# 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:** 5
**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 21, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/81 "2014-05-21T17:46:36Z")
I get the impression that, at this point, Joan just wants a stable ship. Cutler helps provide that. I figured it seemed obvious that Megan is separating herself from New York but couldn’t find it in myself to care. I still think that if Don decided to move out tomorrow (well, tomorrow 1969) she’d happily have him though so I wouldn’t call it over yet. > [@](#): > > Why does the announcer say “Next time on Mad Men”? They show clips from this and earlier shows? Obviously next week will be a clip show. “Remember the time Peggy got pregnant?” (show clip) “or that time Pete and Trudy danced at a party?” (show clip)… ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/82 "2014-05-21T18:13:16Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > No one sees that Megan is moving out permanently? Taking her “summer clothes” and her fondue pot to LA. Won’t need her winter clothes in LA. This was the last hurrah for Don and Megan. She wanted to end it on a good note. She was surprised by the idea that he was planning on seeing her in July. They are over. It’s alimony time. (The Amy thing from last week may have been part of this.) I think it was just so obvious–including Don–and it was one of the least interesting bits of the episode. I did like seeing Bonnie and Meaghan on the same plane. Bonnie actually looked a little sad… Meghan looked happy…sipping her champagne. ---
**Author:** ![brendon\_small](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brendon_small/32/17101_2.png) [@brendon\_small](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brendon_small)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/83 "2014-05-21T20:17:28Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > [Snip] > Pete can have a girlfriend. Trudy can’t date. Pete is still Pete. > [Snip] I kind of thought that, but at the same time I wondered if it was Pete dealing with the separation/divorce in a real way. Even if he is dating some realtor, is he compartmentalizing and really hurt by the fact that she was out. I honestly hadn’t liked Pete much up to this point in the show, but it seems like it could have been something more than just being an ass. - Brendon ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/84 "2014-05-21T20:31:55Z")
Well obviously Pete was hurt that Trudy didn’t want to see him and so he lashed out at her the only way he could think of. Somewhat ass-ish, but also in some ways, understandable. ---
**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:** [May 21, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/85 "2014-05-21T20:35:13Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > I think it was just so obvious–including Don–and it was one of the least interesting bits of the episode. > > I did like seeing Bonnie and Meaghan on the same plane. Bonnie actually looked a little sad… Meghan looked happy…sipping her champagne. The way the flight attendant slapped the curtains between first and economy class closed at the end of this scene struck me as slightly ominous. ---
**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 21, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/86 "2014-05-21T20:40:51Z")
Pete is definitely a cheating ass, but Trudy isn’t blameless in the wreck of their marriage. Way back they were a genuinely happy couple – remember them dancing at Roger’s wedding? But that was before Trudy decided she wanted children (Pete didn’t), and before Trudy decided she wanted to move to the suburbs (Pete didn’t). Instead of working things out as partners, Trudy basically forced Pete to go along with her wishes. No surprise: that’s what she’d done with their apartment, previously. In no way excuses Pete’s cheating ways – he was a cheating cad long before that point – but both of them behaved like petty children in that marriage. ---
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/87 "2014-05-21T20:43:07Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Obviously next week will be a clip show. I hope you’re wrong, if it is I will be SO. FUCKING. PISSED!! ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/88 "2014-05-21T21:31:41Z")
> [@orderfire](#): > > The way the flight attendant slapped the curtains between first and economy class closed at the end of this scene struck me as slightly ominous. I don’t think this is necessarily the case but it could have been read as “you won’t be seeing these characters again.” ---
**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 21, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/89 "2014-05-21T21:46:40Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Pete is definitely a cheating ass, but Trudy isn’t blameless in the wreck of their marriage. Way back they were a genuinely happy couple – remember them dancing at Roger’s wedding? But that was before Trudy decided she wanted children (Pete didn’t), and before Trudy decided she wanted to move to the suburbs (Pete didn’t). Instead of working things out as partners, Trudy basically forced Pete to go along with her wishes. No surprise: that’s what she’d done with their apartment, previously. > > In no way excuses Pete’s cheating ways – he was a cheating cad long before that point – but both of them behaved like petty children in that marriage. She used her father’s money as a weapon to control Pete. I think they had to rely on her father’s money to buy the house in Greenwich. