‘Mad Men’ season 6, episode 9: Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss reflect on relationships

Are some of the characters within the world of “Mad Men” actually starting to grow up a little bit? This at least feels like the implication that was made near the end of Sunday night’s new episode “The Better Half.” Rather than focusing on what could be for some of these people, Don Draper, Peggy Olson, and Roger Sterling started to instead focus on what is.

In the video below, Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, John Slattery, and creator Matthew Weiner all explain what the trajectory for their characters has come to be. When it comes to Peggy and Ted, for example, what makes their relationship so special is that Ted continues to be the man that she dreams of, even when it comes to her own detriment. For example, he refuses to get into a full-blown love affair with her, even if there are feelings that are present there between the two parties. When Abe leaves her, he does not reciprocate the feelings that he may have, knowing that there are commitments he’s made elsewhere.

As for Roger, Slattery comments on how seeing what has happened with his grandson makes him realize that perhaps it is time to care for another child that he has long abandoned, but what he doesn’t realize is that Bob Benson and his ridiculously tight shorts have swooped in and is ready to take his place in the relationship with Joan. Bob may not be a standout professionally, but he is a good man with an interest in caring for her.

Finally, Hamm and Weiner each explain how being with Betty in some ways allowed Don to really see that committing to Megan that was his only real way to move forward. Betty’s not coming back to him, regardless of whatever sort of feelings that were there. This scene was almost a chance for her to reject him, which is something that she did not have many opportunities to do over the run of the show.

If you want to take a deeper look at what is set to unfold on “Mad Men” next week, be sure to hit up the video over here.

Photo: AMC