You've pointed out some things that make me want to watch Ep. 2 again.

Re your Paragraph #5: I think it's both: the "moral thing", AND ALSO the "philosophical thing"--His philosophy being , as you said: " why mess with something that's working?" (And I think you're right that Don's comment later that night, "Why re-invent the wheel?" was another telling clue as to how Don approaches his perfectly "ordered" world. It's a world in which he is "in control," so new stuff (change) threatens him -- even the "Smith and Smitty guys" he was opposed to--because he didn't see the need for "young."

That's an interesting pattern you pointed out in Duck's case: In at least 2 instances when a transition was needed (out of a heavy or emotional moment) Duck is the guy who steps in to get things back "on track." He probably realizes that that is one of his office "roles"--- i.e., to be the facilitator who smooths over those sticky moments that nobody else in the room wants to handle.

And thinking of the issue of Don's philosophy, it occurs to me that Duck is the "yin" to Don's "yang" in the sense that Duck was the one who had the idea that Youth --and the ideas of the young --had to be brought into the mix at SC---opposite to Don's tendency to think SC was doing just fine without "youth.".... This all makes me think that Duck's going to be around in S3 (or someone like Duck) --not only to provide the dramatic tension between these 2 "opposite" characters, but also because if, as you say, Don is a champion of the status quo, someone's got to champion the "anti-status quo."

I'll look for that "shadow Don" you mentioned drinking alone in the bar as Don left. Love that symbolism, if that's the case...and it probably is.

Right on, Greg. I think Duck adds a great deal to Sterling Cooper and I hope he comes back for Season 3. I think the conflict and tension between Duck and Don keeps the show interesting. Duck's brilliant insight to youthful consumers irritates the hell out of Don. It's rather amusing to see someone push Don's buttons. Cheers.

Another thing with the Bobby cheating by tracing George Washington thing. When Betty is complaining, Don jokes "My whole art department uses tracing paper"

Next episode, after Harry opens Ken's paycheck and goes to Sal, the first shot we see is with Sal and an electic eraser... on tracing paper.

Oh, that's funny Greg--really funny. I've probably missed lots of subtle jokes in scenes....

Interesting comparison between Duck and Don. They both try to be smooth, but they both have tempers, too. I like watching Duck push Don's buttons, too, but I want to see him brought down a notch from president with too much power and a grudge. Don brought him in (over Pete) and Duck has spent the time resenting that while getting cozy with Pete. It's a twisted web, for sure. The look on Duck's face when he learns Don has no contract is entirely priceless!

I just checked imdb's cast list for the first episode, and Duck isn't listed, but neither is Betty, Joan or Roger, and hardly anyone at all is listed for 2, so I guess that doesn't mean much.

MsFab: I kind of thought when Duck "was excused" from the merger meeting, with the PPL head honcho remarking that: "....He (Pete) never could hold his liquor" --that Duck's tenure as President was over. Could be wrong...just guessing of course, but hasn't he lost all credibility in terms of being a "leader" at this point?

The Don/Duck/Pete web is interesting if you think about it.

You have Pete who, as Don says, wants everything when he wants it. And we know Pete's feelings about Don.

But Don doesn't really concern himself with Pete however; kind of like swatting a fly away and moving on rather than holding a grudge.

Then Don hires Duck to Pete's chagrin. But it's Duck who now has a problem with Don, much like Pete. Duck and Pete become kindred spirits, I think less because of a mutual dislike of Don, but because of almost a mentor and protege thing. They're both from the same school of this business, where Don isn't so distant from that yet he's not as absorbed to the degree of their way of doing things. But, they do have a mutual dislike of Don for their same reasons, even if that's not the actual genesis of their relationship. That's interesting.

So Duck has Pete as his wing man, especially during the meeting with Roger firing Freddy.

But here's the kicker:

When Don returns from Cali, his first day back in the office, Pete storms into Don all mad. (one of the best lines from Pete that gets lost, "I don't know how to drive, it's a wonder I made any meetings"). and Don tells him something like, "If I didn't think you could do it I wouldn't have left it to you".

So Pete has a moment. He now appreciates Don and seems to begin to "get it". But, and this is great, did Don really mean that regarding Pete, or was Don being Don coming up with an "I was at the printers" excuse?

Anyway, Pete bought it regardless of if it was legitimate or not. So you remember what Pete did? When he got the word of the merger from Duck, he came into Don's office and essentially returned the favor, and gave Don the heads up about it which helped Don.

The more you think about it, it really is a neat little web, you're right.

Good points, Greg. Obviously, Don wasn't thinking at all about Pete when he hopped in the car with Joy. That said, Don, despite being in advertising, doesn't seem to be much into saying things he doesn't mean, and I didn't catch any double entendre there (need to rewatch again LOL). This is one of the areas in which I really identify with Don, so I watch it closely - I never say things I don't really mean, but when I have to make nice or go along with things for survival, I'll try to find something positive I can say that isn't a lie. Don was under some pretty extraordinary circumstances at that moment, though, so maybe he would whip out the silver tongue to make the whole situation move along nicely.

Legitimate or not, at some point (assuming Duck is still around, and he's not in the promos but they know we are guessing) Pete will have to pick a hero. I think it's more likely to be Don. While Pete doesn't understand why he's so unlikeable, he wants to be likable. Duck may be the guy to project some unlikable behavior that Pete can recognize when others point it out. He could see what others don't like about him in Duck. In my experience, awful people with bad character usually detest someone who is just like themselves when they meet.

It might not change them, but I know of some (not so nice) people who hold in high esteem (good) people who are nothing like them, and show disdain for people who are just like them. I don't think it's a conscious process. If you're happy with yourself, you like people who are like you. If you're not happy with yourself, you reject those who are like you and look for mythical heroes and try to pretend you're among them. I think in the end, a guy like Pete would be more drawn to a guy like Don over Duck, but assuming things go as Duck said, with he as pres and Pete as HOA, Pete would have a honeymoon with Duck for a little while. If that is anything as long as his honeymoon with Trudy, well...

You know if you look at Duck from another angle...he really is one of the hardest workers at Sterling Cooper. He lost 10 pounds in a sauna trying to get info on the Kodak account, he sat in a duck blind for hours on end to get the Mortenson coffee people, he brought the entire office in on a Sunday to try to get the American Airlines account, he motivated his employees with a $100 bonus and got Pete to bring in the Clearasil account, etc. As far as Don and Roger...well they come and go as they please and leave skid marks out of the office everyday at 4:30pm. Their late hours in the office never involves being in the office. Just my observation.

Hidey, Drink!

Actually, you're right about Duck....hard worker for sure. It's just his personality that stinks...it just does. But, saying that, I will say that he still makes me feel sorry for him....just like Pete....you have that love/hate thing going for them both....testament to the great acting of both, IMO.