I'd be throwing his ring back in his face, big time.

I'm guessing Don will be wishing he'd been around for that meeting.

Go, Peggy, on getting Freddy Rumson's office! I figured it would have been given away by now.

Me too. I hope she doesn't marry that asshole.

And Peggy! I can't believe she was the only one brave enough to ask for it.

Wow - I love how different Don is with Anna. Just more relaxed.

Next week should be very interesting.

"Since you have your children to take care of."

"I only have the one."

"Really?"

I had to pause the recording so I could giggle for a full five minutes.

Anna is such an interesting character but I wanted to bop Matt Weiner over the head with the 2x4 symbolism at the end.

Have to love the varied reactions of the drones when they found out Peggy got Freddy's office-- as usual Kenny's the most mellow and accepting.

Anyone else get the sense that in some ways Joan seemed to be seeking Peggy's approval? That she wanted to be able to confide in her? Very interesting to see their situations somewhat reversed.

And Father Gill's back next week-- oh my.

Oh yes, we need to see more of Bert Cooper's sister. She was a gas.

I totally think that Joan was wanting to confide in somebody.

I'm guessing Don will be wishing he'd been around for that meeting.

well, as Cooper said, his 12 percent was mathematically insignificant. But, he probably would have been able to convince Ms., I mean Miss, Cooper to vote no. Cooper was on the fence and probably would have gone over to the no side.

What a good episode.

They do such a fantastic job of pulling out these subterranean lines of intimacy.

Between Pete and Peggy - their confidential tone discussing Don. Between Peggy and Don - she's still loyal to him. He's the only one who knows what she's been through and gave her a chance. Between Joan and Peggy. Even between Miss Cooper and Roger (She babysat him!)

And yeah, Don's much happier in California.

That's the first time we've seen Peggy smoking.

There are always so many cultural references to tick off in each episode, things they draw on. If last week was about taking Fellini and Antonioni out to Palm Beach, I guarantee you that Anna's limp was directly inspired by Piper Laurie in The Hustler.

Poor Joan. She needs her moment. Probably won't happen this season, but she'll have it. She'll be a fabulous divorcee in S4, 1968.

Don gets to be himself. I think it's really valuable too, to have seen that Christmas scene between him and Anna-- his hope and excitement talking about Betty. He really did like her, even if as he was telling Anna about her, he was ticking off her attributes like they were items on a shopping list.

That's the first time we've seen Peggy smoking.

Yep, I caught that too, and it was interesting that she was alone, that she'd pilfered a cigarette from one of the secretary's desks, late at night, clearly working on the campaign. (Lewis noted, btw, that he thinks that throwaway about the mom in the campaign image looking familiar is something that's going to come back again.)

And then, when she had her conversation with Pete-- that was the first time we've seen her drinking that wasn't at a party, wasn't it? And again, alone. She's in a unique place, our Peggy-- and in some ways, she's turning into Don.

I think she's got aa bit of hero worship going on, so it's not too surprising she's doing all that. I mean if Sally can, why can't Peggy? Kids do emulate their parents.

And young, happy Don just about broke me. His journey has not been a happy one. He just keeps cutting himself off from more and more people. I almost wish he'd stay in California, but then we'd have no excuse to call the show Mad Men and/or we'd lose the most interesting character.

I can't wait to see how Don reacts to having to report to Duck. Although, I've got this nasty evil thought that after the merger, Palmer, Powell, Whatever is going to can Duck. After all, if he sold one company out, who's to say he wouldn't do it again?

How exactly do mergers like that work, anyway? Does Don get a 12.5% cut of the merger's value in the purchasing company's stock, or a cash buyout even without agreeing to sell his shares, or what?

Sail - I bet you're right about Duck. That British company isn't going to trust him.