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.

Good question. I'm guessing since the majority voted for the stock buyout that Don's stuck with the same thing.

Oops.

Another little piece of the puzzle that is Don, that I found fascinating, was his obvious love for cars. Which, of course, goes back to when Anna found him and he was selling cars. Makes one wonder how he got from selling cars to selling ads.

Ah well, flashback for another season.

And who else teared up slightly when Anna said, "He wanted to marry my sister-- she looks just like me but with two good legs."

Burn Notice and Psych have been renewed!

Who played Anna - she was excellent.

It's sad that Don is relaxed with almost every woman that isn't Betty.

Melinda Page Hamilton