I loved the Roger/Mona scene. So much ruefulness and understanding and affection.

She's such a good actress. (Martin Balsam's daughter!)

She had a scene last year that was so good I looked her up - I had totally forgotten that she was John Slattery's wife.

I didn't think Peggy was boss at all. She is mimicking what she learned from Don, but she doesn't have any confidence to back it up. I can't picture Don ever calling his boss that many times before going with his back up idea, or really ever asking for permission at all.

I do love Mona.

I didn't think Peggy was boss at all.

Really? That whole scene with Ted coming back was to emphasize that she had that kind of power in the office to make people stay in and work on NYE.

Hec, thought the scene was emphasizing my point. Ted didn't seem pleased that she made everyone stay and work when she already had a workable idea and he seemed confused by her need to get his approval on that idea. I think she has power, but she doesn't realize it.

Hec, thought the scene was emphasizing my point. Ted didn't seem pleased that she made everyone stay and work when she already had a workable idea and he seemed confused by her need to get his approval on that idea. I think she has power, but she doesn't realize it.

Totally read it the other way. Ted was admiring, and gently letting her know that she has that power and to wield it graciously. Stan even teased Peggy about how much Ted liked her.

I think Peggy is supposed to come off as supercompetent and in charge in this episode. And that's how I read it. She's where Don used to be. She's at a peak and still climbing.

I can't picture Don ever calling his boss that many times before going with his back up idea, or really ever asking for permission at all.

hmm. this is an interesting point. I forget how little time has passed (months not years). It probably is a bit of a tension between Peggy becoming more comfortable in her role bit by bit and being fully confident.

Some reviewers of the episode thought the Peggy's stuff didn't "fit" - but I think the ep would have been too moribund without her. In so far as the episode was about passages and the meaning of life and perhaps "hell is other people"/"hell is ourselves"/"the old generation in decline", I think she was certainly the flip side to Don's side.

I can't wait to read T-Lo's style breakdown of this episode. The facial hair alone requires a thesis!

Ted didn't seem pleased that she made everyone stay and work when she already had a workable idea and he seemed confused by her need to get his approval on that idea. I think she has power, but she doesn't realize it.

That was my reading as well. Peggy is competent, but she's learning. She doesn't know where the boundaries of being in charge are yet.

Okay after reading around the blogosphere, here's the import of the lighter.

Dick Whitman dropped his lighter which accidentally started the fire that killed Don Draper.

He didn't just take Draper's dog tags, but the lighter of the man who he impersonated. We know that because the PFC called him "Lieutenant."

So Don has literally lost his talisman for changing his life, exchanging Dick Whitman for Don Draper.