Episode Report Card Couch Baron: A- | 345 USERS: B+ YOU GRADE IT To The Moon, Connie!
By Couch Baron | Season 3 | Episode 9 | Aired on 2009.10.11
He continues, "Now there's one word that promises the thrill of international travel with the comfort of home. Hilton." The artwork presses the concept, the first one asking, "How do you say 'ice water' in Italian?" and continuing the idea with fresh towels in Farsi and hamburger in Japanese, and winds up, "Hilton. It's the same in every language." It's a good pitch, but you'll notice that the Music Of Don Draper Casting His Hypnotic Spell is missing, so it's no surprise that Connie's not going to bow down in front of his genius. After nitpicking the hamburger idea, Connie sits back for a long moment during which Don looks like he's getting uncomfortable, and then proclaims it very good -- it's clever, yet friendly, and draws you in. "But what about the moon?" Don's confused at first, and then points out that that's not actually an achievable destination at the moment, but Connie says that's not the point -- he wanted Hilton on the moon, and couldn't have been more clear about it. That's patently untrue -- he said he wanted a Hilton on the moon, which is another thing entirely -- but I think he loves this game of giving with one hand and taking with the other, and is using this as an opportunity to make sure Don still knows who the boss is. Ultimately, Connie wants what he wants when he wants it, and he's saying, whether he believes it or not, that Don has let him down. I think it's a rather poignant parallel to the behavior Francis has exhibited with Betty all along, and what Pete did with Gudrun as well -- there are few better ways to make people feel powerless than to change the rules of the game in the middle, and that's really what the whole season is about. Anyway, Don tries to say he misunderstood and that the moon idea can probably be incorporated into the concept, but that's clearly not what Connie wants to hear, and he announces to the room that he'd like to speak with Don in private. To their credit, Smitty, Peggy, and Kurt look at Don for orders, but Don gives them leave to go, if not without irritation at what's to come. As she closes the door, Peggy gives another understanding look Don's way, and then Don tries to defend his work, but Connie cuts him off: "I'm going to speak very honestly with you. I don't think folks do that often." Don is not ready to be lectured, though, as he pointedly shoots back that most ad men believe that clients get in the way of good work. "I've never experienced that." Connie, however, stays on message, and reiterates that Don didn't give him what he wanted. "I'm deeply disappointed, Don." Wow, weaving a twisted father-son dynamic into a business relationship and alliteration too? I can see why he's going to take over the world. Don, sounding more impotent now, repeats that it's a great campaign, but while Connie concedes again that the work is good, he gets the last word: "When I say I want the moon, I expect the moon." I'd imagine Don's going to take everything out of his mouth literally from now on, so I'll be interested to see what will happen should Connie ever tell him to fuck a duck. Connie takes off, and I expect Don's agenda for the rest of the day will be to call Connie's kids and bitch about what Dad did now.