Far Away Places (Mad Men)
| "Far Away Places" | |
|---|---|
| Mad Men episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 5 |
| Directed by | Scott Hornbacher |
| Written by |
Semi Chellas Matthew Weiner |
| Featured music | "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" by The Beach Boys |
| Original air date | April 22, 2012 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
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"Far Away Places" is the sixth episode of the fifth season of the American television drama series Mad Men and the 58th episode of the series overall. It was written by series creator and executive producer Matthew Weiner and writer Semi Chellas, and directed by Scott Hornbacher. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on April 22, 2012.
The episode takes place almost entirely over a single day, telling three stories in a non-linear narrative. Peggy becomes alienated after separate fights with her boyfriend Abe and a client. Roger and Jane take LSD with a group of intellectuals, altering how they see the world and allowing them to speak honestly about their marriage. Don and Megan leave the office and take an impromptu road trip to Plattsburgh, New York, which doesn't turn out as planned after Megan becomes aggrieved with how Don treats her.
"Far Away Places" was watched by 2.6 million viewers and achieved 0.9 million viewers in the key 18–49 demographic. The episode received overwhelming critical acclaim, with many critics noting the episode's formal experiments with and focus on the passage of time. The sequence where Roger and Jane take LSD was particularly celebrated for the visual excellence and performances by John Slattery and Peyton List. The theme of the episode was pinpointed by the series writers and television journalists as the desire to escape.
"Far Away Places" is split into three vignettes that take place almost entirely during a single day following the characters Peggy, Roger, and Don.
The episode begins with Peggy's day and a heated argument with her boyfriend Abe, over her preoccupation with work and the effect this has on their sex life. The argument ends with Abe leaving in a huff. After Don pulls Megan away for an impromptu trip to a Howard Johnson's hotel in far northern New York, Peggy has to pitch to the Heinz executives without them. Peggy unsuccessfully tries to sell the Heinz executives on her concept. Frustrated, she leaves work, has a couple of drinks, and goes to see the film Born Free. She sees a young man smoking marijuana behind her, partakes herself, and eventually gives him a hand job. She returns to her office to see Ginsberg arguing with his father. After being told off by Ginsberg for eavesdropping, she falls asleep in Don's office. She awakens to a call from Don, who seems alarmed for incomprehensible reasons. Don hangs up on her and Peggy returns to her office. When Peggy asks about Ginsberg's life, Ginsberg initially claims to be a Martian, stating that Morris Ginsberg is not his father. Michael was born in a Nazi concentration camp and, after its liberation, Morris claimed him from a Swedish orphanage when Michael was five years old. Peggy returns home, affected by this story, and calls Abe. She tells him about Ginsberg and asks him to come over to be with her.
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