Those of us who love Mad Men obsess about every element of the show, not the least of which is the writers ability to take unexpected directions. They always manage to surprise us and occasionally shock us. The most recent episode, "The Other Woman", has generated more discussion that any other episode I can recall- and this is a show that gets a LOT of attention from bloggers, critics, and fanatics like me. Joan is such a beloved character and seeing her in this impossibly sad situation was like watching her get raped by her horrible manchild husband all over again.
On the surface, Joan is incredibly self possessed, beautiful, and competent- this is a carefully constructed facade that she maintains with a heroic amount of effort. When we as viewers see the vulnerability and insecurity underneath her strong public presentation, it is haunting and heartbreaking.
The discussions I have been following, on Facebook and other fan sites seem to have brought out a lot of judgmental types who, despite the complicated nature of this show, persist in seeing everything in black and white. In their eyes, Joan has" lowered herself" and they would never sell their own virtue for material gain, blah blah blah. Other slightly more cynical posters have suggested that it wasn't a big leap since she had been Roger's mistress for years and generally "slept around" (whatever that means). It was sad but not surprising how many of these posters were female. I understand the denial and judgement- it's a defense mechanism. While most of us have not been in this exact situation, I think seeing her backed into a corner like this rings a bell for a lot of women, echoing times that we have felt like we had no choice but to stoically make the best out of a bad situation. And in my mind, Joan did not really have a choice here. Once Pete told the partners about it, her fate was sealed. When Lane told her the partners would finance the fee, she finally knew where she really stood with people she considered friends and colleagues- and the damage was done for good. Whether she slept with the skeevy Jag dealer guy or not, she was fucked. In their eyes, she was either going to be the reason they didn't land the account (if she refused to do it) or the person who slept their way into a partnership.
I keep thinking about what Joan's night after that day at the office must have been like. Drinking alone after work, believing that all the men at SCDP were unanimously willing to sell her for an account. She must have been wondering what her options were. Should she refuse to do it- and go on being an aging divorcee raising a child, chasing after some other man for some other measure of security, and continuing to go into work every day in an office run by a group of men who believe that her body can be used as a bargaining chip?
So she set her terms, and they met them. Now she has a partnership, and hopefully some security she gained on her own. I can't say that I wasn't terribly sad for Joan, but I am not disappointed in her at all. She made what she believed would be the best choice for her future. It was a terrible choice to have to make, and it was terrible to watch. But you know what, Joanie? You are not a ruined woman. Take that partnership, and hold your head high. I hope you never feel like you have to rely on a man again.
