# Mad-Men: 7.06 "The Strategy" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2014, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703 "2014-05-19T01:19:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [May 19, 2014, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/1 "2014-05-19T01:19:15Z")
[QUOTE=AMC] Peggy collects research for a pitch; Pete receives an invitation to an exclusive club; Joan is eager to spend time with her friend. [/QUOTE] 2nd to last episode of the year. ---
**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 19, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/2 "2014-05-19T03:07:19Z")
Don and Peggy and Pete as a family, ha! Poor Bob. ---
**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 19, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/3 "2014-05-19T03:11:36Z")
There’s probably a way to make me care less about Bob but I can’t think of it. Hopefully this means he’s out of the show for the remainder. Final shot was a great one. Also payback on Harry helping Don out (although Harry probably does deserve the partnership regardless). ---
**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 19, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/4 "2014-05-19T03:13:43Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Don and Peggy and Pete as a family, ha! > > Poor Bob. Excellent ending! Considering what Pete did to Peggy and what he tried to do to Don in those early seasons, they’ve come a long way. Quite the different threesome compared to last week. ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/5 "2014-05-19T03:41:15Z")
My, how well everyone handled themselves when Cosgrove said “I’ll keep an eye out” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/6 "2014-05-19T04:01:51Z")
I liked when Pete said, “Peggy is as good as any woman in the business!” ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/7 "2014-05-19T11:33:10Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I liked when Pete said, “Peggy is as good as any woman in the business!” That last shot of their family could have been the last scene of the season, or the series for that matter. I continue to think those three will be on their own with their own company by the end of the series. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/8 "2014-05-19T12:23:19Z")
My point was the _ideal_ is that Peggy’s co-workers acknowledge that she is as good as any _man_ in the business. So Peggy’s co-workers still have a way to go, despite promoting Peggy and Joan to account exec, and hiring African-American secretaries. ---
**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 19, 2014, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/9 "2014-05-19T12:28:24Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > There’s probably a way to make me care less about Bob but I can’t think of it. Hopefully this means he’s out of the show for the remainder. He just learned he’s going to get a job at the GM division that Roger just figured out is vulnerable as a potential new client which he’s motivated to get so he can keep Don around. They had multiple scenes devoted to setting up this new storyline, and it is not one they’ll be able to resolve by the midseason finale, which is next episode. We’ll be seeing more of Bob. ---
**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 19, 2014, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/10 "2014-05-19T13:25:20Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > We’ll be seeing more of Bob. I can dream. Bob is easily my least favorite “regular” character (not counting Don’s half-season flings). Peggy didn’t even try to play the “What about Megan?” card when Don said he had no one. Don, Peggy & Pete starting an agency as partners for the show closer would be cool beans except Don is the only one of the three with any sort of real money. Pete’s doing well but I doubt he has the cash to be an equal partner in a new company, same with Peggy. Even if Pete and Don had their shares bought out, Peggy doesn’t have a partnership in SCP for that to be an option. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/11 "2014-05-19T13:52:26Z")
My favorite episode so far of this season, maybe of all seasons. Beautifully conceived, written, shot, and acted. Bravo! ---
**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 19, 2014, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/12 "2014-05-19T16:09:17Z")
I’m so glad they nixed the original Burger Chef idea, it was so bad for the era. I loved Peggy’s riff on mom’s burnt the roast… ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/13 "2014-05-19T16:13:44Z")
My husband was trying to sleep so I kept the volume down and missed a lot of the dialogue between Bob and the dude he picked up… from jail?? Who was the dude and why was his face all bloody? ---
