# Mad-Men: 6.11 "Favors" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 10, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596 "2013-06-10T01:11:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/41 "2013-06-10T20:08:47Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > Agree with a lot in your post, but the iron curtain descended on Europe in the late 1940s, not in 1968. The Prague Spring being crushed clearly showed that it wasn’t being lifted, true, but it had been in place for a good 20 years by then. My father was a WW2 vet–8th Air Force. He was called back on active duty in 1948, at the time of the Berlin Blockade, & served in SAC. Churchill personally seemed to think the Cold War had begun on VE Day–but it was obvious to everybody by the late 40’s. Then there was the Hungarian Revolution of 1956–crushed by Soviet tanks… ---
**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:** [June 10, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/42 "2013-06-10T20:12:59Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I thought that too; it’d certainly make Sally even more pissed off and disgusted at her father. Sally also idolized Roger until she caught him getting a blowjob from Megan’s mom. That’s quite a streak of bad luck. Also, if Sally was infatuated with Sylvia’s son in a “Let’s write Mrs. Sally Rosen on my notebook” sort of way, learning that your dad is sleeping with your affection-object’s mom is more than a little unsettling, I’m sure. Not that I assume that’s the root of Sally’s upset but it can’t help. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/43 "2013-06-10T21:07:22Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > My father was a WW2 vet–8th Air Force. He was called back on active duty in 1948, at the time of the Berlin Blockade, & served in SAC. Churchill personally seemed to think the Cold War had begun on VE Day–but it was obvious to everybody by the late 40’s. > > Then there was the Hungarian Revolution of 1956–crushed by Soviet tanks… I’m sure there’s a point here but I’m missing it. ---
**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:** [June 10, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/44 "2013-06-10T21:35:31Z")
My favorite line: Ted: “I know you can’t have many friends, so this must be important.” ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/45 "2013-06-10T22:01:04Z")
I liked the draft plot but it’s a pity the character was only parachuted in for this episode. I know he is referred to in previous episodes but it’s a bit “Who the hell is he and why should we give a shit?” ---
**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:** [June 10, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/46 "2013-06-10T22:30:32Z")
Who played the son anyway? He looked very familiar. ---
**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:** [June 10, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/47 "2013-06-10T23:24:59Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I liked the draft plot but it’s a pity the character was only parachuted in for this episode. I know he is referred to in previous episodes but it’s a bit “Who the hell is he and why should we give a shit?” He’s there for the plot. I thought whatever strength this episode had was that it so nicely put together things we already knew but couldn’t know would intersect. We knew that Don and Sylvia were having an affair. A lot was made of the fact that he used the service door and they screwed on the servant’s bed off the kitchen. We knew that Arnold and Sylvia had a son who was in college. We knew that Don made him his first male friend. We knew that Megan was Canadian. We knew that Sally stayed over in Don’s apartment frequently. We saw the doorman altogether more than a minor character warranted. Gluing all those things together to make it vaguely possible that Sally could catch Don and Sylvia was by far the nicest plot work they’ve done all year, and probably in several years. (Better than Lane’s suicide last year.) That this is the second time that Sally caught an adult having sex is harder to believe, but television defies probabilities daily. We’ve been waiting all year for the ton of bricks they’ve been laying to coalesce into walls. There are only two episodes left, so the walls need to start closing in. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/48 "2013-06-11T00:14:25Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > I’m sure there’s a point here but I’m missing it. I was helping you correct the dates for the Cold War. Your grasp of history is better than your command of the English language… ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/49 "2013-06-11T00:59:50Z")
Ouch. Too mean! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/50 "2013-06-11T05:40:43Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Best line so far: > Pete’s mother, “You were a sour little boy, and you’re a sour little man.” That was a very good line. But the BEST line was “I don’t what his juice! I want MY juice!” ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/51 "2013-06-11T05:41:43Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Well that washed away any doubt about Bob. 😉 I’m not so sure. All it tells us is that he’ll do WHATEVER it takes. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/52 "2013-06-11T05:45:38Z")
