# Mad-Men: 6.09 "The Better Half" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 27, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435 "2013-05-27T00:55:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/21 "2013-05-27T14:54:15Z")
Is there a cultural reference to Bobby #5? I get that it’s slightly amusing that he’s not #2, but people seem to love this little joke. I loved Peggy and Abe’s breakup scene. Wholly original. Ted’s reaction to Peggy’s singleness was very sad. Poor Peggy. Seems like Megan and Don are set for a reset. I wonder what will draw his attentions next? The Joan/Roger/Bob triangle promises to be interesting as well. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/22 "2013-05-27T15:07:56Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > Is there a cultural reference to Bobby #5? I get that it’s slightly amusing that he’s not #2, but people seem to love this little joke. The character of Bobby Draper has been recast multiple times over the show’s run. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/23 "2013-05-27T15:55:19Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > Ted’s reaction to Peggy’s singleness was very sad. Poor Peggy. Ted is married. What kind of a reaction did you think was appropriate? > [@Bob Ducca](#): > > The character of Bobby Draper has been recast multiple times over the show’s run. Nitpick: The _role_ of Bobby has been recast four times. The character has remained the same. I’ll have to admit that I totally missed that joke during watching. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/24 "2013-05-27T16:11:14Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Bob Benson said in the first episode that his father was dead (said to Ken after getting chewed out for sending food to the funeral.) Now there is a nurse that brought him back to health. Something’s up with “Bob Bunson”. > > Between the short shorts and the blue suit, Bob is basically the new Pete Campbell. Right, there’s something definitely going on with Bob. So far we haven’t seen him do anything bad; he’s a kiss-ass but not Machiavellian. Helping Joan when she was sick and telling Pete about the nurse could be because he’s a good guy or because he’s trying to be in everyone’s good graces. I hope he’s a good guy who just wants to get ahead, because I like Joan having a friend/possibly gay friend. > [@Lightray](#): > > Okay, I’ll be the first one to mention the elephant in the room that no one is talking about: > > Bob’s shorts were absolutely _insane_. Seriously, I was a little embarrased for the actor; those screencaps will never leave the Internet. Of course, now I just can’t think of someone who’d wear those shorts as nefarious, so he probably _is_ a nice (clueless) guy. > > … and he does have the booty for them. Still. Those shorts delighted me. Tom and Lorenzo have a good [screencap](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151962830899616&set=a.10150361857634616.433417.131035174615&type=1&relevant_count=1). ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/25 "2013-05-27T17:39:41Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > [screencap](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151962830899616&set=a.10150361857634616.433417.131035174615&type=1&relevant_count=1). Here’s their recap: [http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/2013/05/mad-men-the-better-half.html](http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/2013/05/mad-men-the-better-half.html) I think’s a very good analysis! ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/26 "2013-05-27T17:40:27Z")
I’m not sure Bob’s scheming is anything more complicated than aggressive brown-nosing. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/27 "2013-05-27T17:52:13Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Ted is married. What kind of a reaction did you think was appropriate? Ted kissed Peggy, then freaked out when she inadvertently touched him, freaked out that she _looked_ at him, then told her it was inappropriate that he was in love with her. These actions led you to expect an _appropriate_ reaction from him? ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/28 "2013-05-27T18:01:07Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Ted kissed Peggy, then freaked out when she inadvertently touched him, freaked out that she _looked_ at him, then told her it was inappropriate that he was in love with her. > > These actions led you to expect an _appropriate_ reaction from him? To expand upon this, I’m not sure I expected an ‘appropriate’ response, but a response other than, “Too bad, there’s plenty of fish out there. Good luck,” seems more called for. He expressed strong affection. He kissed her. He mourned their collective situation of seeing others. I would have expected some excitement towards her being available or perhaps continued regret that they couldn’t be together, but he didn’t address a potential relationship in any way. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/29 "2013-05-27T18:04:34Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > To expand upon this, I’m not sure I expected an ‘appropriate’ response, but a response other than, “Too bad, there’s plenty of fish out there. Good luck,” seems more called for. > > He expressed strong affection. He kissed her. He mourned their collective situation of seeing others. I would have expected some excitement towards her being available or perhaps continued regret that they couldn’t be together, but he didn’t address a potential relationship in any way. He was insecure after presenting to the margarine folks. He needed peggy as a security blanket. On Monday he had heard all had gone well and didn’t need her any longer that way. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/30 "2013-05-27T18:33:20Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I’m not sure Bob’s scheming is anything more complicated than aggressive brown-nosing. That’s how it strikes me as well. He wants to be indispensable, and for good reason: if it hadn’t been for his efforts he’d have been let go during the merger. I’m also getting the “Joan’s gay friend” vibe from him. Please don’t let Betty be pregnant again. Don’s daughter needs slapping. Or, better yet, Don should call due the money he loaned her husband. Does anybody know if that was a former Bobby Draper as Bobby#2? ---
