Mad Men (TV Series) Red in the Face (2007) User Reviews

Payback is a dish served ....

[osuinpgh-62656 · 9/10 · 27 March 2019]

Many things in this episode speak to way people lived in 1960 that don't happen today. A pregnant neighbor not only drinks wine with Netty but also lights up a smoke. Political discussion about Nixon is curious given we know how the election turned out. And the 3 martini lunch which is what leads us to the final scene.

What is downplayed by many reviewers is that Don set up Roger to be embarrassed as a payback to when Roger made a pass at his wife. We see Don pay the elevator operator for something we don't know yet. Then Don baits Roger in to indulging in oysters and martinis and when they come back to the office the operator explains the elevator is out of service, and with the boys that are already late for a meeting with the Nixon campaign, they think they can walk up 23 flights of stairs. Roger being older than Don tires quicker but eventually makes it there for introductions. He then promptly loses his oyster lunch, projectile style. As Roger is slumped on the steps, Don is beaming from his successful ruse

Red in the Face (#1.7)

[ComedyFan2010 · 8/10 · 7 September 2018]

One of the interesting things about this episode was Betty. Don was pretty unfair to her. But the scene of her with Roger was really good. What was also great was her encounter with Helen in the supermarket. I am sure we will see more of that kind of Betty in the future.

I actually thought there will be more problems between Don and Roger but it wasn't as bad as I thought. Their climb up the stairs was also a great part of the episode.

Good Episode for Kartheiser

[Niv-1 · 8/10 · 26 August 2008]

Vincent Kartheiser was really good again. Funny when he was returning the dip thing "If you gave me cash I would spend it on you" and then the scene where he describes hunting. A little corny but he sold it. January Jones really looked great in the scene with the pregnant neighbor while drinking the wine and her acting was fine too. The walk up the stairs was funny as well. The Nixon political stuff was interesting but I did think about the fact that they were on the side of the loser but I guess that can be as interesting as being on the winning side maybe. The Dinner party scene was very good. John Slattery was funny.

"Sometimes I feel like I'm living with a little girl"

[Red_Identity · 9 September 2010]

Red in the Face has a narrative involving the Richard Nixon ordeal, yet it is just a step to show for how politics are talked about in the office without choosing representative sides.

The episode shows how when Roger makes a pass at Betty, Don immediately blames the wife. This is interesting to see because it shows how different these sort of things were handled in the past. It shows how men would immediately frown upon their less-powerful wife for creating the tension, yet the episode shows the other side. John Slattery has never been better, and it is time that he wins the Emmy together with Hamm.

This episode also made me realize just how immature Betty can be. It is true that until now the first season had showed her sweet and nice, yet when it comes to Roger's pass and a confrontation at the supermarket, we come to realize that Betty is much to blame. Why in God would she even give her hair lock to a small boy? It is not meant to be hurtful of course, but in that respect, it shows that Betty is very clueless at times, almost completely naive in an ignorant sense, and to a terrifying degree this will hurt both her and Don in the future. I think January Jones is playing her brilliantly.

Vincent Kartheiser is also growing on me, despite thinking he was one of the weakest of the cast at first. His character is really interesting, but I still think a better actor should have been cast as Pete. However, his scene at the office shows how much Peggy actually thinks of him and foreshadows of things to come. This is a great episode.

Sterling and Nixon

[MaxBorg89 · 10/10 · 23 August 2010]

After six episodes that more or less highlighted the good side of the '60s (not least in terms of aesthetics), Red in the Face takes care of introducing one of the decade's less pleasant elements, who later went on to become one of America's most infamous characters: Richard Milhouse Nixon.

Actually, Tricky Dick himself isn't physically featured in the storyline, but rather as the subject of Sterling Cooper's latest project, as the election campaign is behind the corner and the men upstairs believe Nixon is the man to support. Bigger problems, however, are caused by Roger Sterling who, put on edge by the situation with Joanne and one drink too many during dinner at Don's, is the source of much tension. In other news, Pete finds it increasingly hard to live up to both professional and domestic demands.

The strength of the episode lies in its way of introducing a potentially hot-button subject (politics) without getting preachy, instead allowing the Nixon/Kennedy subplot to organically evolve as part of the show's narrative. Additionally, Red in the Face boasts two particularly superb performances: Vincent Kartheiser keeps taking his role to new exciting places, and John Slattery has never been better than in the few but precious minutes he is given here with the wonderful character that is Roger Sterling. No wonder he got an Emmy nomination.

