Ep 10. Christmas Waltz

In Mad Men season 5 episode 10, entitled "Christmas Waltz," the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce team is struggling to come up with a winning idea for their Jaguar campaign. Don and Peggy each have their own ideas, but neither seem to be impressing the clients. Meanwhile, Joan is dealing with a personal crisis as her estranged husband returns home from serving in Vietnam and wants to be a part of their son's life.

The episode opens with Don and Megan attending a lavish Christmas party at her friend's home. Don is visibly uncomfortable as he is surrounded by Megan's young, fashionable friends, and he steps outside to clear his head. He runs into a stranger who mistakes him for someone else, and they strike up a conversation. The stranger invites Don to join him at the bar, where they proceed to get drunk and reminisce about past mistakes.

The following day, Don is feeling the effects of his night of heavy drinking, but he manages to pull himself together for a meeting with the Jaguar clients. Peggy presents her idea for the campaign, but it falls flat and the clients express their disappointment. Don then presents his own idea, tying the excitement of owning a Jaguar to fulfilling one's desires. The clients are impressed and the team is tasked with creating the ad campaign around this concept.

While Don is at work, Megan invites her parents over for Christmas dinner, much to Don's displeasure. He didn't want to spend the holiday with her family, but he reluctantly agrees to go along with it. Meanwhile, Joan's estranged husband, Greg, returns home from Vietnam and shows up unannounced at her office. He tells her that he has been discharged and wants to be a part of their son's life. Joan is torn, as she wants her son to have a father figure, but she also doesn't trust Greg after his past infidelities.

Later that evening, Don and Megan attend a Christmas party at the home of Don's former lover, Joan. They run into Joan's husband, Greg, and the tension is palpable. Megan's father, Emile, is drunk and makes several inappropriate comments, causing Don to lash out at him. Megan is upset with Don for ruining the evening, and they argue in the car on the way home.

The next day, Peggy and Don both receive unexpected news. Peggy discovers that her boyfriend has landed a job in California and wants her to move with him, leaving her unsure of what to do. Don receives a phone call from the stranger he met at the Christmas party, who reveals that he is actually a representative from Dow Chemical and wants to offer SCDP their business. Meanwhile, Joan has a heart-to-heart conversation with Greg about their marriage and their son.

As the episode comes to a close, Don and Megan exchange Christmas gifts and make amends. Don tells her that he loves her, and they share a tender moment. The episode ends with Don sitting alone in his apartment, reflecting on the events of the past few days.

Overall, "Christmas Waltz" is a poignant episode that deals with themes of love, family, and forgiveness. The viewer is left feeling both satisfied with the resolution of certain storylines, yet eager to see what lies ahead for our beloved characters.