With only 45 minutes left before the week five episode airs on AMC, here is my week four rumination on Roger Sterling for the "Mad Men Project". A hearty congratulations to goes out to Colin McGuire, as his "TV Without a TV" blog was just named one of the best newspaper blogs by the Maryland/DC/Delaware Press Association. I thank him again for making this all possible.
After three weeks of watching Roger Sterling pathetically navigate his reversal of fortune within the agency, it was satisfying to see him return to form as a shrewd and savvy account man once again (perhaps the John Slattery director credit had something to do with this). Roger might be a terrible human being, but there's no denying that he's gifted with an emotional intelligence quotient that no other account man at SCDP possesses, especially arch-enemy Pete. And while Roger hasn't worked as hard as others to bring in new accounts, his hard work is reflected in the round-the-clock dedication to the whims of his clients. To him, the dedication of the account man is so total that nothing (including moonlighting as a hack science fiction writer) should divide your attentions. Roger relishes his work and believes it can satisfy every intrinsic need.
The scene with Roger teaching Lane the performance aspects of a successful client dinner was a highlight not just for Roger, but for "Mad Men" in general, as it momentarily stripped the show to its essence. That statement might seem trite, but to echo Colin's frustrations with last week's episode, the dream sequences and other soap opera-like flourishes often detract from the very compelling drama that exists in the everyday work of ad men. In other words, it was a welcome change to see Roger actually doing his job, and doing it well, too. Roger was surely being self-deprecating (and perhaps self-pitying) when he referred to himself as "Professor Emeritus of Accounts," but the countless three-martini lunches and late night dinners he's logged over the years certainly give him the expertise that Lane could benefit from. Unfortunately, Lane was unable to implement Roger's manipulation-masquerading-as-empathy routine with Edwin Baker from Jaguar, setting up a follow-up dinner and a calamitous turn of events ironically spurred by Roger.
Naturally, Roger's efforts to cater to clients often leads to morally dubious behavior, and when Lane's buddy from Jaguar looks to indulge in some after-dinner "fun," seasoned veteran of debauchery Roger knows exactly what he's looking for. The resulting loft party with prostitutes (and a madam who might be Dr. Faye Miller's fat older sister) leads to unsurprising sexual dalliances for Roger, Pete and the client (and surprisingly not Don), but ultimately spells disaster for the Jaguar account when Mr. Baker's wife eventually discovers evidence of the "fun" he had. While Lane's anger over the circumstances is ultimately transferred to Pete via fist, it's worth wondering if Lane has gained a new respect for Roger's account man sensibilities. Lane has put Pete in is his place (for the time being at least), perhaps opening the door for a restoration of Roger's role as top account man.
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