There seems to be quite a bit of disagreement as to the merits of Mad Men's eighth episode of season four. Critics decry the voiceover as a totally cheesy cinematic trick and the moves of the characters as too-made-for-TV.
I'm not so sure. First of all, I think that after "the suitcase" episode of week seven hit such a climax that there needed to be some new turn in week eight, one that would not necessarily match the emotional intensity and late-night caffeinated/alcoholic buzz of week seven.
In fact, it was a total wake-up.
Yes, voiceovers are mostly cop-outs, but Mad Men does not only master at storytelling, but also in how it tells its stories. Each week, style and narrative play off of each other to create that ultimate effect that makes us love the best in movies and television.
So, why a voiceover? Why bring the inside out in scene after scene?
If this episode is a wake-up for Don Draper then it must jar the viewer in some sense as well. The early use of the Stones' "Satisfaction", the new setting of the swimming pool. The constant light, whether daylight or even candles or streetlights at night signaled a stark shift from the darkness that pervaded weeks one through six, and especially week seven.
We should think of the style as a shock, similar to the one Peggy receives in the elevator; one we did not see coming, which we aren't totally comfortable with, one which adds a new layer of depth and confusion, but which is ultimately, necessary to keep going on.
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