Season 5 Episode 10: Christmas Waltz

“Man is not what he thinks he is, he is what he hides.” Andre Malraux

Lying and deception are the hallmarks of advertising and also of this episode. A sub theme of unfulfilled longing also rises and ebbs throughout. The episode begins with Lane being notified early in the morning by his solicitor in England that payment for taxes are due or prison will result. By that same evening, Lane resolves his tax problems by counterfeiting a check with the forged signature of a counterfeit man, Don. This sets up the possibility of Don's true identity coming to light and / or to compromise Joan's relationship with Lane, who is also privy to the books. Lane's malfeasance takes place on Pearl Harbor Day, proclaimed by President Johnson on December 7, 1966, to commemorate the day in 1941, when the Japanese attacked the American Navy in Hawaii, which led to America's entry into World War II. Lane's deception to Walt, the banker, to increase the credit line by $50,000 will enable to pay for bonuses to the partners, which will solve Lane's debt, but may also be the first blow against the new and struggling agency in a "war" on Madison Avenue either from within or from without. That this came from a trusted employee, although a foreign one, and not a competitor or client, will hurt not only the firm, but those who trusted him.

An attack on advertising is also shown in the play that Don and Megan attend, American Hurrah, where a character is lying on the stage, ill from watching tv advertisements.

It is again brought up by Paul's adoption of the Hare Krishna Movement and rejection of materialism. Materialism is the sole reason why Madison Avenue exists, which is to peddle soap (product) to the masses. Paul's failure to find solace in religion fuels his desire to write science fiction (a Star Trek script) which he sees as his financial escape to an idyllic rustic retreat with Lakshmi. Lakshmi uses sex to keep Harry away from Paul is for the Movement, because Paul is so good at recruiting new disciples to it. Who better to sell religion, which is also a product, than a former ad man? Lakshmi's devotion is to her religion, not to an individual or to herself. Paul and Harry are still too caught up in their own skin in order to sacrifice themselves to another person, a religion or to a company.

Lakshmi and Peggy are also mirrors to Harry: they each give him the same advice, "tell him the truth" about how bad the Star Trek script is. Both are liberated females and have carved out their own strong identities in regards to sex and their roles in the world. This is in contrast to Joan and Megan, who mirror each other in their traditional relationships with men and those problems that can arise from those relationships. Both Joan and Megan resort to violence: Megan by throwing her plate of food against the wall when Don comes home drunk; Joan by breaking a Mohawk model airplane in the lobby of the agency when she is served with her divorce papers.

Harry practices deception with Paul, when he tells him the script is good and that the producers really liked it, but can't use it. Don does the same with Joan in the bar when he hits on her, to make her feel better and says resignedly when he fails, "poor me, I struck out." Both deceive because they care for the people they are lying to. It is not to hurt and but to help. To them, the end justifies the means.

Paul and Don both share a sense of ennui and of unfulfilled desire. Megan notices it and says "you use to enjoy your job before you met me." Don is also shown on the couch at work lounging and not working just before Pete comes in. When Pete tells him about the possibility of pitching the Jaguar account, he expresses no interest and Pete proclaims that in the past "you would kiss me on the mouth" if he had brought in a prospect like that before. Don feels that he is slowly losing his wife, as she is rejecting his way of life. Paul can't obtain his chosen wife, Lakshmi, because she is married to the movement. Both men are feeling disconnected.

Lane Pryce (a "priceless" name for an accountant) when he lies to his wife, it doesn't ring true because it is for personal gain, which is to make him look better in her eyes or to keep her from finding out the truth about his financial difficulties. It is not for her personal benefit and does not make her feel better; it makes him feel better.

At the end of the episode, Lane gives a speech to the staff about bonuses which no one understands and Cooper (the barrel shaped Robert Morse) has to explain to them in plain English (as opposed to proper English). When Pete mentions that the firm will be losing ad revenue from the Mohawk machinists strike because advertising will be cut back, but that they may land the Jaguar account, there is also befuddlement and more silence. Only when Don speaks does the staff respond and they rally by his clear and concise words to them about hard work to win an important account. It is only Don who can lead the firm through the tribulations ahead.