Don And Andrea's Affair: What Really Happened?

In the fourth episode of the fifth season of the American television drama series Mad Men, titled Mystery Date, Don Draper has a fever dream in which he has sex with Andrea Rhodes, a former lover. In the dream, Don directs Andrea to leave his apartment immediately and forces her to go out through the service elevator. However, she returns and seduces him, and the two end up having sex. After the encounter, Andrea declares that Don will continue meeting her for trysts because he cannot change who he is. Don, enraged, chokes her to death and hides her body under the bed. Don then wakes up and realises that the encounter was just a dream.

Don's fever dream

Don Draper is having a fever dream. He answers the door to Andrea Rhodes, a former lover, who is still wearing the yellow dress from earlier in the day. He orders her to leave immediately and forces her to go out through the apartment's service elevator. But she returns, and seduces him. They have sex, but afterwards, Andrea declares that Don will continue making love to her. He has no choice. Don flies off the handle and strangles her until she stops breathing. He kicks her under the bed, and only her red shoe remains visible, recalling the Cinderella pitch and the lone survivor from the Richard Speck murders. Don then wakes up from his fever dream.

Don's guilt

In the episode "Mystery Date", Don Draper's fever dream reveals his guilt over his serial philandering. In the dream, Don has sex with Andrea Rhodes, a former lover who worked with him at his old firm. After the encounter, Andrea declares to Don that he will continue making love to her, to which he responds by choking her to death. This violent act is a manifestation of Don's toxic guilt and self-destructive shame.

The fever dream also exposes Don's underlying guilt and his desire to bury his affairs and problematic relationships with women. His encounter with Andrea in the elevator and his attempt to hide her body under the bed suggest that he wants to keep his transgressions a secret.

Overall, the episode "Mystery Date" utilizes Don's fever dream to explore his guilt, shame, and desire to keep his affairs hidden. The dream's symbolism and Megan's awareness of his past transgressions further intensify Don's struggle with his serial philandering.

Don's toxic behaviour

In the episode "Mystery Date" of the TV series Mad Men, Don Draper exhibits several toxic behaviours. Here are some paragraphs detailing Don's toxic behaviour:

Furthermore, Don's reaction to Andrea's post-coital declaration is explosive and violent. Rather than engaging in open communication or setting boundaries, Don flies into a rage, chokes Andrea, and kicks her under the bed. This behaviour is a clear example of toxic masculinity and demonstrates Don's inability to handle conflict or disagreement in a healthy manner.

Lastly, Don's failure to disclose the truth about his fever dream to Megan further highlights his toxic behaviour. Keeping secrets and failing to communicate honestly are not conducive to a healthy relationship. Don's decision to hide the truth from Megan contributes to an atmosphere of distrust and emotional distance.

Don's philandering

Don Draper's philandering is a central theme in Mad Men. In the episode "Mystery Date", Don's fever dream reveals his toxic guilt for his serial philandering. In the dream, Don has sex with Andrea Rhodes, a former lover who worked with him years before. After the encounter, Andrea declares to Don that he will continue making love to her, to which he responds by choking her to death. This scene is a figment of Don's febrile imagination, brought on by his illness, and serves as a personification of his self-destructive shame and guilt.

Don's relationship with Megan

Don and Megan Draper's relationship is tested in the fourth episode of the fifth season of Mad Men, titled "Mystery Date". In the episode, Don, who is sick with a fever, and Megan are on their way up to the office together. Don's old flame, Andrea Rhodes, walks into the elevator and starts flirting with him. Don introduces Megan as his wife, but she is clearly perturbed by the encounter. Megan is upset about how often they run into Don's ex-lovers in Manhattan.

Despite Megan's discomfort, Don tries to downplay the situation. Megan, however, refuses to let it go and reminds Don that he is now married to her and that she will not tolerate his womanizing ways. Megan's response reveals her strength of character and demonstrates that she is nobody's fool. This exchange also highlights how Don has shared more of himself with Megan than he did with his first wife, Betty.

After the elevator incident, Megan tends to Don's needs and sends him home to rest. However, before he can leave, Don has to attend a pitch meeting for a women's shoe company. The pitch meeting further aggravates Don's illness, and he stumbles home, barely making it to bed. In a fever dream, Don dreams that Andrea shows up at his door. He lets her in, and they have sex. Andrea then declares that Don will continue meeting her for trysts because he cannot change who he is. Enraged, Don chokes her to death and hides her body under the bed.

Don eventually wakes up from his fever dream and realizes that Megan is not someone he needs to worry about. This episode highlights the complexities of Don and Megan's relationship, as well as Don's struggle to come to terms with his past infidelities.

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