The Crash (Mad Men)

"The Crash" is the eighth episode of the sixth season of the American television drama series Mad Men and the 73rd episode of the series overall. It was written by series creator and executive producer Matthew Weiner and writer Jason Grote, and directed by Michael Uppendahl. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on May 19, 2013.

The episode takes place over a weekend, telling several stories in a non-linear narrative. In it, several main characters at the advertising agency are given a powerful stimulant meant to give them energy while working on the Chevrolet campaign through a weekend. Meanwhile, as Don's children are left at his apartment with Sally to babysit, a stranger enters.

"The Crash" was watched by 2.16 million viewers and achieved 0.8 million viewers in the key 18–49 demographic. It is widely considered to be the show's most experimental episode and was initially met with largely unfavorable reviews from television critics. In the years since first airing, however, it has come to be regarded by some as one of the series' greatest episodes.