Mad Men: The Suitcase Rewatch
November 5, 2014 3:26 AM - Season 4, Episode 7 - Subscribe
An impending deadline leaves the firm in disarray, as Don makes Peggy stay late to work on a Samsonite ad, missing a birthday dinner with her boyfriend.
The feels! Yeah, this one's right at the top of the list.
posted by ChrisTN at 9:37 AM on November 5, 2014
posted by ChrisTN at 9:37 AM on November 5, 2014
Don is among his most tender and horrible to Peggy in this episode.
posted by drezdn at 9:38 AM on November 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by drezdn at 9:38 AM on November 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
Lotta good one-liners in this episode.
"I'm late. But you're not. Good work so far."
"...it's an incredible feeling having this baby kick me." "Is it any different than living with Pete?"
"I want a rare steak and I want to see those two men pound each other."
"You're such a Jew." "Your friends in Hollywood know you talk that way?"
"I do have to be here, because of some stupid idea from Danny, who you had to hire, because you stole his other stupid idea, because you were drunk."
"Is that a threat? Because I've already taken someone up on one of those tonight."
"Why are you laughing?" "C'mon. Ida was a hellcat? Cooper lost his balls? Roger's writing a book?"
posted by donajo at 12:28 PM on November 5, 2014 [7 favorites]
"I'm late. But you're not. Good work so far."
"...it's an incredible feeling having this baby kick me." "Is it any different than living with Pete?"
"I want a rare steak and I want to see those two men pound each other."
"You're such a Jew." "Your friends in Hollywood know you talk that way?"
"I do have to be here, because of some stupid idea from Danny, who you had to hire, because you stole his other stupid idea, because you were drunk."
"Is that a threat? Because I've already taken someone up on one of those tonight."
"Why are you laughing?" "C'mon. Ida was a hellcat? Cooper lost his balls? Roger's writing a book?"
posted by donajo at 12:28 PM on November 5, 2014 [7 favorites]
Three equally absurd things.
I like how Roger is essentially non-functional around men who don't drink. He really can't deal with the world without some chemical intervention, which is why he loves LSD.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 3:15 PM on November 5, 2014 [3 favorites]
I like how Roger is essentially non-functional around men who don't drink. He really can't deal with the world without some chemical intervention, which is why he loves LSD.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 3:15 PM on November 5, 2014 [3 favorites]
Don to Peggy: " You're young. You will get your recognition. And honestly, it is absolutely ridiculous to be two years into your career and counting your ideas."
This line has to be almost verbatim from the writers' room. I can easily imagine Matt Weiner saying this to Kater Gordon who left/was fired/departed by mutual agreement. In any case, this particular conflict between a show runner and an ambitious young writer must take place regularly. Weiner used this archetypal situation to great benefit in this episode. It's one of the best episodes of the entire series.
posted by cwest at 4:45 PM on November 5, 2014 [3 favorites]
This line has to be almost verbatim from the writers' room. I can easily imagine Matt Weiner saying this to Kater Gordon who left/was fired/departed by mutual agreement. In any case, this particular conflict between a show runner and an ambitious young writer must take place regularly. Weiner used this archetypal situation to great benefit in this episode. It's one of the best episodes of the entire series.
posted by cwest at 4:45 PM on November 5, 2014 [3 favorites]
Peggy crying in front of the mirror in the women's restroom is a call back to the S1 Ep 2 The Ladies Room in which she stood before a mirror in the restroom and did not cry.
The incredulous and surprised looks on Peggy's face when Don mentioned things from his background (he grew up on a farm, his father was killed by a horse kicking him) makes me wonder what background Peggy had invented for Don. Did she imagine he was a HS football hero like several others have thought he was? From a middle or upper-middle class background?
In the shots of Duck on the phone with Peggy, he looks like one of the alienated figures in an Edward Hopper painting come to life.