The five martini lunch

[jotix100 · 8/10 · 17 February 2011]

As the story begins Don Draper is talking Dr. Wayne, his wife's psychiatrist. He is concerned about how well is she responding to the treatment. The doctor gives him a summary of what has been covered so far, without going into any specifics.

Roger is drinking at his office, while talking to Don. He is having vodka and milk, which he claims it helps his ulcer. Bert Cooper comes in to announce the Nixon people will be coming later on to talk to them about the man that will be the Republican candidate to the presidency. As the meeting breaks Roger comes to Joan, who is getting ready to leave and tells her he will be by himself for the week-end. Joan is not too keen on the idea.

Peggy Olson shows she is an ambitious young woman. She has been secretly writing copy about a lipstick brand, Belle Jolie. Pete Campbell, having been brushed off by Roger, when he was called "Paul", stops by her desk. She confides in Pete about her project. He wants to help her.

Don and Roger having drinks at the Oak Room of the Plaza, appear to be having a good time. When Roger tells Don his wife and daughter will be away for the week-end, Don feels he must invite him to his place so he can have a home cooked dinner. Betty is not too amused because she has not much to receive the unexpected guest. The dinner goes well, but only the men are having the steak. Little does Roger know about the shortage of food. Betty is flirtatious throughout the dinner, something Roger senses. Later he comes to the kitchen where Betty is doing the dishes and makes a pass at her. That evening Don reproaches his wife for the undue attention she paid to Roger, but she answers she did it only because the guest was his boss.

Pete Campbell decides to use his lunch break to return a hideous 'chip and dip' dish they got as a wedding gift. While waiting he meets a friend Kicks Matherton. The returns clerk offers to give him a store credit only, something Pete did not plan on. All the charm he tried on the pretty woman proves to be no good. With the credit Pete gets himself a hunting rifle which he takes to the office. His co-workers are impressed. Peggy goes by to show Pete her work, which he promises to look.

Betty has been shopping at the supermarket. She is surprised when Helen Bishop comes in the opposite direction, evidently not too happy to run into Betty. Helen Bishop makes no bones about what's bothering her. She saw the lock of hair Betty gave to her son. Helen feels it was careless of her to do so. Betty, not expecting to hear that, slaps Helen and leaves the store.

Roger and Don are at another lunch. The drinks keep coming, as well as the oysters they order. The two men are in a good mood, but they must go back to the office where the meeting with the Nixon people is to take place. As they are about to take the elevator, they are informed the one to their floor is being repaired. Roger, sensing the importance of the meeting, decides to walk 23 stories. It is clear the strain is too much for Roger who proceeds to throw up as Bert Cooper is introducing the Nixon men.

Tim Hunter is again the director for this episode. Bridget Bedard wrote the screenplay. This installment of the series showcase Roger Sterling. He is not a well man. One of the things that made no sense was that in a building such as the one where the agency is located, only one elevator would be running for such a busy place. John Slattery makes an impression as Roger.

Roger's mishaps and Pete's struggles define this one

[Horst_In_Translation · 8/10 · 7 December 2023]

"Red in the Face" is the seventh episode from the first season of the really successful American series "Mad Men". The director is Tim Hunter this time, screenplay by Bridget Bedard and Matthew Weiner is also credited for writing as usual. What is also the same as usual is the running time of approximately 45 minutes, slightly over here. The first thing that came to my mind here is that there is a lot of focus on the two biggest male supporting players here. Kartheiser's Campbell was not too much in the spotlight in the previous episode(s), but the relationships with his wife as well as Elisabeth Moss' Peggy play a vital role in here. We see which of the two understands him better. At least when it comes to hunting and eating the prey afterwards. What was even more interesting, or at least funnier, was Peggy getting some food immediately after this inspiring monologue. I also liked how Pete did not make a direct reference to her being the woman in this scenario, but she totally does when she replies how much she would love this to happen. She is far from the nice girl everybody sees in her. Completely aside from that, it was also interesting to see the way the workers at the office have constant access to food apparently. In general, food plays a vital role in this episode because the other major male supporting player has a not exactly great encounter with oysters. I am talking about Slattery's Roger Sterling there of course. Well, the encounter was actually fairly nice for him with how much he enjoyed the delicacies, but what happened in the end then was not too nice for him.

