don't you see him as more of a deserter, though?

you know what would make me laugh? if he ends up dead in an accident calling back to the real Don Draper and Joan is the widow that some future dude ends up paying off.

don't you see him as more of a deserter, though?

oh, I can see that as well.

I'd give no better than 50-50 odds for him washing out of basic training, most probably for either insubordination or something careless that gets another soldier injured or killed.

Joan should be an account executive -- she's got the people skills and the business sense, both.

A very satisfying clip of Joan whacking Dr. Rapey McFailuredouche with the vase.

I kind of loved that Roger worked the phones for her.

Hamm's acting in this was superb, but also the way they lit his face after he was all broken was interesting. They caught the angles of his cheek so he looked hollowed out, like a Dorothea Lange portrait.

He really looked harrowed.

Thanks for the GIF!

Interesting tidbit from Sepinwall's blog:

I spent some time with Slattery and his wife Talia Balsam (who plays Mona) at AMC's press tour party in late July, and we got to talking about whether Roger had settled - that he wanted Joan and wound up with Jane. And Slattery, who thinks about the character a lot more than I do, said he didn't believe so. He felt that when Roger, after his season one heart attack, told Joan, "You are the finest piece of ass I have ever had, and I don't care who knows it," that wasn't just Roger being crude, but Roger expressing the depth of his feelings for her. Joan was a great time for Roger, but she was also strong-willed and tough and more serious than Roger ever wanted to be, and despite his promises to leave Mona for her, perhaps he always knew this wouldn't work in the long-term.

That makes sense to me. Joan is too serious for Roger - or at least the Roger whose backstory we get here. Rich kid, bopping around Europe living out his Moveable Feast. The fact that Jane is carefree is what he loves about her. I didn't realize Mona was played by Slattery's wife though!

Also, whenever I hear "Where Is Love" I remember a cold night where a girl was standing under my apartment window waiting for a bus and singing that song. She had a gorgeous voice, and was obviously not afraid to show it at the bus stop.

Joan is too serious for Roger - or at least the Roger whose backstory we get here.

I don't get serious, per se, but would have too many expectations of Roger. With Jane, he has a beautiful girl on his arm who doesn't ask questions, and doesn't want too much of him. Joan would have expectations, and you can be damned sure that she wouldn't tolerate him cheating, whereas Jane might.

Hec, thanks for the clip, I can't watch that scene enough.

I loved how honest Don was when he was finally caught. Not completely honest, but he didn't try to cover the truth or sugarcoat it as much I expected him to.

Also, did anyone else get the feeling that when Roger was talking about "The One", that Joan was his "The One" and that Jane is a substitute?

ITA, and I said as much to TCG before I came here to see what others thought of the episode.