I have to put this on now while I'm watching because I really admire the continuity of this show, but Roger just asked Harry if "he was on crack"! I am most certain that this drug was not around back then, or at least it was not referred to as crack. That was really out of place.
Crack? I missed that. I'm still trying to figure out who this "Mitch" is who they keep refering to. I don't recall a Mitch. Harry said to Roger,"between you and me I don't think Mitch is happy with my promotion."
Peggy just walked into the SC office with Fr. Gill, and Ken asked Harry if we got the "Miracle Whip" contract? Another classic moment!
Love Duck, Crab, Crab, Duck in the intros.at the house!!
I did not even hear that! It was perfect that they had Betty running the horse at full speed for the first scene and then the scene where she broke up the chair was perfect again! Joan's fiance is real! I never doubted it and he is cute. Very healthy showdown between Bets and Don even though he lied. Her looking like hell at breakfast was so real and he just went to work. I do not see her having an affair with the guy at the stable; he isn't attractive in the least. Great looks between her and Don in the bedroom; he finally blinked! His "Why would I lie to you?" during the Heineken pitch was again perfect. I predict the clients will object to the new script person and will insist on the person being Joan which will introduce new conflict between her and Roger and possibly between her and her fiance who seems to make it clear that once he is established he will not want her working. Tom Hanks son is great, but did he really expect Peggy to spill her guts in the office? It was interesting that Betty said one of her dinner recipes was from her German relative because she is showing some German no-nonsenseness with the phone call to Don to tell him to stay away. He really looked flummuxed drinking that beer in the office kitchen. I will now check out the scenes for next week!
Not sure....I think the theme has something to do with women in pain/women being exploited...I am far more interested in what goes on in the office than the other stuff on the show, but...Joan was obviously brilliant in her dealings with the scripts/TV dept./sponsors...and yet she sees some schmuck hired and Harry doesn't even think of her for the position. AND then they want to pick HER brain as to what they should do. Peggy is being exploited by Father Gill, both for her ability as a writer and as target for "redemption." And Betty is slowly going nuts in her jealousy and bottled up rage that Don is cheating on her.
Betty finally got a spine! Good for her! Its about time! I felt bad for Joan as she obviously enjoyed and excelled at reading the scripts. So, Harry hires some inept guy for the job. Yeah, like that is going to work. I wonder if Betty is going to divorce Don or at least kick him out of the house for a while? I think they should have the priest sing some more!
Warren is the the guy in Harry's office - I don't know who Mitch is. Betty finally got a spine....she threw the creep out. Betty isn't cracking up she finally sees the light.
I think Peggy is going to face Pete at least that's what the preview fr next week looks like.
So is Joan pregnant? Fiance says, "Joan, you should be watching those shows not reading them. With a box of bon bons on your lap to soothe your cravings." Is that why she's gaining weight and looking so buxom these days? :) The tight bra strap at the end?
Loved Betty's phone call at the end. And the commercial. This show is so great...genius and quick turns at every corner!
Harry is not a schmuck -- that's how it was always done. The secretary filled in, then someone was hired in - at $150 a week no less! - and she was expected to teach him then go back to her little desk and type with a smile on her face.
Gee when Don looked Betty straight in the eyes & swore nothing happened...I thought my god I wouldn't want to play poker with this guy. He's toooo goood. But after seeing Betty search through all his things & later watch the UTZ commercial with Jimmy, then tell Don not to come home? Well I'd have to give Betty the "champion" poker player to call the bluff even though your opponent has the "a pair of sixes" against your "royal flush". Crane's gonna lose those sponsors without Joan reading those scripts. That bozo he hired will spend more time telling stupid jokes to impress then to really get the feel for what the clients are looking for when booking a spot.
Why are you talking about crack instead of this brillantly acted show?!!! Roger ALWAYS grubs cigarettes!!! A week or two ago Don threw the cig at him and told him to leave his office!!!
Love the pre dinner ballet performance!
Crab's wife sure likes to drink!! Speaking of that, did anyone notice the Heinekin wasn't touched at the end of the dinner?
Harry seriously disappointed me. Just when I thought he was cool, he basically uses Joan and then tosses her aside, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised at that kind of treatment now should I? I wanted her to get the job. Gobarack, I hope you're right. I hope the clients DO insist on Joan. Harry is being an idiot.
I'm glad Betty stood her ground with Don and put him out. Who else laughed when she asked how he could do that with Bobbie adding, "She's so old"?
I don't doubt you, NancyStow, but it's horrifying, and poignant. I think for a moment Joan thought she might follow in the footsteps of Peggy. She deserved to.
I hope people won't get annoyed at me for asking, but does anyone thing Father Gill might end up having a secret thing for Peggy...or is it just concern?
Holy product placement, Batman! Isn't it ironic that a show that deals with sly advertising tactics is pulling one on its viewers? AMC Sales Department, to put it in Betty's words: "You embarrassed me." Keep Heineken on the commercial breaks, please. Remember: if the show is smart, so are the viewers; stop trying to get us to play dumb.
Re: Betty opening up a bottle of awesomeness
I love how Mrs. Draper grew a pair...and the proceeded to cut off Don's. I actually cried a few times during this episode. January Jones, I underestimated you.
Does anyone know why, right after seeing the Utz commercial on TV, Betty called Don and told him not to come home? She seemed to be thawing in the previous scene on Don's little couch-bed. What did she see in that commercial? Or maybe it reminded her of something that happened at the start of their affair and was reminded of it by seeing it or Jimmy?
It would have been hilarious if Roger said "You smoke crack?" and Harry said "Sometimes" though.
I didn't think Joan's fiancee was her type. Too preppy. Wonder how they met? Did she ever say? I felt bad for her that she wasn't even considered for the job, too. It was cool to see her in her hipster clothes and bare feet at her apt. She seemed younger (though not as young as her fiancee).
