Mad Men: The Other Woman

     **SPOILERS**
     I don't usually post about Mad Men.  It is such a talked about show the chances of me saying anything that hasn't been mentioned a hundred times on a hundred different sites is slim to none so I usually don't bother, but this week's episode was so extraordinary I can't pass up the opportunity to write a few words.  The Other Woman was probably one of the ten best episodes of any show in the history of television.  At this point in the show, the quality of the acting and writing and directing goes with out saying;  what made this episode special was the way it took all those elements we now take for granted from Matthew Weiner, John Hamm, and company and stirred up an incredible amount of emotion.  They were able to take the five years we've spent with these characters and use it all to create one of the most heartbreaking hours of television I've seen.  It was heartbreaking when Joan seemed to entertain the thought of prostituting herself out for an account.  She's too beloved a character to fall so low.  It was heartbreaking when all the partners except Don agreed to push the issue.  We've come to expect such behavior from Pete, but we all want to think more of Roger, Lane and Bert.  It was heartbreaking when Joan felt she has no better way to improve her station in life then to sell her body.  As if no one is ever going to question exactly how the female office manager suddenly became partner.  It was heartbreaking to see Peggy begin to entertain leaving the firm.  She's always been the heart and soul of the group; yin to Don's yang.  It was heartbreaking to realise Don was late telling Joan he didn't support the other partner's offer.  There has always been something strong and unsaid between these characters, something that would have probably changed Joan's actions.  It was heartbreaking to hear Don explain why he wasn't going to put Peggy on the Jaguar account, knowing where it was coming from and knowing what Peggy was about to do.  Don's intentions were good but showcased why Peggy needed to break free at the same time.  It was heartbreaking to hear Peggy site the opinion that Don would do the same if he was in her shoes.  We all know, if nothing else, Don values loyalty, and when he was in Peggy's shoes stayed loyal to his employers.  It was heartbreaking to compare Joan and Peggy, two strong women put in positions where they had an opportunity to improve their stations in life, but neither seeming to have made a satisfactory decision.  This was television at it's absolute best.