# Mad-Men: 6.12 "The Quality of Mercy" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150 "2013-06-17T01:00:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/61 "2013-06-17T22:21:40Z")
Bob does a great job of shaking hands/smiling while making trash talk. Reminded me a bit of Will Ferrell’s character in _The Campaign_ for anybody who’s seen that film. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2013, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/62 "2013-06-17T22:33:40Z")
> [@CJJ](#): > > Portia’s famous speech argues for a mode of conduct beyond following legal rules or social mores. Pete showed this kind of mercy to Bob, who knew that Pete could have destroyed his new-found career by outing him, but decided instead to give him a (limited) break. > > Don, on the other hand, did not; he followed all the “rules” of business in crushing Ted. Businessmen–based on a strict profit/loss accounting–would judge Sunkist to be the better deal and the aspirin ad budget overrun to be foolish. Much like the Shylock portrayed in the play, Don wanted his “pound of flesh” simply to harm and humiliate the other party. Cross post Pretty freaking subtle. I didn’t see Sally’s actions or Pete’s as merciful, but I can sort of see how someone would. I feel like both of them were saving their bombshells to drop at more opportune moments when the payoff might be greater. ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/63 "2013-06-17T22:39:50Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Peggy’s ad with the Rosemary’s Baby theme is going to be dated, quick. If a vintage commercial like that was shown today, I doubt anyone under the age of 55 would have the faintest idea what it was based ON That was Don’s first concern, but then he immediately said that the bit would stand on it’s own, even if the viewer didn’t know the reference. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/64 "2013-06-17T23:21:55Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The oddest moment was when the headmistress called for “Clara” to accompany her. I’m sure every long-term viewer (and that’s everybody isn’t it: the show would literally be incomprehensible to a newbie) was thinking, “Clara got a job at Miss Porter’s after being fired by Betty?” (that’s “Carla”, not Clara. And yes, I immediately thought of Betty’s maid!) ---
**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 17, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/65 "2013-06-17T23:33:48Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > (that’s “Carla”, not Clara. And yes, I immediately thought of Betty’s maid!) Brain, meet fingers. Fingers, meet brain. Talk to one another every once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![Athabasca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Athabasca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athabasca)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/66 "2013-06-18T00:37:16Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I quite liked the episode but wasn’t quite sure why Bert was annoyed about Pete taking over Ken’s role with Chevy. Also was it implied that Pete was involved with his secretary? Yes, I read that little moment between Clara and Pete as something of a giveaway that Pete might be involved with her. But Clara seemed a bit too motherly, straightening his tie and all… ---
**Author:** ![orderfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orderfire/32/10908_2.png) [@orderfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orderfire)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/67 "2013-06-18T01:36:12Z")
Anyone recognize the closing music? Sounded like Mickey Dolenz’s voice but the song isn’t familiar. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/68 "2013-06-18T01:40:48Z")
> [@orderfire](#): > > Anyone recognize the closing music? Sounded like Mickey Dolenz’s voice but the song isn’t familiar. It’s from the movie _Head_- quick google- [Porpoise Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B702fD2tfgc). At least the second time they’ve used a lesser known Dolenz song for credits on an AMC show; they used [Going Down](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URb8h4dLKps) to close an episode of _Breaking Bad_. I wonder if the same parent company owns the network and the catalog. Bob definitely has balls (as we’d have seen if his shorts had been a little shorter). They way he stared down Pete and took what he assumed was going to be getting fired and exposed on the chin was actually admirable. That was a well done scene by both Kartheiser and Wolk. I think a problem I have with the show is there hasn’t been much character development of late. Roger and Don, for example, are pretty much the same people now as they were three seasons ago, which might be true to life but for drama I’d like to see some change. Do you think anything major will happen next week in their lives? Speaking of next week, regarding clips of next week’s episode: Was the person in the pool [ala Sunset Blvd] a scene from next week or just a flashback to Don in the pool at the party? ---
**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 18, 2013, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/69 "2013-06-18T01:41:39Z")
> [@orderfire](#): > > Anyone recognize the closing music? Sounded like Mickey Dolenz’s voice but the song isn’t familiar. Sounded to me like The Monkee’s “Dolphin Song.” ---
**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 18, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/70 "2013-06-18T01:44:09Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > …Regarding clips of next week’s episode: > > Any speculation on who’s in the pool [ala Sunset Blvd]? It’s Don from 2 episodes ago. As usual the preview for the season finale is made up of clips from past episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/71 "2013-06-18T02:25:04Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Yes, but if Ted were Don’s equal, he WOULD have been able to come up with something on the spot. But he couldn’t. He’s not an idea man. In fact, I’m not sure WHAT Ted is good for. Your criticisms of Ted are over the top. The guy was one of the top 3 men at an ad agency that was as successfull as SCDP. In other words, he’s as accomplished as Don. One is on the creative side, the other os on the accounts side. He knows what the hell he is doing, despite his lapse in judgement. > [@](#): > > At least when Don screwed around, it didn’t directly affect keeping/losing big clients. Really? I’d say that fucking one of your biggest clients goes way beyond Ted’s googly eyes for a coworker. ---
**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 18, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/72 "2013-06-18T02:31:53Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > It’s from the movie _Head_- quick google- [Porpoise Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B702fD2tfgc). > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Sounded to me like The Monkee’s “Dolphin Song.” Clara. Carla. Dolphin. Porpoise. I am old enough to remember the 60s, you know. Faintly. ---
**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:** [June 18, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/73 "2013-06-18T04:22:35Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > I want a gif or a YTMND of Ted saying “I want MY juice” and then Don’s “Waahh Waaah!” [Ask and ye shall receive.](http://klookloo.tumblr.com/post/53239537115/season-6) Somebody on Reddit made this at my request. