[Review & Recap] Mad Men: Season 5 Episode 8 "Lady Lazarus"

“I used to be like this; just reckless.” – Beth Dawes

Named after Sylvia Plath’s morbid suicide tale, “Lady Lazarus” focuses on the phoenix-like rise from the ashes of Don’s new leading lady. On the periphery, Pete Campbell meets a woman who needs a reminder of her old self, and uses him to be “reborn” after which she throws him away. Like Plath, Megan’s rebirth is reluctant – yet she sheds her old self in spite of fearing how Don would take it and emerges a noticeably  vibrant, happy woman.

Brief Recap

Episode eight begins with Pete Campbell on the Metro-North with his commuter friend Howard Dawes discussing their “miserable” lives. Howard lets Pete in on his secret affair with a strawberry blonde in the city; he’s bought a love nest so the two of them can canoodle in comfort. He attempts to sell Pete an insurance policy.

Back at SCDP Megan Draper sits at her typewriter when Dawn alerts her to a call. She’s suspicious, looking over her shoulder as she makes her way to the payphone. Meanwhile Ginsberg pitches in the conference to Chevalier Blanc. It ends with a round of applause and the executives are set on using The Beatles “Hard Day’s Night.” The team knows from experience getting the Beatles is close to impossible but suggest to the clients there are many groups that sound just like The Beatles. Rick Swanson asserts he’s looking more for the sound than the name. “All we want is the chaos and the fun; that sort of adolescent joy.”  Ginsberg begins to brainstorm but Don insists Megan will know what to do.

On the other side of the office Roger calls Pete in with a surprise. Head Ski Company has asked that Pete head up their account. They have also sent over two sets of their skis. Pete can hardly carry them out of the office. Don asks Megan “When did music become so important?” “It’s always been important,” she responds. He tells her he can’t keep up. She tells him “No one can keep up it’s always changing.” He asks her to accompany him to a client dinner and she tells him she’ll be working late. Later she approaches Peggy all dressed up. “I thought we were working?” Peggy asks. Megan tells her Don called and she’s attending a client dinner. –Next Page–More Recap