10 Greatest TV Bottle Episodes

Don Draper is nothing if not a ladies’ man, but his most important relationship ends up being with his colleague and mentee, Peggy Olsen. One of the acclaimed drama’s finest episodes, “The Suitcase” solidifies their connection as a late night at the office turns into the formation of a deep understanding.

Elizabeth Moss and Jon Hamm are staggeringly good in this episode, running the gamut from throwaway humour to hard hitting revelations. They argue and throw hurtful comments around, but ultimately they open up to one another, with Draper letting his finely tailored armour slip, his true identity seeping out.

Mad Men was never afraid of upsetting the status quo, and the bond formed here can’t last in the cold light of day. Still, Don and Peggy see one another in a new light following a night shut in the office.

It’s one of the most complex relationships portrayed on TV, neither romantic nor platonic nor professional, and the scenes in “The Suitcase” are the most important for understanding it. Mad Men was always about a lot more than the advertising industry, and this episode is about a lot more than a campaign for Samsonite.