# Mad-Men: 5.02 "Tea Leaves" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 1, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529 "2012-04-01T23:56:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/21 "2012-04-02T15:24:50Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Harry sucking down White Castles got a laugh from me. “I thought you were buying them for your family!” “There were twenty in there!” 🙂 > [@Eve](#): > > I think a “Betty overeats, gains weight and has an identity crisis” is a lot more interesting than “Betty has a thyroid tumor, it gets removed and she’s all thin again.” I agree. So much so that I’m willing to overlook the fact that a tumor on one’s thyroid need not be malignant to cause weight fluctuations. Pete’s gettin’ a touch overconfident there. I’m intrigued by the new guy. This should be fun. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/22 "2012-04-02T16:30:05Z")
[QUOTE=DianaG] I’m intrigued by the new guy. This should be fun. [/QUOTE] Woody ben Tevye? ---
**Author:** ![Stringer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Stringer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringer)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/23 "2012-04-02T16:37:39Z")
It looked to me like Betty’s tumor was malignant and she lied to Henry about it. I think it tied back to the conversation she had with her friend who said, “I would rather he told the children I was hit by a bus. Better that than saying goodbye.” ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/24 "2012-04-02T16:38:10Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Woody ben Tevye? Oyyyy! I’m more disturbed if they have Peggy get involved with him. She’s already got the foil of the polo jock guy she works with. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/25 "2012-04-02T16:48:40Z")
> [@Stringer](#): > > It looked to me like Betty’s tumor was malignant and she lied to Henry about it. I think it tied back to the conversation she had with her friend who said, “I would rather he told the children I was hit by a bus. Better that than saying goodbye.” Hmmm. We didn’t hear the actual doctor, did we? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/26 "2012-04-02T16:51:56Z")
That also puts quite a different spin on the sundae-finishing. If I were dying, I’d have a hot-fudge IV. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/27 "2012-04-02T17:04:24Z")
Missed the edit window: but now that I think about it, from a character perspective it makes more sense to me that Betty would think “Fuck it, I’m dying” thank “Fuck it, I’ll just be fat, then.” ---
**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:** [April 2, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/28 "2012-04-02T17:51:41Z")
> [@Stringer](#): > > It looked to me like Betty’s tumor was malignant and she lied to Henry about it. I think it tied back to the conversation she had with her friend who said, “I would rather he told the children I was hit by a bus. Better that than saying goodbye.” Good points. It occured to me that Betty’s doctor _lied to her_, but not that Betty lied to Henry. Back then it was common for patients with terminal dieases to be told they were fine; that’s what happened with Anna. Though if that were the case Henry would’ve been told. If Betty really is keeping her cancer a secret I wonder what how else her personality will change. > [@Sampiro](#): > > Hmmm. We didn’t hear the actual doctor, did we? > [@DianaG](#): > > …I’m intrigued by the new guy. This should be fun. Agreed. There are so many places they can go with this. He could outshine Peggy & pose a threat to her, he fuck up badly & have that reflect on her, she could end up sleeping with him, or he might really have some kind of mental problem. I don’t think the last one is likely, but it would certainly lead to the most interesting plotlines. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/29 "2012-04-02T18:13:52Z")
[That was real baby fat on Betty.](http://deathby1000papercuts.com/2012/04/mad-men-fat-betty-january-jones-pregnancy-weight-gain/) I gather she’s already back to her pre-baby weight. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/30 "2012-04-02T18:19:46Z")
Betty lying had occurred to me in the moment based off of her expressions, and honestly it fits with her being childish and prone to pushing bad things aside. I honestly hope that’s it, not out of hate, but I think it would make the most interesting story. Clearly Don would gain sole custody in that situation, yes? Biological father in a no-fault (on paper) divorce, married, and secure. Francis wouldn’t have much of a case, right? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/31 "2012-04-02T18:27:04Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > “Romney’s a clown?” He did not! Tagg Romney (son of Mitt, grandson of Gov. George) [responds](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/02/romney-mad-men-tagg-romney_n_1397017.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009): > [@](#): > > “Seriously, lib media mocking my dead grandpa? George Romney was as good a man I’ve ever known,” Tagg wrote. “Inspirational leader, worked for civil rights, promoted freedom. We need more like him.” Seriously, Tagg Romney, referring to a single TV show as “lib media”? That’s a lamer appellation than Tagg. And while I admit the mention of Romney was gratuitous, the show didn’t take a position on him. A single character did. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/32 "2012-04-02T18:42:55Z")
