She was just wearing Megan’s bathrobe when she got out of the shower. I can’t imagine Weiner going in for a fake pregnancy bit. I think he’s more interested in Stephanie as someone who knows the real Dick Whitman, which makes Megan supremely jealous.
If you were going to do a one-shot “I’m pregnant” scam, I’d think you’d go the “I just found out” route rather than stuffing couch pillows under your shirt and hoping no one notices.
That certain Pittsburgher put on his comfy cardigan AFTER he got home.
Lou really is the anti-Mr. Rogers, though!
It’s also not that kind of show.
And Stephanie isn’t so into Method acting that she’d put on the preggo pillows just for a phone conversation! She was clearly pregnant in that first long distance call to Don.
Anyway, I loved this. I’m really digging this season, and I can point squarely to Don’s arc for the reason. I’m adoring Sympathetic, Well-meaning Don. Five episodes and barely a misstep! Yes, getting drunk last episode, but he got over that hiccup (pun not intended) pretty quickly thanks to Freddy. Any guy who’s had to swallow as much pride as he has at the company he made a success would likely be shaken from his proverbial wagon.
I don’t for one minute think Don has any sexual interest in Stephanie, not since that one moment years ago. In this episode, look at his face during that first phone call with her–he lit up and gave a completely genuine smile when talking to her, and notice how pleased he was to repeat, practically beaming, that he liked her calling his niece…because it’s true (to him).
This is the Dick Whitman who wants a real connection. Stephanie knows him, she knew and loved Anna, and these are the two women (aside from Sally) who have inspired some of his deepest, most protective feelings. Sure, he’d have given her money, because that’s what he thinks is his only worthwhile quality (and in this case it is what Stephanie really needed), but he was clearly disappointed not to see her. Heck, he flew out to California to see her–he wasn’t planning on visiting CA to see Megan when Peggy asked him, but for Stephanie, he made the trip. Man, I’d love to see Megan’s lies revealed, but this likely won’t get addressed.
I’m not getting the folks who say we haven’t seen the office in ages. Last week’s episode was all about the office! As well it should, 'cause I agree wholly that those are the strongest storylines. Still, as much as I despise the whole Betty/Henry dynamic, I’m increasingly interested in Bobby. That poor kid really gets to me… once again I empathize with his constant stomach aches. Been there, done that, although for me it was school rather than a misery of a mother. I was incredibly touched by Sally and Bobby’s connection. That might be a first for the show; the kids are old enough (and good enough actors) to have meaningful scenes on their own.
(And as usual, Betty showed no actual compassion to her daughter. No “Are you hurt?” Not even an angry “You could have seriously injured yourself?” No, just resentment about Sally possibly doing damage to her looks, which Betty takes full credit for. I forgot Sally emerged fully formed from Betty’s empty head like Athena from Zeus.)
Kinda surprised there’s confusion on the reason for the conflict between Betty and Henry at the party. And as much as I dislike Henry and his “hey I’m a good guy” facade, Betty absolutely was ridiculously blunt (displaying plain ol’ poor manners–hence Henry’s snark about her not being the perfect hostess) to Henry at the party. I’m not surprised they don’t talk about the issues because I don’t get the sense Henry gives a damn about the issues any more than Betty does.
All he was doing at the party was mildly backing the president and agreeing with whoever that guest was–clearly someone important/influential in his constituency. So Betty gives him this disbelieving, “Really? That’s not what you said to me” bullshit? In public?! Sure, if she and Henry were at a private dinner with Francine and, uh, whatever Francine’s husband’s name is, I can see Betty having that kind of snark. At a social gathering, as a politician’s wife in front of a constituent (or donor, or whoever that dude was)? No. Sucks being a politician’s wife, but that’s what she signed up for.
Of course I didn’t blame her at all for getting shirty with Henry when he asked her to move into the dining room rather than the kitchen, but IMHO it was passive aggressive rather than some amazing moment of defiance.
Back to Megan: her scenes were low points, but then she almost always is a drag, especially since becoming an actress. Something is up with her, and it’s not just Don’s infidelity. And her gal pal. (Amy? Was that her name?) Don was so uncomfortable… that’s gotta be the most reluctant threesome I’ve ever seen a guy get into on TV (where he gets to be the meat of the sandwich, anyway–I have seen awkward guy/girl/guy trios played for laughs). He seems utterly uninterested, barely taking any initiative, at least until Amy decided to let him see, Braille-like, whether she’s a natural redhead.
