Mad Men Season 5 & Megan

*Note: Post may contain some spoilers regarding Season 5 of Mad Men*

Jessica Paré as "Beauty" in Butler Shoe Commercial

After the surprise ending of Season 4 With Don's marriage proposal to Megan (Jessica Paré). I asked the question: 

So...is Megan Calvet (soon to be Draper) just the thing of season finale's? Is she here to stay?

And  while Season 5 had it's highs and lows, the reality is, not only was Megan Calvet here to stay, but she was a central figure in the season as the main female lead displacing regular women co-leads Betty (January Jones), Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss), and Joan Hollaway (Christina Hendricks).

While each of those women have strong moments and episodes, no female is as consistently as involved as Megan who whether at home, in the office (or even on the road at a Howard Johnson's), shows up more regularly, and helps us see sides of the 40-something Donald Draper (Jon Hamm).

I must admit, I was skeptical, but Megan allowed Don's character to change (less women, softer, occasionally less driven at work, more insecure). The final episodes of the season hint that perhaps some of these new qualities of Don might vanish into Season 6 as he has revived interest in catching the big fish at work, and the final moment shows him at a bar approached by a woman, and his response seems like he might be interested. A subtle response, but one that surely gives Mad Men writers some leverage with Don into season 6.

So with that, Megan has added something to season 5 I could not have expected, and certainly the season 4 finale proposal was a brave choice by writers, that I believe paid off into the new season.

So with that, a few Megan memories from Season 5.

Jessica Paré annoyed at Don for not telling her that Sally was coming over

Jessica Paré embarasses Don at his 40th Party with scandalous singing

Jessica Paré, from Season 5, Episode 7 "At the Codfish Ball" the episode where she saves the Heinz Bean Campaign