Did anyonecatch all of the comments around Joan refering to size? She tells Harry when he asks for help,"I don't know. We're spread very thin." Then Warren comments,"She's so much woman". Even Joan's fiance (very cute by the way) talks about her needing to look for a house and getting prepared to eat bon-bons.
mcmere - I had hoped for the same. I think customers will complain.
mte - LOL! I hate, loathe, despise and abominate that commercial. I really don't get it. If anything, it makes me purposely NOT want to book with hotels.com.
eternal_llama -- yes, the Thornbirds theme is definitely being set up.
Sitting up and watching the comments roll in is more fun that watching election returns with Tom Brokaw and Tim Russert!
(1) I do not think that Joan aspired to be anything then what she is - but once she got the job and was excited and inspired by it she wanted more. That's why it broke my heart
(2) I wondered about Father and Peggy and I do not think he has a thing for Peggy. Mind you I am a Roman Catch and was sitting on the edge of my seat at that last scene to see what he was gonna do in his room and when he pulled out the guitar I was a little relieved!!
(3) I think Peggy was soooo disgusted when she saw Jimmy's commercial - thinking how can (1) Don be involved with this idiot (2) how can he screw that sleazes wife.
I wouldn't say 'she's come undone". I'd say she's figured it out. I love that she grew a pair and told Don not to come home. She knew he was looking right at her and lying. I went through this tonight. Couldn't have been a better episode for me tonight. I'm trying to deal with exactly what Betty is dealing with. Joan obviously expected to be promoted as she should have been. She gave very vague ideas to the new guy. Betty is a conundrum, she asked Don to fix the outlet in the dining room, and Don say's "Thought you were going to call the electrician".She tells him exactly how to do it, and he says "Sounds like you could do it". But that's beside the point. She want's him to pull his weight. Wasn't particularly thrilled with the priest and Peggy's scenes. I say GO BETTY!
Joan pregnant? That's an interesting idea. You might be right. Why are they waiting to get married then? Shouldn't they hurry up? Though I thought she looked thinner at her place in pants than she does in dresses at the office. They were talking about buying a house, weren't they?
I think the fiance's comments were that Joan SHOULD be a stay-at-home pregnant wife, not that she is now. He made a comment about needing to finish his training after she said she stopped looking for a house in Glen Cove. He doesn't want her to get more involved at work aka build her career.
Joan has a special mojo that works on men and again I think the clients will want to work with her. In my limited experience many men will always choose to work with an attractive woman over someone ordinary.
As an aside: I do not remember Heineken beer being sold here in the States until about 1978 or so. Up until then it was Bud, Miller, Pabst and the other usual standbys.
ldraper - I'm so sorry. Been there, done that. Survived it and am MUCH better off. Hope you have lots of good friends to pull you through it. If not, you have us (the Maddicts!). Big hug!
Don really messed up his encounter with Betty in which he said, "I love you, Bets. I love the kids. I don't want to lose all this," or something like that. She wanted to hear that he loves HER and doesn't want to lose HER. (Plus, it might help if he told the truth!) And he's supposed to be able to tell what women want so he can sell it to them! Betty just walked off when he said that. Don just doesn't get it. Also, I had an ex-husband like Don--just deny, deny, deny.
Maybe because it brought back in full black and white the sleaziness of Don's business and his choice of a Jewish old woman to humiliate her with. It was like a slap in the face through the TV.
Does anyone know why, right after seeing the Utz commercial on TV, Betty called Don and told him not to come home? She seemed to be thawing in the previous scene on Don's little couch-bed. What did she see in that commercial?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
As Mcmere pointed out the show centered around women being "used". Betty as a "market study", Joan for her reading & savvy input from client's pov, and Peggy for her ad expertise on the church flyers.
I think that another theme in this episode is about the characters being truthful to themselves about who they are and what they want.
1. Betty had to be truthful to herself about the nature of her marriage and also how Don regarded her and treated her.
2. Don has now been challenged by his wife to finally come clean and be truthful about how he lives his life and what kind of person he is.
3. Joan had to be truthful to herself about how she is regarded, her prospects, her goals and how she can possibly change her own life.
4. Peggy is challenged by her priest to be truthful to herself about any mistakes she's made and how she wants to continue. There's some evidence that she still isn't fully cogniscent her role in the office by the snarky comments Ken and the crew made.
I was totally heartbroken for Joan. I got such a high seeing Joan maneuver her own way to play at the table. I loved how she knew where to plug her charms and intellect. Then to see Roger casually cast her out of the running for an assistant position had me crushed. I have to hand it to the writers for that whirlwind of emotions.
I really hope that something turns around for Joan with that position. It was incredulous to see her felled by the boys club system. Last week and the week before, we saw how she realized that her looks could only take her so far as long as age knocked her off sexpot pedestal. Now it comes full circle and I felt her hurt at seeing her realize the whole game. Christina Hendricks deserves an Emmy, no question.
Betty had a similar blow delt to her with that dinner party--what a complete slap in the face--cheers to her for fighting back! I am completely satisfied with the way her arc is going. This needed to happen. Don is despicable at this point--loser unless he turns around and gives her the truth.
...and ps: of course this show is brilliant, lorantscan, it is 'continuity' that I am speaking about, not Whitney Houston!lol This show never misses it's mark, and I'm glad my hearing was off tonight! I agree w/u eternalllama re: Father Gill. I felt that way from the 1st time he met her. He is so young, though, wouldn't be questioned.
These episodes get better and better. I explained what the dash board headlight sensor did on the Cadillac to my missis ten seconds before Don did. He makes me look good. It's the sixties life, things and culture that they work into the show that make it soooo cool!!!
Joan is headed for trouble with that fiance. When he arrived home, he chastised her first thing for not setting the table. He "reminded" her to get him some water. He seems as though he will be very controlling.He also belittled her job by saying he thought all she did all day was walk around and get stared at. He is good-looking and possibly younger than she is. Let's hope Joan wises up before taking the big step with a guy who seems like a prime candidate for being a JERK!
Guy Smiley - I agree with you and I posted some simiIar observations before but I don't think Don purposely set out to embarrass Betty. He just can not take ANYONES feelings into consideration - it's not in his makeup as a person. And Roger commented how Joan's "attentions are divided at best" I do not think he purposely went to bring down Joan. He didn't know how much she liked it and he would ALWAYS give her what she really wants.