Sterling and Pete do not really have many scenes combined, but there is one when Sterling calls him not by his name, but uses another name to mock him, so you see that Pete is really not accepted too well in the company, especially by the men. Therefore, you can also understand why he was looking for the other fellas' approval there when he bought the gun with the money he received back for a pretty interesting item linked to snacking chips etc. It was almost a bit on the gimmicky yet cult side how this item got shown repeatedly and Pete tells us (and whoever see it) what it is for. Anyway, I was talking about the scene in which he gives the other item back and this was maybe the funniest scene of the episode with the way the employees were acting there and how they did not dig him one bit, especially the one he is talking to towards the end who is clearly more interested in his buddy. At the same time, seeing Pete so desperate for approval, not only from men, but from women in this scene and how he reacts when he does not get it at the very end of the sequence, namely as sour as it gets, was also a bit on the bittersweet side. Looking for female approval is also something on Roger's agenda this episode with and it does not go too well. The women at the bar only seem to have eyes for Don there. Joan also has no time for him this weekend despite his family not being in town. She rather wants to go on a trip with him than only spend time at a hotel. Understandable. So he ends up with the Drapers then and they have dinner together, which goes all kinds of wrong afterwards, but somehow the relationship between him and Don is fine again afterwards, at least after Don gets his revenge there in the end. But even if alcohol played a role, I clearly did not expect Roger to get this touchy with Don's wife.

We also find out a bit more about her here. Betty meets a friend at a supermarket who has turned a bit into a foe and there is a direct and very specific reference back to the episode when she was babysitting for her, which is something we do not get super often on Mad Men, but it was interesting. It is also talked on several occasions how Betty sometimes acts like an angry girl. This is referenced by her psychiatrist and also by her husband. And the latter know it from the former. The episode literally starts with a phone conversation between the two men which shows you again a decent insight into gender roles back then. Doctor-patient confidentiality did not really exist, at least not when the patient is a female and her husband wants to know what is going on. The aforementioned scene with Pete and Peggy is also more insight into male-female roles from back then, the early 1960s. David Carbonara was again in charge of the music, at least partially, even if this episode does not have the great closing moment from "Babylon". And overall it may also be slightly weaker than episode six, but this is only because episode six was really marvelous. This seventh episode here is also still really good and I enjoyed it a lot as you can see from my rating too and I am definitely curious about what is going to happen next. This one here just delivers on other fronts than the previous one.

Some final brainstorming as the end of the review gets closer: We find out about an interesting reference linked to lighting cigarettes during wartime, we have references to Nixon and Kennedy on quite a few occasions. How both were perceived back then in the face of their upcoming political clash. There were even Nixon employees there paying a visit to the protagonists at their workplace with the option of a collaboration. We understand how nice it is to have your name on the building as Roger tells us not once, but twice and we have Robert Morse once again on the screen here, which was quite nice. I always like seeing him and may he rest in peace. His character was also really assured that Kennedy would triumph, even if he was not wearing a hat. He was not wrong as we know now. We even get an Elvis reference. We understand that Black people back then were mostly busy running elevators and making sure that nobody is hungry. And apparently everybody is using the elevator, so secret couples know where they have to go to avoid getting seen. Unless Don and Roger are heading up the stairs that is. I guess Roger might stay away from seafood for a little while after this episode. But from redheads there is no way he can stay away. So much for this seventh episode in a nutshell. It is once again very much worth seeing, not red in the face, but very much comfortably on the green side of the scale quality-wise. Also 16 years later. Don't miss out.

Forty-Two Minutes of Sublime

[borowiecsminus · 7/10 · 12 June 2016]

Many writers suffer a fatal flaw: they don't trust the viewer, and so they over-explain things rather than leaving anything unsaid or unspoken. The writers of "Mad Men" have no such flaw.

The use of sublime throughout the show has been great, but with this episode, there is more left unsaid to be noticed than there is to be said. Betty Draper's role has never been better than it is in this episode. This episode proved to be better for January Jones than for Jon Hamm, as consistently brilliant as he is in the role.

But the episode's real victory goes to the writers. The small Nixon debate was very interesting, as was Betty's feelings about John Kennedy. A victory for "Mad Men."