15 Years Later I Still Can’t Believe Duck Phillips Beat Up Don Draper in Mad Men

It’s been 15 years, and I’m still in disbelief that Don Drapter, played by Jon Hamm, lost a fight to one of his biggest critics in what is arguably one of the most memorable episodes of “Mad Men.” This episode was written by creator Matthew Weiner and directed by Jennifer Getzinger in 2010 during season 4. The seventh episode, titled “The Suitcase,” has been praised by critics as one of the best TV episodes of the 21st century and is considered a standout in the “Mad Men” series. “The Suitcase” offers a profound exploration of the relationship between Don Drapter and Peggy Olsen, portrayed by Elizabeth Moss.

In the 7th episode of season 4 in Mad Men, titled “The Suitcase,” Peggy chooses work over her birthday with her family and partner, Mark (Blake Bashoff), on the Samsonite account for Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. Meanwhile, the office is engrossed in Muhammad Ali’s fight against Sonny Liston, but Don gets a call informing him that Anna Draper (Melinda Page Hamilton) has passed away. Throughout the episode, there’s a tense encounter between Don and Peggy where they go out to eat and develop a deeper understanding of each other, even though their usual dynamic resumes by the end.

In season 4 of the show “Mad Men,” the character Don Draper becomes increasingly addicted to alcohol, as he struggles with the necessity of contacting Stephanie (Caity Lotz), Anna’s niece, to verify that Anna has left. Simultaneously, Peggy’s romantic involvement with Herman “Duck” Phillips (Mark Moses) surfaces, as Duck too has slipped back into drinking. When Phillips visits Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce in search of Peggy, a confrontation between him and Don ensues, leaving me still amazed by the outcome.

I Still Can’t Believe Duck Phillips Beat Up Don Draper On Mad Men

Not How I Expected That Fight To Go

In the fourth season, episode 7 of Mad Men, titled “The Suitcase”, I wasn’t anticipating that Duck Phillips would physically dominate Don Draper. Drunk and seeking Peggy, Duck barged into Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce and ended up soiling Don’s office by mistake, having intended to soil Roger Sterling’s (John Slattery). When Duck insulted Peggy as a “whore”, Don retaliated with a punch, but Duck managed to overpower Draper in their brief altercation. Eventually, Draper admitted defeat, shouting “Uncle”, and allowed Phillips the pleasure of having bested Don Draper at last.

In comparison, Duck demonstrates a ruthless nature that Don does not possess. This is evident when Duck boasted about opportunities he had to defeat Draper, yet he was involved in seventeen fatal encounters during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, while Draper’s military service in the Korean War was cut short due to a misunderstanding that allowed him to be transferred back to the U.S. under the name Lt. Don Draper.

In the TV show Mad Men, Don Draper has experienced numerous embarrassments. He’s been mugged, robbed, and beaten, often due to his own poor choices when he was intoxicated or taking unnecessary risks like helping hitchhikers. Yet, it’s surprising that Don, a character known for his resilience, found himself at the mercy of Duck Phillips. Unlike his other setbacks, Peggy saw Duck assaulting Don. However, Don quickly let go of any anger towards Duck and never mentioned it again. This is consistent with Don’s own advice given to Peggy after she had a baby: “Move forward. This never happened. It will astonish you how much it truly never happened.

Why Duck Phillips Hated Don Draper In Mad Men

Don Originally Recruited Duck Into Sterling Cooper

In the initial stages of Mad Men, it was Don Draper who brought Duck Phillips on board. This hiring decision came after Roger Sterling suffered two heart attacks during season 1, which led Bert Cooper to grant Don the authority to recruit a new head of accounts services. The position went to Duck following a blackmail attempt by Pete Campbell over Roger’s job. However, as the second season unfolds, we see that Duck Phillips is growing increasingly annoyed with Don Draper’s influence at Sterling Cooper.

In Mad Men season 2, Duck’s unsuccessful pursuit of American Airlines as a client for Sterling Cooper led to him having to let go of Mohawk Airlines. This incident strained any potential partnership between Draper and Phillips. Secretly, Duck arranged for Putnam, Powell & Lowe to acquire Sterling Cooper, with Phillips set to become President. However, PPL lost interest when they found out that Don didn’t have a contract with Sterling Cooper. When the takeover fell through, Duck became resentful towards Don and harbored this feeling ever since then.

What Happened To Duck Phillips When Mad Men Ended

Duck’s Career Kept Intersecting With Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce

In the world of “Mad Men,” the character Duck Phillips, a former alcoholic, experienced a professional setback after being dismissed from Sterling Cooper. His struggle led him back to drinking. However, by season 6, Duck underwent a transformation and became a corporate headhunter in advertising. Pete Campbell assigned Duck the task of investigating Bob Benson, which ultimately led to Bob’s departure from Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. In the finale of season 6, Duck achieved a sense of accomplishment when he returned to SCDP with Lou Avery, who had replaced Don as Creative Director, following Don’s permanent leave.

In season 7 of Mad Men, Duck, who had struggled with alcoholism and lost his family as a result, somehow managed to keep working in advertising despite hitting rock bottom multiple times. He eventually found ways to win over Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. When SCDP was acquired by McCann Erickson in season 7, Duck presented an opportunity to work for Learjet to Pete Campbell. This offer ultimately led Pete to leave McCann and move with his wife Trudy (Allison Brie) and their daughter to Wichita, Kansas.

Despite the differences in appearance, charisma, and luck between Duck Phillips and Don Draper, these two characters in “Mad Men” exhibit numerous parallels. They are both heavy drinkers, with their alcoholism leading to the downfall of promising careers and the loss of their families. Both men are deeply committed to advertising as a profession. The striking similarities between Don and Duck fueled their competition, with Phillips harboring envy towards Draper while Draper seldom gave Duck any attention. However, in season 4 when they engaged in a physical altercation, it would have been easy to bet on Don Draper’s victory, but the outcome proved otherwise.

2025-06-03 00:18