Did anyone else think Betty was a little oversensitive about the dinner party? I think it was more about how she felt she was being used in general. Things happening behind her back. Don knows her so well, he thinks, that he can sell her and turn around and fool her. She doesn't want to be humiliated. Being humiliated in social settings seems to be more important to her than anything. I think she didn't know what to believe until the nuts commercial. I think she saw Jimmy as Don - the salesman who'll say anything to sell a product.
NancyStowOh, Thank you so much! Its killing me. If they can lie to your face about one thing they can lie about anything . I'm finally waking up, but I'm definitly not going crazy, and neither is Betty. She had every reason to suspect Don. Why would you guy's say she's going crazy? She's figuring it out! Notice Joan's placement of her purse in front of her tummy in the office. The old hide the tummy with a big bag ploy. Don't think she's pregnant though.But who knows?
I think it might be because the commercial was about nuts and that combined with Jimmy probably convinced her that she wasn't going insane (aka nuts) after all.
Pete's blue pajamas,
Yes, I think Betty was oversensitive about the dinner party, but the tension has been building in her for a long time about Don's infidelity, so she would understandably be somewhat upset over finding out that Don used her in an experiment for work.
I think seeing Jimmy in the commercial just brought it all back - she saw Don and Bobbi together at the Stork Club that night and she knew something was going on - you can always tell when people are involved with each other. She knew it was true.
Being humiliated in social situations was a huge deal back in those days for anyone but esp. for women. Betty's whole persona is her family and her roles as wife and mother. So, any hint that she falls short of those roles would be humiliating, just as Don would be humiliated if anyone thought he was falling short at his work.
Was the music Father Gill was playing the Mamas and the Papas? I remember the song but not sure of the group.
Don's behavior was very typical - as Betty confronted him he tried to put it back on her AND SHE DIDN'T LET HIM! As been said by a lot of others on her, I have an ex-husband (alcoholic) like that. It was never what he did that was the problem - the problem was how I REACTED to what he did!
Betty: I know you're having an affair.
Don: How much have you been drinking?
Betty: How could you? She's OLD.
Don: I see how he looks at you.
Bravo to January for being seen without makeup. I have loved her from the beginning and I'm glad to see others appreciate her acting.
I think seeing Jimmy in that utterly crass commercial in which food is falling out of his mouth as he talks reminded her of the whole low-class nature of the affair. She told Jimmy that "you people are rude and ugly" or something like that. She saw Bobbi as old and probably ugly. Of course, seeing Jimmy unexpectedly on TV brought back the memory of that night in a powerful way. She can't escape it. I have always thought January Jones was brilliant in this role. I hope her detractors have changed their minds!!!
I just noticed (rewatching now) the juxtaposition of Peggy hugging her stomach after the priest left and the next shot - the oven in Betty's house. Bun in the oven!
brideo:
The music at the end was by Peter, Paul and Mary, who were an enormously popular folk-singing group in the sixties. I don't know the name of the song, just that it was very beautiful.
Hey JamieK, I would have said Don watched the movie:A Guide for the Married Man (starring Robert Morse)...but it didn't come out in theatres until 1967. But one of the first rules for being caught in an affair was ", deny, deny, deny".
I think Bets was trying to make a go of it but that commercial brought it all back and she knew she wasn't ready to pretend life was the same. Did anyone notice during the Heineken pitch Dutch nailed Bets describing her as "well-off, striving to be the perfect entertainer/ housewife, etc.." and Don visibly grimaced? I don't know if he didn't like her being characterized like that or he didn't like that Dutch noticed her striving and then he Don being so insensitive to her efforts.
Betty's reaction to the Utz potato chip commercial is simple - it's Jimmy Barrett, and every time she sees him, she will be reminded all over again about her husband's infidelity and his lies to her. She might have been thawing towards Don after the couch conversation, but just seeing Barrett's face was enough to bring back all the ugliness and the doubts about her husband.
I loved the shot of Joan from the rear when she lowered her strap and rubbed the sore, red spot on her shoulder. Well endowed women everywhere will know that feeling - I don't care how well your bra is fitted - at the end of long day, your shoulders ache.
I don't think Roger Sterling was refusing to give Joan the position with Harry - I think he had no clue Joan was involved to the extent she was. Harry certainly did not tell him. Harry should have been aware of Joan's value to him and spoken up about giving her the job or at least keeping part of the team. This will come back to haunt him, I am sure. I notice Harry is clueless alot of time - he completely missed the point of Roger's question re: the cigarettes - Roger is a total mooch - he'll take anything not nailed down in the way of women, smokes and booze.
I did not see Jane anywhere in this episode, so maybe she thought better of defying Joan and skedaddled?
betty's behavior is perfectly understandable given that she is absolutely right in "knowing" that don was screwing bobbi. her estimation of him is correct. he did it and he can't (or won't) help herself. someone used an apt term above - "gaslighting"... even though i don't like betty, no woman deserves to be treated that way.
don did what all chronically adulterous husbands do - deny, lie and if need be, claim the wife is delusional, crazy, hysterical. they will go so far as to defame the wife's sanity and behavior to other people, to build up a case against her so when the matter becomes public (in a divorce, for example) his witnesses, some of whom were friends of the couple, can attest to the wife's increasingly unstable behavior and her malicious accusations of the husband, who's a great guy. it happens all the time. the more practiced and habitual the adulterer, the better he will be at developing a persona and reputation of being a terrific friend, husband and father. wife beaters and emotional abusers do the same thing. and they often get away with it.
it's the normally faithful idiot who has a brief fling or one night stand and feels guilty, who will admit it if he's cornered and accused. not the professional cheater.
i hope that if don and betty separate and she fioles for divorce, somehow she finds an ally in bobbi, who will not only tell of her own affair with don, but give names of other women who "know" don.
