Mad Men 6x08 Reaction
Added 2026-02-18 21:44:34 +0000 UTC
Comments
I don't care about the context, Lola said "this is my favorite episode" about The Crash. I am at peace. - I love how chaotic and disorienting this episode is. The sudden shifts in time, everyone wearing different outfits because it's the next day, the weird dialogue that almost makes sense but it doesn't quite because something's off about it. It becomes increasingly absurd and then the other shoe drops. - The revelation of the origin of Don's relationship with sex is devastating and makes this episode go from a fever dream to a nightmare. The fact that he realizes this and, in tandem with the audience, the allure of Sylvia which drives him to develop this whole pitch, not even about Chevy, just to win her back ("it may not even be with that person")... It's the puzzle piece that makes a lot of this season click and unearths all the darkness that's been there since the premiere. Up until now, even though the S5 premiere set it up, the affair's continued depiction may have seemed superfluous, too much of Don being Don, almost grotesque at this point. I have seen people say they feel like it does a disservice to Don because it's so pathetic, but this is what happens when someone has addiction and unhealthy coping mechanism and they don't actually deal with the underlying trauma. If the dysfunctional behavior continues, which it inevitably will if not addressed, of course it's going to become pathetic. As we saw last episode with the scenes in the hotel, it's just sleazy and gross, and this episode we see it brought to a boil until the truth comes out. - I love that "Grandma Ida" is able to get away with saying generic things to Sally about her parents -- handsome father, nagging mother -- and it passes like a predatory horoscope. You can feel Sally's frustration at the end when she tries to insist that she did attempt to be skeptical of Ida knowing Don, but "she had an answer for everything". How can you ask critical questions if you don't know the answers yourself? Megan puts it well, this season we have seen how grown up Sally seems, "but she's really still a kid". I've been thinking more analytically about the show this time around, but when I am truly immersed I find that call between Sally and Don to be the first time I feel like I can breathe. Yes, it's a little crushing, but it's also cathartic because it feels like we're in the light of day after being in a nightmare for so long. - "The Crash", to me, simply refers to Don passing out on the floor of his apartment after spending 72 hours awake in a meth-fuelled frenzy, and especially that shot of him awake in bed ruminating on his past and how he hasn't moved forward. It all built up and then came crashing down. But it's very cheeky how the first scene of the episode has a literal car crash. Poor Kenny. - You two (I never know when writing these comments whether to refer to LM in second or third person) very early picked up on the idea of Peggy being different to Don (though as we also see this season, she is very similar -- "I don't like change") with regards to emotionality. It was a burning question from S2, how much did she take Don's advice? It seemed to help rescue her out of a dark place, but how do these birds of a feather chart their flight paths as they forge their new lives? In this episode we her that her emotional philosophy does stand in contrast to Don's: "You have to let yourself feel it. You can't dampen it with drugs and sex. It won't get you through". Sadly, Stan does not take her advice. More disillusionment in Mad Men! Have I mentioned that the mystical sensual crystal girl floating from scene to scene in this episode is the daughter of a recently-deceased partner of this firm? It's so grim that I try to not even think about that aspect. Alas, the advice demonstrates more of Peggy's inner world. I have been looking forward to this episode and this season literally since the beginning of the show. It feels like an undiscovered gem because it's not considered one of the classics, but I genuinely could spend hours talking about it and unpeeling the layers it has. For such a pivotal character-centric episode to take place almost smack-dab in the middle of this season, a crescendo after scenes of drug-induced surrealism is darkly captivating. The Crash will always have a special place in my heart, maybe because, like Sylvia to Don, something about it haunts me deeply.
Kev
2026-02-20 11:51:19 +0000 UTCIt's a dead heat between this and the S5 finale reveal that Pete is president of the howdy doody circus army
Mike
2026-02-20 02:03:35 +0000 UTCThere was a pretty important revelation in this episode that really changes how you think about the series as a whole - Henry's running for office.