Peggy's choice in some of her lovers really lets you know the conflicted feelings she has towards Don. She pairs up with Don's antagonists. Pete. Duck. Ted.
Peggy mentions that people think she has slept with Don and how she resents it. In this ep. she does "sleep" with Don on the couch. Platonic love. It's amazing how dependent they are on one another.
posted by cwest at 5:13 PM on November 5, 2014 [7 favorites]
The incredulous and surprised looks on Peggy's face when Don mentioned things from his background (he grew up on a farm, his father was killed by a horse kicking him) makes me wonder what background Peggy had invented for Don. Did she imagine he was a HS football hero like several others have thought he was? From a middle or upper-middle class background?
In the shots of Duck on the phone with Peggy, he looks like one of the alienated figures in an Edward Hopper painting come to life.
Peggy's choice in some of her lovers really lets you know the conflicted feelings she has towards Don. She pairs up with Don's antagonists. Pete. Duck. Ted.
Peggy mentions that people think she has slept with Don and how she resents it. In this ep. she does "sleep" with Don on the couch. Platonic love. It's amazing how dependent they are on one another.
posted by cwest at 5:13 PM on November 5, 2014 [7 favorites]
Such a great episode. Such a turning point for both characters.
I think it was Alan Sepinwall who pointed out that this episode is the exact middle of the series, and it feels like it.
posted by lunasol at 5:58 PM on November 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
I think it was Alan Sepinwall who pointed out that this episode is the exact middle of the series, and it feels like it.
posted by lunasol at 5:58 PM on November 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
I never thought Mark was a good match for Peggy. It kinda seemed like she was dating the type of guy her Mom would want her to date.
posted by luckynerd at 12:01 PM on December 16, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by luckynerd at 12:01 PM on December 16, 2014 [3 favorites]
"There’s a way out of this room we don’t know about."
posted by Tandem Affinity at 9:16 PM on January 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Tandem Affinity at 9:16 PM on January 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
It's a small part of this episode, but fuck Pete for not realizing he's got the best damn wife on the planet.
posted by dry white toast at 8:42 PM on March 25, 2015
posted by dry white toast at 8:42 PM on March 25, 2015
This line has to be almost verbatim from the writers' room. I can easily imagine Matt Weiner saying this to Kater Gordon who left/was fired/departed by mutual agreement.
This episode is also one of those that really attempts to convey just how hard it can be to have to be required to be creative for a living - certainly if you are a perfectionist with a reputation to defend. Sometimes the best ideas are born only after waiting for an inspiration that may be a while in arriving. Sometimes they are born of pain. Sometimes they come as a spark of inspiration - but one from an inconvenient source such as a disliked colleague.
In the shots of Duck on the phone with Peggy, he looks like one of the alienated figures in an Edward Hopper painting come to life.
Mad Men is certainly not the first show to plunder Edward Hopper's visual style - but it seems to be one of the ones to do it best and most consistently. It is a fun exercise to look at Hopper's paintings and try to find a matching Mad Men scene. Surprisingly easy I think.
posted by rongorongo at 12:38 AM on September 9, 2019
This episode is also one of those that really attempts to convey just how hard it can be to have to be required to be creative for a living - certainly if you are a perfectionist with a reputation to defend. Sometimes the best ideas are born only after waiting for an inspiration that may be a while in arriving. Sometimes they are born of pain. Sometimes they come as a spark of inspiration - but one from an inconvenient source such as a disliked colleague.
In the shots of Duck on the phone with Peggy, he looks like one of the alienated figures in an Edward Hopper painting come to life.
Mad Men is certainly not the first show to plunder Edward Hopper's visual style - but it seems to be one of the ones to do it best and most consistently. It is a fun exercise to look at Hopper's paintings and try to find a matching Mad Men scene. Surprisingly easy I think.
posted by rongorongo at 12:38 AM on September 9, 2019
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posted by drezdn at 9:34 AM on November 5, 2014