Mad Men thoughts

-First things first: Don is a dirty old man. Since Mad Men’s pilot episode, Matt Weiner has had Don do his fair share of awful things – the cheating and the drinking and what have you – but kept him just on the edge of being an awful person. Somehow, we still liked the guy. We understood why he wanted to escape his old life, and also his new one. And if I’m honest, it’s also because Don is handsome, and smooth, and that completely unfair reason did contribute to us forgiving him for all of his wrongdoings. But on Sunday, he was no longer the youthful and slick ad man we once knew. In fact, he’s quite the opposite. He married a bombshell he can’t even stay awake to have sex with. He doesn’t like his own birthday and he doesn’t like surprises. When Megan says to Don, “I don’t want people to think you’re getting this,” we see where she’s coming from. Don was understandably embarrassed by her song-and-dance at the party, but the thing is – she should be embarrassed by him instead. He’s become just like Roger – and old guy trying to hang on to his youth by marrying a younger girl. At the party, it was the first time I’ve ever felt like they were no longer the cool guys in the room.

-Pete is running the show, both literally and figuratively. Pete has always been my favorite character, but what I loved about this episode was that it highlighted what a 180 he’s done since the pilot. And it’s happened so naturally; there’s never been a moment of forced change – he really has always cared about work and success. That’s why his frustration with his colleague’s work ethic (or lack thereof) is entirely believable. He’s working his ass off; he's a good husband and a new father, and he’s doing better than all of his higher-ups, both morally and at work. Even Roger knows deep down that this is the truth, which is why he swallows his pride and goes to bat to get Pete Harry’s office. (Roger’s one redeeming moment of the episode.)

-Joan’s “ah-llowww me?” after her mom says Joan’s husband might not allow her to go back to work – just amazing. Peggy has rubbed off on Joan and I love it. She wants to work, and it’s just not at all who she thought she’d be, which makes the whole scene even more affecting.

-Matt Weiner loves his musical numbers. Joan on the accordion, Trudy and Pete’s dance number, Roger’s blackface and now Megan’s Zou Bisou. For an AMC drama, it’s nearing some weird, Ryan Murphy-esque territory.

-#1 reason I liked this episode? No Betty! Just shows how entirely unnecessary she is. The show is better without her.

-Peggy not holding Joan’s baby – such a nice touch.

-Loved the Joan-Lane reunion scene. She’s like the Mrs. Hudson of SCDP. I was really worried that Lane was going to kiss her, but no dice, thank goodness.

That's all for now...