Mad Men’s 10 Best Episodes

9) Waterloo (Season Seven, Episode Seven)

Written By: Carly Wray and Matthew Weiner
Directed By: Matthew Weiner

Fittingly, the episode where Neil Armstrong and his fellow astronauts land on the moon is filled more with giant leaps than small steps. Mad Men is a show renowned for its specificity and leisurely pacing, yet “Waterloo” rockets ahead with big changes. Due to Bert Cooper’s tragic passing, this was an episode filled with loss, but also some big wins. In my write-up of the hour last May, I said that “If ‘Waterloo’ does not rank as the series’ best episode, it is certainly in the top five.” Well, it’s a bit below where I predicted, but still a fine hour.

Among the buoyant response to the moon landing – except for Sally, who groans about the wasteful spending to her dad – is one of the aspects that often makes Mad Men soar: the relationship between Don and Peggy. After being on sour terms toward each other for much of the seventh season, it is terrific to see him trust her to deliver the Burger Chef pitch. He sees her as the Armstrong needed to land the pitch: she is the future of the ad world. Her moving, poignant scene in the boardroom ranks as one of the character’s (and Moss’s) best moments on the show.

Peggy makes a small if pertinent step to solidifying her career as a copy chief, yet the partners make one giant leap. Roger makes a deal with McCann for that company to buy the agency, although they still get some sort of independence with Roger as the president. They get to keep Don (and a bewildered Ted and Cutler), while the partners (sans Harry… poor fella) get to bask in their riches. How does a series wrap up several strands of drama in a behind closed doors meeting in a manner of minutes? The end of “Waterloo” shows it can be done without feeling rushed.

As Bert Cooper would say, “Bravo.”

Best Scene: Some viewers may have been gobsmacked to watch Bert Cooper soft-shoeing – although without shoes – and singing to Don from beyond the grave. The delightful coda was a swell tribute to Robert Morse, the actor best known for his Broadway prowess and his portrayal of J. Pierrepont Finch in the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Morse won a Tony and the musical, also set in the world of advertising, was likely the reason he got the part as the bow-tied sage of Sterling Cooper. Bert is cheery as he sings and dances while Don is teary-eyed and speechless. The best things in life, such as this Mad Men moment, are truly free.

Line of the Hour: “Marriage is a racket!” You said it, Pete. (As for speech of the hour, the honors clearly go to Peggy’s masterful Burger Chef pitch.)