> [@BluePear](#): > > Perhaps many of you already thought this, but Sally’s perspective of what she saw just occurred to me. She doesn’t know Don and Sylvia have been having an affair, so after seeing them in bed, then learning about the favor Don did for Mitchell, maybe she thinks Don might have requested/demanded sex from Sylvia for his deed. Here is my question: if you don’t love your wife enough to be faithful to her, why would you care if you get caught cheating on her? The worst she could do is leave you. And if you don’t love her enough to not cheat on her, is that really a problem? Obviously, this argument breaks down if you are a freeloader living on her largess, but that is clearly not the case for Don and Megan. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/53 "2013-06-11T05:49:07Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I thought I saw Jack Lord on Peggy’s TV in b&w and the same show at Don’s in color. I assumed _Hawaii Five-O_ (ran from 1968-1980). At the bar, it was a different program, maybe some sports event? That’s exactly what I thought: B&W Five-O and then Living Color Five-O. I assumed that was to show the difference in incomes between those who can afford color TVs and those that can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/54 "2013-06-11T05:56:31Z")
Overall, this episode earns a “loved it” from me because Don gets his comeuppance, and gets it in such a spectacularly preordained fashion from his own daughter. I laughed my ass off for about five minutes. Yes, he may well tap-dance his way out of any consequences, but it was still a spectacular setback that seemed pre-ordained by the universe. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/55 "2013-06-11T06:15:13Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Words can not express my disappointment that the friggin’ Sylvia story line drags on. > > Is there a deal I can make with the Devil to accept a half dozen more drug episodes in exchange for writing Sylvia out of the show? Why are you so upset about Sylvia? Sylvia isn’t Sylvia. Sylvia is Don’s inability to let himself be happy no matter how wonderful his life is. Beautiful, loving, sexy wife Megan who is devoted to him beyond words? Tough shit, not good enough! He needs a Sylvia to help him destroy his chance at happiness. Don’t blame this particular Sylvia. She is just the latest incarnation of Don’s narcissistic need to harpoon his own future. She is just a convenient place-holder. If it wasn’t her, it would need to be someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/56 "2013-06-11T06:25:56Z")
Favors: Usually, I have trouble relating the title to the episode. This time it was uncharacteristically easy: - Don does a favor for Sylvia to keep her son out of Viet Nam - Ted does a favor for Don by getting Sylvia’s son the deferment - Peggy asks a favor of Stan to come and kill the rat (he declines) - Bob does a favor for Pete to keep his mother happy (with ulterior motives, but still…) - Sally’s friend does a (supposed) favor for Sally by slipping the love note under the door. Any others? ---
**Author:** ![BluePear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@BluePear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePear)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/57 "2013-06-11T09:02:51Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Here is my question: if you don’t love your wife enough to be faithful to her, why would you care if you get caught cheating on her? The worst she could do is leave you. And if you don’t love her enough to not cheat on her, is that really a problem? > > Obviously, this argument breaks down if you are a freeloader living on her largess, but that is clearly not the case for Don and Megan. Interesting post, but not really addressing my comment you quoted. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/58 "2013-06-11T09:06:52Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Here is my question: if you don’t love your wife enough to be faithful to her, why would you care if you get caught cheating on her? The worst she could do is leave you. And if you don’t love her enough to not cheat on her, is that really a problem? It’s not just that he was caught, it was also who caught him. He would have taken it differently (probably better) if pretty much anyone else had caught him with Sylvia. But this was Sally. Even though she knew that he wasn’t perfect and he knew that she knew that he wasn’t perfect, Don had never so thoroughly and unquestionably screwed up in front of his own child before. It threw him and Jon Hamm played it really, really well. I like the Peggy and Pete friendship scenes when they show up. And the Peggy and Stan ones as well. And Pete’s “Do not be more specific” was my favorite line of the episode. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2013, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/59 "2013-06-11T12:56:35Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Here is my question: if you don’t love your wife enough to be faithful to her, why would you care if you get caught cheating on her? Ever hear of wanting to have your cake and eat it too? Megan is Don’s home life. He loves her, just not in a way to stop him from sleeping around. > [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Why are you so upset about Sylvia? […] Don’t blame this particular Sylvia. Because she’s boring and scenes with her are boring. She’s no Rachel Menken. Hell, she’s not even Dr. Fay Whositsname. Don’s more interesting lovers are ones with enough strength or spirit to stand apart from him. Sylvia doesn’t have that. She had her one moment of will and now she’s wilted and is back to same ole dishrag Sylvia. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596/60 "2013-06-11T13:22:33Z")
My favorite line: “Did she go to China for that tea?” Peggy was channeling a Borscht-belt comedian with her timing and inflection. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-11-favors-open-spoilers/660596.md?page=4)