The New Girl (24 Aug. 2008)

Joan finds Don the perfect secretary, and Don finds himself in the middle of issues between TV comedian Jimmy and his wife, Bobbie.

Director:

Jennifer Getzinger

Writers:

Matthew Weiner (creator), Robin Veith

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
John Slattery	...	Roger Sterling
Joel Murray	...	Fred Rumsen
Maggie Siff	...	Rachel Katz
Melinda McGraw	...	Bobbie Barrett
Alison Brie	...	Trudy Campbell
Patrick Fischler	...	Jimmy Barrett

Storyline

Pete and Trudy visit a doctor to discuss their problems conceiving a child. Pete deals insensitively with the resulting news. Bobbie continues her personal pursuit of Don. After a drunken evening with Bobbie (in which they run into a now married Rachel Menken), Don, driving Bobbie home, gets into a traffic accident. He fails the breathalyser test and calls the only person he can think of who can bail him out of this predicament and will protect this secret for him. Through flashbacks, we learn why Don chose this person as his confidante. Although Don walks into the office the following day with his arm in a sling, he is paid little attention due to the arrival of Don's attractive new secretary, Jane Siegel, and an engagement ring on Joan's finger. Despite falling under the radar of doing anything wrong with Bobbie, Don dreads an urgent meeting called by Jimmy Barrett. And Peggy receives some career advice from an unexpected source.

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Plot Keywords:

flashback | hospital | fine | engagement ring | arm sling | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 August 2008 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Center Studios - 450 S. Bixel Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Movie Classics (AMC), Lionsgate Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

48 min 49 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Don is introduced to Jane, his new secretary, by Joan we see him cross left-to-right saying "Morning" and handing her his hat as he passes. She takes it with her right hand on the right side of her body then we cut to a reverse 2-shot of her and Joan and Jane is holding the hat at chest level with both hands.

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Quotes

Joan Holloway: Aren't you darling? You're going to be gangbusters.

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Connections

References Spartacus (1960)

User Reviews

Ms. Barrett

As this episode begins, Trudy and Pete Campbell are seen at a doctor's office. They have come because they have not been able to conceive a child after more than a year and a half of marriage. The problems seems to lie in Trudy, because Pete has proved, as with his relationship with Peggy, that he is not the reason Trudy can't become pregnant.

Bobbie Barrett, who has shown an interest in Don, calls him from Sardi where she has been drinking alone after her project for a television show was approved. Don is shocked when Rachel Manken comes to his table. She is now married, something that catches him by surprise. Bobbie realizes a tension between Don and Rachel. After she goes, Bobbie suggests to go to her Long Island place by the water.

Along the way, Bobbie is seen drinking heavily from a bottle. She is all over Don, who gets distracted. They end up in a ditch, but fortunately, they are not hurt. As the police take them into the station, a fine is levied, but Don doesn't have enough to cover it. In a surprise movement, Don, who wants to protect Bobbie from any scandal, asks Peggy to come to get them with the money for the fine. Peggy ends up taking Bobbie home to Brooklyn.

As Don arrives home that night, a worried Betty, who hasn't slept all night, is worried. Don goes over his accident without giving details. He blames what happened to him on his high blood pressure, something he had failed to inform her after his physical. Betty goes into a frenzy about preparing his meals without salt.

There is a buzz in the office about Joan's engagement to the Jewish doctor. Roger doesn't seem too thrilled about the news, after all, he secretly wants her. Joan has hired a new secretary for Don. She is Jane Siegel, an attractive woman who captures all the men's attention and who Joan scolds for wearing provocative clothes.

At Peggy's apartment, Bobbie is not too happy, but she has to lay low for a while. Bobbie questions Peggy about being secretly interested in Don. Bobbie's advice to Peggy is to "be a woman". That triggers a couple of flashbacks in her mind. In the first one, she is seen at the hospital, suffering from her depression caused after the birth of the baby. In the second one, Don is seen visiting Peggy, encouraging her to come out of the state that afflicts her mentioning that it's shocking, but if she puts her mind to it, she'll be surprised how little will she remember of her ordeal.

At the office, Don has unkind words toward Peggy because not finishing an assignment; he is not satisfied. Don repays Peggy for the money she lent him and suddenly feels emboldened in calling him "Don" for the first time, as now she sees herself as an equal.

A good episode directed by Jennifer Getzinger and written by Robin Veith. Melinda McGraw made a valuable contribution. Her scenes with Elisabeth Moss give the episode a turning point as Peggy feels liberated from her past as she takes to heart Bobbie's advice. The regulars are good, especially Joel Murray playing Mozart's 40th Symphony with his pants zipper!