Mad Men's 14 Most Slap-Worthy Moments

7. Joan, The Accordion Player

3x03 There are about 101 reasons why I detest Joan's husband Greg (that could actually make a good WC! article, yeah?), so let's start with this one: in episode 3x03, we peer a little further into the home life of Dr. and Mrs. Harris. Joan has been tasked to put together a dinner party for her husband's co-worker and the chief of surgery, and their wives. Greg, as a character, has always harbored a need to control Joan (see: episode 2x12, in which Greg, then Joan's fiance, physically forces himself on her in a gut-wrenching, quiet rape scene - you won't see it on this list because calling it a mere "slap-worthy moment" would discredit the awful nature of the scene). That control plays out in a sly, uncomfortable, humiliating scene that has Joan acting as more of a court jester than a wife. Brutally present throughout the entire dinner are moments of anxious desperation for Greg to meet the approval of his boss. When the conversation shifts towards the skillful triumphs of his co-worker, leaving Greg to wallow inadequately in the wings, he employs his dear wife to save the evening by entertaining their guests through song, "C'est Magnifique," and music, the accordion. It's something that we can't ever imagine Joan choosing to do herself because we simply can't imagine her setting herself up for the amusement of others. Bad move, Greg.
In this post: 
Mad Men
 
Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

Natalie Hulla hasn't written a bio just yet, but if they had... it would appear here.