Kelley Hecker Loves Mad Men season 3, episode 13

By Venus Zine Staff
Published: July 23rd, 2010 | 12:00am

With season four of Mad Men set to premiere this Sunday, I’ve been re-watching season three to get pumped. Every episode of this show manages to have me laughing and crying, and “Shut the Door. Have a Seat.” is no exception.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Finding out that Don witnessed his bastard father’s death was tragic.

Seeing Don and the always entertaining Roger reconcile was a relief—Hamm ‘n’ Slattery are a comic force to be reckoned with—and watching Don, Roger, and Bert work with the perpetually screwed over Lane to form their own agency was thrilling.

Peggy’s initial discussion with Don was tear-jerking; their later get-together, touching.

The meeting at the Campbell’s apartment proved what a great team Pete and Trudy have become, and Pete finally getting Don’s validation was a long time coming and—because unlike others, Pete doesn’t make my skin crawl—I think he deserved it.

Don roughly and drunkenly confronting Betty about Henry Francis, calling her a whore and threatening she won’t get a nickel or the kids was infuriating. The Drapers telling their children that "Daddy won’t be living at home anymore," and Bobby subsequently jumping on his father in tears, was heartbreaking.

The return of Joan, everyone’s favorite overqualified, smart, and sassy redhead with the most amazing wardrobe, was triumphant.

Lane telling the furious Saint John after being fired, “Very good. Happy Christmas,” was great—something you were dying for him to say from the moment earlier in the season he was advised to move to Bombay because "one of [his] greatest qualities is" he always “does as [he’s] told."

Harry running out of the bedroom at the new office to get a sandwich ... well, that part just made me laugh.

Don calling Betty to say, “I’m not going to fight you. I hope you get what you always wanted,” was bittersweet. And the shot of Don smiling at the new team he assembled—his family, in a way—was exciting and hopeful.

And, as season finales always do, it left us with loads of questions. What will happen with Ken! (Cosgrove. Accounts.), Paul Kinsey, Hildy, the entertaining moron Lois, Smitty, and the rest of the employees we came to know at Sterling Cooper? Will Sal return? (This gives me hope!) Will Joan leave her loser husband, or will he be a Vietnam casualty? What will become of Jane and Roger's marriage? Will Betty and Henry Francis actually be happy together? How will the adorable Draper kids adjust to the changes in their lives? And will Betty finally be a decent mother to Bobby and Sally?

We’ll just have to tune in July 25 to start getting answers.

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Kelley Hecker is Venus Zine's assistant online music editor

P.S. Jon Hamm: marry me!

P.P.S. If Jon says no, Vincent Kartheiser: marry me!