I almost couldn't watch the blackface scene, and what made it worse was all the happy laughing reaction shots from the crowd. Even when Don excused himself, it wasn't because he was horrified, it was because he was bored.

Barb, ITA about Greg. I'm really worried about Joan.

Pothead Peggy was hilarious, and I want to high five ALL of the promo editors for the out of context "I'm in a very good place right now" in last week's teaser.

I almost couldn't watch the blackface scene, and what made it worse was all the happy laughing reaction shots from the crowd. Even when Don excused himself, it wasn't because he was horrified, it was because he was bored.

But it's horrifying because it was SO accurate and true to the times. That's part of what I meant when I said this episode really felt as if it was about the uncomfortable, on-edge moments. I was just prickly and restless all the way through.

Since Joan now has figured out that she brings more to the table than he does, I hope she leaves his ass.

So many contrasting moments I keep coming back to in this episode. Opening up with Jane being such a plastic-faced bitch to Joan contrasting with drunken Jane clutching Don and plaintively saying "You don't like me. But I'm a nice person."

Even when Don excused himself, it wasn't because he was horrified, it was because he was bored.

Really? I thought he looked really uncomfortable. I figured that Don, growing up as he did, was more aware than the others of how tasteless it was. I thought that's what put him in the reminiscing mood with the guy at the bar.

But I have no idea why Pete looked uncomfortable as well.

That's part of what I meant when I said this episode really felt as if it was about the uncomfortable, on-edge moments. I was just prickly and restless all the way through.

I thought they framed and paced it like a horror movie at times. All the interactions between Sally and her grandpa seemed like they were coiled and ready to explode. (Incidentally her lisp reminds of Linus in Charlie Brown Christmas.)

And that shot where Don walked over to Betty, alone near the trees? I thought for sure a werewolf was going to pop out and eat her head. Okay, maybe not, but they did frame that shot up like a horror movie scene.

I didn't read his reaction as "Ew, racism" but "Ew, Roger's making out with my old secretary."

I read his reaction as a universal "ew." Kind of like he can't believe that this is what he's worked his ass off for and that it's a setting in which, no matter what external trappings he may now possess, is not necessarily one in which he feels comfortable or as if he belongs. Hence, the reminiscences seeming totally natural coming from a guy who's usually so guarded.

That's true that the whole country club setting could have set him off. I suppose part of my reaction is me seeing what I want to see.

I thought Don and Pete both looked horrified at the blackface routine, but for different reasons. I think Don appears to have a burgeoning social conscience of sorts, which is sorta uncomfortable because he's not exactly hero material. But I do think he understands the desire to be treated as an equal. Pete, on the other hand, probably thought that the whole display was the gauche sensibility of the nouveau riche.