Episode 4 - New Amsterdam

Taynement says:

So this episode was a Pete-centric episode and we find out that Pete can't hack it at work or at home.  The boys at the office are slacking off as usual in Pete's office listening to a comedy record when his secretary (who I promise is Jessica Chastain but I cannot find anything that backs me up) lets him know that his wife, Trudy is here to take him out to lunch. There is a brief encounter when Trudy meets Don and Peggy and Peggy flees as fast as she can. Trudy tells Pete she has found them an apartment. They go look at it and Pete lets her know that they cannot afford it. Trudy who seems used to getting what she wants lets him know there is nothing wrong with getting help. When Pete mentioned he only made $3500 a year it took a minute for my brain to adjust and realize these were different times.

Cue Pete going to ask his dad for money and we get a glimpse as to why he is the asshole he is. Because his dad is a bigger asshole to him. He berates his job and basically lets him know he is not good enough and will not be helping him out financially for the apartment. Which was a complete turnaround from when they ask Trudy's parents for money and Pete's father in law showers Pete with praise and places so much confidence in Pete's future. On the work front, Pete oversteps his boundaries eager to prove that he is more than a client woo-er and pisses Don off so much he was surely out of there, until Bert Cooper explains why Pete's family connections is needed for the company. Sterling (who I am appreciating more with this rewatch) uses this opportunity to tell Pete that his job was saved by Don and he owes everything to him.

Betty is walking the new family dog and sees Helen Bishop's ex husband making a scene outside her house. She later goes by to Betty's and they have a drink and a chat where Helen tells her details of the divorce and how she was cheated on. Don walks in while they chat and he goes straight upstairs, Betty feels she has to make an excuse and says he needs his quiet time.Helen later asks Betty to please babysit for her and so begins the strange relationship she will forever have with Helen's son, Glen. Betty goes to her psychiatrist and spends her time talking about Helen - or rather herself. And this is one of the reasons why Mad Men is my fave. The human psychological aspect of it that is expressed through metaphors of some sort. She mentions how she thinks Helen is jealous of her and how she needs help but the reverse might be the truth. Betty is probably jealous of Helen and her bravery and freedom so to speak. All in all, the whole episode felt like characters who are trapped in a life where they don't feel they belong to.

Altius says:

Welcome back to our Mad Men rewatch. We’re settling back in nicely with the folks of Sterling Cooper and this week we spend a lot more time with smarmy Pete. We finally meet Pete’s wife Trudy (the fantastic Allison Brie), the same time as Peggy does and it’s as awkward as you can imagine. She’s trying to convince Pete to buy an apartment that way out of their budget. Pete doesn’t seem overly keen but Trudy certainly has a forceful personality with an accompanying manner that’s hard to say rebuff.

Pete asks his dad for money to help buy the apartment and he’s summarily dismissed. Trudy then asks her parents for the money without Pete’s consent and they almost fall over themselves to help. Pete, somewhat understandably, bristles at this as he feel this further puts him under the thumb of Trudy’s parents.

Unlike Trudy’s seemingly easygoing parents, Pete’s own parents are pretty gross and casually racist (quelle surprise). Pete’s father believes that the wheeling and dealing that goes along with advertising is “whoring” and “no job for a white man” so that should tell you everything you need to know about him. It’s pretty hard for me to feel any sympathy for Pete though because clearly the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.

Pete’s frustration in his personal life leaches over into his professional life when he pitches to a client behind Don’s back. Don, understandably, doesn’t take too kindly to this and fires Pete on the spot. However, when he and Roger Sterling go to Bert Cooper for final approval of said firing, Bert reminds them that Pete comes from an influential family and that they’d do well to keep Pete on board. Don and Roger then let Pete know that he’s hung on to his job by the skin of his teeth but battle lines have clearly been drawn and I’m sure that isn’t the last we’ve seen of a conflict between Pete and Don.

Betty meets Helen Bishop’s estranged husband and this meeting is the impetus for Betty and Helen to come together. Helen ropes Betty into babysitting her kids while she shills for Kennedy on the campaign trail. Yay! This means we get to spend more time with creepy Glen Bishop. Truly, I’m not calling Glen creepy just to be mean, he just really is! When Betty gets up to use the bathroom, he purposely walks in and stares at Betty while she’s doing her business. He apologizes and I’m almost ready to chalk it up to regular child curiosity but then he asks Betty for a lock of her hair. What’s really wild is that Betty actually gives it to him. What is wrong with these people?!

This episode gave us more insight into the dynamics of some of our key players at Sterling Cooper but where was Joan? Boooooo!