# Mad-Men 2.13: Meditations in an Emergency, 10/26/08, season finale (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 27, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700 "2008-10-27T00:44:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/61 "2008-10-28T02:08:08Z")
See, I don’t think leaving Dr. Rape is even something that crosses Joan’s mind. Not only do I doubt that she sees anything particularly _wrong_ with what he did to her, I’m thinking that she mostly buys into what everyone says about her fiance being quite a catch. It seems to me as though she simply doesn’t have the frame of reference available to conclude that her handsome, successful doctor of a fiance is actually a loathsome rapist bastard. That seems, to me, to be where Joan differs from Peggy. Peggy has the ability to make unorthodox choices in her life that ultimately benefit her; Joan is stuck. Of course it would be great if Joan kicked the asshole to the curb and got a Peggy-esque position in the TV department, because I love Joan. But I think she’s too old-fashioned to actually do that. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/62 "2008-10-28T02:54:05Z")
**shy guy** , I agree. Joan doesn’t see what he did as rape. But she was humiliated and she’ll make him pay, somehow. She may well end up marrying the rat bastard, but she won’t be the wife he thought he was getting. Did people talk about passive-aggressive behavior back then, or is that something new? I can see her subtly sabotaging the marriage, flirting with his friends, using his toothbrush to clean the toilet, etc. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/63 "2008-10-28T13:13:25Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > From a recent interview, Matt Weiner says: “I can say one thing in advance: the Kennedy assassination is very well-trod territory, and I just don’t see myself adding to that.” I for one am grateful for this. I could see them starting a few months after the assassination, still dealing with some of the effects. But we don’t need a Very Special Episode about it. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/64 "2008-10-28T14:05:57Z")
Peggy didn’t give her confession to the priest, she gave it to Pete. Looked to me like she received her absolution all the same. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/65 "2008-10-28T14:11:20Z")
Just asking for verification, e.g., if any of youse have HD. Are we sure that was Pete with the rifle? My first thought was Duck being the more likely suicidal one although Pete was the gun owner. We zipped back and forth but couldn’t tell at our resolution. As for future timeline: Starting post-assasination, thru Beatles up to Gulf of Tonkin. The first period of major cultural shift of the era. Maybe they could do an ad for the '64 election with a kid plucking daisy petals and then an H-bomb goes off… ---
**Author:** ![Meltdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/66 "2008-10-28T16:19:00Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Peggy didn’t give her confession to the priest, she gave it to Pete. Looked to me like she received her absolution all the same. Nice! That didn’t occur to me until you just mentioned it, but I think that’s right on. Peggy realized that she had to “confess” to move on, but she also knows that there was no way she was going to tell weird stalkerish priest guy anything. IIRC the final image we have of Peggy is her praying in bed, attempting to make her peace without going through a middleman. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/67 "2008-10-28T18:34:51Z")
> [@Meltdown](#): > > IIRC the final image we have of Peggy is her praying in bed, attempting to make her peace without going through a middleman. Yeah, that is the scene that clinched it for me. She looked pretty serene by the time she turned to put out the lamp. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/68 "2008-10-30T18:57:47Z")
Regarding the contract issue. I thought I remembered something and went back to the first season episode “Shoot,” in which Don was being courted by a larger advertising agency. At the end, when Don said he wanted to stay, Roger agreed to a salary of $45,000 and “no contract,” at Don’s request. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/69 "2008-10-30T19:32:25Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Regarding the contract issue. I thought I remembered something and went back to the first season episode “Shoot,” in which Don was being courted by a larger advertising agency. At the end, when Don said he wanted to stay, Roger agreed to a salary of $45,000 and “no contract,” at Don’s request. The no-salary thing was also pointed out in the episode about Freddy’s faux-leave, which is, in retrospect, a clear leadup to this. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/70 "2008-10-30T19:33:27Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Yeah, that is the scene that clinched it for me. She looked pretty serene by the time she turned to put out the lamp. :eek: She’s becoming a Protestant! Get the rope! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/71 "2008-10-30T19:38:04Z")
And again in “Indian Summer,” after Roger has had his second heart attack and Cooper makes Roger a 12 percent partner, Don says “No contract.” Cooper laughs in response and says “Of course you’d say that. Always beware the nonconformist. I’m going to introduce you to Ayn Rand.” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/72 "2008-10-30T20:20:45Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > It’s because it interfered with her option of jettisoning Don altogether. I’m pretty sure the pregnancy is the principal, if not the sole, reason she accepted him back. I think she’s pretty much over him. I also think she just doesn’t want to have another child. Even with the nanny, she doesn’t really seem able to handle being a stay-at-home mom. What a sad, lonely episode. Sadder still to see how much hasn’t changed. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/73 "2008-10-30T21:57:47Z")
