Interesting episode! So Don has an almost familial relationship with Anna Draper? I didn't see that coming. (Although I did feel vindicated in discovering that I was correct in thinking that whoever Don called in ep. 11 was the same person he wrote a letter too. I think we all thought that though.) Nor did I anticipate seeing Don seeming so natural, not constantly protecting his facade. And poor Sterling Cooper -- Bertram should have stuck with his initial feeling and not sold. Oh, and Peggy had some interesting interactions this week. I love how she actually got what she want with Roger because she doesn't need to play games with him since he doesn't find her attractive. And did anyone else feel like Pete's visit to Peggy's office was the first time that he had a conversation with her that wasn't entirely self serving? And poor Joan! What an awful awful man she is marrying who would desire to strip away all the confidence she has about her sexuality.
Okay, so that was just a long rambling paragraph lacking in any cohesion, but I just wanted to get a post up so we can all discuss!
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I haven't really processed the episode yet, but it was amazing.
Peggy: It didn't occur to me that she got the office because Roger doesn't find her attractive (though I agree in hindsight). I thought it was more that she acted like a man -- straightforward, proof she derserved it, etc. She's the only woman in the office who improves their bottom line and asks for things without resorting to flirtation and manipulation. It's like when they made Harry head of the television department. He asked and received (not everything, but something).
Joan: My poor Joan! Her fiance is going to spend the rest of his life searching for proof of her "before" and finding ways to punish her for it since he can't come to terms with it. I thought it was interesting it happened in Don's office too.
Betty: Sending Sally away to boarding school...was it because she didn't want to deal anymore with her, because she wanted Sally to grow up, or because Betty was afraid of being in charge?
Don: Agree, Cristin. Surreal to see him with his guard down.
Can't wait to see what will happen next week!
About Betty... I didn't think she was really going to send Sally anywhere. I thought that question was an excuse to call her friend so she could nose around about Arthur.
As for Peggy, I agree that she got what she wanted because she was straightforward. I thought she was (at least partly) able to address Roger in that way because he doesn't expect a flirtation.
I loved this episode, they touched on so many things we've been waiting for.
I had a feeling don's mystery contact was going to be someone related to the real don draper. makes sense.
poor joan, she's really getting hurt in every regard. not only is she not in love with her fiance, but now he's turned abusive. she has to watch as roger throws away everything to marry her nemesis.
just to turn the knife a little more she also has to to deal in envy with peggy moving up the sterling copper ladder so quickly (something you know she really wanted). I want to see her stand up and fight back like we know she can.
betty's really turning into a piece of work.
i'm glad pete stood up to his father in law. it's a step in the right direction for him.
I loved this episode and felt a rush of relief that it was so good. Oh, Mad Men. My love for you is not entirely healthy.
Joan: Oh. The slow destruction of Joan is one of the best written and most terrible things to watch on TV right now. That comment she made, "It's not my office," when she tried to demure with her finacee in Don's office was especially wrenching juxtaposed against Peggy getting her new office. But now Peggy can boink whoever she wants!
The Joan/Peggy interactions also recalled scenes from season one, when Peggy was just incredulous at Joan's advice, though she did have that slightly baffled revelation that Joan's advice was actually meant to help her.
The worst part of Joan's story is that Joan KNOWS her downfall is coming. Her heartbreak over the death of Marilyn Monroe. Her comments about the movie where they passed the girl around like a canape and destroyed her. The bombshell does not last well, and she knows it. Joan, Joan.
Betty: Has gone crazy. She's definitely finding new ways to spread her misery around. I loved how harsh she looked in this episode, all pants and very tight hair.
Pete: Don't throw things, but I love Pete. I know he's awful, but he's superbly awful, in my mind. Despite what a dick he was to her in this episode, I think he cares about being a good husband to Trudy and he was absolutely right in not letting her parents get involved in their marital troubles. And I agree with Cristin, when he sought out Peggy, I think he was the best version of Pete that Pete can be. Which is still quite flawed.
I wonder if the second to last episode of each season will be the flashback episode
What does everyone think of Betty's bleeding? Pregnant? I read somewhere that someone else thought it was cervical cancer. I'm not sure how much I buy this second one but I realy don't know what to think.
Does everyone still think Joan is pregnant? I don't feel like her fiance would have raped her on the floor if she was.
I can't believe how absent I have been from my own blog!
Betty: She is definitely becoming unhinged. However, while I don't condone her putting Sally in the closet, I did find humor in, "You're mean." "You betcha!" Heh heh. Also, she did have a nice moment with Sally at the end, and I appreciated seeing her be honest with Sally. It made me think maybe Betty, too, will come to terms with what is happening. I have no idea about the bleeding! I was just thinking about that today.
Aw Joan. So tragic. I wonder, too, was it also the time period that she was living in that would cause her to have such a terrible experience with her fiance and then act as if nothing happened? I no longer think she's pregnant. It's been a while, and nothing more has happened.
And Pete: I do agree that he did the right thing in standing up to his father-in-law. Why do Trudy's parents know such intimate details of his married life anyway? They even knew right away in Season 1 when Pete and Trudy first started trying.
Two questions: Do we know anything about why Anna Draper has a bad leg? And Robin, do we know that Joan will get fired? Because sex in the boss' office seems like it could cause a downfall.
i don't think joan will get fired, only because that would basically eliminate her character on the show, right?
when do you think pete and peggy are going to have another fling? it's coming for sure. maybe the season finale.
I still think it's possible that Joan will get fired or leave Sterling Cooper. I hope not, because I love her character so much!
But Roger did say that he didn't expect her to keep working after she married, and I think she'll marry Dr. Raper.
I've felt like there is an ominous tone to Joan's stories all season, which I interpreted as 'impending firing' (especially because of her tension with Roger and then with Jane).
But maybe that was setting up her attack, and the sad scenes where she responded by smiling and ignoring it entirely. Hopefully that's bad enough, and she'll get to keep her job.
That's interesting. I never thought of Joan's downfall as possibly ending in losing her job. From her perspective, I think it would be worse for her to continue there after she has lost her following, and people possibly stop relying on her judgment quite as much.
Now that you mention it, I'm sure you're right, that continuing to work after being dethroned would be worse for Joan.
It's hard for me to imagine her staying if she gets married, because both Roger and um...what's the doctor's actual name? Anyway, neither of them think she should, and Joan lives firmly in a world where men rule the school.
If she stays at Sterling Cooper as a disempowered "old maid" that will be wrenching to see.
In terms of storytelling, though, it's beautiful: starting the series with Joan showing Peggy the ropes, ending this season with Peggy showing Joan that Office Manager is not the top position for a woman in that office.
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