NancyStow - like the boobs inference - Also Pete's Betty did not feel humiliated because she didn;t live up to being a perfect wife. She is a perfect wife to Don on the facade (to Duck, Roger, etc..) Betty was humiliated because at that MOMENT during the dinner party she felt she was being mocked for being so perfect.
Can anyone tell me the name of the song that Father sings and plays at the end of Episode 8, and then comes in with more singers over the end credits? Is this a known group, or was it recorded specially for the show?
Come on, Visan...even you have to admit that it was pretty cool of Betty to put Don out like that. She's finally acknowledging how she truly feels. I thought she would cave (it seemed she was about to before the commercial) but instead she stuck to her guns. It's a start.
Betty just wants to feel included in Don's life, as she's mentioned in the last few episodes. Don wasn't trying to not include her in the joke, but that's how it made her feel. Betty finally got to him, right where it hurts. She knew he was lying and made sure he knew she wasn't buying into his alibi. And now he is finally paying the price of his infidelity.
I think the priest and Peggy thing is a little weird. The priest wants to help Peggy, but he also comes off as wanting to know her more personally. Peggy is like a robot, she will not go any deeper wth anyone. I like seeing her get feisty, though! The way she conducts herself is with such elegance that I only want to see her get nasty with someone finally! But, that is not her character.
As for Don, well, his behavior is getting the best of him, and now that he can't live his double-life he is not sure what to do. He can no longer get his fill now when he decides to flirt with other women, where's the fun now that Betty knows? We will see what happens with that.
And I think everyone is right on the whole Joan preggers. The clothes not fitting, the bon bon comment, house searching? It may be true. Also, on imdb.com, the next episode is titled "Six Month Leave". Just saying.....
This is the only show that can get your emotions pulled in every direction. Last week, everybody (including myself) was moaning for Don and now we're moved for Betty.
This show is genius! You want to love Don for his good looks and mysterious nature, but at the same time, you want him to go down in flames for lying straight to Betty's face. No remorse!!
I am blown away by Betty's character. I didn't see this level of reaction, especially this early on. January Jones confirmed what I already thought, she is superb as this character!
Vison, that may have been Betty even a few episodes ago. She has been growing more aware every week . This week she came into her own. What make' you think she'll all of a sudden melt into a pool of mush?
I think Betty is very sensitive to the possibility of being mocked behind her back. A childlike person like her probably would have been mocked throughout her life. She would probably have been the person who didn't "get it." At the dinner party, she was standing up proudly and describing the international theme of the dinner, and people laughed. Poor Betty. She had tried so hard, and people laughed.
Didn't you overhear Harry talking to the guys and saying something idiotic like "My work is done, I'm just showing up when she goes into labor..' when questioned about his wife's pregnancy? I guess we are still a few years away from Lamaze and childbirth training for couples. Anybody know when that came into popularity?
When Betty was going through Don's suits and desk, I thought she was going to discover the box that Pete originally took home and snooped through.Whew! One of the drawers was locked. I wonder if she'll eventually want to know what's in the locked drawer?
E_llama: I will never give Betty credit because ther are people with REAL problems in 1962. The fracture of her "perfect" life ain't one of 'em!
Have to say this, because for some bizarre reason, some get the impression that my dissing the "Betty" character is my dissing Jan Jones. Hells to the naw! Jan Jones (Christina Hendricks and Elisabeth Moss too!) kicks ass every week in that role! And it's a damn shame none got an Emmy nod!
Jon Hamm has to take one home for the whole cast, I guess!
I thought Betty was going to find that box, too! But Don is smarter than that to just leave things lying around. When will they do a flashback again? I love when they do that.
I have to put this on now while I'm watching because I really admire the continuity of this show, but Roger just asked Harry if "he was on crack"! I am most certain that this drug was not around back then, or at least it was not referred to as crack. That was really out of place.
Crack? I missed that. I'm still trying to figure out who this "Mitch" is who they keep refering to. I don't recall a Mitch. Harry said to Roger,"between you and me I don't think Mitch is happy with my promotion."
Mitch is the guy in Harry's office. I missed the crack crack, too.
Duck - Crab. Crab - Duck. Classic!
Theme tonight - "Why would I lie?"
Are you sure? I thought his name is Warren.
Yes, Loved the Duck- Crab. Roger is a hoot!
Liar, Liar pants on fire , Don!
Poor Betty - it's all very "Gaslight"-ish.
It's the first time I have ever truly DESPISED Don.
Changed my mind - the theme is "Am I nuts? I don't think so."
Way to go, Betty!!!!!
Peggy just walked into the SC office with Fr. Gill, and Ken asked Harry if we got the "Miracle Whip" contract? Another classic moment!
Love Duck, Crab, Crab, Duck in the intros.at the house!!
Rock on Father Gill!
I'm glad Pete was back in this episode! Don, you are garbage and you know it. You deserve to be kicked out.
I want Betty to somehow meet Rachel. Rachel will obviously know who Betty is but not vice versa.
Poor Joan. She's going to have to accept being "the little woman." Maybe that's why she keeps getting bigger.
Yikes!
Betty is cracking up.
:-(
Bless her heart . . .
I did not even hear that! It was perfect that they had Betty running the horse at full speed for the first scene and then the scene where she broke up the chair was perfect again! Joan's fiance is real! I never doubted it and he is cute. Very healthy showdown between Bets and Don even though he lied. Her looking like hell at breakfast was so real and he just went to work. I do not see her having an affair with the guy at the stable; he isn't attractive in the least. Great looks between her and Don in the bedroom; he finally blinked! His "Why would I lie to you?" during the Heineken pitch was again perfect. I predict the clients will object to the new script person and will insist on the person being Joan which will introduce new conflict between her and Roger and possibly between her and her fiance who seems to make it clear that once he is established he will not want her working. Tom Hanks son is great, but did he really expect Peggy to spill her guts in the office? It was interesting that Betty said one of her dinner recipes was from her German relative because she is showing some German no-nonsenseness with the phone call to Don to tell him to stay away. He really looked flummuxed drinking that beer in the office kitchen. I will now check out the scenes for next week!
I would call this episode "She's Come Undone"!!
