<p>^^
I disagree about Joan’s “putting out” all along to get ahead. There might be that perception among the men, but along with that the realization that she excels in her work, and deserves her success. Besides, I never had the idea that her relationship with Roger was to gain an advantage. There’s a mutual affection. Maybe they’ll wind up together in the end. </p>
<p>As for Peggy, whenever a character appears to be leaving a series, I wonder if it has to do with the personal and/or professional life of the actor. I couldn’t find anything specific other than that she has been doing theater in London, and will be starring in a BBC miniseries as a detective, along with Holly Hunter and Lucy Lawless.</p>
<p>They definitely opened the door for him to return. I think he will. Maybe as soon as next episode.</p>
<p>And Peggy certain didn’t leave because of Joan being made partner. Although it may appear that way to Joan when she finds out Peggy left, especially with the timing.</p>
<p>And this time you can’t be more disgusted with Pete than you are with the other partners that agreed, imo. He did the dirty work, but they are equally culpable.</p>
<p>And Don has noble ideals he has not always been able to live up to. But, you have to give him credit sometimes.</p>
<p>My question is…who ISN’T a prostitute or a pimp on this show? Don’s wife doing a turn to show of her assets, Peggy slyly slipping a scrap of paper with her worth scrawled on it , and poor Joan is probably the only honest wh*** of the bunch. Even Don’s presentation, selling desire and emotion. Oh man, what a great episode. I am going to watch that again since I don’t think there was even one line of dialog that wasn’t packed with meaning.</p>
<p>E. Moss and J Hamm, deserve Emmy nods for the hand kiss scene that exposed and wordlessly portrayed the depth of the two characters’ relationship.</p>
<p>I don’t believe Elisabeth Moss is leaving the series. I’m pretty sure Peggy will continue to be an important character while she works at the other advertising firm. Maybe some competition with SCDP for accounts? She’s too important a character to be leaving the show.</p>
<p>I am always a day late, I watch via Amazon, but boy was I happy to run to the computer to see how others felt about the episode.</p>
<p>I think Joan’s scene was one of the most heart-wrenching scenes I have ever watched. When she moved the creep’s hand away I was sure she was going to walk away and I found myself begging her not to go through with it. </p>
<p>And, yes, I DO hold Peter more responsible than the other partners. At every step he shaded what he said and led everyone to believe something that wasn’t quite true. He led the partners to believe that Joan had some interest in the proposition and was willing, if the price were right. He led Joan to believe all the partners were on board - a humiliating thought. So, yes, I want to see Peter be brought down completely. Maybe some gay executive of a potential client will take a shine to him!!! Oh, that would be sweet!</p>
<p>As for Peggy - wow, was it was an episode for the women! Don looked truly broken-hearted that she was leaving. His remark that he couldn’t put on the campaign for Jaguar because of the men certainly carried a lot of meaning. I do think he had this big brother thing going with her - I don’t think he ever considered she would leave him.</p>
<p>For an actor showing off your physicall assets is just part of the job description. More for women but certainly for leading men too. Looks matter in that arena. Now if it went beyond that as some suggest might have happended then you enter tougher ground. But at that time many plays started to have some nudity so it could even be legit.