**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:** [May 27, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/31 "2013-05-27T18:48:17Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Don’s daughter needs slapping. Or, better yet, Don should call due the money he loaned her husband. I assume you mean Roger. And, yeah, that seemed like a huge over-reaction on her part. It’s not even as though Planet of the Apes was some slasher horror film or anything. It was a popular science fiction movie, the sort of thing you’d think a little kid would want to see. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/32 "2013-05-27T18:49:51Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I assume you mean Roger. Yes, I did.:smack: ---
**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:** [May 27, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/33 "2013-05-27T18:51:37Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Don’s daughter needs slapping. Or, better yet, Don should call due the money he loaned her husband. You mean Roger? Anyway I don’t think it was a loan. Guys like Roger don’t lend money to their daughters. And daughters like Margaret don’t pay their daddies back. Especially when their parents are rich and divorced with no other siblings. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/34 "2013-05-27T19:00:39Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > He was insecure after presenting to the margarine folks. He needed peggy as a security blanket. On Monday he had heard all had gone well and didn’t need her any longer that way. Maybe. I think he had a crush and was scared off when Peggy became available. Or maybe he wanted the excitement of an affair – another way to show he’s one of the guys, like when he tried to match drinks with Don. Could be he saw her without her makeup and went “ew”. 😉 Whatever, he came off as emotionally immature and maybe a bit nuts. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/35 "2013-05-27T19:33:38Z")
Also, I just want to make sure that everybody’s aware of Sepinwall’s reviews. They’re dynamite. He sees things that completely go over my head. > **[Entertainment – UPROXX](https://UPROXX.com/entertainment/)** > > The latest entertainment news, TV discussion, and film coverage from UPROXX. With regard to Bob ‘Bunson’, Sepinwall makes this observation: “…in [a] scene with Ken in the premiere, Bob said his father was dead; here, he tells Pete that the nurse recently brought his father back to health. In the light of the morning, I think Bob Benson: Sociopath is winning again as the theory.” ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/36 "2013-05-27T20:54:18Z")
I liked this episode a lot. I thought Betty looked really good in her camp clothes (and her hair looked great), I liked the rustic knotty pine (I always wanted to go to camp, and I still do), and I liked the ONE NIGHT ONLY vibe I got from Betty and Don’s hookup. I’m glad she’s happy and secure in her marriage to Henry. The wistful look on Don’s face the next morning, watching them, makes me wonder if he will change his ways and work on his current marriage. ???..what I did not like was the loathesome DOG KILLER Duck floating to the surface again. In a just world, he should long ago have died from alcohol poisoning. Alone. In a cheap motel room. Hate the bastard, why do they keep bringing him back again and again?..finally - Megan’s pushy lesbian friend - the third time she lunged for Megan, I wanted to punch her in the throat. Drunken pig, and not much Megan could do but be polite and deflect. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/37 "2013-05-27T21:10:51Z")
Dramatic characters are not there to be liked. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/38 "2013-05-27T21:29:21Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Okay, I’ll be the first one to mention the elephant in the room that no one is talking about: > > Bob’s shorts were absolutely _insane_. Seriously, I was a little embarrased for the actor; those screencaps will never leave the Internet. Of course, now I just can’t think of someone who’d wear those shorts as nefarious, so he probably _is_ a nice (clueless) guy. > > … and he does have the booty for them. Still. Ehh, Bill Bradley ended up on[magazine covers](http://www.pophistorydig.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/1964-si-cover-dec7-75.jpg) (not to mention zillions of trading cards) wearing shorts like that and he ended up as a U.S. Senator and serious Presidential contender. Phil Jackson looked [even worse](http://espn.go.com/media/nba/2005/1222/photo/topps_jackson.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![BluePear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@BluePear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePear)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/39 "2013-05-27T22:14:55Z")
Poor Peggy, rejected by all three men in her life–Don, Ted and Abe. The problem with Peggy and men is she never picks them, they always pick her and she just goes along for the ride. Pete picked her, and dropped her, Abe picked her, and now broke up with her, same with Duck. She never even showed romantic interest in Ted before that kiss. The only guy she’s turned down is Stan and that’s probably because he’s too goofy and not controlling. It was a surprise to see Duck, he’s like an indestructible cockroach. I hope Peggy doesn’t start back up with him. I wouldn’t be surprised if she starts to look elsewhere for work and he pops back in her life that way. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435/40 "2013-05-27T23:24:04Z")
Is it me, or were there two moments at Don/Megan’s pad where the street noise from the sirens was REALLY loud? Louder than I recall in earlier episodes. On preview, I note that Sepinwall mentions it as well. Is it just background noise…prelude to something else? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-09-the-better-half-open-spoilers/659435.md?page=3)