I lost a lot of respect for Harry for choosing a clueless man over Joan. Maybe he was threatened by her. She should be running that department.
Good for Betty for finally confronting Don. That poor chair took the brunt of her frustration, though. She should do cage matches.
Not sure....I think the theme has something to do with women in pain/women being exploited...I am far more interested in what goes on in the office than the other stuff on the show, but...Joan was obviously brilliant in her dealings with the scripts/TV dept./sponsors...and yet she sees some schmuck hired and Harry doesn't even think of her for the position. AND then they want to pick HER brain as to what they should do. Peggy is being exploited by Father Gill, both for her ability as a writer and as target for "redemption." And Betty is slowly going nuts in her jealousy and bottled up rage that Don is cheating on her.
OK People - lets get a grip here:
(1) EMMY WORTHY ACTING BY BETTY AND JOAN - you all wanted the true Betty and here she is - now she has some depth - FINALLY!
(2) Joan broke my heart. Nuff said - that scene with Harry was the first time she has shown true emotion and her real self
(3) Duck-Crab- Crab- Duck - classic Roger
(4) Do you thing Roger gave Harry his assistant out of spite for Joan or did he think he was doing a favor
(5) Sally is Piglet in the play!!!
(6) "How can that be - you made that job up" Ken to Harry - cracked up!
Rewatching now I'll post when a new thought comes into my brillant head!
Betty finally got a spine! Good for her! Its about time! I felt bad for Joan as she obviously enjoyed and excelled at reading the scripts. So, Harry hires some inept guy for the job. Yeah, like that is going to work. I wonder if Betty is going to divorce Don or at least kick him out of the house for a while? I think they should have the priest sing some more!
Warren is the the guy in Harry's office - I don't know who Mitch is. Betty finally got a spine....she threw the creep out. Betty isn't cracking up she finally sees the light.
I think Peggy is going to face Pete at least that's what the preview fr next week looks like.
All about the gals!
Roger really asked "You smoke, Crane?" to Harry. Not "you smoke crack." Just to address the first comment.
I think January Jones is really coming into her own. The scene where she breaks apart the chair was perfect. The kids had the perfect look as well.
I watched it again.
Roger asked, "Do you smoke, Crane?"
Not crack.
So is Joan pregnant? Fiance says, "Joan, you should be watching those shows not reading them. With a box of bon bons on your lap to soothe your cravings." Is that why she's gaining weight and looking so buxom these days? :) The tight bra strap at the end?
Loved Betty's phone call at the end. And the commercial. This show is so great...genius and quick turns at every corner!
Right Pete's blue pajamas. Harry's last name is Crane...just saw it again with CC on.
"She's so much woman." I love it!
Mitch must be in accounting.
Harry is not a schmuck -- that's how it was always done. The secretary filled in, then someone was hired in - at $150 a week no less! - and she was expected to teach him then go back to her little desk and type with a smile on her face.
Ya think Joanie is Preggers?
Roger: Do you smoke, Crane?
Harry (Crane): Sometimes.
no one said smoking crack. Sounds like audio pareidolia to me :)
Roger did not ask Harry if he smoked crack he just asked if he smoked and Harry answered sometimes.
Gee when Don looked Betty straight in the eyes & swore nothing happened...I thought my god I wouldn't want to play poker with this guy. He's toooo goood. But after seeing Betty search through all his things & later watch the UTZ commercial with Jimmy, then tell Don not to come home? Well I'd have to give Betty the "champion" poker player to call the bluff even though your opponent has the "a pair of sixes" against your "royal flush". Crane's gonna lose those sponsors without Joan reading those scripts. That bozo he hired will spend more time telling stupid jokes to impress then to really get the feel for what the clients are looking for when booking a spot.
Who are these Colson people?
Why are you talking about crack instead of this brillantly acted show?!!! Roger ALWAYS grubs cigarettes!!! A week or two ago Don threw the cig at him and told him to leave his office!!!
Love the pre dinner ballet performance!
Crab's wife sure likes to drink!! Speaking of that, did anyone notice the Heinekin wasn't touched at the end of the dinner?
Harry seriously disappointed me. Just when I thought he was cool, he basically uses Joan and then tosses her aside, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised at that kind of treatment now should I? I wanted her to get the job. Gobarack, I hope you're right. I hope the clients DO insist on Joan. Harry is being an idiot.
I'm glad Betty stood her ground with Don and put him out. Who else laughed when she asked how he could do that with Bobbie adding, "She's so old"?
I
Betty's family is a combination of Nordic and German.
Heinken is from Holland??? NO!!! That's what SC was trying to push? Can't say it was German, no?
I don't doubt you, NancyStow, but it's horrifying, and poignant. I think for a moment Joan thought she might follow in the footsteps of Peggy. She deserved to.
Anyone want to bet Joan will have Harry's job? I think that's where we may be heading...
I hope people won't get annoyed at me for asking, but does anyone thing Father Gill might end up having a secret thing for Peggy...or is it just concern?
Holy product placement, Batman! Isn't it ironic that a show that deals with sly advertising tactics is pulling one on its viewers? AMC Sales Department, to put it in Betty's words: "You embarrassed me." Keep Heineken on the commercial breaks, please. Remember: if the show is smart, so are the viewers; stop trying to get us to play dumb.
Re: Betty opening up a bottle of awesomeness
I love how Mrs. Draper grew a pair...and the proceeded to cut off Don's. I actually cried a few times during this episode. January Jones, I underestimated you.
Does anyone know why, right after seeing the Utz commercial on TV, Betty called Don and told him not to come home? She seemed to be thawing in the previous scene on Don's little couch-bed. What did she see in that commercial? Or maybe it reminded her of something that happened at the start of their affair and was reminded of it by seeing it or Jimmy?
It would have been hilarious if Roger said "You smoke crack?" and Harry said "Sometimes" though.
I didn't think Joan's fiancee was her type. Too preppy. Wonder how they met? Did she ever say? I felt bad for her that she wasn't even considered for the job, too. It was cool to see her in her hipster clothes and bare feet at her apt. She seemed younger (though not as young as her fiancee).
