# Mad-Men: 7.08 "Severance" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 5, 2015, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920 "2015-04-05T22:06:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [April 6, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/21 "2015-04-06T14:23:16Z")
I gather that Ted has left his wife, and hence left his misery behind. But what happened to Jim Cutler? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/22 "2015-04-06T14:35:21Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Did anyone else get a really different vibe from last night’s episode than the rest of the previous seasons? I can’t put my finger on it, or, apparently articulate what I mean, but everything just looked and felt “off” somehow. I agree. Don is stumbling around, alone, confused, and rebuffed. Roger is suddenly a lackey for the big firm. Ken is uprooted and a babbling mess. Peggy is momentarily happy, which feels weird. Joan hates where she is and how she got there, and whereas she used to be unfailingly discreet, now she is lashing out at everyone around here. > [@Jophiel](#): > > Cosgrove was an accounts man so I didn’t see the “removed from creative” thing so much as the oddity of Cosgrove moving into his father-in-law’s old job after Cosgrove’s wife was talking about how miserable it was for her father to work there for so long. You’d think she’d offer more resistance (though we didn’t see the decision happen). I’m just referring to his being a frustrated writer. When he was working at the agency, he could at least tell himself that he was part of creating something. Now he’ll just be buying other people’s work. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/23 "2015-04-06T14:55:34Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > It was amusing that the audience is put in the position of sympathizing with Cosgrove, when he’s being fired in large part because of his class and ethnic prejudices toward the people at McCann. Poor guy is going to hate his new job, too; he’s one step further removed from creative work. Not only is he not dropping out to be a writer; he’s gone to work for the makers of napalm, for which he had earlier criticized his father in law. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/24 "2015-04-06T15:06:08Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Roger is suddenly a lackey for the big firm. Though he didn’t seem that upset to fire Ken. If anything, Roger’s probably chipper as hell – he’s gotten millions of dollars from the merger (based off the minor partners like Joan getting a million-plus), McCann is probably more welcoming of Roger’s three martini “work style” than the new Sterling Cooper was with Gleason around and, if it comes down to it, he just rides out his mandatory year and retires on his big pile of money. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/25 "2015-04-06T15:28:18Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > My BIL had the same mustache in the early 70s. The longer the sides, the more “badass” it is. Roger isn’t a badass. His should be more clipped on the sides. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/26 "2015-04-06T15:48:00Z")
The scene with Joan & Peggy in a meeting was awful. The scene after, with them in the elevator, made it more awful ☹ ---
**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:** [April 6, 2015, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/27 "2015-04-06T15:48:43Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > The longer the sides, the more “badass” it is. Roger isn’t a badass. His should be more clipped on the sides. I’m not saying it’s _good_ ('cause lord knows it ain’t). I’m just saying it wasn’t uncommon. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/28 "2015-04-06T15:55:38Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I didn’t see the resemblance either, and there was nothing showing that Rachel’s appearance was a dream - I thought Don was hallucinating. Well, except for the scene of Don turning over in bed immediately after the dream. ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/29 "2015-04-06T16:08:13Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > You are correct. [April 20th, 1970.](http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-announces-more-troop-withdrawals) > … > > Other than Peggy’s budding romance, that whole show was bleak for everyone. What a downer. Well, it would have been more upbeat if they wouldn’t have skipped over the Miracle Mets '69 World Series win in October :p. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/30 "2015-04-06T16:11:50Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I didn’t see the resemblance either, and there was nothing showing that Rachel’s appearance was a dream - I thought Don was hallucinating. Also Ted opened the door to let Rachel in, and Pete was the one by the door to let her out. That could have been that Pete jumped up instead to do it, but it was very dreamlike for one person to suddenly become another person. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > The scene with Joan & Peggy in a meeting was awful. > > The scene after, with them in the elevator, made it more awful ☹ Both of those scenes were upsetting. I want Joan and Peggy to be partners against all the chauvinism they face, but I understand why they don’t, because of their different perspectives and different paths to where they’ve gotten to. They were much more professional at that meeting than I could ever imagine being, but I know they’ve had a lot of experience dealing with it. ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/31 "2015-04-06T17:14:31Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I didn’t see the resemblance either, and there was nothing showing that Rachel’s appearance was a dream - I thought Don was hallucinating. The only tipoff for me was what Ted said - something to the effect of “…and here’s another girl…”. Seemed very out of place. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/32 "2015-04-06T17:52:22Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > The mustaches didn’t seem quite right-- too long on the sides. > [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > My BIL had the same mustache in the early 70s. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > The longer the sides, the more “badass” it is. Roger isn’t a badass. His should be more clipped on the sides. The mustache was exactly perfect and authentic for the times. Alas. In my 1971 wedding picture, my husband has exactly the same one. > [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > …Both of those scenes were upsetting. I want Joan and Peggy to be partners against all the chauvinism they face, but I understand why they don’t, because of their different perspectives and different paths to where they’ve gotten to. They were much more professional at that meeting than I could ever imagine being, but I know they’ve had a lot of experience dealing with it. Women as allies in the business world just hasn’t happened yet. _Ms. Magazine_, a harbinger of changes, started in 1972. (I still have my “Ms. Magazine Birthday #1” commemorative t-shirt.) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/33 "2015-04-06T18:26:27Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The mustache was exactly perfect and authentic for the times. Alas. In my 1971 wedding picture, my husband has exactly the same one. Was your husband 70 years old when you got married? ---
**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:** [April 6, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/34 "2015-04-06T18:44:17Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Was your husband 70 years old when you got married? Hehe. Well, there is that. Roger, Roger, Roger…whaddya gonna do…? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/35 "2015-04-06T18:46:49Z")
[This](https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0SO80tS1CJVu_QAUbhXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzYTJnMG0zBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDVklQNjA2XzEEc2VjA3Nj?p=Paul+Newman+In+the+Sting&fr=ymyy-t-500) is the type of mustache Roger would have had. Not like [this.](http://www.tvrage.com/news/8539/mo-please-the-best-tv-mustaches-of-all-time). Scroll down to “Meathead”. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/36 "2015-04-06T21:35:28Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > [This](https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0SO80tS1CJVu_QAUbhXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzYTJnMG0zBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDVklQNjA2XzEEc2VjA3Nj?p=Paul+Newman+In+the+Sting&fr=ymyy-t-500) is the type of mustache Roger would have had. > > Not like [this.](http://www.tvrage.com/news/8539/mo-please-the-best-tv-mustaches-of-all-time). Scroll down to “Meathead”. Heh. If you keep scrolling down, his actually looks more like Hulk Hogan’s. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/37 "2015-04-06T21:43:59Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > [This](https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0SO80tS1CJVu_QAUbhXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzYTJnMG0zBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDVklQNjA2XzEEc2VjA3Nj?p=Paul+Newman+In+the+Sting&fr=ymyy-t-500) is the type of mustache Roger would have had. > > Not like [this.](http://www.tvrage.com/news/8539/mo-please-the-best-tv-mustaches-of-all-time). Scroll down to “Meathead”. Maybe the old Roger- pre LSD. No, that mustache says it all. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/38 "2015-04-06T22:03:45Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Not only is he not dropping out to be a writer; he’s gone to work for the makers of napalm, for which he had earlier criticized his father in law. For those who weren’t around then, Dow recruiters got routinely picketed on campus. It is not the place where anyone remotely idealistic would want to work. One big difference is that for the last few seasons they’ve been on the ragged edge of failure. Now they are fat and happy again, kind of like at the beginning. I’m not sure that’s an improvement. ---
**Author:** ![One\_More\_Time\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@One\_More\_Time\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_More_Time_Again)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2015, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/39 "2015-04-06T23:02:42Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > The scene with Joan & Peggy in a meeting was awful. > > The scene after, with them in the elevator, made it more awful ☹ Unfortunately is was n accurate representation of how we were perceived back then and there was absolutely no recourse but to smile and solider on. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920/40 "2015-04-07T02:20:45Z")
This episode has me scratching my head. I really didn’t get the waitress at the diner at all. I didn’t at all follow what happened with Ken. I didn’t follow Peggy’s story, either. However, I did enjoy the episode, but just really didn’t get it. Also, interestingly, the office scenes felt somehow empty. Not really sure why, but they did. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-men-7-08-severance-open-spoilers/716920.md?page=3)