[Review & Recap] Mad Men: Season 5 Episode 7 “The Cod Fish Ball”

“Nothing I had was mine because the game was thrown.”  — Roger Sterling

All though last night’s episode was relatively painless after the roller coaster rides we’ve been on, we find many of the characters let down by major situations in their lives. This week Don, Peggy, Megan and even Sally they think they’ve gotten what they want but realize it’s not under the terms they imagined.

Brief Recap

Episode 7 opens with what appears to be a dormitory phone ringing. It’s little Sally Draper calling her old friend Glen Bishop at camp. They chat for a bit about his recent break-up, his time at camp, and how the Francis’ are out of town with baby Gene. Sally and Bobby are stuck in the house with Grandma Pauline again, affectionately referred to as “Bluto.” Bluto calls for Sally to set the table, but she soon gets a shock as she trips over the phone cord Sally has stretched taut across the hallway into her bedroom. She falls, hurting her ankle. Sally rushes out concerned and orders Bobby to get her some water while she calls for help.

Cut to the Draper residence, where Don is carrying the bags of a foreign man we soon find out is Megan’s father Emile Calvet. Don mentions to him that Megan is excited about his meeting with a publisher while in New York. Emile says pointedly “My daughter pretends to find interesting what I find interesting because she loves me.” They enter and we find Megan and her mother Marie already inside. They exchange fiery French banter; she asks why he didn’t help Don with the bags, he replies “Why don’t you mind your own business. Have a drink. Become nice again.” Don looks confused and Megan insists they speak English.

Next up is Roger sitting with his first ex-wife Mona enjoying a drink and some conversation. They discuss how happy their daughter Margaret is that Jane’s out of the picture. He wonders aloud if she was “an excuse to blow up his life.” Mona reveals that she’d always hoped Jane would leave him first, and was surprised he was so happy about the split. He lets her in on his “mind altering experience” and recommends she try it. Describing it as euphoria and insight, he tells her about the 1919 World Series he saw himself playing in.

After his epiphany Mona has one of her own, “I thought you married Jane because I had gotten old, then I realized it was because you had.” They’re both at peace and he asks her to schmooze with some American Cancer Society (ACS) suits in the best interest of SCDP as they’re presenting Don with an award for his letter to tobacco companies. She agrees to help, noting “You’re still supporting all of us.” Sally and Bobby get to stay in the city with Don, Megan and the Calvets after Grandma Pauline’s fall renders her unable to babysit. As a reward Megan makes spaghetti for Sally. Marie excuses herself from the table.  –Next Page–More Recap