Yeah, that was an interesting summary. I love how this show can be continually delved into. How we don't get tired of talking about it through the week because there's so much there there.

Joan's rape was horrendous, and I hadn't quite assessed her situation as the article says, settling into life as an object at work & home. But she does seem to feel she needs to leave it there. I had thought of her as using her status as an object at the office, that she recognized and manipulated it. But seeing it juxtaposed against her personal life at home, it does become deeply worrying.

I also hadn't quite put Peggy as a fraud. Does her child make her a fraud? If she had the baby adopted outside of the family would that make her a fraud? I guess because she feels she is leading a life that she would not be able to if she were raising her son herself.

Which is where the deeply seated gender issues come in, because Pete would not be able to lead the life he is leading either, if he were raising his son. But he doesn't even know.

Joan's rape was horrendous, and I hadn't quite assessed her situation as the article says, settling into life as an object at work & home.

I hope she wakes up and realizes that if she lets that happen, she's probably going to end up like Roger's wife (thrown aside for a younger trophy), if not worse given what a scumbag her fiancee is. I shudder that he's a doctor (or going to be - is he still in med school?). I'm waiting for the reveal that he's a gynecologist or a pediatrician. Of course, I'd laugh my ass off if he turned out to be a proctologist.

Of course, I'd laugh my ass off if he turned out to be a proctologist.

Thoracic surgery resident - sorry.

Thoracic surgery resident - sorry.

Bugger. I thought I might have forgotten that they said what his speciality was.

I watched the pilot for the first time, which made a bunch of things stand out to me in the most recent ep, in particular Joan's treatment of Peggy on her first day. Specifically, the assumption that Peggy was pretty much expected to sleep with Don, that Peggy needs to shorten her hems and shrink her sweaters, that Peggy needs to play up her assets because that's what will get noticed. Which all plays into that that's all Peggy's worth - what her physical attributes are. And then, some episodes later, Joan is violated in one of the worst possible ways a woman CAN be violated and it's because of her physical attributes, her rejection of which was shown clearly in her choice of a plain, drab, please don't notice me anymore type of dress. Reverting back to how Peggy was dressed that first day.

Such an interesting juxtaposition and somewhat brilliant twist for the writers to come up with.

Somebody on the Onion A.V. board just pointed out that Cooper's sister is named Alice. Alice Cooper.

I really liked this episode despite the abundant anviling (tarot card reading and a baptismal renewal in the ocean?). The characters were all revealed in such interesting ways. There are so many huge decisions to be dealt with in the finale.

Specifically, the assumption that Peggy was pretty much expected to sleep with Don

It's easy to forget that she made a play for him when they first met. An early indicator that she wasn't just the church mouse she appeared to be.

It's easy to forget that she made a play for him when they first met.

She did, but the way she did it and how nervous she seemed when she did it made me think that it was more Joan's prompting that made Peggy make the play. She didn't make the play until after the switchboard operators and Joan talked about Don's other girl losing her job and also after her dressing down. I think it was more motivated by "I'd better do what Joan told me to do and make myself available to this man or else I'm going to get fired." than it was desire and attraction.

I think it was more motivated by "I'd better do what Joan told me to do and make myself available to this man or else I'm going to get fired." than it was desire and attraction.

Except then she goes and sleeps with Pete right away. So I think she's actually out of her rigid, Catholic home and eager to explore her freedom and sexuality. She didn't really know what she was going to do with those choices, but sleeping with Don would've been an adventure.

Any guesses on what will happen next week? I'm willing to be surprised by the story, but I think I'm most curious to see whether Joan will go ahead and marry or break it off.

I have no idea what Don's going to do, but that's part of his nature.

Except then she goes and sleeps with Pete right away.

That I think was more about desire and all you point out than her hitting on Don was. I certainly don't think she's a church mouse through and through, but I am interested to see the battle within her that takes her from frightened and not altogether confident and trying to sleep with the boss to confident enough to ask Roger for the empty office and joke with Pete about sleeping with Don.

I'd like to see Joan confide in Roger and Roger going over to the hospital and giving Dr Assmunch the watfor.

I'd like to see Joan confide in Roger and Roger going over to the hospital and giving Dr Assmunch the watfor.

Yeah and I wanted Tony Soprano to beat Melfi's rapist to a pulp. But it didn't happen.

I don't think we'll be doled out that satisfaction in this show.