What was the music at the end? Who were the performers? I remember it, vaguely, but can't recall who was singing.
Did anyonecatch all of the comments around Joan refering to size? She tells Harry when he asks for help,"I don't know. We're spread very thin." Then Warren comments,"She's so much woman". Even Joan's fiance (very cute by the way) talks about her needing to look for a house and getting prepared to eat bon-bons.
mcmere - I had hoped for the same. I think customers will complain.
mte - LOL! I hate, loathe, despise and abominate that commercial. I really don't get it. If anything, it makes me purposely NOT want to book with hotels.com.
eternal_llama -- yes, the Thornbirds theme is definitely being set up.
Sitting up and watching the comments roll in is more fun that watching election returns with Tom Brokaw and Tim Russert!
Don can come-on-a-my house...I'll give him candy! Ha! Ha! ha!
Hi CarrieB! I love your dog! I think the Utz commercial with Jimmy reminded Betts of their last encounter.
Hi birdieo! I think it was sung by Peter, Paul and Mary (or an earlier version of the group).
(1) I do not think that Joan aspired to be anything then what she is - but once she got the job and was excited and inspired by it she wanted more. That's why it broke my heart
(2) I wondered about Father and Peggy and I do not think he has a thing for Peggy. Mind you I am a Roman Catch and was sitting on the edge of my seat at that last scene to see what he was gonna do in his room and when he pulled out the guitar I was a little relieved!!
(3) I think Peggy was soooo disgusted when she saw Jimmy's commercial - thinking how can (1) Don be involved with this idiot (2) how can he screw that sleazes wife.
I wouldn't say 'she's come undone". I'd say she's figured it out. I love that she grew a pair and told Don not to come home. She knew he was looking right at her and lying. I went through this tonight. Couldn't have been a better episode for me tonight. I'm trying to deal with exactly what Betty is dealing with. Joan obviously expected to be promoted as she should have been. She gave very vague ideas to the new guy. Betty is a conundrum, she asked Don to fix the outlet in the dining room, and Don say's "Thought you were going to call the electrician".She tells him exactly how to do it, and he says "Sounds like you could do it". But that's beside the point. She want's him to pull his weight. Wasn't particularly thrilled with the priest and Peggy's scenes. I say GO BETTY!
Joan pregnant? That's an interesting idea. You might be right. Why are they waiting to get married then? Shouldn't they hurry up? Though I thought she looked thinner at her place in pants than she does in dresses at the office. They were talking about buying a house, weren't they?
I think the fiance's comments were that Joan SHOULD be a stay-at-home pregnant wife, not that she is now. He made a comment about needing to finish his training after she said she stopped looking for a house in Glen Cove. He doesn't want her to get more involved at work aka build her career.
Thanks for the correction of "Crane". I feel so much better now!
Joan has a special mojo that works on men and again I think the clients will want to work with her. In my limited experience many men will always choose to work with an attractive woman over someone ordinary.
As an aside: I do not remember Heineken beer being sold here in the States until about 1978 or so. Up until then it was Bud, Miller, Pabst and the other usual standbys.
ldraper - I'm so sorry. Been there, done that. Survived it and am MUCH better off. Hope you have lots of good friends to pull you through it. If not, you have us (the Maddicts!). Big hug!
Just when I think I couldn't love Joan anymore...she's my kind of cook! Chinese take out!!
Don really messed up his encounter with Betty in which he said, "I love you, Bets. I love the kids. I don't want to lose all this," or something like that. She wanted to hear that he loves HER and doesn't want to lose HER. (Plus, it might help if he told the truth!) And he's supposed to be able to tell what women want so he can sell it to them! Betty just walked off when he said that. Don just doesn't get it. Also, I had an ex-husband like Don--just deny, deny, deny.
Maybe because it brought back in full black and white the sleaziness of Don's business and his choice of a Jewish old woman to humiliate her with. It was like a slap in the face through the TV.
Does anyone know why, right after seeing the Utz commercial on TV, Betty called Don and told him not to come home? She seemed to be thawing in the previous scene on Don's little couch-bed. What did she see in that commercial?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
As Mcmere pointed out the show centered around women being "used". Betty as a "market study", Joan for her reading & savvy input from client's pov, and Peggy for her ad expertise on the church flyers.
@MadMenSuze: Ahh, the plot thickens (see my previous comment). Can you confirm that date?
MadMenSuze: according to Wikipedia, Heineken has been imported to the United States consistently since prohibition ended.
I did a tour of the original Heineken brewery in Amsterdam a few years back, beautiful place--O.K. beers. :)
Joan has no domestic skills at all -- and no motherly instinct. Remember how she treated Sally the day Sally came into the office on a Sunday.
Best episode of the season.
I think that another theme in this episode is about the characters being truthful to themselves about who they are and what they want.
1. Betty had to be truthful to herself about the nature of her marriage and also how Don regarded her and treated her.
2. Don has now been challenged by his wife to finally come clean and be truthful about how he lives his life and what kind of person he is.
3. Joan had to be truthful to herself about how she is regarded, her prospects, her goals and how she can possibly change her own life.
4. Peggy is challenged by her priest to be truthful to herself about any mistakes she's made and how she wants to continue. There's some evidence that she still isn't fully cogniscent her role in the office by the snarky comments Ken and the crew made.
I was totally heartbroken for Joan. I got such a high seeing Joan maneuver her own way to play at the table. I loved how she knew where to plug her charms and intellect. Then to see Roger casually cast her out of the running for an assistant position had me crushed. I have to hand it to the writers for that whirlwind of emotions.
I really hope that something turns around for Joan with that position. It was incredulous to see her felled by the boys club system. Last week and the week before, we saw how she realized that her looks could only take her so far as long as age knocked her off sexpot pedestal. Now it comes full circle and I felt her hurt at seeing her realize the whole game. Christina Hendricks deserves an Emmy, no question.
Betty had a similar blow delt to her with that dinner party--what a complete slap in the face--cheers to her for fighting back! I am completely satisfied with the way her arc is going. This needed to happen. Don is despicable at this point--loser unless he turns around and gives her the truth.