Plus, based on **ThelmaLou** ’s article, that scene was likely shot in August of last year. For all anyone knew, the GOP front-runners today could be totally different people. It struck me as more of a “name drop so the audience can say ‘I know who that is!.. haha, I get it!’” thing than anything to take to the streets over. The same article says Ms. Jones is eating her placenta. They should have worked THAT into the episode. “Sally, don’t you like your hot fudge placenta?” ---
**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:** [April 2, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/33 "2012-04-02T18:54:47Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > the show didn’t take a position on him. A single character did. A character who worked for Romney’s rival Rockefeller to boot. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/34 "2012-04-02T19:20:46Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Seriously, Tagg Romney, referring to a single TV show as “lib media”? That’s a lamer appellation than Tagg. > > And while I admit the mention of Romney was gratuitous, the show didn’t take a position on him. A single character did. Besides, being called a “clown” by Roger Sterling is pretty much a _commendation_. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/35 "2012-04-02T19:26:46Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Besides, being called a “clown” by Roger Sterling is pretty much a _commendation_. Sure. But it was Henry Francis who did the name-calling. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/36 "2012-04-02T19:29:08Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Sure. But it was Henry Francis who did the name-calling. I knew it was \*some \*bitter, white-haired guy. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/37 "2012-04-02T19:31:58Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Besides, being called a “clown” by Roger Sterling is pretty much a _commendation_. Henry Francis. ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/38 "2012-04-02T20:10:54Z")
[The Stones’ Rice Krispies ad.](http://www.businessinsider.com/the-rolling-stones-rice-krispies-commercial-2012-4) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/39 "2012-04-02T21:41:31Z")
The real [Trade Winds](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trade_Winds). “New York’s a Lonely Town” still gets played a lot on oldies radio. Good song. I remember “Mind Excursion” too, though I never realized it was the same group. They changed their name sometime in 1966 according to that Wiki article. But they were American and there’s no way Harry could have thought they were as British as the Stones. THe Jefferson Airplane did [psychedelic jingles for Levis in 1968](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r1lsq8KAQs). There is no such thing as not selling out. I like the Betty lying about her diagnosis theory, but we know that January Jones has gotten thin since then. Weiner wrote her pregnancy weight gain into the series but putting her in a real fat suit for the rest of the season isn’t going to happen. And Don Draper is worried about the kids at the Stones concert? Seriously? I realize he’s supposed to be thinking about Betty’s death leaving his own kids motherless but that’s not the Don Draper we knew. There are already sufficient boring old men on the show. Farthest out allusion trawling of all time. Two new characters were introduced on this show, Dawn and Ginsberg. Famed humorist S. J. Perelman’s first book was called Dawn Ginsbergh’s Revenge. No, I don’t believe it either but I want to be the first to put it on the Internet. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529/40 "2012-04-02T22:44:19Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > …And Don Draper is worried about the kids at the Stones concert? Seriously? I realize he’s supposed to be thinking about Betty’s death leaving his own kids motherless but that’s not the Don Draper we knew. There are already sufficient boring old men on the show… Sally’s almost 13; that’s only 2 or 3 yrs younger than the girls at the concert, one of whom even admitted she’d have sex with a man she’d never met because he was famous, the other who Harry was flirting with. He doesn’t want Sally to be that girl in a few years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-5-02-tea-leaves-open-spoilers/617529.md?page=3)