TVSquad

I agree, another great episode. But I didn't think the scene between Don and Roger on the stairs came out of nowhere at all. Don bribed the elevator operator to pretend it was broken as a way of getting back at Roger for coming on to Betty. He knew that the older man would have trouble taking all those stairs (although Don's lifestyle isn't much healthier, so it was surprising that he handled them so well himself). Along with his treatment of his brother last week, it was another indication that Don has a sinister side hidden in the secrets of his past. On the outside, he's the perfect company man, but on the inside it's a different story. I wouldn't be surprised if the reason he changed his identity involved something illegal or even violent.

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clearly i was an idiot to not pick up on the fact that the stairs thing was on purpose. why else would he have given the operator all that money? it was really strange when i was watching and now it all makes sense. maybe i shouldn't try to watch two things at once when this show is on. another great episode. i like how don is pissed that his wife was 'flirting' (i dont think she was, i think she was being nice in her own quasi-sexual way) and hes having at least one affair while trying to start a second. we need to see more of the women who owns the department store; shes great. I'm still mad i didn't pick up on that elevator thing, really dropped the ball there.

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Yeah, Don paid the elevator operator to say that it was out of order and deliberately took Roger to lunch for oysters of all things and lots of martinis, almost guarenteeing the vomiting scene, which everyone was pretty non-plussed about (weird). I think at the end Roger knew that Don set him up as payback.

Great scene with Pete which his wife is hollaring at him off stage and he's just sinking into the chair. When Peggy agreed to show him her ideas for copy I was screaming, No don't so it, he'll steal your ideas!!!! Sad that she wants his approval so much.

Don's discussions with the shrink seem pretty unethical, and he used the doctor's coments about Betty to put her down - acting like a child. I think Betty enjoyed talking to someone who seemed to be charmed by her. It was her way of showing Don that she "was earning her keep." It's not a wonder that women of that era took so much valium and finally rebelled. Men did not see them at all as fully formed persons.

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This show wasn't made in the past. It's not proof that it was a concern then. hehe. But I thought that too.

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And Don walks away smiling...

That last scene was really great. I kinda felt bad for Roger even though I hated him for what he did to Betty.
I was quite shocked that Don didn't punch Roger or something when he caught him and Betty or when he made his "At some point, we've all parked in the wrong garage" speech. But I guess that last scene was a sweet enough revenge. Well played, Don.
I couldn't believe either Don's reaction towards Betty. She was just being polite if you ask me...

I'm pretty sure Pete is gonna be a jerk about Peggy's work. But I'm not sure if he's gonna tell her it's crap or if he's gonna try to steal her work. Pete's hunting speech was a little weird. I don't think I fully understand what happened there.

I don't think I understand either where they're going with the whole Helen/Betty thing but I say that every week.

Was I the only who thought that Pete was going to shoot his wife? He seemed tempted. It was quite funny to see him bring a shotgun to work. It would create panic nowadays.

Another great and well-written episode, once again proving that thosse characters have a lot to offer.

http://www.mad-men-tv.com

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Weeks ago (go ahead, check the comments) I mentioned that part of what fascinates me about Betty's character is her childlike voice. Now what I think is interesting is that in this episode, at least in the scene in the kitchen with Roger and then Don, she was NOT acting childlike... she held her ground with Roger, and it was only after Don accused her of flirting and calling her a child that she became confused and started to revert to the little girl thing. She is so intensely trapped by the confines of her dutiful role; Be Pretty, Be Attentive, Maintain Humor, and Don't Question Anything. It will be interesting to watch her begin to wake up.
Those same mandates are what allowed her to behave so inappropriately with Glen. Yes, Helen was right. But what I liked is the slap. Right or wrong, Betty IS starting to awaken. As lame as these psychiatric sessions appear to be, I think they are having a positive affect. Her anger at her life, at all her repression, is starting to bubble to the surface (albeit misplaced in this instance, but it's only just starting).
Don is so frustrating to me! I want to just love him, but then he sucks when he does things like allowing Betty to continue believing that he blames her even though he clearly knows that Roger did wrong.
Please let's not forget that Pete is more than just a little creepy. He was angry at his wife for not prostituting herself fully. He's more like a monster. I do NOT understand Peggy's attraction to him. The sexual overtones of the scene where he describes to her his hunting fantasy was just bizarre; especially her reaction.
But yup; he's been right and smart and forward thinking about campaign idea that's been kicked around.
I think that what we love about Roger (putting down Pete) and what we hate about him (putting Betty in an awful position) is all the same thing. He's a King Baby; the world is his... is you will, oyster. He has a lot of power, he gets his way, and he always makes sure people know where they are in the hierarchy. He got rejected by Joan, then reminded by the girls in the bar that he is not so virile, so he wields his power to force Don to take him home for dinner, and wields some more with Betty. You GOTTA love that Don set him up the way he did. No, I don't think he planned a group-witnessed vomit; that was just icing on the cake. Good times.

