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Friday, May 18, 2012

"Mad Men" Week 8: Roger and the Chosen Wine



"Dark Shadows" (a title hopefully not inspired by the recent release of the Tim Burton-Johnny Depp theatrical remake snoozefest of the same name) was true to its title, as it involved several key characters (mostly Don and Betty) retreating to the darker corners of their souls in desperate grabs for self-preservation. Roger Sterling, of course, is no stranger to this kind of thinking; after all, he declared to Peggy that within the agency it's "every man for himself." Roger wasn't concerned about self-preservation in this episode, but the darkest, ugliest traits of his character definitely drove his share of the plot.

For starters, there was Roger Sterling the bigot. Not since he donned black face in season three has Roger's insensitivity been so openly displayed. Needing ideas for a secret (damn that Pete!) pitch meeting/dinner with reps from Monarch Wines, maker of the Jewish-targeted Manischewitz brand, Roger calls upon — gasp — Michael Ginsburg for creative insight. He tells Ginsburg that Monarch is looking to market a wine to "normal" people like himself, and during the course of their meeting proceeds to direct several more anti-Semitic cheap shots at him. Ginsburg is unfazed by Roger's quips, but is concerned that this side work might get him into hot water with Don. Ever the pragmatist, Roger hands Ginsburg the remaining wad of cash in his pocket exchange for Ginsburg's services and silence (It must be Roger Sterling Sr.'s money that's truly bankrolling the entire outfit). Ginsburg is not silent about the arrangement, however, and when Peggy finds out, she is disappointed that Roger did not call on her for this secret project like he did for Mohawk Airlines.

Roger isn't finished using (Jewish) people as a means to an end, as he needs ex-wife Jane Siegel to be his pretend-wife at the client dinner (to be fair, this was at Mr. Cooper's initial insistence). Roger was never comfortable mentioning Jane's ethnicity when he was actually married to her, but once he's at the dinner table with the Rosenbergs, he's extolling the exceptional beauty of Jewish women, lamenting the prejudice in the world and expressing his "envy for the humor, the closeness, the way your people keep track of each other." This hogwash, combined with Ginsburg's bus ad idea, wins over the Rosenbergs. Despite the presence of handsome Bernie, Jane must keep up the facade of being married in order for Roger to lock down the account.

Jane's compliance in this dinner scheme meant that Roger purchase her a new apartment, mainly so she could escape the trappings of their failed marriage and start anew. After the dinner, Roger wants to see the apartment, "the better end of the deal." Once inside the barely furnished flat, Roger's libido takes over and he and Jane end up having relations, despite her brief protest. The morning after, Jane is in tears, having realized that her new apartment has been sullied with the memory of a one-night stand with her ex-husband. "You get everything you want and you still had to do this," she tells him. Roger answers with "I feel terrible," an act of contrition so hollow and insincere that it's laughable. While Roger didn't sink to any particular "new" kind of low this week, this episode leaves the impression that any hope for the redemption of Roger Sterling's soul now has a snowball's chance in hell.

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