Mad Men recap: 'A Day's Work'

This week's episode returns to Mad Men's most important relationship: Don and Sally

Pete, Mad Men
(Image credit: (Justina Mintz/AMC))

Sunday's episode of Mad Men offers audiences a chance to return, once again, to Don Draper playing "Don Draper" — but not immediately. Don begins the episode alone in his apartment, which gives us the chance to see what his life is like without work and Megan to occupy his time: Sleeping until 12:30 in the afternoon, throwing on a bathrobe, eating some Ritz Crackers, and watching The Little Rascals. It's only at the end of the day, when Dawn stops by his apartment, that Don even bothers to put on his customary suit and tie. Appearances, no matter how flimsy, must be maintained at all costs — even if it's only for a brief meeting with the secretary who is already keeping Don's secrets.

Mad Men has always been interested in the difference between how its characters act and how they feel, but it's rarely been as explicit as "A Day's Work," which embeds that theme into every scene. Nothing can be trusted. Even the episode's title is a lie; Don's definition of "a day's work" seems to peak when he halfheartedly pages through a few magazines. We've seen Don get low before, but we've never seen his bones stripped so clean.

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Scott Meslow

Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.