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Mad Men Season 1 Episode 13

The Wheel

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9.1

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 10/18/07

Peggy's co-workers are bothered when she's given a new job opportunity. Don's work gets in the way of his home life. Betty uncovers a shocking secret.

Fan Episode Reviews (5)

A proper close to a superb first season

9.8

By dgslater, Sep 03, 2011

The final episode of season one turns out to be nearly a full quilt of all the best qualities that emerged from this great drama's first year run. Jon Hamm delivers a superb and nuanced performance here that verifies everything a viewer has come to love and loathe in his character, Donald Draper/Dick Whitman, while introducing another level of depth to him that is conveyed with little more than a wince, a gaze and a slight lip quiver. Not to mention, Hamm's Kodak pitch sequence in this episode is FANTASTIC. While no great cliff hangers are posited in this installment, the episode does offer a rather unexpected twist for one major character, and includes a pensive and thoughtful ending that suits the series' tone very well. Very much looking forward to season two.moreless
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Season wrap-up is a classic.

10

By lawgotham, Sep 03, 2011

It's taken me a little while to catchup on season 1. But i'm glad I took the time. Peggy, Don, Betty and Campbell are the focus with each having questions left up in the air for season 2.

Peggy is given a promotion, deservedly but Don gives it mainly to tick off Campbell who thinks his birthright is being toyed with. I won't spoil it but Peggy has bigger questions to answer for and we se her true mindset as she lies in bed at the hospital.

Betty realizes that Don is not the man he says he is, thanks to a neighbor friend whose husband is having an affair. She goes on to question her own life and lets Don know she knows, by spilling it all to the therapist. If you don't know, the therapist gves a detailed report to Don.

Campbell on the other hand is somehow emasculated wherever he turns...by his wife, his father-in-law, Don. Now he has an opportunity at a building a real account with Clearasil, he's given Peggy as copywriter. And as for Don, we see him questioning his life as he pitches Kodak for their slide projector. This scene alone shows why this is one of the better written shows on television today. This episode quite frankly makes this show Emmy worthy all by itself.moreless
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The end of Season 1.

8.4

By thefanof, Mar 02, 2011

Season 1 had its ups and downs but it was vastly superior to the efforts put forth by Season 2. You get the feeling that Mad Men has replaced Matthew Wiener's previous work The Sopranos as the overrated program that will get into the Emmy hunt no matter what quality episode they churn out.

This however was a really entertaining hour and showed that the Peggy character can actually be mildly entertaining. We saw the annoyance of Betty Draper emerge here, but luckily we got some great lines from Pete Campbell, the show's best character to make up for her presence.moreless
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Focusing on Don, Betty, Peggy and Pete, this episode was truly a classic.

9.5

By Kimc311, Aug 07, 2010

What an ending! Focusing on Don, Betty, Peggy and Pete, this episode was truly a classic. Peggy finally got her dreamjob, only to find her personal live changed dramatically. It didn't come as such a big of a surprise, but still great how they incorporated her pregnancy in this episode. (noticed the comment from the doctor to get someone from the psych department?) I've said it before and will again; I love the character of Betty. All sweet and nice on the outside, but tough and brave on the inside. Just like she was describing her husband. Pete is just the kind of character you love to hate. And I loved how he got passed by as a copywriter once again. Don finally gets it, he loves his wife (I'm a sucker for those 'happy ending' loves). The scene with Kodak was fantastically acted, as was the final scene on the stairs.

I wasn't sure if I was going to watch the second season, but now I most definitely will!moreless
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Mad Men finale. Loose ends are tied

10

By atnhec, Jul 30, 2010

This series has been the best work of tv for as long as I can remember. This fianl episode is surely the best written best filmed piece of TV ever. Every moment seemd to have relevance and allusions. This is a must see for anyone who appreciates good drama. A masterpiece. All the characters seemed to have something to do in this episode. We saw a new and deeper side to Don Draper. And the slide projector metaphor was inspired. The referencess to art history were good to see on TV. For once a truly intelligent piece of work came to the fore. The lack of music in the soundtrack I think gives added power to the scenes, and shows how drenched tv is in mood music, which has become for drama what the laughter track is for sitcoms. A trully brave and inspiring episode.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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January Jones	Betty Draper
Bryan Batt	Salvatore Romano
Rich Sommer	Harry Crane
Aaron Staton	Ken Cosgrove
Christina Hendricks	Joan Holloway
Vincent Kartheiser	Pete Campbell

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Sheila Shaw	Jeannie Vogel	Guest Star
Gregory Wagrowski	Dr. Oliver	Guest Star
James Keane	Night Manager	Guest Star
Alison Brie	Trudy Campbell	Recurring Role
Robert Morse	Bertram Cooper	Recurring Role
Anne Dudek	Francine Hanson	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- The Bob Dylan song used at the end of the episode ("Don't Think Twice, It's All Right") was off of his 1963 album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan." However, since the Nixon-Kennedy debate had just happened, this puts the time frame of the show into 1960.
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QUOTES (2)
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- Joan: (to Peggy about her new job) I said congratulations, didn't I? Although, sometimes when people get what they want they realize how limited their goals were.
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- Don: Nostalgia, it's delicate, but potent. Teddy told me that in Greek, "nostalgia" literally means "the pain from an old wound." It's a twinge in your heart far more powerful than memory alone. This device isn't a spaceship, it's a time machine. It goes backwards, and forwards... it takes us to a place where we ache to go again. It's not called the wheel, it's called the carousel. It let's us travel the way a child travels, around and around, and back home again, to a place where we know are loved.
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NOTES (1)
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- This episode was included on the 2008 Emmy Awards 'For Your Consideration' DVD. Matthew Weiner and Robin Veith were nominated for an Emmy for "Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series".
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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