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/74 "2013-06-18T06:23:07Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Your criticisms of Ted are over the top. The guy was one of the top 3 men at an ad agency that was as successfull as SCDP. In other words, he’s as accomplished as Don. One is on the creative side, the other os on the accounts side. He knows what the hell he is doing, despite his lapse in judgement. Ted is also creative. He was Peggy’s boss, just like Don was. The difference between the two men comes down to style. They both get the job done, but Don Draper is a lone shark who comes up with big ideas under pressure. Ted is a manager of creative people. He works with them, inspires them, and gets the maximum performance out of them. It’s actually a very good depiction of a very specific management style. He may not have a lot of creative power on his own. But in any event, that pause of Don’s was not to allow an opening for Ted to seize the moment. Since Ted had no idea what Don was talking about, there was little he could do or say. Don just hung him out there for a minute to punish him - and Peggy. To them, Don was threatening to tell the client about their budding affair. They were terrified. Then Don twisted the knife by ripping the credit for the ad away from Peggy as punishment or out of just plain meanness. As Peggy said, Don is a monster. He’s a control freak, a narcissist, and possibly a psychopath. He’s one psychotic episode away from strangling a hooker in a hotel room. ---
**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 18, 2013, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/75 "2013-06-18T06:45:02Z")
“Here’s looking up your old address!” I nearly dropped to the floor in paroxysms of laughter when Glen said that in the dorm room. We used to say that all the time back in the day. Hilarious. I’m looking forward to MANY great scenes in the girl’s dorm. I guess that makes me a dirty old man. So be it. Also - anyone else recognize the dude who played Byron Poole, the customer who didn’t want to pay for the Rosemarie’s baby ad? He played a POTW on “House” who was so nice that House didn’t believe he was for real; he assumed the niceness must be a symptom of some horrible disease. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/76 "2013-06-18T11:59:02Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Ted is also creative. He was Peggy’s boss, just like Don was. I’m sure you’re right. I was thinking that the dead guy was head of creative and that Ted was accounts, especially since there doesn’t seem to be a serious accounts guy from their firm anywhere. Also, we haven’t seen Don come up with an idea in quite a while. He’s way more of a manager than an idea guy these days. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/77 "2013-06-18T12:26:57Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > A couple of people have said there were lots of other ways Don could have saved the St. Joseph’s account, and I’d like to hear a couple. I don’t think Don deliberately threw Peggy to the dogs- but it was an emergency and he had to come up with something. I think he made the Gleason thing up right on the spot. Disagree. When was the last time that Don was the **first** one to arrive at a meeting. He had the whole thing planned from the beginning. Something didn’t ring true about Pete’s grovelling “Thanks for your faith in me.” line about taking over Chevy. Even though things hadn’t been going his way he was one of the top people at the old firm. ---
**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:** [June 18, 2013, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/78 "2013-06-18T12:55:20Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Disagree. When was the last time that Don was the **first** one to arrive at a meeting. He had the whole thing planned from the beginning. As I’d mentioned upthread, he’d been planning the whole thing since seeing Ted and Peggy at the movies, which is why he had to call Harry when he got home to start putting his plan in action. He can’t stand not being in control of everything, and his concession to Ted (to get back into Sylvia’s panties) was not going to stand for long. ---
**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 18, 2013, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/79 "2013-06-18T12:57:15Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Also, we haven’t seen Don come up with an idea in quite a while. He’s way more of a manager than an idea guy these days. It’s your job. I give you money, you give me ideas. But you never thank me. That’s what the money is for! ---
**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:** [June 18, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150/80 "2013-06-18T14:45:26Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Ted is also creative. He was Peggy’s boss, just like Don was. > > The difference between the two men comes down to style. They both get the job done, but Don Draper is a lone shark who comes up with big ideas under pressure. Ted is a manager of creative people. He works with them, inspires them, and gets the maximum performance out of them. It’s actually a very good depiction of a very specific management style. **He may not have a lot of creative power on his own.** My bold and my point. > [@](#): > > But in any event, that pause of Don’s was not to allow an opening for Ted to seize the moment. Since Ted had no idea what Don was talking about, there was little he could do or say. I agree, Don was not being nice and giving Ted an opening, but Ted could have seized the opening all the same. But he can’t think on his feet, and doesn’t have ideas of his own. He’s the kind of creative person who can nurture and support others’ creativity but doesn’t have original ideas. Don is the Lone Ranger, yeah. > [@](#): > > Don just hung him out there for a minute to punish him - and Peggy. Yes. But beside the point. Ted didn’t have to hang there twisting in the wind with his mouth hanging open. He could have made some attempt to save himself and Peggy. Yeah, Don is a meanie. Not his fault Ted couldn’t find his balls. > [@](#): > > To them, Don was threatening to tell the client about their budding affair. They were terrified. Then Don twisted the knife by ripping the credit for the ad away from Peggy as punishment or out of just plain meanness. > > As Peggy said, Don is a monster. He’s a control freak, a narcissist, and possibly a psychopath. He’s one psychotic episode away from strangling a hooker in a hotel room. Now YOU’RE going overboard. What earthly purpose of Don’s could have been served by telling the client about the affair? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-6-12-the-quality-of-mercy-open-spoilers/661150.md?page=5)