<p>You can’t get to the elevator shaft that easy except in imagination? This one somehow I knew was imagined.</p>
<p>How do you looked down it? Can you see through the crack? I thought it was rather about his sinking feeling, separation anxiety type, rather than a suicide thought.</p>
<p>The doors malfunctioned and opened even though the elevator wasn’t at that floor? Can’t that happen?</p>
<p>You could be right, I just didn’t even think of that. It seems most of the imaginary scenes happened while the character was asleep… Don sick in bed, Pete asleep on the couch in his office… hmm.</p>
<p>It certainly has happened in real life. Plus this is 1960’s–no computer controls yet. Either way an effective image.</p>
<p>LA Law killed off a character when the elevator doors opened and she stepped into the shaft.</p>
<p>I agree it was an effective image. If it happened in real life that the shaft was opened just after Don put Megan in the elevator, wouldn’t it be a bit too timely coincident? It makes it more elegant if it was in his head imo.</p>
<p>Pete scene was imagined as he lay on the couch.</p>
<p>Elevator doors opening with no elevator there was real. It was a different elevator in the bank, not the one Megan got in. Don realizing how close he is to the edge, literally. </p>
<p>I was actually afraid that as Don said nothing, later in the episode it would malfunction again and someone would plunge down the shaft. Yes mimk, I was thinking of LA Law!</p>
<p>I agree about the character always being asleep when something is a dream though. So, I don’t think it was his imagination. Yes, it was the next elevator bank. Too much of a coincidence? It’s TV.</p>
<p>Yes, it was the next elevator. It wasn’t open when Megan went down. Maybe we can interpret as we like? To me, “imagined” makes a better story.</p>
<p>
Sure Why not?
Yes, I’m afraid that is what they’re trying to do…frustrating. Just like the final scene in the Sopranos.</p>
<p>So, what did everyone think about last night’s episode?</p>
<p>It was nice to see the old Don back with some fire in his belly. Loved how he supported Joan. Poor Layne - I see a sad ending for him as he made a bad situation worse.</p>
<p>Yes, Don’s spirit was waning there for a while in the episode and then he came back full force.</p>
<p>I really did not like last night’s episode. And I didn’t care for the week before that much either. Was Don really back full force? I cringed when he sat down after his wife ordered him to. That just didn’t seem like him.</p>
<p>What in the world did Mad Men do to Paul Kinsey last night? I was so glad to see him since he hasn’t been heard of since being fired at the end of season three.</p>
<p>Now all I want is Mad Men to be the Joan and Don show. Loved Christina Hendricks’ acting during the blow up with the receptionist. ‘There’s an airplane for you’ was my favorite line the whole night.</p>
<p>My son and I couldn’t help cracking up at Paul as a Hare Krishna, even though I told him I felt bad knocking any kind of spiritual belief system. My heart just broke for Lane - all he needed to do was tell the partners he messed up on his taxes and needed to take an advance or something. They would have understood … look how many times and how many ways they’ve screwed up in the past. What I’d like to see, though, is how Joan is handling a career and motherhood in a era when women weren’t “supposed” to work and childcare options were limited …</p>
<p>Full force in a professional sense.</p>
<p>True about Lane, but if he asked for an advance, we wouldn’t have the new subplot. </p>
<p>But why is Joan refusing monetary support from Roger? It does not need to go any further than that. That bothered me. He knows he’s the father.</p>
<p>‘Full force in a professional sense.’</p>
<p>After last night’s episode, I came to realize how closely Don’s predatory sex drive is linked with his business mojo. Joan and the red car really got him going.</p>
<p>My theory about Joan’s refusal is that if she takes Roger’s money she’s always tied to him in some way - and that’s not something she wants. Joan wants control over her life and a stability she defines - wants it badly enough even if it means doing everything by herself. Roger would be reliable financially (we know he’s generous to his both ex wives) but not as a role model for her son. There’d always be some “girl” rocking his boat, and Joan’s had enough of rocky relationships.</p>
<p>The hare krishna storyline was pure genius. Paul with the mini ponytail, stained turtleneck worn under a shabby sari and beatific (if forced) smile was just priceless.</p>
<p>LOVED the stained turtleneck. During the chanting scene H said that “you could just smell the patchouli and BO.” </p>
<p>Joan and Don are possibly the only two people on the show who understand one another. Both have a drive (sexual and otherwise) that helps them thrive at work, but wreaks havoc at home.</p>
<p>That was a very interesting move by Harry. Pays off Paul to get out of town–doing him a favor to get away from the cult and Lakshmi, but off to write horrible screenplays, plus his guilt about doing her. </p>
<p>I wonder if Harry may be revisited. Lakshmi was threatening.</p>
<p>And I keep wondering how Jared Harris is the son of Richard Harris–such different types. Could be just acting.</p>