Mad Men: The 5 Best (& 5 Worst) After-Work Drinks Scenes
Drinking alcohol is a major part of Mad Men. Whether it's in the office before a meeting, wining and dining with potential clients, or a more traditional after-work event, the characters from Sterling Cooper are consistently knocking back a whiskey or other spirits. While they've all got a high tolerance for alcohol, sometimes it can go a little too far.
Whether it's Roger vomiting everywhere or Freddy Rumsen peeing in his pants, sometimes alcohol ends up getting the best of these characters. However, the drinking scenes really do loosen up a lot of the characters, and that leads to some brilliant, and equally, some forgettable scenes throughout the show after work.
10 Best: Peggy Goes Skating
Peggy Olson and Roger Sterling are two characters who don't have much interaction with each other outside of work-related moments. However, when Sterling Cooper is finally coming to its end after the company is bought out, Roger and Peggy get their moment.
They're the last two to leave the office on the final day, but before they go they have a drink for the road. That leads to lots of drinks as they reminisce about their times at the company. Eventually, it leads to Roger playing the piano while Peggy skates around the empty office in what is a hilarious scene.
9 Worst: Roger Invites Himself For Dinner
While Roger can be great fun when he drinks, with his charm and charisma, he can also take things way too far. When he ends up inviting himself around for dinner after work at the Draper household, it is a prime example of Roger at his worst.
Despite the fact Don is a close friend of his, he ends up flirting and being inappropriate with Betty Draper, in her own house while Don is around. Betty tries to be what she thinks Don wants throughout the night, but it all ends up with the blame falling on her from Don, with the evening causing a lot of tension.
8 Best: Lawnmower Party
In one of the craziest moments in Mad Men history, an after-work drinks event turns into madness when a lawnmower is brought out. Everyone is happily enjoying drinks in the office for what is Joan's leaving drinks, but it is all about the lawnmower that makes this scene iconic.
At first, people have fun on the machine, driving around the office and laughing. However, that all turns sour when Lois hops on and ends up running over Guy's foot, who was set to take over Lane Pryce's job. It's very rare to have a moment with blood in this show, but it is certainly a scene filled with comedy and shock value.
7 Worst: Christmas Party
Lee Garner Jr. is one of the worst characters in the entire show, and the office Christmas party that he attends showcases exactly why. Demanding, controlling, and rude, Lee Garner manages to go around ruining the night for the majority of people, for a party that was created for him.
He forces Roger Sterling to wear a Santa costume, embarrassing him in front of his staff. Meanwhile, he happily puts his hands on Roger's wife, Jane, in what makes for uncomfortable viewing in a scene that really sums up his personality.
6 Best: Firing Freddy
Freddy Rumsen is one of the original cast members, but he ends up becoming too attached to drink. When he wets himself at work, the rest are left with no choice but to fire him, which leads to an excellent after-work drinks scene where Don and Roger taking Freddy out for dinner.
The respect between them all is clear to see, but the decision is final. While it's an emotional scene as Freddy is clearly gutted about the news, they handle it well and then spend the night drinking together, with Don ending up punching Jimmy Barrett in the face.
5 Worst: Too Much Art
Don Draper's relationship with Midge is certainly a strange one, with the two having very little in common, but that is seemingly the attraction for Don. She reminds him of how he grew up and he knows he can hop in and out at his own pleasure.
However, when she invites another person along for their drinks after Don finishes work, things don't quite go to plan for him. It's a fairly awkward scene all about class tension, with finances and status being the order of the day, but because this isn't a major relationship, the investment simply isn't there to really care about it.
4 Best: Don & Lane Have A Night Out
Don Draper and Lane Pryce always got along and had respect for each other, but when they end up on a night out together, the two of them had a fantastic time. Starting out drinking at work, the night continued to the cinema, then a meal and then a comedy club, having a great time together.
It allowed Lane to relax, loosen up, and show a new side of his personality, with the two of them clearly having a great connection. The scene was a lot of fun and is the type of positivity that broke up the serious nature of the show overall.
3 Worst: "I Don't Like You Like This"
The secret relationship between Peggy and Pete at the start of Mad Men really does highlight Pete at his worst. Controlling, demanding, and someone who takes what he wants whenever he wants it, leaving Peggy unsure of her every move, and that's never clearer than this after-work scene.
With everyone dancing and having a good time, Peggy wants to bring Pete up for a dance with her. However, because Pete is seeing Peggy grow in confidence and no longer be the shy girl he can simply control, he tells her he doesn't like her in this way and storms out, leaving Peggy upset, shattering her happiness.
2 Best: Don & Joan Have A Drink
Don and Joan are two of Mad Men's greatest characters and two who have real respect for each other, so much so that they never cross the boundary of having a romantic relationship. However, this scene is the closest that it comes to that, with flirting, tension, and some beautiful dialogue.
Joan has just been served divorce papers and is going through a tough time and Don is there to pick her up. Joan is strong enough to know when things are getting a little too flirtatious, turning down Don's chance for a dance, but the two of them just have a great time. Seeing these two characters genuinely happy for at least one scene is truly a memorable one. In the end, he leaves her to another man but ensures she's safe by leaving enough money for her to get home if it doesn't work.
1 Worst: Joan Meets Jaguar
In what is one of the most emotional and horrific scenes in the entire show, as Sterling Cooper tries to sign Jaguar, it is made clear that the price is Joan. The head of the association, Herb, wants to sleep with her in order to make the deal happen, and the rest of the employees and decision-makers agree to it on Joan's behalf.
She's forced into the idea, and after work, she has to meet with him in order to make it happen. It's a horrendous moment that showcases the greed of the staff, apart from Don, who heads to her home and makes it clear he doesn't want it to happen and isn't part of the idea. The only problem is, Joan has already met with Herb by the time Don arrives at her home.