Season 6 Episode 10: Tale of Two Cities

“There are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts.”

- Charles Dickens "Oliver Twist"

I've always felt that this series (as well as the Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire) suffer from a creative malaise: three to four well crafted beginning and ending episodes but the middle ones just meander. This was one of those middle ones that feels like filler until the end approaches. The only interesting developments were from the supporting characters: Joan's ambition; Ginsburg's (possible future) breakdown, and the continuing ambiguity of Bob Benson's sexual orientation.

The episode is titled "A Tale of Two Cities". Dickens's novel of the same name was about the class system in France leading up to and after the French Revolution. The theme of revolution is played out in this episode with the Chicago Democratic National Convention of 1968 as political background. We have multiple characters following the convention and subsequent protest on TV. In real life, the protesters in Chicago chanted "the world is watching, the world is watching" as the police beat the non-violent protesters. This gives some interesting depth, as we watch the characters watch the riot as the protesters chant. It is a history lesson with touches of voyeurism. The 1968 convention witnessed the fracturing of the Democratic Party which in many respects echo the fracturing of the Republican Party today: old alliances and deal makers were pushed aside by younger and more vibrant participants. 

Ginsberg begins to echo Abe, Peggy's ex-boyfriend from the last episode, with his wild rant on the corruption and decay of the corporations they represent. Ted describes Ginsberg as "lightening in a bottle" when Jim wants to fire him. While Ted means that Ginsberg has a spark of creativity, lightening also represents a volatile, dangerous and unpredictable substance. Of interest to us, is Ginsberg's mention of "the destroyer" a reference to the god Shiva in Hinduism. Eastern philosophy is also represented in Hollywood with Lotus, the girl that Roger and Daniel fight over. The lotus flower is revered by many Eastern religions as a physical form of beauty and purity.

One thing we have learned about Ginsburg is his sharp and intuitive perception (and judgement) of people. When he asked Bob Benson if he was a "homo", Bob did not answer directly: he said, "there's your sense of humor" as though it was a joke. Since we haven't had a gay character for awhile, I'm guessing that Bob will come out of the closet, which will cause some problems, probably with Pete.

In Homer's Odyssey (one of the keystones of Western literature), Odysseus tries to return home to his wife after ten years of war. One of his many experiences (obstacles) was when he visited an island inhabited by the Lotus eaters. When the lotus flower was eaten, the sailors discovered that it was a narcotic and made them blissfully apathetic to life and their journey home.

The Hollywood party that Harry takes them to, may reference this, as well as Alice in Wonderland. When Don meets Daniel (Roger's in-law and ex adman) Daniel mentions that there is a movie being made called Alice in Wonderland. A few minutes later, Don goes into a room where people are smoking hashish from a hookah, a scene from Alice in Wonderland (with the caterpillar). Don's interior journey has him see and talk to Megan (who quits her job and is barefoot and pregnant). He also talks to the soldier that he met at the bar in Hawaii where he gave away the bride.

When Don is floating face down at the pool, it's seems like a nod to the film, Sunset Blvd, which is narrated by the deceased screenwriter, played by William Holden. But there was a foreshadowing before, when Joan and Peggy were arguing back in the office and Joan says to Peggy that Don carried you "down to the deep end of the pool." The floating figure is more of a visual reference than a direct connection.

Joan's ambition to become a participating player at the firm is welcome but threatens Pete. Pete is the quintessential WASP. In the final sequence, he is ogling the legs of a secretary in a miniskirt, a vision in which he only sees her as a sexual object. He like Don's vision of Megan as barefoot and pregnant, is out of step with the times.