The Summer Man
"The Summer Man" | |
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Mad Men episode | |
Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 8 |
Directed by | Phil Abraham |
Written by | Lisa Albert Janet Leahy Matthew Weiner |
Original air date | September 12, 2010 |
Running time | 48 minutes |
Guest appearances | |
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"The Summer Man" is the eighth episode of the
Don becomes more self-reflective and physically active as he attempts to curb his drinking. While Don pulls himself out of his existential tailspin, he pursues the company of
The episode was well received by television critics, but the use of voice-over was divisive. The episode was watched by 2.3 million viewers on its original airing. Christina Hendricks submitted this episode for consideration as of her nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards.
Plot
Following the death of Anna Draper, Don has taken a self-reflective turn, writing his thoughts into a journal in an attempt to steady his mind. His attempts at swimming reveal to him that he is not the physically imposing man he once saw himself as. He also begins the process of cutting back on his drinking, though it is difficult with the copious alcohol use in the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce offices.
Meanwhile, at the office,
Don goes on another date with the much younger Bethany Van Nuys. Bethany and Don awkwardly run into Betty and Henry while out at a restaurant, causing Betty to have a minor anxious outburst at Henry. Henry and Betty fight in the car as Henry wonders aloud whether Betty is still in love with Don. The next morning, Betty apologizes and explains that Don was the only other man she had ever been with. Henry purposely rams his car into the boxes Don has stored in the garage in the Ossining house, then phones Don at work and asks him to remove his boxes, cruelly suggesting Don do so before Gene's birthday party, silently emphasizing that Don is not invited. When Don arrives at the appointed time, he finds his boxes piled on the curb near where Henry is mowing the lawn, studiously ignoring Don.
At dinner, Bethany presses Don to move their relationship forward. On the way home, Don gladly receives oral sex from Bethany in the backseat of a taxicab but does not see her again. Don officially asks Dr. Faye Miller out on a date, where the two bond, engaging in a romantic kiss. Don, content, walks into his son's birthday party at the Francis household. Betty stops Henry from confronting Don (who wasn't invited), reasoning "we have everything".
Reception
Ratings
"The Summer Man" was viewed by 2.3 million viewers in its original airing and was watched 0.7 million viewers in the age demographic of adults 18โ49.[1]
Critical reception
The episode was received warmly by most television critics. Many were critical of the use of voice-overs, an aspect unique to the episode; the voice-overs were used to articulate Don's journal entries. The A.V. Club writer Keith Phipps said the voice-overs were "still a representation of Don, not Don himself", saying, "How Don writes about himself says a lot about how he sees himself", comparing the style of the episode to lonely man film noir.[2] Matt Zoller Seitz of The New Republic said the episode was "one of just two true ensemble episodes" in the season, the other being "Public Relations". He referred to the Joan subplot as "colorful and tense" but wrote, "the ultimate resolution of the plot blunted potential charges of didacticism. It was agonizing watching Joan struggle to deal with Joey's swinishness with cutting remarks that barely scratched his thick skin."[3]
References
- ^ Gorman, Bill (September 14, 2010). "Big Sunday For Cable Ratings: True Blood, VMAs, Jersey Shore, Iron Chef, Kardashians & Lots More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 18, 2010. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
- ^ Phipps, Keith (September 12, 2010). "Mad Men - "The Summer Man" AV Club Review". AV Club. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
- ^ Seitz, Matt Zoller (September 13, 2010). "'Mad Men' episode 'The Summer Man'". The National Review. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
- ^ Poniewozik, James (September 13, 2010). "Review of Mad Men, "The Summer Man"". Time Magazine. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
- ^ Sepinwall, Alan (September 13, 2010). "Mad Men - The Summer Man: I demand satisfaction". Hitfix.com. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
- ^ Bradley, William (September 13, 2010). "Mad Men: "The Summer Man" is clearing his head". Huffington Post. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
External links
- "The Summer Man" at AMC
- "The Summer Man" at IMDb