That's an interesting perspective. I can't see Roger doing the same thing (and Roger beating Pete up with what could just as well be Roger's own failures that no one knows about. Ouch)

Agreed. Except, as Lucky Strike dude pointed out, Roger's not necessarily good at his job, he inherited it. I think they hired Pete for his connections, but he's actually good at it.

I wonder who they will get as new clients to replace Lucky Strike? It's gonna be a scranmble.

But now they can hire Sal!

Roger's not necessarily good at his job

Yes, I didn't realize that until this episode. His current marriage isn't looking too good, and he doesn't have any friends, either. Sucks to be Roger.

Pete's kind of interesting in that since he faced up to the fact that his connections were what were valuable about him, he's really worked at using them well AND doing all the schmoozy stuff skillfully. He was in control of that meeting with NAA, looked like.

But now they can hire Sal!

That was my first thought!

I would like it best if they tried to hire Sal and he told them to screw themselves.

Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha. Someone on the comment thread for the AV Club MM discussion wanted to know whether it isn't ridiculously unrealistic and dumbassy to have Don sign some random paperwork without looking at it closely.

Really? Out of all the jacked-up high stakes high tension depending-on-layers-of-improbabilities plot threads the show has offered up over the past 4 seasons, that's what you stick at? Because I swear I've never had a single boss who wouldn't have blithely, obliviously signed away anything from his/her citizenship to a kidney to you-name-it if it came on a nicely typed form with one of those "Sign here" arrow stickies.

The second most eyerolly comment came from the person who wanted to know why Don/Dick is so scared even now, all these years later, because, c'mon, it's only desertion.

And the scariest is the person who felt that Lane's father had a valid point about getting him to man up and face his family back in London, though of course he could have chosen a more diplomatic method to get the point across.

Ooh, having Sal back would be great.

having Sal back would be great.

But he would have to get payback for "you people". That was Don. And I don't think the kind of apology Don made to Pete would be enough.

They're not going to get Sal back. That's wishful fandom thinking, not anything like the show's universe.

And Don certainly wouldn't apologize.

Life or death on Mad Men is losing your job. That's the high, dramatic consequence.

Then again, Joss brought Angel back from hell without explanation...

Actually I could see Sal showing up when they go to San Francisco in '67. He's working for some version of Hal Riney.

Btw, who was singing along over the closing credits.

"Listen ..../ do you want to know a secret / do you promise not to tell / Ooooh Waaaaah Ooooh / I'm in love with you." - as Don looks at Megan!