Christmas Waltz (20 May 2012)

Lane searches for a way to get rid of a sizable debt, the firm prepares to pull out all the stops when it gets a second chance to land Jaguar as a client, and Don tries to comfort Joan when she reaches her breaking point.

Director:

Michael Uppendahl

Writers:

Matthew Weiner (creator), Victor Levin,

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)
Jessica Paré	...	Megan Draper
Christopher Stanley	...	Henry Francis (credit only)
Jay R. Ferguson	...	Stan Rizzo
Robert Morse	...	Bertram Cooper
John Slattery	...	Roger Sterling
Michael Gladis	...	Paul Kinsey

Storyline

Lane faces a personal cash flow problem when he is informed that he owes the British government £2,900 for back taxes, payable in two days time. He comes up with a scheme using supposed SCDP funds, which don't actually exist, in the form of Christmas bonuses to all staff, including to the partners. But one problem after another with Lane's scheme have the potential of bringing his entire world crashing down around him. It promises to be a busy Christmas season since SCDP is once again in the running for the Jaguar account, the pitch from agencies to be done in mid-January, giving them about six weeks to come up with a presentation. Meanwhile, Harry gets a telephone call from old colleague Paul Kinsey to meet, which Harry reluctantly does. Harry ends up meeting a much transformed Paul. Although Harry does not agree with the transformation itself, he does get caught up in it. As Harry guessed, Paul does ask him for a professional favor. When Harry doesn't believe he can accommodate ...

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | hare krishna | forged signature | hugging | reference to frank sinatra | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 May 2012 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lionsgate Television, Weiner Bros.

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Pete Campbell: [Regarding being in the running for Jaguar] Yes, well, other than Roger, who started drinking at exactly 7:55 this morning,
[pause]
Pete Campbell: no one has given me the
[pause]
Pete Campbell: reaction I desire from this blessed event.
[pause]
Pete Campbell: Bert?
Bertram Cooper: They're lemons. They never start.
Pete Campbell: [Irritated] Meeting adjourned.

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Connections

References My Three Sons (1960)

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Soundtracks

"Christmas Waltz"
(uncredited)
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Performed by Peggy Lee

User Reviews

A couple of loose ends seem to be accounted for ...

While this episode seemed scattered, it was really worth watching, because we get to see the seeds of what may be Lane Pryce's self destruction. He is having financial difficulties, and decides to embezzle $8,000 to cover the taxes owed to Her Majesty's Government.

And his solicitor's fees remain unaccounted for.

Meantime, we get to see what happened with Paul Kinsey, who's now in the grasp of the Hare Krishnas. What unfolds is a less than flattering portrait of the organization, and of Paul's desire to have Harry help him in selling a script for "Star Trek." Other people have not received this portion of the episode well, but I thought it provided something interesting.

Seeing Don Draper and Joan Harris together was fun, and it was interesting that she was served divorce papers. Strangely, though, I thought she might receive news that he would be killed in Vietnam, but one never knows. Anyway, their time together was interesting, and we may get to see more of the old Don Draper in action, getting the Jaguar account landed.

Overall, the season has been a little uneven, and I would have appreciated at least a reference or two to "Batman," which was THE SHOW of 1966, as well as other pop references. But I think we're getting set up for something very interesting, between Lane Pryce and Jaguar.