Mad Men (TV Series) The Benefactor (2008) User Reviews

Situational, but the Good Kind.

[borowiecsminus · 8/10 · 25 July 2016]

This episode was pretty much completely situational. There were no sudden plot turns. Nothing big and exciting happened. It was almost like watching a short, indie film. It wasn't a riveting story, it was just a small tale about a wife who is being pursued by a young man on horseback, and a man who fell drunk and issued insults, and the man who is tasked with fixing it.

That being said, it was fantastic, if you asked me. It's a great example of how what is, frankly, a filler episode, can touch the audience anyway. Like "Fly." It bears no weight whatsoever, and yet it's strangely wonderful. The acting is, as usual, phenomenal.

The episode capitalizes on what is possibly the show's best quality. Most television shows that are as good as this one operate on large scales. A big-time drug ring, the White House, Hollywood (or Hollywoo), the New Jersey Mafia, or anything that matters to the whole country. But this show can be just as riveting by simply being normal. There are no deaths, I mean, not of major characters, anyway, there are no shoot-em-ups, no wars, it's just a company. And it's every bit as exciting as "The Sopranos," and that's what makes this show so brilliant.

The Benefactor(s)

[Ry_Asty · 9/10 · 7 January 2024]

The episode's title and my review title are analogous, in title anyway, and to the writers. I won't speculate about the ages of Matthew Weiner, Rick Cleveland or Robin Veith but wonder how at least one of them could remember a particular episode of The Defenders. The episode's title was identical to this Mad Men broadcast on April 28, 1962; 16, 907 days before August 10, 2008.

The subject of The Defenders episode was a greatly controversial medical procedure. In Mad Men the title's subject is even less obvious than the predecessor. Obnoxious TV comedian Jimmy Barrett has insulted his show's sponsor. Don must convince Barrett's wife / manager to compel an apology from Jimmy. Fiercely independent and mercenary Bobbie Barrett has been enjoying encounters with Don but at the ritzy French restaurant, site of expected apology, demands a bribe in exchange. What Don provides is an astoundingly unexpected hair grab and fingering drawing a nearly orgasmish ohh from Mrs Barrett and Jimmy's apology. Now prepared to order dinner Mrs Sponsor, subject of Jimmy's insults, makes a comment which Jimmy all-to-obviously opens his mouth to again spout-off but turns his head away and bites his knuckles. Subtlety is an undiscovered element in this Barrett universe.

Later in the Mad Men episode Bobbie Barrett drops in on Don at his office. She wants Don to endorse her idea for a show not unlike future TV of home-movie scenes gone wrong with unkind commentary. Don first demurs until Bobbie locks the door and drops her coat for a knee rest.

The Jimmy Barrett character reminded me of a Jerry Lewis character in a Martin & Lewis film where Jerry's antics incur mobster's ire, smoothed over by Martin. Other reviewers compare Jimmy to Lenny Bruce but, I'm not old enough to remember Bruce except for the Dustin Hoffman portrayal and can't get past actor Patrick Fischler's resemblance to the notorious David Ferrie.

So, who is the benefactor? The judge or physician in 1962 or Don, Mrs BJ or Mrs Sponsor in 2008? There is probably more in the Mad Men episode but Melinda McGraw has the power to cloud men's minds as do all of Don's lovers and wife. Jon Hamm may well hold equivalent zipless mesmerism for women. In conclusion, a shout-out / citation is due to IMDB for availability of so much arcane information.

Horseback Riding and Power Couple

[vivianla · 8 June 2020]

Harry is shocked to find out that his co-worker makes 300 dollars a week which is more than he makes. He opens his co-worker's cheque to see.

Betty is horseback riding with a friend and she looks perfect. Hair and outfit is perfect.

Donald is assigned to be the one to resolve the issue of the celebrity insulting the couple who is paying for the ad. Don meets Mrs. Barrett, the wife of this celebrity where she refuses to get him to apologize. There is rain and hail pounding on the windshield. Don and Mrs. Barrett are in the car together as Don offered to drive her home. She leans in for a kiss and Don refuses but after another attempt he gives in and they make out. The rainy weather with the loud sounds from the hail is romantic.

Betty goes out horseback riding again to see a man letting his horse graze on the wrong grass. She looks perfect with her hair tucked under her cute riding helmet and her perfect face. She has a turtleneck on with a beige jacket and riding boots. This man tries to kiss Betty who stops him and walks off.

Don calls Mrs. Barrett and she asks where he is. He is watching the kids as Betty is out horseback riding. Mrs. Barrett says she likes to be bad out and good when she comes home.

Betty comes home and Don asks her about dinner with the Barretts. She is disappointed as she first thought Don was asking her out to dinner with just the two of them.

Betty is wearing a pink halter-style dress that shows off her shoulders and back. Mr. Barrett comes in and is immediately attracted to Betty. Betty tells him she loves his work and he points at her saying when receiving compliments you want it to come from someone like her. The point was a cute gesture. Mr. Barrett continues focusing on Betty.

Mrs. Barrett gets up for the washroom and Don goes later. He tells her the window for an apology is closing and he kisses her. He reaches under her skirt and fingers her. She gasps, aroused.

Don goes back to the table and Mrs. Barrett comes later with messy hair. Mrs. Barrett tells the couples that Mr. Barrett has something he would like to say. Mr. Barrett gives an apology that comprises of explanations of his behaviour and career.

Don is relieved. Betty is happy. In the ride home Betty is crying and Don looks worried. Betty says she is crying because she is happy. When she said she wanted to be a part of his life this is what she meant. They make a great team. I love this scene.

The episode ends off with the Drapers gazing out the windshield longingly and it is romantic. Ending song is beautiful and I need to search up all these 60s songs this show closes with.

An Affair To Dismember

[TheFearmakers · 5/10 · 22 October 2019]

Eyebrows Lenny Bruce (The Comic) is really an obnoxious character... which is intentional, but he doesn't seem like he would have the charm to charm his way into any kind of genuine success, which he has in the fictional world of this series...

And his wife, and her affair with Don, is the first of several really boring affairs of Don Draper... the ones that go on and on are the boring ones (except for Midge, who was free-spirited, smoked pot and listened to Miles Davis): But Don's one night (or two night) stands are far more intriguing... once he gets settled into not being the settled-down-type, melodrama ensues, and sorry but, the comic's wife is a big bore...

Also, would no-name actor Robert Reed by called "Bob" by an inside man? In reality, the only thing people remember about The Defenders is that its star EG Marshall played a school principal on Bob Reed's more famous show, The Brady Bunch...

Worst yet is the beginning of Betty's flirtation with the mannequin horse stable rich boy, more boring than Don's actual tryst, and, basically, Season 2 has a very muddled beginning, and anyone in denial of that, oh well... let the down-votes sustain.