I don’t know. She kept making not-very-veiled references to getting an abortion, as if she was looking for an external okee-dokee to get one. I think she took Don back because she won. The dynamic of the relationship has changed and she now knows her power. I don’t know if this will translate in to any kind of nascent feminism - I don’t think it will. But she’s no longer the junior partner in this marriage. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/74 "2008-10-30T22:23:33Z")
> [@niblet\_head](#): > > But she’s no longer the junior partner in this marriage. How will that manifest itself? I mean, Don has promised fidelity before and it never lasts. She is going to be pregnant, and then caring for a newborn. She doesn’t have a lot of options and it’s highly unlikely that she will kick him out once she has the baby. So, I don’t know about her power status changing in any real way. She won this round, but I don’t think she’s won the war. What are the chances that Don has really changed? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/75 "2008-10-30T23:30:51Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > What are the chances that Don has really changed? That’s a good point. Do people really ever change? But even if Don hasn’t changed, Betty has. She’s likely to be more pragmatic about their relationship – her blinders are off. I want to say she might be more “adult”, not expecting a husband to live up to an ideal. But I hesitate to use that word, because there’s nothing “adult” about living with a cheater and there’s nothing idealistic about expecting a spouse to be faithful. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/76 "2008-10-31T00:53:21Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > How will that manifest itself? I mean, Don has promised fidelity before and it never lasts. She is going to be pregnant, and then caring for a newborn… I think she’ll regret telling Don. It’s too late for her to get an abortion now. Then again I suppose she could tell Don she had a miscarriage. It just wouldn’t occur to him that she’d go out and terminate the pregnancy. If he came home to a tearful Betty he’d accept whatever she said at face value. Betty is not a good mother. Dealing with an infant and Don falling off the monogamy wagon is going to send her over the top. It’ll sure be fun to watch though. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/77 "2008-10-31T01:58:20Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > How will that manifest itself? I mean, Don has promised fidelity before and it never lasts. She is going to be pregnant, and then caring for a newborn. She doesn’t have a lot of options and it’s highly unlikely that she will kick him out once she has the baby. So, I don’t know about her power status changing in any real way. She won this round, but I don’t think she’s won the war. What are the chances that Don has really changed? Huh. Good question. What, like I have to actually _think_ about the implications of what I say?? Jeez, you guys sure are demanding! 😛 You’re right. I’m gonna have to think on that some more. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/78 "2008-10-31T02:00:53Z")
Maybe Bar Guy isn’t the first affair she’s going to have. Maybe she’s changed her expectations for the marriage and is planning to do more than a little horseback riding to get her needs met. I agree that this is NOT a woman who should have 3 children. Or any. Did I mention how devastated I am that this season is over? Waiting for the next one to start is going to be torture! I’m just going to keep trying to find ways to resuscitate this thread in the meantime _sniff!_ ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/79 "2008-10-31T02:11:22Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > ``` > Betty is not a good mother. > > ``` Not by today’s standards, but for that era, I think she’s doing fine. Generally, moms back then didn’t hover and fret and psychoanalyze like they do now. Except for the pearls and crinolines, Betty is in many ways like every mother I knew when I was growing up. She’s a bit distant, which might seem unconnected. There’s a connection, it’s just a different kind of connection. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700/80 "2008-10-31T03:06:23Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > That’s a good point. Do people really ever change? In the immortal words of Stevie Nicks, “The sea changes color, but the sea does not change.” I think Don may, for a time (who knows how long?), treat Betty with more respect. But will he actually be a better husband? I don’t know. How dramatically interesting will a faithful Don Draper be? Also, will he ever come clean to Betty about the first Mrs. Draper and all that’s attached to that? Until he does, their marriage won’t be 100% real. > [@](#): > > But even if Don hasn’t changed, Betty has. She’s likely to be more pragmatic about their relationship – her blinders are off. I want to say she might be more “adult”, not expecting a husband to live up to an ideal. But I hesitate to use that word, because there’s nothing “adult” about living with a cheater and there’s nothing idealistic about expecting a spouse to be faithful. Now that she’s a cheater too, she might be less upset about the cheating. Hell, maybe she’ll do it more often too. Maybe they’ll become swingers. Who knows where they’ll go with it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-2-13-meditations-in-an-emergency-10-26-08-season-finale-open-spoilers/469700.md?page=5)