Review of The Wheel

Mad Men: The Wheel (2007)
Season 1, Episode 13
Consequences and "It's A Wrap" Of Season 1
8 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Peter talks to his father-in-law while Trudy talks with her mother. Trudy's father brings up to Peter about having kids, "to start growing things". Work is not everything.

Harry is in trouble with his wife, Jennifer, who will not let him come home. Rachel Menken is off on a trip for three months. Now Don Draper won't have someone to go to for advice and won't be able to make love with her.

Betty Draper's friend comes rushing in from the cold and tells Betty that she found out her husband has been having an affair. She thought Betty would know what to do, to the dismay of Betty. Betty wears a beautiful blue coat that seems to be a trend as other women are wearing blue coats.

Betty tells her husband when he comes home about her friend's husband's affair. Betty asks her husband how could you do that with someone you love, someone who you had kids with? Donald Draper is stuck as he has cheated so many times and he replies who knows why people do what they do. Betty suspects her husband is also doing suspicious things and keeps a letter sent to him.

Peggy takes charge as our leading lady. Annie reads out the script for the masturbation device. Annie has a very clear voice and I will take note of this for myself. Peggy ends up letting Annie go because she is not speaking with confidence. Annie cries as she claims to be herself but Peggy keeps saying what the problem is after each take.

Betty opens the letter to find out that the psychiatrist she is seeing is in contact with her husband. Betty is upset she has no one to truly talk to in private. The psychiatrist is talking with her husband about her appointments. She sees Glen in the parking lot and reaches for comfort from him, a little boy. Glen says he wished he was older and looks at her with wishful eyes. Betty tells Glen that adults do not know anything. Betty has all these problems she as an adult has and does not know what the correct solutions are.

Don shows his ideas of marketing "The Wheel" by introducing it as "The Carousel" instead. He gives a beautiful presentation on its use and he uses his own personal photos with his kids and his wife. Betty looks beautiful on her wedding day. Don gives an amazing verbal presentation as well, saying how the carousel provides a slideshow of nostalgia that you can click to go back or forward as you please. Don seems to feel emotional about his family.

Peggy is promoted and gets her own shared office space. Joan walks her to her new space and tells Peggy not to forget she used to not have a closed door. Joan seems jealous but tries to play it off cool.

Peggy suddenly feels not so swell and goes to the hospital where the doctor feels her belly. He tells her she is pregnant and the nurse congratulates her and asks if she would like her husband or boyfriend to know. Peggy is shocked and I am completely shocked as well, never suspecting she would be pregnant. Peggy has a boy and she does not even look at the baby.

The next scene shows Don coming home way earlier than expected and he tells his wife and kids he is going with them. The Carousel seems to have brought up the feelings he first had with his new wife and kids.

The next scene shows Donald coming home to an empty house as he calls for his family. He sits on the staircase looking sad.
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