The Rejected (15 Aug. 2010)

Peter finds out that he will become a father, and has to break some bad business news to his father-in-law. Meanwhile an office focus group study for a client has some unintended personal consequences for Don.

Director:

John Slattery

Writers:

Matthew Weiner (creator), Keith Huff,

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 Francis (credit only)
Christina Hendricks	...	Joan Harris
Jared Harris	...	Lane Pryce
Aaron Staton	...	Ken Cosgrove
Rich Sommer	...	Harry Crane
Kiernan Shipka	...	Sally Draper (credit only)
Robert Morse	...	Bertram Cooper
John Slattery	...	Roger Sterling
Alison Brie	...	Trudy Campbell
Joel Murray	...	Fred Rumsen
Alexa Alemanni	...	Allison
Joe O'Connor	...	Tom Vogel

Storyline

With the firm now handling the Ponds cold cream account, Pete is given the news that they have to let go of Clearasil - an account only half the size - despite Pete's connection to the account through his father-in-law, Tom. Pete is directed to tell Tom the news by the start of the next working day. However, Pete's news to Tom is overshadowed by news Tom has for Pete, which makes Pete forget about his task, at least for the time being. Once the news of what Tom told Pete makes the rounds at the office, everyone seems happy for Pete, with perhaps the exception of Peggy, who finds the news somewhat bittersweet. With Ponds, Fay - oops, Faye - holds a focus group with the younger secretaries of the firm. Don, Freddy and Peggy, viewing the focus group behind a two-way mirror, find the focus group illuminating, but for Don having to do with an issue not associated with the product. This revelation during the focus group leads to a frank discussion between Allison and Don. Meanwhile, Pete ...

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 August 2010 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Movie Classics (AMC), Lionsgate Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

Action takes place around February 21, 1965, the day Malcolm X was assassinated (Peggy mentions that "Malcolm X was shot last Sunday").

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Goofs

When Pete goes home to see Trudy after learning of her pregnancy, Pete's lips do not move and the voice is obviously not his when he calls her name.

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Quotes

Elderly Man, Apartment Neighbor: Did you get pears?
Elderly Woman, Apartment Neighbor: We'll discuss it inside.

User Reviews

Did you get the pears?

I may not like everything about every episode of Mad Men, but only because I feel some parts are unnecessary. Or maybe I just don't care about those aspects. On the whole, I think Mad Men is a beautiful show with many layers. Some of the best moments in the show are the simple statements, the looks, and glares. More is said with a glance, than words, and that's what I truly appreciate about this show... they let you enter their minds and extrapolate what you feel they're thinking.

The Rejected is an episode about relationships, and it had a real deep, desirable feel to it.

Peggy is mad at Pete for finding out from another secretary that Pete's wife is pregnant. She confronts Pete without saying how she feels, but a feeling of rejection is sensed. Later the music queue's when they change a hard look in the lobby. Very intriguing moment. I felt bad for the loss of what could have been between the two of them; and I felt a sense of the door shutting on their past.

That moment was followed up with an equally captivating moment when an elderly gentleman repeatedly asks his apparent wife (who's walking down the hallway after returning from the store) if she got the pears... Draper is opening the door to his apartment and he pauses to look at them as they go into their apartment.

"We'll discuss it inside", the man's wife says.

Don is choking on multiple emotions. I feel bad for how lonely and desperate his life has become. Earlier he wanted to write a note to his secretary, but he's above that, so he disregards it... more repressed feelings. Is he really the man he thinks he is, where is he going, where will he end up? Will he ever grow old with someone, like his neighbors have, and will he ever care about anything the way that old man seems to care about his pears.

There's a subtle beauty in the simple, brief moment we see that old couple. She may go to the store daily, and he may ask that same question repeatedly every time she returns, but where would their lives be without those simple moments? I feel that's what's going through Don Draper's mind. He feels the old man is annoying, but at the same time he is envious because the old man has someone and has been able to hold onto that special someone for a long time. Maybe one day he'll treat women decent enough to where he could be the man awaiting his loved one and asking, honey, did you get the pears?

This episode made me cry in the end.