I LOVE THIS SHOW!
...and ps: of course this show is brilliant, lorantscan, it is 'continuity' that I am speaking about, not Whitney Houston!lol This show never misses it's mark, and I'm glad my hearing was off tonight! I agree w/u eternalllama re: Father Gill. I felt that way from the 1st time he met her. He is so young, though, wouldn't be questioned.
Joan got exactly what she deserved for dissing Peggy afew weeks ago!
Thanks for answering my question... 60'schild, Dixiegirl, lorantscan. Now I can sleep.
These episodes get better and better. I explained what the dash board headlight sensor did on the Cadillac to my missis ten seconds before Don did. He makes me look good. It's the sixties life, things and culture that they work into the show that make it soooo cool!!!
Joan is headed for trouble with that fiance. When he arrived home, he chastised her first thing for not setting the table. He "reminded" her to get him some water. He seems as though he will be very controlling.He also belittled her job by saying he thought all she did all day was walk around and get stared at. He is good-looking and possibly younger than she is. Let's hope Joan wises up before taking the big step with a guy who seems like a prime candidate for being a JERK!
Don in a hat--trillby? fedora?--is a thing of beauty!!
Guy Smiley - I agree with you and I posted some simiIar observations before but I don't think Don purposely set out to embarrass Betty. He just can not take ANYONES feelings into consideration - it's not in his makeup as a person. And Roger commented how Joan's "attentions are divided at best" I do not think he purposely went to bring down Joan. He didn't know how much she liked it and he would ALWAYS give her what she really wants.
Did anyone else think Betty was a little oversensitive about the dinner party? I think it was more about how she felt she was being used in general. Things happening behind her back. Don knows her so well, he thinks, that he can sell her and turn around and fool her. She doesn't want to be humiliated. Being humiliated in social settings seems to be more important to her than anything. I think she didn't know what to believe until the nuts commercial. I think she saw Jimmy as Don - the salesman who'll say anything to sell a product.
StephanieJo - CRACK IS WHACK!
NancyStowOh, Thank you so much! Its killing me. If they can lie to your face about one thing they can lie about anything . I'm finally waking up, but I'm definitly not going crazy, and neither is Betty. She had every reason to suspect Don. Why would you guy's say she's going crazy? She's figuring it out! Notice Joan's placement of her purse in front of her tummy in the office. The old hide the tummy with a big bag ploy. Don't think she's pregnant though.But who knows?
(I'm so sick of that man's human beat box in the chemistry.com commercial. Stop embracing it!)
@Carrie
I think it might be because the commercial was about nuts and that combined with Jimmy probably convinced her that she wasn't going insane (aka nuts) after all.
Pete's ... another brillant take - Betty was revolted by Jimmy
Pete's blue pajamas,
Yes, I think Betty was oversensitive about the dinner party, but the tension has been building in her for a long time about Don's infidelity, so she would understandably be somewhat upset over finding out that Don used her in an experiment for work.
I think seeing Jimmy in the commercial just brought it all back - she saw Don and Bobbi together at the Stork Club that night and she knew something was going on - you can always tell when people are involved with each other. She knew it was true.
Being humiliated in social situations was a huge deal back in those days for anyone but esp. for women. Betty's whole persona is her family and her roles as wife and mother. So, any hint that she falls short of those roles would be humiliating, just as Don would be humiliated if anyone thought he was falling short at his work.
Was the music Father Gill was playing the Mamas and the Papas? I remember the song but not sure of the group.
Don's behavior was very typical - as Betty confronted him he tried to put it back on her AND SHE DIDN'T LET HIM! As been said by a lot of others on her, I have an ex-husband (alcoholic) like that. It was never what he did that was the problem - the problem was how I REACTED to what he did!
Betty: I know you're having an affair.
Don: How much have you been drinking?
Betty: How could you? She's OLD.
Don: I see how he looks at you.
Bravo to January for being seen without makeup. I have loved her from the beginning and I'm glad to see others appreciate her acting.
I think seeing Jimmy in that utterly crass commercial in which food is falling out of his mouth as he talks reminded her of the whole low-class nature of the affair. She told Jimmy that "you people are rude and ugly" or something like that. She saw Bobbi as old and probably ugly. Of course, seeing Jimmy unexpectedly on TV brought back the memory of that night in a powerful way. She can't escape it. I have always thought January Jones was brilliant in this role. I hope her detractors have changed their minds!!!
There's no "Go Betty!" She'll see Helen Bishop or something, her hands will go numb and she'll beg Don to come back home! She's that flaky!!
Perhaps Christina Hendricks is pg in real life?
I think the scene at the end - the bra-strap-sore shoulders - was symbolic of all the boobs she has to hold up at work.
I just noticed (rewatching now) the juxtaposition of Peggy hugging her stomach after the priest left and the next shot - the oven in Betty's house. Bun in the oven!
brideo:
The music at the end was by Peter, Paul and Mary, who were an enormously popular folk-singing group in the sixties. I don't know the name of the song, just that it was very beautiful.
Great catch, Pete's!!
Hey JamieK, I would have said Don watched the movie:A Guide for the Married Man (starring Robert Morse)...but it didn't come out in theatres until 1967. But one of the first rules for being caught in an affair was ", deny, deny, deny".
I also like Peggy in the tub - trying to feel clean.
I gotta go to bed - have fun all of you on the West Coast - can't wait to read YOUR comments tomorrow!
I think Bets was trying to make a go of it but that commercial brought it all back and she knew she wasn't ready to pretend life was the same. Did anyone notice during the Heineken pitch Dutch nailed Bets describing her as "well-off, striving to be the perfect entertainer/ housewife, etc.." and Don visibly grimaced? I don't know if he didn't like her being characterized like that or he didn't like that Dutch noticed her striving and then he Don being so insensitive to her efforts.
Betty's reaction to the Utz potato chip commercial is simple - it's Jimmy Barrett, and every time she sees him, she will be reminded all over again about her husband's infidelity and his lies to her. She might have been thawing towards Don after the couch conversation, but just seeing Barrett's face was enough to bring back all the ugliness and the doubts about her husband.