Peggy has to stay around in some manner.</p>
<p>I want to see EMoss stay around as well, but I for some reason thought back to the Inside the Actors Studio program from about two weeks ago when she was the only regular ensemble not in attendance. They gave an excuse for her absence (and I’m sure she was really in New Zealand working), but maybe that wasn’t the whole story. It just struck me when they briefly discussed her that JHamm gave the excuse and not MWeiner who is after all her boss and was sitting right there.</p>
<p>Elisabeth Moss just gave an interview for GQ. She is currently in NZ shooting a series for the BBC. I am sure she will be continuing on the show and will be heard from again. Actors have commitments all of the time. Moss was bumped up into the Lead Actress category for the Emmys and I am sure we will see her again. If we don’t I will be extremely disappointed.</p>
<p>Barrons—On an actress showing off physical assets, Peggys experience and Joans experience----, there is a reason that Matt Wiener had these three incidents where juxtaposed—Mad Men’s most important messages are all in the subtext. None of these scenes were arbitrary. Whether or not it’s “in the job description” it’s all still “selling oneself”. And if there was any doubt about what is written into the job description, the writers made it a point to make Joan’s sex act just that. She is now has a new job as a partner and it’s very clear what her “job description” was. Just different degrees of “acceptable” or “unacceptable” prostitution. As a twenty something I worked in an advertising agency and a film studio. I am still trying to work out which of the two made me feel dirtier.</p>
<p>Not Joan’s fault though. She is great at her job and has been patronized because of her looks. There have been times she has stepped in to fill empty shoes, did well and then was passed over. Unlike Peggy she never made a big deal of it. </p>
<p>The beginning of the series a lot of time was spent contrasting the two women and making them rivals, but of course after all these years there is a mutual respect.</p>
<p>Pete is disgusting. Joan sent him packing and he lied to the partners, making it sound like she volunteered, then he never told her the full truth of what was said. The only one truly gung ho was him.</p>
<p>Sorry, ultimately that was Joan’s decision, no matter who agreed. Are you going to tell your kids it’s okay to make a moral decision based on other’s approval?</p>
<p>“He led the partners to believe that Joan had some interest in the proposition and was willing, if the price were right.”</p>
<p>It’s not like he wasn’t correct. She did do it. And she did say, “You can’t afford me.” The proof is in the pudding.</p>
<p>We all sell ourselves. To us older folks it is something you just accept in life. I know they were all selling themselves–big whoop. They were just arguing about the price. We all do that. You think Don is not selling himself? His looks are not part of his success? Would he be doing this is he had unlimited choices. Doubt it.
Joan made a sale and knew her price. Pete was just the catalyst. He knew she had a price. For once he was right.</p>
<p>Joan and Peggy both broke through some glass ceilings. Joan’s act provides a future for her child. I think they were both empowered with this episode.
And, Meghan’s moment in front of the casting couch, was, as **musicamusica ** stated, juxtaposed moments after Peggy had money thrown, disrespectfully in her face, and Joan made a very difficult decision to secure her child’s future, and buy a new refrigerator.
Great episode.</p>
<p>I, too, liked this episode. I felt that both Peggy and Joan were shown as powerful women. They are in control of their own futures - unlike their male counterparts.</p>
<p>Loved the Vulture recap of this episode. It does confirm that Lane borrowed more than he embezzled since his hope was to make enough money available for Christmas bonuses that would include an amount for him to cover his tax problem. The reviewer has a positive view that we aren’t done with Peggy and I hope he’s right</p>
<p>Am I the only one who was terrified for Peggy in the final scene as she stood before the elevator and was looking back down the hall? All I could think of was the empty elevator shaft Don looked down a couple of episodes ago and that if she stepped forward when the doors opened while still gazing off to the side, she would fall down the shaft.</p>
<p>Thankfully, that didn’t happen but if that elevator malfunction wasn’t foreshadowing of some kind, I’ll eat everyone’s hat. Maybe it’ll be Pete who steps in and drops; couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, IMO.</p>
<p>The partners are all do-what-it-takes whores. They just added a like thinking player in order to benefit the greater whoredom. Interesting premise but silly in its execution. </p>
<p>yes I do believe that Don is selling himself(as I pointed out)—that’s why he could tell Joan with confidence, that it’s not worth it. Big whoop indeed.
Ha…Joblue—H screamed at the TV—LOOK OUT PEG! as she approached the elevator.</p>
<p>That crossed my mind too, but when you think about it, it’s too much like the end of Rosalind Shays in LA Law 20-odd years ago. I wondered about the look Joan gave as Peggy was leaving, though. Was it “good for you, you’re getting the hell out of here!”? Or was it “Ha. I won. I got the partnership, you got nothing. My way worked!”? Or a little of both? Just one of the many reasons why I love this show!</p>