**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 19, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/14 "2014-05-19T16:15:46Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > My husband was trying to sleep so I kept the volume down and missed a lot of the dialogue between Bob and the dude he picked up… from jail?? > > Who was the dude and why was his face all bloody? He tried to fellate an undercover policeman (the cop releasing him’s words). Didn’t go over so well. ---
**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 19, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/15 "2014-05-19T16:19:06Z")
Also, the dude was one of the GM execs who came with Bob to New York. Apparently the exec is hip to Bob being gay which is why he figured Bob would be a safe person to contact and bail him out. The exec mentions SCP losing Chevy and Bob thinks the guy is trying to extort or threaten him into silence. Then the exec says Bob has a place waiting for him with Buick and SCP was never a long term proposition for Chevy although Chevy was impressed with their work and would be considering them for other stuff. ---
**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 19, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/16 "2014-05-19T16:33:41Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Also, the dude was one of the GM execs who came with Bob to New York. Apparently the exec is hip to Bob being gay which is why he figured Bob would be a safe person to contact and bail him out. > > The exec mentions SCP losing Chevy and Bob thinks the guy is trying to extort or threaten him into silence. Then the exec says Bob has a place waiting for him with Buick and SCP was never a long term proposition for Chevy although Chevy was impressed with their work and would be considering them for other stuff. It’s also what lead Bob to propose to Joan- the exec said he had an “understanding wife”, which gave him the normalcy that management wants to see. ---
**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 19, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/17 "2014-05-19T17:27:58Z")
Bob never actually told Joan previously that he was gay, did he? Joan very definitively states that Bob belongs with another man which is a pretty daring remark if you weren’t sure (especially in the day and age). I’m not sure if she had just picked up on it or if he had ever said anything to her. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/18 "2014-05-19T17:32:33Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > My favorite episode so far of this season, maybe of all seasons. Beautifully conceived, written, shot, and acted. Bravo! Completely agree. Thank you, Jesus! Finally, an episode with some emotional payoff/resolution!! The last few episodes have been like swallowing nails chased with acid. This one was more like Jell-o with maybe a few toenail clippings in it. I liked that the focus was on the office and on interactions among the principals. A few of the stagnant, troubled situations shifted a bit, and the heated emotions of the past few episodes have been dialed down: Pete screwed up his relationship with his girlfriend-- thank goodness. We got Out There confirmation that Bob is gay. Don and Megan had a cordial visit with no tantrums or slammed doors. Joan admitted that she still wants love. Joan and Roger exchanged a couple of civil words. But the biggest and best payoff was the resolution between Peggy and Don. Their whole conversation, starting with “I begin by abusing the people whose help I need,” the sharing of vulnerability and support, through the creative rethinking, and finally that tender moment dancing. I kid you not: that scene made me cry. Don and Peggy SHOULD be working together because they are the two most creative people in that agency. I kind of wish this had been the last episode of the season, because I’m afraid of what kind of bitter pill they’re going to try to make us swallow next week so it will stick in our throats til next year. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/19 "2014-05-19T17:41:05Z")
There was a whole lotta plaid in this episode. Can’t wait to read what Tom & Lorenzo have to say about that. ETA: From Tom & Lorenzo: > [@](#): > > If you were to ask us what our favorite scene in the entire run of Mad Men was, we wouldn’t hesitate to name this one, from season two, where Don walks Peggy right up to a killer Mohawk airline tag (“What did you bring me, Daddy?”) by connecting with her on a deep and intense level and coaxing greatness out of her. It’s a scene that perfectly defines their relationship and the relationship the show has with advertising; the ways the writers use it to illuminate themes and comment on important personal and familial relationships. Well, they finally managed to top themselves – and how utterly, perfectly poetic that this time, Don and Peggy weren’t connecting over the perfect way to sell airlines to businessmen fathers, they were doing it over the question of how to sell hamburgers to overworked mothers. Instead of Don at the top of his game teaching an eager apprentice the ropes, we had Don at the end of his, well… rope, doing his best to placate an angry and bitter Peggy back into greatness. To end the scene with them slowly and sadly dancing to “My Way” made for the absolute **best moment in the entire run of the show**. Beautifully written, directed and performed. My bold. Agree. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/20 "2014-05-19T17:50:50Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I liked when Pete said, “Peggy is as good as any woman in the business!” That definitely made me laugh. What a great “compliment”! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703.md?page=2)