'MAD MEN' 4.2 - "Christmas Comes But Once A Year"

[SPOILERS] It's strange watching a Christmas episode in the middle of September (or mid-summer for the original AMC broadcast), but that didn't prevent this installment being another superlative slice of drama. Last week I pondered the idea that Don's (Jon Hamm) womanizing will spiral out of control without any marriage vows to consider, but "Christmas Comes But Once A Year" painted a very different picture...

Don's hopeless as a footloose bachelor: returning home to his apartment drunk most nights, failing to work his charms on hot women (such as Nora Zehetner's neighbouring nurse Phoebe), privately ridiculed by a junior colleague, and forced to stand around at the office Christmas function as the only man with no girl on his arm. Perhaps the biggest surprise of this episode was seeing Don treat his loyal secretary Allison (Alexa Alemanni) with no respect; sleeping with her after she'd kindly delivered his lost apartment keys, before ignoring their "moment" ever took place at work the next morning.

Even worse, in handing Allison her promised Christmas bonus immediately after his speech about forgetting the night ever happened, his secretary was understandably made to feel like a common prostitute. As someone Don trusts enough to buy his children's Christmas presents on his behalf, his dismissive treatment of Allison was a notably low moment for Don. He's started damaging his platonic relationships, just to stroke his bruised ego after a run of knockbacks.

It was a welcome surprise to see the triumphant return of Freddy Rumsen (Joel Murray), now 16-months sober and armed with a Pond's Cold Cream account worth $2 million, that earned him a rehiring at cash-strapped SCDP. His only caveat being that Pete (Vincent Karthesier), who was instrumental in his original sacking, be kept away from the valuable account. Freddy's return delighted Peggy (Elisabeth Moss), although she later began noticing how old-fashioned Freddy is after hearing his belief that all women are desperate to get married. Interestingly, "old-fashioned" is exactly what Peggy's boyfriend Mark (Blake Bashoff) calls her, as she's so determined not to lose her virginity until she feels ready. Of course, Peggy's actually just playing a role with Mark, having popped her cherry long ago. A subtle hint that she, like Don, is trying to construct a division in her life -- between the person she wants to be, and the person she is?

The tent-pole of the episode was the office Christmas party, which was intended to be a low-key affair to save cash, but ended up being a night of extravagance because Lucy Strike bigwig Lee Garner Jr (Darren Pettie) insisted on attending, and Roger (John Slattery) knew they had to make a good impression on the man who's almost single-handedly keeping them afloat. Thus the annual shindig went "from convalescent home to Roman orgy." Lee himself was in his usual mischievous mood: abusing his position of power by forcing Roger to wear a Santa Claus costume and have his photo taken with employees perched on his knee, all while he cuddled his wife Jane (Peyton List) and later led a conga line with Joan (Christina Hendricks). To his credit, Roger's resolve held steady and he could even joke about "the Führer's birthday" to Don the next morning, but it was uncomfortable seeing Roger bullied in this way.

Away from the office, there was a very unusual development for Sally Draper (Kiernan Shipka), who was reacquainted with Glen (Marten Holden Weiner), the odd little boy who forged a curious connection with Sally's mother Betty (January Jones) back in season 1. He appears to have turned his attention on Sally now, choosing to show his affection by breaking into her empty house and trashing every room except Sally's. Is Glen just a disturbed little boy with a strange crush on Sally, helping her feel "special" by only targeting those in her family she's been disappointed by? Or does Glen have a more insidious motivation? Is all of this a long-term plan directed at Betty?

Overall, "Christmas Comes But Once A Year" was a terrific episode, giving us plenty to chew-on with Don's descent. I also enjoyed an early moment when he refused to participate in a questionnaire for a consumer research group, such is his pathological inability to open up about family and his personal life. Also worth noting that former-alcoholic Freddy's return coincides with Don apparently taking steps down that same destructive path, now he lacks the rock of a loving family to keep him straight. And how long will Freddy last, even if he stays on the wagon? That Pond's account was a great way into everyone's good-books, but it was ultimately a lucky break of his.

Asides

• I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but creepy Glen is played by showrunner Matthew Weiner's own son, Marten.
• Amusing to note the allusion that Freddy's "fraternity" contact with the Cold Cream account is another recovering alcoholic, with Freddy having to hotfoot it round to church (scene of their AA meetings?) when he'd had a boozy lunch with Roger.
• There appears to be a run of recognizable actresses for Don to flirt with this season, with Nurse Phoebe played by the elfin Norah Zehetner from Heroes and Grey's Anatomy.
• Great to hear a mention of The Beatles on the show, with Don asking Allison to buy some Beatles 45s for his daughter. Also fun to see a Polaroid camera given to Lee Garner Jr as a Christmas present.
• Christina Hendricks was built to conga! But, man, thank God office parties aren't like that in the 21st-century, it was just too cheesy.

WRITERS: Tracy McMillan & Matthew Weiner
DIRECTOR: Michael Uppendahl
GUEST CAST: Robert Morse, Christopher Stanley, Alexa Alemanni, Matt Long, Joel Murray, Blake Bashoff, Alison Brie, Cara Buono, Marten Weiner, John Aylward, Jessica Paré, Darren Pettie, Peyton List, Laura Regan & Nora Zehetner
TRANSMISSION: 15 September 2010 - BBC4/HD, 10PM