Mad Men: 10 Greatest Episodes

The single greatest episode of Mad Men earns that lofty title for its focus on the relationship between the two characters that truly form the beating heart of the show.

It also takes full advantage of the period setting to utilise historical context perfectly, with the iconic second Ali-Liston fight serving as the backdrop to the events of the hour. With all of New York City primed for a night to remember, the unparalleled hype of the big fight means that work is the furthest thing from anyone’s mind, with the exception of Don Draper and, by extension, Peggy Olsen.

The secondary characters provide the complementary frills for the delectable main course, with the creative team on top comedic form, Roger serving up gold in more ways than one, and Duck Phillips briefly making his return to the fold for an ugly, drunken confrontation with Don.

While all these scenes sparkle, it’s the peaks and valleys of the interplay between Don and Peggy, unfolding like a two-man play, that give the episode its astonishing emotional resonance. Keeping Peggy in the office on her birthday night, ostensibly to perfect a Samsonite suitcase pitch but really to keep himself distracted from the phone call his heart is dreading, Don puts his protege through the emotional wringer as the pair experience the full gamut of human feeling.

With unexpected rhythms presented in the tightest form reminiscent of the greatest of short stories, the melancholy tone of The Suitcase breaks down the until now, unspoken connection between Don and Peggy to its most naked. There’s perhaps no image more definitive of the pair’s relationship than of Don asleep on Peggy’s lap as the morning light shines through the offices of SCDP.

Thematically speaking, The Suitcase is the quintessential hour of Mad Men, as well as its finest.

Agree with this list? What do you think are the best Mad Men episodes? Let us know down in the comments.