Other than getting out of the military early (which was, admittedly, very major) Dick has done little as Don Draper that couldn’t have been accomplished as a name change. When asked about his past he talks about his own (Dick Whitman’s midwestern farm upbringing) and the same with military experience, he never tried to profit in any way from Draper’s family or achievements, and everything in his rise from salesman to ad exec and partner was accomplished 100% on his own merits.
If he was publicly exposed as Dick Whitman by somebody who was really vindictive (not like Pete did to “we are not amused or concerned” Burt Cooper but in a newspaper let’s say), would Don be in any great trouble other than embarrassment? Is there a statute of limitations on desertion from the military (remembering Korea was not a war if it’s relevant)? Or for identity theft if the next of kin of the person you’re impersonating has given you her blessing?
I’m guessing a good lawyer could get him off by claiming temporary amnesia or other injury related to the accident that killed the real Draper, but just curious if it would be likely to be prosecuted in the first place.
I think there’s no statute of limitations for desertion, and for purposes of prosecution, it doesn’t matter whether there has been an actual declaration of war.
Identity theft requires you to be stealing something or defrauding someone. Someone would have to step forward and say they’ve been defrauded by Whitman’s assumption of the Draper identity. Or if Don accepted some benefit fraudulently. I’m guessing he must have got some kind of G.I. benefit that Draper would have received.
I would think that the desertion would very likely be prosecuted. And “temporary amnesia” wouldn’t hold up when someone is carrying on for several years.
I have no problem with him attempting to write a diary, my problem was with the voice-over. It was kinda corny and also, vaguely broke the fourth wall imho.
Absolutely no question this would be prosecuted. The military has no sense of humor about this. It was in a combat situation, too. With a new war looming, they would make him a public example and ask for maximum jail time.
I wouldn’t call it narration at all. Don was not telling the story of the episode; his diary musings did not comment on anything in the plot. They were only revelations of his character and his isolation.
Hah! I’m late to the party, having just seen it last night, but I kept thinking they should’ve called this episode: “How Don Got His Groove Back.”
Great episode. Such terrific writing and acting. Loved it.
The thing about this show is that they have so much more potential to tap into as they progress through the 60s. They’re only in, what, 1965? Things didn’t realy start shaking up until 1967. Yeah baby!
So do you think that in the Summer of Love Don Draper- who’ll be roughly 40ish- would more likely be a Roger Sterling (i.e. still chasing skirts and loving good times but in business suits and Cadillacs) or a middle aged guy in Nehru jacket and love beads? Or, third option, married to a second wife and living in the suburbs again, this time for keeps?
I doubt Don accepted any benefits beyond Mustering Out Pay. (Besides getting out of Korea early, that is.) Benefits were not just handed out as you got off the boat (or plane.) No, he went off to start a new life as a New Don Draper.
I received education benefits because of the circumstances of my father’s death. Mom had to supply reams of paperwork; I had to appear at a government office & take tests. Real Don Draper’s education was paid for by ROTC, so it was part of his GI record. If Don had tried to go to school on the GI Bill, they might have recommended Grad School to build on his Engineering Degree but wondered why he wanted to start all over with some kind of 4-year Liberal Arts crap. Increased time in government offices would have been dangerous for him.
If Don had stayed in Korea & survived, he would have qualified for that education & been eligible for other benefits. There was no reason he ever had to return to Podunkville. Did he ever regret that one foolish act? Probably. But he couldn’t just call the government & say “Oops, I screwed up. My Bad!” Because he was guilty of Desertion. Just not of Identity Theft–because he made things right with Original Don Draper’s widow.
Well, he already smoked pot, and had a beatnik/hippie girlfriend, so who knows. Not likely, but they may bring her back and give Don a little bit of a double life-- corporate conservative by day, free spirit hipster by night!
Joan’s gone off the pill and her gynecologist (not Greg) told her that despite two abortions he didn’t detect anything wrong and see no reason why she can’t get pregnant in the future.
It could represent a lot of things. It seems to be a novelty to the creative bullpen, a prop in their clown act. To Lane it means efficiency and profit. To Joan, it means frustration, possibly the specific frustrations that accompany technology.
Frustration was a theme for this episode, tagged early with the Stones song. Don can’t drink as much as he would like but can’t say no as much as he thinks he should. Peggy’s almost always frustrated by something or someone, this time out it’s the boys who will be boys, Joan’s reaction, and a Life Savers shortage. Pete makes a brief appearance to say he’s suffered callus interuptus-- related to the vending machine antics, I’ll note.
Joan’s stuck being responsible for a piece of technology she’s really not interested in and has only the most basic knowledge about. Peggy comes to her for help and Joan has to ask the sort of questions that’ll be familiar to anybody stuck with similar responsibilities. Was the exact change light on? Did you try putting in another coin? Did you call the help desk? Is this really worth it? Did you check your inbox? Are macros enabled? Did you try not being stupid?
To some extent I blame her for her situation. She enjoyed doing the script work and did it well, but didn’t stick up for herself. She drank the marital and career kool aid-- actually wanted what was expected of her-- now she’s unhappy. Part of Joan’s unhappiness stems from her egregious (her word for it) failure to accept responsibility, a trait she shares with Betty.
The vending machine also steals. So, uh, there’s that, too.
