Summer is here, at least in 1965 it is. Don has had plenty of new beginnings, from the start of a new business to the end of his marriage. However, after the events of The Suitcase, Don has become much more aware of himself and his mortality, thanks to his night with Peggy as well as Anna's death. We pick up with Don swimming in a public pool, trying to clear his mind. This episode is very much a personal piece about Don, giving us his thoughts as he writes them down. This isn't your regular voice over. Don isn't a magnificent writer, and that shows in this episode.
Don realizes that he needs to keep control over himself, and he's taking steps to cut back on drinking and keep himself from going out of control. Over the course of this episode, Don has two dates. The first is with Bethany, the young girl who we've seen in Public Relations and The Chrysanthemum and the Sword. Although I'm inclined to think otherwise, I have a feeling this will be the last time we see her. Don knows that she's too young for him, and though he does want to be close with somebody, he knows it isn't her. Plus, the fact that they ran into his ex-wife on a date does add a bit of a speed bump. Forgive me if I don't think this is "to be continued".
If you ask me, he has a much better chance with Faye Miller, who understands Don in a way rivaled only by Peggy. Their date together shows them getting along a lot better than in Christmas Comes But Once a Year. I definitely see this relationship going somewhere, and Faye may just fulfill her own prediction about Don getting married within a year. However, I felt that the most emotional part of this episode involved Don trying to be a bigger part of his family. When Mr. Francis tries to keep Don for showing up at Eugene's birthday party, there is definitely a little sadness for Don. The ending was a perfect cap off to the episode, leading into a silent end credits.
On a side note, freelancer Joey got fired from Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. Don certainly has more faith in Peggy than she has in herself, and that encouragement leads her into sacking Joey for being so sexist against Joan. While we see Joan at her most vulnerable in this episode, with her husband going away to basic training, we again see her turn on a dime into this sharp toothed monster. That elevator scene between her and Peggy is a little frustrating, because while we feel sorry for Peggy being made out to be a bitch, we know that everything Joan is saying is right. It's a fine line that Mad Men walks.
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