The Wheel (18 Oct. 2007)

Don and Betty Draper have an argument when it becomes apparent that he doesn't want to spend Thanksgiving with her family and she plans on going only with the children. He also learns some ... See full summary »

Director:

Matthew Weiner

Writers:

Matthew Weiner (creator), Matthew Weiner,

Stars:

Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jon Hamm	...	Don Draper
Elisabeth Moss	...	Peggy Olson
Vincent Kartheiser	...	Pete Campbell
January Jones	...	Betty Draper
Christina Hendricks	...	Joan Holloway
Bryan Batt	...	Salvatore Romano
Michael Gladis	...	Paul Kinsey
Aaron Staton	...	Ken Cosgrove
Rich Sommer	...	Harry Crane
Maggie Siff	...	Rachel Menken (credit only)
Robert Morse	...	Bertram Cooper
Anne Dudek	...	Francine Hanson
Katherine Boecher	...	Annie
Alison Brie	...	Trudy Campbell
James Keane	...	Night Manager

Storyline

Don and Betty Draper have an argument when it becomes apparent that he doesn't want to spend Thanksgiving with her family and she plans on going only with the children. He also learns some information about his brother Adam. Pete Campbell confirms that he has landed an account from his father-in-law for a new skin care product called Clearasil. He objects however when Don gives the account to Peggy Olson, who he has just been promoted to junior copywriter. Peggy proves her mettle in auditions for the weight loss device but later is feeling unwell and goes to the hospital where she is given some shocking news. Don comes up with a brilliant presentation for Kodak on a new wheel-like storage device for a slide projector that he dubs a carousel.

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Plot Keywords:

slide projector | carousel | audition | thanksgiving | handprint | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 October 2007 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Weiner Bros., Lionsgate Television, American Movie Classics (AMC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

52 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

The date is Wednesday, November 23, 1960, Thanksgiving eve. In the last scene Don sits on the stairs as the camera pulls back and Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" begins to play. That song wasn't recorded until November 14, 1962 and not released until May 27, 1963 on the "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" album.

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Quotes

Don Draper: Well, technology is a glittering lure. But there's the rare occasion when the public can be engaged on a level beyond flash, if they have a sentimental bond with the product. My first job, I was in-house at a fur company, with this old pro copywriter. Greek, named Teddy. And Teddy told me the most important idea in advertising is "new". Creates an itch. You simply put your product in there as a kind of... calamine lotion. But he also talked about a deeper bond with the product: nostalgia. It's ...

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Connections

Featured in The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards (2008)

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Soundtracks

"A Beautiful Mine"
(uncredited)
Written by by Rjd2
Performed by Rjd2

User Reviews

An amazing finale to a brilliant first season

Here we come to the end of the first season, and the episode reminds us why Mad Men proves that it is one of the best shows in recent years, if not the best.

The episode was written and directed by the show's creator, Matthew Weiner. It brings us closer to Betty Draper's pain, and the remorse than Don Draper feels. It also keeps hinting at what Peggy Olson's new future will be, as well as give us a completely satisfying ending. The episode also has many amazing scenes, like the presentation of the Carousel advertising. In that moment, it shows how much Don has lived and how much his secrets could really cost him, together with some amazing direction, cinematography, and music. The episode shows just how flawed each character can be, including Pete's continuing selfish behavior, Don's hypocritical statements about a friend's affair, and Betty's naive and misunderstood cry for help to a kid.

Together with the end of the first season, it is to be said that the cast is amazing- one could not try to gather a better one. Jon Hamm is amazing in the central role, and I think that he will surely win his much deserved Emmy one day (after three years he still has not yet won). Elisabeth Moss is just getting started, as she is in her shining moment in the second season. January Jones is very underrated, but she has proved over the years how to play from the innocent wife to the lost girl inside to the cold-hearted woman in in the series. Of course, we also have the amazing Slattery, Kartheiser, and Hendricks in her sexy role. I also want to give a shout-out to guest star Anne Dudek as Francine, who proves in this episode what a great actress she is.

Ultimately, this episode is as fine as an episode can get, and since I started watching the series from the second season I can gladly say that it will just continue to keep getting better, and many will wonder how that is possible. But Mad Men will continue adding layered story lines to completely interesting and complicated characters.