Mark M
2026-02-19 18:28:36 +0000 UTCI also thought it could be that way. In a way he is blaming his child self but also trying to shift the blame away from another child, Sally. Even though the situations are different I do think there are parallels there.
Kev
2026-02-19 05:01:28 +0000 UTC“I left the door open. It was my fault.” is one of those Mad Men-isms that can mean many things (so many “door” lines). I like their positive Don self-reflection interpretation because the sadder implication is that he thinks the rape was his fault. Not that 60s Don Draper would think of it as rape or anything like that. But he remembers how Abigail reacted.
Jamie
2026-02-19 04:38:01 +0000 UTCI love that moment. Every time it happens I want to close my eyes with Don, and I always hope the scene will go on for longer, and it always goes on for the perfect amount.
Kev
2026-02-19 04:09:58 +0000 UTCDon’s drugged up inspirational speech about nothing, parodying himself, is so funny. It reminds me of the speech he gives the office way back in 2x4, which ironically was after the actual plane crash. 2x4: “American Airlines is not about the past any more than America is. Ask not about Cuba. Ask not about the bomb. We're going to the moon. Throw everything out. There is no such thing as American history, only a frontier. That crash happened to somebody else. It's not about apologies for what happened. It's about those seven men in the room on Friday and what airline they are going to be running. Let's pretend we know what 1963 looks like.” Ken: “Jesus, Draper, make a decision.” 6x8: “I know you're all feeling the darkness here today. But there's no reason to give in. No matter what you've heard, this process will not take years. In my heart, I know we cannot be defeated because there is an answer that will open the door. There is a way around this system. This is a test of our patience and commitment. One great idea can win someone over!” Peggy: “That was very inspiring. Do you have any idea what the idea is?”
Jamie
2026-02-19 04:04:48 +0000 UTCTHE TIMBRE OF MY VOICE IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE CONTENT
Eric Viola
2026-02-19 03:39:25 +0000 UTCDon's flashback here reframes so much of what we've seen in previous episodes. His relationship with Bobbie, asking the prostitute to hit him, and (obviously) his broader attitudes toward sex. I'm not sure how long Weiner had this revelation in his back pocket, but it really fits.
Mike
2026-02-19 03:24:25 +0000 UTCRandom thought, this episode recontextualizes what we saw in the last one. Since Sylvia reminds Don of Aimee, perhaps the whole domination thing was a subconscious attempt to take power and control back after being violated and taken advantage of as a child... it also makes me think of the Bobbie Barrett scene in s2 where she ignores his no and keeps going. Then later we see him acting in a similarly dominant fashion with her
Taya
2026-02-19 02:17:10 +0000 UTCI just have to say that the cinematography, editing and sound editing in this episode are OUTSTANDING. Best of the series imo. The scene where Don rests his head on Sylvia's door and the song gets louder and the singer's voice just washes over everything... perfect. With the lyrics "I must think of a way into your heart" right on point. You can FEEL his desperation and longing so viscerally. Also, when Don stops in the hallway and has a flashback, it's night time... when he comes to, it's day time. Only seconds/minutes after he talks to the group in the lounge, Wendy has teleported to his couch and now the sun's setting. It's so disorienting, they did such a good job making the audience feel like we're on drugs too
Taya
2026-02-19 01:48:36 +0000 UTCAhhh the Speed episode
Isaiah Bryant
2026-02-19 01:23:07 +0000 UTCDon's flashbacks really do recontextualize his initial sexual interaction with Bobby in the car in S2. ALSO, Sally reading 'Rosemary's Baby' and the parallels of it throughout the episode 🤌🏼 Damn... 1960s Mitt Romney does it again 😭
Infode
2026-02-19 01:06:19 +0000 UTCThis episode is just so, so great. On top of all of the drug-filled absurdity and the revelations about Don's past there are so many great conversation scenes. The phone call between Don and Sylvia. Peggy-Stan convo. The call with Sally and Don. It's perfect.
Eric Viola
2026-02-19 00:20:13 +0000 UTC
