Editor’s Note: This post contains spoilers for the Sunday, August 29 episode of AMC’s "Mad Men."

Sunday was a big night for the gang at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.  Don won an award, Peggy got empowered, Ms. Blankenship got a new wig and Ken Cosgrove returned to the agency.

The driving theme of the night focused on the lengths people are willing to go in order to succeed.  While some work hard and persevere, others are driven by their sense of entitlement.  As a testament to the latter, we opened with Jane’s Lilliputian cousin Danny.  Danny came to his interview with Don and Peggy armed with a book full of hackneyed ad slogans, other people’s work and Roger Sterling’s name.  Although he failed miserably in his attempt to impress, he was inevitably hired because of his connection to Roger.  Verdict: Danny sucks.

Conversely, through a series of flashbacks, we saw that Don came to be employed at Sterling Cooper [no Draper Pryce here, this was the former incarnation of the agency] through sheer persistence and determination.  Don met Roger at his former employer – Heller’s – where Roger stopped in to buy a “getting to know you” fur for Joan, with whom he’d begun an affair.  A salesman who also handled the shop’s advertising, Don promoted himself and his abilities in a manner that was straightforward without being ham-handed.  Take a lesson from old Don Draper, kids.  Persistence is everything.  However, you might want to skip the three martini breakfasts.

FULL POST