(Funny that this is the first time he’s gone five whole episodes without cheating, and when he finally does sleep with someone other than his wife, he’s not even cheating!)
Poor Ginsburg. I can hardly say any more. This isn’t that surprising a development since they planted his “off-ness” back with the concentration camp/Mars birth story, but I was hoping he’d just be an eccentric instead of full-on delusional. I’ve always found the actor engaging and likeable, and Ginsburg seemed like one of the few copywriters there with imagination (I guess too much imagination!). Peggy seemed to have some respect for him too, even if she did treat him like a mosquito. Elizabeth Moss is really so effective as an actor… her reactions to Ginsburg after he gave her that creepy box and while he was being wheeled out were touching. I didn’t think I’d be able to have sympathy for Peggy considering how cold she’s still being to Don. And Don continues to take it. I’m sorry, I know I’m a hopeless fangirl, but Don is just doing almost everything he can to make things work despite almost everyone at the firm rooting against him. I respect the hell out of that. Starting at a copywriter level after being the absolute face of the company is not an easy journey.
Meanwhile, Stan, as always, is a putz, but since this time he was putzy to Lou, I didn’t mind.
Finally: Don’s cigarette play. How could I not cheer him on when his adversaries are the cold fish Cutler and the lackluster mediocrity that is Avery? The talk about Don’s brown suit/hat/other clothes is going right over my head, because unless he’s in a tux I almost never notice what Don is wearing: my eyes are always right on Jon Hamm’s face and eyes, because he does so much with them. And in this scene, he was like a spotlight entering a dark room. This was Classic Charming, Sharpest-Guy-in-the-Room Don Draper at his seductive, winning best.
As far as whether this was a dealbreaking move re: his “I’ll be a good boy” contract, I’m not actually sure the other partners will be that pissed off. Mainly because I’m not convinced the other partners even knew about this–especially Roger. Philip Morris was always Roger’s baby, right? Seems odd that someone who knows PM’s business so well wouldn’t have been in the room. Harry certainly seemed to imply that this was a super-secret negotiation. I’ll be interested to see how that plays out.
(Question: If Don’s fired, doesn’t his noncompete clause go bye-bye? Or was that term renegotiated when he was graciously allowed back into the business he built?)
All in all, this was another winner for me.
Roger was in charge of Lucky Strike, which was part of American Tobacco, a Phillip Morris competitor (as I think Don pointed out). Part of his pitch was that he spit in American Tobacco’s face in the New York Times and now he would be PM’s monkey boy which would annoy American Tobacco.
Yes, if Don gets fired, his non-compete clause would be null. However, since he signed that agreement stating that he’d forfeit his shares in the company if he misbehaved, that would totally be worth having to compete with him in the future.
Oh shit, of course, I’m an idiot. DUMB DUMB DUMB. Of course it was Lucky Strike. Okay, forget everything I said.
So was this indeed a plot by the entire partnership to sneak Don out of there? I really thought it was just the CCP (did I get the initials right?) gang to swipe Don off their plate and onto the floor.
Shares are important, no doubt. But wouldn’t a competitor who knows all your secrets, strategies, and weaknesses–and has the talent/savvy of Don Draper–be worse in the long-run? What good are shares if your company ends up losing accounts to the Don? Those guys (and Joan) all know just how dangerous Don is when he’s on the warpath; they owe their existing company to that same singlemindedness. Or do they really think he’s lost all his mojo?
My biggest hope for this series is that Weiner will surprise all of us by giving us a happy ending, instead of the Greek Tragedy we’re all expecting.
You guys are crazy. This was my first “loved it” episode of the season. Ginsberg going off the rails - he was always nuts; now he’s finally back to living up to his potential. Slicing off his own nipple is the first in-character thing he’s done in quite a while. And Don’s FMF 3-way was perfect: here he is, trying to be good, trying to mend his ways, and what happens? His wife - his freakin’ *wife *- throws a 3-way in his face. Absolutely perfect way to point out the futility of trying to fight your destiny.