Mad Men: New Amsterdam

October 26th, 2008

Season 1, Episode 4

Synopsis

Pete introduces his new wife Trudy to his co-workers. While touring an apartment she wants to buy, Pete is skeptical his salary is enough. Rachel Menken, meeting with Paul as her new account manager, lightly rebuffs Don’s lunch invitation.

While walking the new dog, Betty sees a man banging on Helen Bishop’s door. Betty politely refuses his request to use her telephone. Later that evening, Helen confesses to Betty over coffee that her ex-husband had numerous affairs.

Pete visits his parents, hoping for help with a down payment. His father doesn’t understand what exactly he does at Sterling Cooper. Pete leaves empty handed.

The next day’s client is Walter Veith, a steel executive. Don presents an ad campaign featuring major cities as “Brought to You by Bethlehem Steel.” Walter is skeptical. Pete cuts Don off and tries to appease Walter with some entertainment. After the meeting, Don tells Pete to leave the ideas to him, and Pete angrily says he has ideas of his own.

Helen asks Betty if she can baby sit her children while she stuffs envelopes for the Kennedy campaign.

Pete and Trudy have dinner with Trudy’s parents, Jeannie and Tom Vogel. They are more receptive to helping with a down payment. Pete is slightly resistant, saying in the taxi ride home they may lose their independence.

At the Bishop’s house, Betty and Glen watch television. Betty goes to use the bathroom and Glen awkwardly opens the door and stares at her. Betty yells at him to get out. Glen cries, and then asks for a lock of Betty’s blond hair. Taken aback, Betty snips off some of her hair, gives it to him, and sends Glen to bed.

Ken and Pete take Walter out to a bar, complete with some young escorts. Pete tries to push his own idea for the campaign, but doesn’t get very far.

The next day, Don presents a new concept: “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem” but Walter chooses Pete’s idea — that Don has never heard of — the “backbone of America.” Don tells Pete to pack his things, and Salvatore snidely mentions this is the wrong time to buy an apartment. Pete nervously returns to his office and pours himself a stiff drink.

Betty tells the psychiatrist about Helen, imagining she’s jealous of her perfect life with Don.

Don, Roger, and Cooper meet about Pete’s insubordination. Unfortunately, Pete is a member of the powerful New York Dykeman family. He can’t be fired for fear of losing big clients. Don and Roger tell Pete he won’t be fired, but Roger slyly tells Pete that it was Don’s idea to offer a second chance — much to Don’s surprise.

That evening, Don and Roger complain about the “next generation” while Pete and Trudy check out their new apartment. The neighbors are impressed that a Dykeman will be living in the building. Pete steps away and gazes out the window at the dark New York skyline.

Thoughts

Pete adjusts to his new role as husband and exhibits some of the stress common to many a working man — how to be a good provider.

Style

Some amusing retro food: Betty has a jar of Ragu spaghetti sauce. We also see Carnation powdered milk and Ritz crackers. I also enjoyed some mentions of celebrities of the time — at dinner, Trudy’s father mentions actresses Natalie Wood and Janet Leigh as sponsors for Lux soap. The office boys are listening to The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart. The song over the closing credits is Manhattan as sung by Ella Fitzgerald.

Then And Now

• Mortgage: Pete is wary of taking on a mortgage, and worries about putting 10% down which is a whole year of his salary. He also ponders the effect of using their parents’ money on his marriage. Quite a far cry from the interest only and no money down mortgages of recent years.
• Don’t Talk To Strangers / No Cell Phones: The uncomfortable situation of a man asking to borrow a phone hardly occurs today, as nearly everyone has a cellphone.

Advertising

Walter says the ads look like “WPA.” WPA stands for the Works Progress Administration and was a distinctive, optimistic, art deco style that came out of the Great Depression.

Developments

This episode features Pete Campbell, just married, and early in his career. He’s just starting to work up the corporate ladder, and experiencing pressure to provide Trudy with whatever she wants. He also wants to be successful on his own accord instead of relying on his family name. Ironically, he is only saved from being fired because of his family’s reputation.

This situation is contrasted with Don and Betty’s seemingly idyllic life, which Betty imagines Helen is jealous of. Don is further along in his career and has the house, wife, and two kids that Pete is striving for. But Betty’s image of security is misplaced — Don is having affairs, just like Helen’s former husband had.

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