“We’ve had a pretty good year. We’ve gained more accounts than we’ve lost, a lot more, because our work is thoughtful and effective. Even Lucky Strike said so. Which means that nothing should change. Nothing will change. We’re going to push ourselves, shoulder to shoulder, and we’re going to succeed ten-fold and it will be exhilarating.” - Don Draper

Business, it seems, will be the last institution to change.

Lucky Strike is gone, and Roger got caught. I didn’t really like the fake phone call — I guess they didn’t have speaker phones then, but wouldn’t Draper have wanted to rip the phone out of Roger’s hand and make a direct plea? Wouldn’t Cooper have made a call and found out that Roger lost the account weeks ago? And is the fact that I use the last names of Draper and Cooper and the first name Roger an indication that, as Cooper said, I could never take Roger seriously because he never took himself seriously? Joan even finally gave him the old heave-ho, and now his “Sterling’s Gold” has been published.

It makes me wonder — what’s left for Roger? Lucky Strike was his only account. Is he done?

Meanwhile, Peggy continues to be the redeeming character of the show. The lipstick on the teeth was embarrassing though fun, and I liked that she enjoyed the prank. I still think the wannabe-beatnik guy is a tool, but I’m glad she’s happy all the same. Pete, on the other hand, now has a second child (not that he should leave a meeting because of it or stop chasing hearses or anything), and is being heavily courted by the rival firm. It was interesting that Don got Pete’s back in that room against Roger, but I somehow feel that’s not going to stop Pete from wanting to jump ship. Then again — we’re still waiting for Lane to return for overseas. This season is really, really picking up steam heading into the final episodes.

Which brings me to this: “You always underestimated what a skeezeball he was.”

That was Kaiba’s first thing she said once Don fell off the wagon, in every way imaginable. After I wrote last week, “For the first time since we’ve gotten to know him, I’ve started to feel like he’s someone I can root for. He’s at least trying to be a nice guy now” my wonderful bride-to-be was all too eager to gloat and point out that Don Draper is not a good guy, and that I got sucked in like all men do who want to think you can get away with everything. Ah, gender wars. Don asks Faye to give him inside information, she refuses, he starts drinking “over-par” again (I love that term and am absolutely stealing it, starting this morning), he hooks up with his eager secretary, and then comes home to find Faye waiting for him with a tip for her client. Faye all but says she did it because she loves Don, and she’s tying his happiness and professional life directly to hers. The final scene, where she’s laying in his nook on the couch, just killed me.

A transformation? Not so much. More travels down the Lost Highway? Looks like it…

—Phillip

1. kellen-gonzales reblogged this from madmenconvo
2. myfriendsontwitter submitted this to madmenconvo