I loved the shot of Joan from the rear when she lowered her strap and rubbed the sore, red spot on her shoulder. Well endowed women everywhere will know that feeling - I don't care how well your bra is fitted - at the end of long day, your shoulders ache.
I don't think Roger Sterling was refusing to give Joan the position with Harry - I think he had no clue Joan was involved to the extent she was. Harry certainly did not tell him. Harry should have been aware of Joan's value to him and spoken up about giving her the job or at least keeping part of the team. This will come back to haunt him, I am sure. I notice Harry is clueless alot of time - he completely missed the point of Roger's question re: the cigarettes - Roger is a total mooch - he'll take anything not nailed down in the way of women, smokes and booze.
I did not see Jane anywhere in this episode, so maybe she thought better of defying Joan and skedaddled?
heineken is from holland. not germany.
betty's behavior is perfectly understandable given that she is absolutely right in "knowing" that don was screwing bobbi. her estimation of him is correct. he did it and he can't (or won't) help herself. someone used an apt term above - "gaslighting"... even though i don't like betty, no woman deserves to be treated that way.
don did what all chronically adulterous husbands do - deny, lie and if need be, claim the wife is delusional, crazy, hysterical. they will go so far as to defame the wife's sanity and behavior to other people, to build up a case against her so when the matter becomes public (in a divorce, for example) his witnesses, some of whom were friends of the couple, can attest to the wife's increasingly unstable behavior and her malicious accusations of the husband, who's a great guy. it happens all the time. the more practiced and habitual the adulterer, the better he will be at developing a persona and reputation of being a terrific friend, husband and father. wife beaters and emotional abusers do the same thing. and they often get away with it.
it's the normally faithful idiot who has a brief fling or one night stand and feels guilty, who will admit it if he's cornered and accused. not the professional cheater.
i hope that if don and betty separate and she fioles for divorce, somehow she finds an ally in bobbi, who will not only tell of her own affair with don, but give names of other women who "know" don.
NancyStow - like the boobs inference - Also Pete's Betty did not feel humiliated because she didn;t live up to being a perfect wife. She is a perfect wife to Don on the facade (to Duck, Roger, etc..) Betty was humiliated because at that MOMENT during the dinner party she felt she was being mocked for being so perfect.
Can anyone tell me the name of the song that Father sings and plays at the end of Episode 8, and then comes in with more singers over the end credits? Is this a known group, or was it recorded specially for the show?
I think Don felt a twinge of guilt hearing Duck describe her as the perfect wife - because she is the perfect wife and he had just lied to her face.
Come on, Visan...even you have to admit that it was pretty cool of Betty to put Don out like that. She's finally acknowledging how she truly feels. I thought she would cave (it seemed she was about to before the commercial) but instead she stuck to her guns. It's a start.
Betty just wants to feel included in Don's life, as she's mentioned in the last few episodes. Don wasn't trying to not include her in the joke, but that's how it made her feel. Betty finally got to him, right where it hurts. She knew he was lying and made sure he knew she wasn't buying into his alibi. And now he is finally paying the price of his infidelity.
I think the priest and Peggy thing is a little weird. The priest wants to help Peggy, but he also comes off as wanting to know her more personally. Peggy is like a robot, she will not go any deeper wth anyone. I like seeing her get feisty, though! The way she conducts herself is with such elegance that I only want to see her get nasty with someone finally! But, that is not her character.
As for Don, well, his behavior is getting the best of him, and now that he can't live his double-life he is not sure what to do. He can no longer get his fill now when he decides to flirt with other women, where's the fun now that Betty knows? We will see what happens with that.
And I think everyone is right on the whole Joan preggers. The clothes not fitting, the bon bon comment, house searching? It may be true. Also, on imdb.com, the next episode is titled "Six Month Leave". Just saying.....
correction: "he can't (or won't) help HIMself."
This is the only show that can get your emotions pulled in every direction. Last week, everybody (including myself) was moaning for Don and now we're moved for Betty.
This show is genius! You want to love Don for his good looks and mysterious nature, but at the same time, you want him to go down in flames for lying straight to Betty's face. No remorse!!
I am blown away by Betty's character. I didn't see this level of reaction, especially this early on. January Jones confirmed what I already thought, she is superb as this character!
Never knew Heiny was from Holland - learn something new everyday. Always thought it was German
Paul B, I want to say it is a song by Peter, Paul and Mary of the 60's, and not written for the show.
Vison, that may have been Betty even a few episodes ago. She has been growing more aware every week . This week she came into her own. What make' you think she'll all of a sudden melt into a pool of mush?
I think Betty is very sensitive to the possibility of being mocked behind her back. A childlike person like her probably would have been mocked throughout her life. She would probably have been the person who didn't "get it." At the dinner party, she was standing up proudly and describing the international theme of the dinner, and people laughed. Poor Betty. She had tried so hard, and people laughed.
Didn't you overhear Harry talking to the guys and saying something idiotic like "My work is done, I'm just showing up when she goes into labor..' when questioned about his wife's pregnancy? I guess we are still a few years away from Lamaze and childbirth training for couples. Anybody know when that came into popularity?
When Betty was going through Don's suits and desk, I thought she was going to discover the box that Pete originally took home and snooped through.Whew! One of the drawers was locked. I wonder if she'll eventually want to know what's in the locked drawer?
E_llama: I will never give Betty credit because ther are people with REAL problems in 1962. The fracture of her "perfect" life ain't one of 'em!
Have to say this, because for some bizarre reason, some get the impression that my dissing the "Betty" character is my dissing Jan Jones. Hells to the naw! Jan Jones (Christina Hendricks and Elisabeth Moss too!) kicks ass every week in that role! And it's a damn shame none got an Emmy nod!
Jon Hamm has to take one home for the whole cast, I guess!
*there
I thought Betty was going to find that box, too! But Don is smarter than that to just leave things lying around. When will they do a flashback again? I love when they do that.