Ep 8. The Hobo Code

In Mad Men season 1 episode 8, titled "The Hobo Code," we see Don struggling to juggle his personal life with his work life as he continues to have affairs while trying to maintain his reputation at the advertising agency. Meanwhile, Peggy is still working hard to prove herself as a capable copywriter despite facing scrutiny and sexism from her male colleagues.

The episode takes a closer look at the relationship between Don and his younger brother Adam, who he had previously kept a secret from his family. Adam, who has been living as a transient, shows up at Don's office looking for money and a job. Despite his initial reluctance, Don eventually allows Adam to stay with him and even secures him a job at the agency.

Throughout the episode, we also see flashbacks of a young Dick Whitman (Don's original identity before he assumed the identity of a fallen soldier) and his relationship with a hobo who teaches him the "hobo code" - a series of symbols that hobos use to communicate with each other. This serves as a parallel to Don's current situation with Adam, who is essentially a hobo in his eyes.

At the agency, Peggy continues to navigate the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry. Despite coming up with a solid pitch for a new product, her idea is shot down by her male coworkers who refuse to take her seriously. Frustrated but determined, Peggy decides to take matters into her own hands and comes up with a new pitch that wows her colleagues and earns her their respect.

The episode also explores the theme of fatherhood, as Don struggles with his role as a father to his own children and as a mentor to Adam. We see a glimmer of hope for Don's family life when he and his wife Betty attend a dinner party and he behaves himself - albeit somewhat stiffly - around her friends.

Overall, "The Hobo Code" is a complex and emotionally charged episode that delves deeper into Don's personal life and the challenges faced by Peggy as a woman in the workplace. The flashbacks to Dick Whitman's past add an interesting layer to the narrative and serve as a reminder of Don's own complicated history.