Mad Men episode 11 The Other Woman

[Joe Shlabotnik]

Ok, I must admit, (after bemoaning this season so far) that this episode brought the old excitement back. Finally, they got back to business and back to their devious ways. My take away is something like this:

Joan: Holy shit,
Pete: well played,
Layne: they will be scraping you off the sidewalk in 2 episodes,
Don: awesome pitch, but you still suck at relationships
Peggy: You da boss.

So will all the excitement of landing Jaguar be naught? Now I'm about to start moaning that there is only 2 episodes left.

[Iris]

1. This was an excellent episode.

I'm watching again tonight b/c my husband hasn't seen it.

When Peggy went in the elevator, did you have a moment where you thought about LA Law?

The Joan story line made me squeamish but I honestly don't feel judgmental about her The word "slut" was already being tossed around on FB last night before the episode was even ended. It was an interesting position for her character to be put in.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

2. Actually I've never seen an episode of LA Law,

Not my cup of Tea. What I was wondering is why they showed Joan observing Peggy leaving. Despite Peggy's justifiable aversion to those that sleep their way to success, there is a bond between the two, and I think it will be Joan keeping Peggy on board. Peggy has been essential to the the story line since episode 1.

The Joan thing was complicated. Both her and Campbell were correct. Yes it is prostitution, but yes it is a business transaction on a higher level. And everyone on the show has done things they regretted for free, so why not at least get a big payout. Its not like anyone forced Joan. I thought the sequence of Joan on one hand, and Draper pitching on the other, was so well done and at this point, the highlight of year. It had a difficult to describe quality that almost reminded me of something like out of the Godfather.

[Iris]

3. I was a kid when LA Law was on, but this scene was unforgettable

I thought the Joan and Peggy moment was significant. On a probably too simplistic level, I thought it was b/c both had been able to get what they needed from a man's world. I also think it's worth noting that Joan is obviously older than Peggy and it makes one wonder what kind of choices she might have had if she had bee born later.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

4. LOL (am I supposed to lol ??!!)

Now thats a plot twist! Almost as good as

Ironically the first time Peggy and Joan said goodbye too.

[solara]

5. I agree with you.

The L.A. Law reference was , I think, about the moment when a not too well liked character, stepped into an open elevator, which wasn't really there and plunged to her death. I had a fleeting moment of "ut oh" as I saw Peggy there waiting for the elevator.. but she is too terrific to end that way.

"I thought the sequence of Joan on one hand, and Draper pitching on the other, was so well done and at this point, the highlight of year. It had a difficult to describe quality that almost reminded me of something like out of the Godfather."

I totally agree with you. And then showing that Don had come to Joan too late was a little heart-breaking. I felt that if Joan had known that not ALL the men were on board with her "business deal" she might not have gone through with it.

That Charlie is a weasel.. not to be trusted.. well played.


The writing was beautiful and nuanced as per usual in this series. wow.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

6. Doh! I didn't make the death by elevator connection.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. "did you have a moment where you thought about LA Law?" LOL! YUP!

[Bolo Boffin]

8. You're a Lane-sidewalk shipper?

I'm rooting for Petecrete myself.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

9. ya, Pete may be a time bomb in his own right

I think he's more essential to the show though, but then again I thought Peggy was (is) too. The whole place is going to explode without Peggy, when cheques start bouncing, when the Jaguar guy starts expecting Joan to be a regular, and when they don't have the operating cash to service Jaguar. I remember from owning my own business, success can be a cruel master.

[jumptheshadow]

10. It was interesting to see the difference in Don's behavior...

...he cautioned Joan against making the deal but fired the gay designer for not sleeping with the client.

[Bucky]

11. No, he fired the Sal because the client demanded he go.

Without Lucky Strike, the business would have been ruined--Lee Jr was really that vindictive. But Don has always seen most of his people as expendable. Also, note, this was a new client and thus not as critical to SCDP's survival.

[jumptheshadow]

12. I thought I remembered it this way...

The client demanded he had to go because Sal wouldn't accept his advances:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katy-hall/bryan-batt-talks-sals-mad_b_501000.html