yeah, I hadn't realized that the cousins were that close in age...

BTW, I thought that was a splendid episode.

It's not that Don wouldn't have known what was going on, he's far too smart and observant to not have known that something was going on, but that he would trouble himself enough to not only come see her, but to help her perpetuate her story and in effect, become her partner in crime. (I think she must have been in a restricted psych ward of the hospital-- but that's just a guess.)

After all, they've made a huge deal over how women in this era and this particular environment, are essentially disposable. Don sees something of himself in Peggy, that much is obvious, but what exactly, is one of those things that's going to be revealed, bit by delicious bit.

Damn, but I can't remember the last time I gasped out loud during a show.

I'm confused by the sister's pregnancy. The home scenes we've had with them showed 2 elementary school-aged kids and a toddler, presumably Peggy's. So is that baby really Peggy's nephew (and Peggy's baby adopted out), or did the sister have a miscarriage?

(She didn't look far enough along to me to be able to believably claim twins - the cousins would have been at least a couple of months apart, which at that age is HUGE.)

don's probably the one who started the fat farm rumor. I can't imagine that he didn't know what was going on.

And if he was covering for her, it's only natural that people would assume he got her pregnant.

okay, I think that Joan's ring is fake.

Huh. Yeah.

Loved this ep like woah. The cut from Pete looking at the porno mags to Roger playing with the ping pong paddle? GENIUS. Maybe my favorite match cut on television ever.

Speaking of which - HOLY FUCKING GOD, PETE, YOU SMUG LITTLE SHITWEASEL.

Oh yeah. The ring is fake.

It absolutely makes sense that Don knows. . . and the advice he gave her? Totally in character.

The cut from Pete looking at the porno mags to Roger playing with the ping pong paddle? GENIUS. Maybe my favorite match cut on television ever.

That was funny as hell.

Speaking of which - HOLY FUCKING GOD, PETE, YOU SMUG LITTLE SHITWEASEL.

His dynamic with his wife was horrible and fascinating.

Bobbi's relationship with Peggy was also very engaging.

Don also had his shitweasel moments.

Speaking of which - HOLY FUCKING GOD, PETE, YOU SMUG LITTLE SHITWEASEL.

They were both smug little shitweasels and total products of their environments. Pete was absolutely right that Trudy had assumed that whatever was wrong would be with him and that she could then be Mrs. Supportive Wife and "we'll get through this, dear," but OMG, his utter insensitivity and cluelessness that she might be upset about something being wrong with her just absolutely boggles.

Neither of them has any business raising a hamster, let alone another human. Pete is just selfish enough to realize it.

For me it's not that Pete realizes he isn't fit - it's just that he doesn't want to do it.

Pete was absolutely right that Trudy had assumed that whatever was wrong would be with him and that she could then be Mrs. Supportive Wife and "we'll get through this, dear,"

But you know, at least she had prepped herself to be supportive. she wasn't hoping it was him so she could throw it back in his face with a "Well, sucks to be you I guess!"

Huh. There's a real Don Draper, a working actor in bit parts. This must be weird for him! [link]

Probably not as much as if he hadn't died back in 1990.

But you know, at least she had prepped herself to be supportive. she wasn't hoping it was him so she could throw it back in his face with a "Well, sucks to be you I guess!"

Like I said, product of their environments. It simply wouldn't have occurred to him to be otherwise, although you're totally right that he's definitely the bigger shitweasel.

And was anyone else utterly creeped out by his sudden turn into authoritarian manner? When he told her to come back and she did? Normally, I'm so into the world of the show that I buy into the behavior, but this was one of those rare times when my modern-day feminist sensibilities were sitting there going, "Oh, you're not really listening to him, are you?" I wished she'd dumped the salad on his head, even though I knew it wasn't going to happen. But it was weird, that one moment of her standing up to him, then turning all meek and subservient. Seriously chilling.

I think Hec summed it up perfectly-- horrible and fascinating.