‘Mad Men’ Introduced Sartorial Legend Lane Pryce 10 Years Ago Today

I’m a nostalgic fellow. Sure, both my feet are firmly planted in the here and now, as it would be irresponsible for them to be anywhere else. But my mind wanders back in time. I have a fondness for yesterday, and I have a fondness for yesterday’s fondness for yesterday. That’s why I rewatch Mad Men, the ’00s definitive drama about the ’60s–and enough time has passed since Mad Men debuted that just rewatching this retro show is itself an act of retrospection. Loving Mad Men as I do, it remaining my favorite TV show even four years after Don discovered zen and maybe the perfect Coke jingle, you better believe I couldn’t let a major milestone pass me by. I’m talking about the 10 year anniversary of my favorite Mad Men character–okay, my favorite male Mad Men character. I can’t deny the power of Peggy and Joan, but as a male person myself, he’s the one I find kinship with and he’s the one I want to dress like.

Today is the 10th anniversary of the debut of Lane Pryce.

Initially persnickety, Pryce–played by the always sharply-dressed Jared Harris–made his grand entrance in the Season 3 premiere “Out of Town.” He was brought in by Sterling Cooper’s new British overlords and introduced as an antagonist of sorts. Okay, he was actually introduced staring agape at one of eccentric Bert Cooper’s pieces of Japanese octopus erotica (the piece is named The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife).

Then he becomes a quasi-antagonist, as his first act of business involves firing the head of accounts. After that, he sorta plays Pete and Ken against each other by promoting both of them to head of accounts without telling either that they’re sharing the title (they each take that news exactly how you think they would). He even spoils the fun by telling everyone that there is no fog in London, and that it was actually smog giving off by the burning of soft coal in the 19th century. What is this, Lane Ruins Everything??

But Lane, initially a recurring guest character, wouldn’t stay in that adversarial–pardon the pun–lane. By the end of Season 3, he was fully integrated into the Sterling Cooper gang, his initiation being the Season 3 finale heist. C’mon, that jaunty response to getting fired by his British boss (Mr. Sheffield from The Nanny!) was fantastic: “Very good, happy Christmas!”

Mad Men is home to so many dynamic characters. Everyone undergoes a change, from Peggy and Joan even down to Harry (who gets worse) and Stan (who gets better). Lane’s change was a remarkable one, one mostly for the better. He truly came into his own in Season 4 and felt less like a stranger in a strange land. He bonded with Don over steak, movies, and call girls and formed a fantastic friendship with Joan, championing her at every opportunity and, y’know, delighting her by impersonating Megan Draper’s coquettish birthday gift to Don.

It’s easy to see why they kept Lane around after his initial plotline was resolved (Sal and Kinsey didn’t make the jump to Season 4 but Lane did). Lane’s Very English charm brought a totally different energy to the show. He was mild-mannered whereas Pete was a mess. He was polite whereas Don was impulsive. He was chivalrous whereas Roger was lecherous. But it’s not like Lane was perfect, because no one on Mad Men was perfect. No man on the show was ever capable of total fidelity, and Lane fumbled more than a few times (the aforementioned call girl, an inappropriate lip-lock with Joan, his Playboy bunny mistress). But, and maybe this is why Lane’s indiscretions seemed tamer, he always seemed bad at cheating. While Don’s wandering eye was predatory at times, using women over pleasing them, it was always clear that Lane’s faults were the result of a deep sadness and a desire to be respected–to be one of the gang. I mean, I don’t run with a crowd as rowdy as the SCDP partners, but same TBH. We all want respect and friendship!

This was never more evident than when Lane, having snagged himself an account, had to stand up to that “grimy little pimp” Pete Campbell for stealing the client, humiliating Lane’s friend, and then calling Lane useless. You don’t get to say that, Pete!

And then there’s how Lane’s time on the show ends–which is a thing that happened but I’m not going to talk about! Check back in three years and I’ll write about that horrific episode’s 10th anniversary, tears flowing the entire time. Instead, I want to leave on a positive note–the most positive note! How in the world could I celebrate the start of Lane Pryce’s Mad Men tenure without showing off his best feature: his wardrobe?!

Not only did Lane bring some class and decorum to Don Draper’s den of sin, he also brought waistcoats, double-breasted jackets, tiepins, braces (that’s British for suspenders), and so much sartorial splendor that inspires me to this day.

Thank you, Lane Pryce, for all the swishy dances, hearty punches, and killer looks.

Stream Mad Men "Out of Town" on Netflix