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/90 "2014-05-21T22:37:15Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I think it’s Cutler who has the philosophy of “Find out what the client wants and then offer it back to them”. It’s not a bad way to stay in business, if the guy says he’s thinking an ad with a happy family at a dinner table then the client will likely be happy with your happy family pitch. I think Lou plays much the same game and so, as Bert told Don, there’s been no “crisis” in creative. > > Don’s the genius who would explain why the client’s idea sucks but has a brilliant concept that you can’t help but agree is much better. Peggy and Pete still recognize this and so does Roger. It goes directly against Cutler’s philosophy so he’s never going to like Don. But Jim loves Ted and Ted isn’t an “offer it back to them” type of guy. Ted’s too nice to tell the client their idea sucks probably, but he values original creative as much as Don. IMHO, philosophy isn’t the problem- the problem is that Jim is a conniver who still has a vision to clean house as much as he can. ---
**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 22, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/91 "2014-05-22T00:27:35Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > …Why does the announcer say “Next time on _Mad Men_”? They show clips from this and earlier shows? Just say “Here’s some clips you’ve already seen.” and leave it at that. The preview for the season finale always consists of clips from past episodes & no actual footage from the upcoming episode; it’d make sense that they’d do the same thing for the “mid-season finale”. > [@Lightray](#): > > …that was before Trudy decided she wanted children (Pete didn’t), and before Trudy decided she wanted to move to the suburbs (Pete didn’t). Instead of working things out as partners, Trudy basically forced Pete to go along with her wishes… Trudy is a very driven person with a very specific idea of what her life should be (she could be Annie Edison’s grandmother). She was & continues to be a huge bitch to Pete (even when he hadn’t done anything to deserve it). Both of them are better off without each other. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/92 "2014-05-22T00:37:08Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Why does the announcer say “Next time on _Mad Men_”? They show clips from this and earlier shows? Just say “Here’s some clips you’ve already seen.” and leave it at that. Matthew Weiner hates previews and spoilers so he makes them deliberately misleading. [Here’s a good article explaining it.](http://www.vulture.com/2013/06/matthew-weiner-on-those-mad-men-promos.html) ---
**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 22, 2014, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/93 "2014-05-22T01:55:29Z")
> [@zbuzz](#): > > But Jim loves Ted and Ted isn’t an “offer it back to them” type of guy. Ted’s too nice to tell the client their idea sucks probably, but he values original creative as much as Don. Ted’s a good soldier. If Jim wants it offered back, Ted helps come up with the best way to do it (in agreement between the two of course, Ted was a partner even at CGC). He wouldn’t take the account in an entirely different direction like Don would. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/94 "2014-05-22T13:05:09Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > The preview for the season finale always consists of clips from past episodes & no actual footage from the upcoming episode; it’d make sense that they’d do the same thing for the “mid-season finale”. Except we have one more episode to go before the mid-season break. Weiner can do whatever he wants in terms of providing clips, but it’s the labeling of them as “Next time” when they are “Previously” clips is my gripe. ---
**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 22, 2014, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/95 "2014-05-22T13:35:48Z")
I like fake “next time” clips. Better than being spoiled. ---
**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 22, 2014, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/96 "2014-05-22T13:57:40Z")
I’m very very afraid of what Weiner is going to do to us in next Sunday’s episode. We’re definitely not going to end on the happy, peaceful, warm fuzzy, kum-ba-yah note of the last episode. There will have to be some kind of crisis/cliff hanger, and probably personal (because of the impact), not strictly agency-related. I just hope nobody dies. ☹ Very very afraid… ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/97 "2014-05-22T14:58:35Z")
What about if Lou dies? Wouldn’t that be ok? 😉 ---
**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 22, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/98 "2014-05-22T15:06:06Z")
I bet Bert dies. Which shifts the power back to the pro-Don side of the partners. ---
**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:** [May 22, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/99 "2014-05-22T15:30:40Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Except we have one more episode to go before the mid-season break. > > Weiner can do whatever he wants in terms of providing clips, but it’s the labeling of them as “Next time” when they are “Previously” clips is my gripe. He said that Weiner always does it for the season finale previews, which next week’s episode essentially is. ---
**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 22, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703/100 "2014-05-22T17:01:02Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > What about if Lou dies? Wouldn’t that be ok? 😉 Hmmm… I can see that sweater billowing in the wind as he plummets down to the pavement… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-06-the-strategy-open-spoilers/688703.md?page=6)