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What Don was really angry about was not Roger's pass at Betty or even Betty's behavior. The source of Don's anger was Roger's series of remarks about Don's past--dropping g's, swimming hole, etc. Remember, nobody has looked under that rock. That was what fueled Don's revenge plan--and watch out for Don Draper. He doesn't get "mad"--he gets even.

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"Even if it is 1960, the fact that Don wondered if he got home in one piece is proof that drinking and driving was a concern back then too."

Are you kidding me? That concern was no more than if he had been walking home drunkg a few blocks. Even in 1970 drinking and driving was still not a concern. I grew up in the 70s with parents driving drunk all of the time. By 1980 it was, but it still took a while for people to adjust.

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People have to keep in mind that this is not modern day. If you hated your boss you couldn't just stand up and leave for a better job somewhere else. Roger could easily blackball Don so Don is, in effect, his bitch - as is just about everybody else. This guy has way too much money and power for Don to beat him with anything other than prolonged guerilla tactics.

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When Pete first offered to look at Peggy's copy, I wondered if he would end up stealing it as well. But by the end of their scene together (SO disturbing that Peggy found his hunting fantasy attractive!), I'd changed my mind. I think that Rumsen is going to try to pass Peggy's work off as his own, and Pete will know what he's done, as he'll have seen it. The question is: will Pete stand up for her or won't he?

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For the Dadaists among us, a selection (a *small* selection, as this week the captioner seems to have become especially unmoored; I've cut the list down by more than half) of this week's What We Heard / What We Read:


(identifying the psychiatrist on the telephone) / physiatrist
jealousies, activities / jealousy's, activity's (lots of apostrophe-s'ing last night)
Montclair / Mount Claire
Last one to Chumley's / Last one to Chung Lee's


names:
Holloway, Rumsen, Lyndon Johnson / Halloway, Rumsin, Lynden Johnson
Betty Draper's nickname sounds like Birdie, though the captioner is torn, once using Berty and later Burty


What'd I say? / What I say?
Polka Dots looks like a lot of fun / Hope it does -- it looks like a lot of fun
simple, to the point, colloquial / simple, to the point
no chute, no body / no shoot, no body
Nights Inn off the Taconic / Knights Inn off the Deconic
bridesmaid's bridesmaid / bridesmaid bridesmaid
The nomination, as expected, is a lock / The nomination is expected as a lock
fan of the mollusk / fan of the mulusk
the stench of Brylcreem / the stench of Brill Cream
those long walks / those long locks
In what way? / The only way
eighth floor landing / eight floor landing


And over the end credits, Rosemary Clooney's memory is tarnished:
Botch-a-me, I'll botch-a-you / Bache me and bache you

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^ ^ ^ whaaaaaattt was thaaaaaat ??????? ^ ^ ^

You've got to be on the wrong board or something...

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The weirdest part of all was Peggy's complete hormonal flip-out when she got turned on by Pete's hunting fantasy. Possible theory...she's pregnant. It seems a little cliched, but it makes sense.

Love this funny synopsis:

http://www.unboundedition.com/content/view/2245/50/

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