Mad Men

Episode Report Card
Couch Baron: A- | 1866 USERS: B-
YOU GRADE IT
There's That Past, Informing the Present Again

Later, the group is in the conference room, and Kamura is giving his broken English a try in saying that they're looking forward to SCDP's presentation, and they definitely are interested in more drivers for their motorcycles. Bertram then directs Pete to give out some gifts to their guests, and Pete gives the protocol the old college try but still manages to make something of a mess of it. Still, everything has gone well enough until Roger enters in a cloud of righteous anger, both at the meeting having happened and at the attempted deception -- Pete sent him on a long lunch with a client that apparently was not quite long enough. Roger references the H-bomb attacks of World War II, which is an awfully quick way to go too far, but the two elder guys seem not to get it, and the interpreter stays wisely silent, instead saying the meeting's not quite done, as they have yet to present their rules. Roger: "So now you're dictating terms." Wow. John Slattery is really acting the hell out of this episode, showing us the depths of the usually uncomplicated Roger in stark relief, but it is difficult to watch, and the horrified look on Bertram's face agrees with me. The language barrier still seems to be working in SCDP's favor, though, as Don warily introduces Roger; the elder statesman then explains that all the firms will be given three thousand dollars for a "competitive presentation," and the interpreter then informs them there will be conditions of contest. Roger, however, pipes up that they want it to be "unconditional," and despite Bertram's efforts to shut him up, he goes off, telling them that they don't want any of their "Jap crap" before bidding them sayonara and stalking out. Bertram tries to apologize, and Pete phonies up an excuse for Roger's behavior, but the damage is clearly done even as the Saito instructs Takahashi to inform their hosts that they look forward to SCDP's presentation. They stand for a round of awkward bows, and then we get a close-up on war veteran Don's rather conflicted-looking face...

Mad Men

SHARE THE SNARK

X

Get the most of your experience.
Share the Snark!

See content relevant to you based on what your friends are reading and watching.

Share your activity with your friends to Facebook's News Feed, Timeline and Ticker.

Stay in Control: Delete any item from your activity that you choose not to share.

The Latest Activity On TwOP