiss”
Betty (January Jones) was absent for much of season 4 of the AMC drama, which made it all the more jarring when she returned to the show overweight. At the beginning of season 5, Betty tries to get a prescription for diet pills from a doctor, who discovers a nodule on her thyroid. Although the nodule is later discovered to be benign, it causes Betty to contemplate her actions and her own mortality.
Joan’s Indecent Proposal – Episode 511, “The Other Woman”
In order to secure the lucrative Jaguar account, the partners at SDCP asked Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks) to prostitute herself and, in return, she would become a partner in the firm. Joan’s actions sparked a debate about what sacrifices are acceptable for working women. In an interview with GQ magazine Hendricks commented that she was initially conflicted about her character consenting to the “indecent proposal” but added, “She acted like one of the guys, to a certain extent.”
Paul Kinsey Goes Full-Krishna, Harry Dabbles – Episode 509, “Dark Shadows”
Kinsey (Michael Gladis), who was upset when Peggy was chosen to join SCDP, re-appears in season 5 as a member of the Hare Krishna movement. Latter in the episode, the sci-fi fanatic shows his former co-worker, Harry Crane (Rich Sommer), a Star Trek spec script. Harry then gives Paul $500 and a bus ticket to Los Angeles, in an attempt to convince him to leave his new, religious life in New York to become a screenwriter.
Peggy’s Anonymous Sexual Encounter – Episode 506, “Far Away Places”
After becoming frustrated with her boyfriend and her clients, Peggy leaves work, has a few drinks and attends a screening of the film Born Free, where she meets a marijuana-smoking theatergoer. Once she has ingested some of the young man’s illicit substances, she performs a sexual act on him, never having known his name.
Roger’s Acid Trip – Episode 506, “Far Away Places”
At an uneventful dinner party Roger (John Slattery) decides to partake in some hallucinogens with his wife, Jane (Peyton List), and her therapist. After taking LSD, he begins to have vivid audio-visual hallucinations, including a delusion where he imagines himself watching the 1919 World Series from his bathtub. The couple then talks candidly about their marriage for the first time, and Jane admits that she knows the marriage is over. The next morning a blissful Roger says goodbye to a regretful Jane.
Sally Walks in on Roger and Megan’s Mom – Episode 507, “At the Codfish Ball”
In this episode, Sally (Kiernan Shipka), the wise-beyond-her-years daughter of Don Draper, walked in on her step-grandmother (Julia Ormond) preforming a sex act on Roger. Later in the episode, when talking to fellow young’un Glen Bishop (Marten Weiner), she summed up New York City in one word: “dirty.”