Mad Men: Indian Summer

I love this show. Watching it in delay-o-rama because I don't have cable, but I do have iTunes... Just watched this episode tonight. I think, paradoxically, this brilliantly written show---superficially just a riveting display of sexism as (we think) we know it -- has an honesty about sexuality and intimacy that is rarely seen on television. Everything illustrated in this episode is all the more poignant for being inchoate, incipient, unnamed and contradictory. When Joan hears Roger tell her she's the 'best piece of ass' he's ever had and, and here's the kicker, that he is incapable of regretting her, that she was a pleasure to him even in the face of death --- she cries. Not because she is angry or insulted, but because she feels the truth of how he loves her, her body, her lips, her skin, and her art of being a discreet and powerful lover (a virtue for which she feels pride). The truth is, this is the language of their love, and though it may seem insulting, terrifying, violent or shameful to us now, I see it played as real and heartwrenching -- because the surface language only skims the emotions... same ones then as now. Just my two cents/sense.

She definitely isn't pregnant. Unless she's carrying the baby in her face. I predict Peggy will get a storyline where she's hooked on some speed-laden diet pill. She'll be cranking out full ad campaigns in mere moments while she types at 300 words per minute.

Funny recap of the episode is here:
http://www.unboundedition.com/content/view/2759/50/

I'm pretty sure it's a fat suit and some kind of prosthetic double chin. Previously, it was barely noticeable (some of the styles of the day tend to make the ladies' posteriors look big anyway), and I thought they were going to have her be pregnant, but now I think the idea is that she's just putting on the pounds, and the writers get to play with how differently she gets treated.

Is Elisabeth Moss wearing a fat suit to play Peggy? I swear her face looks plump but in a very odd, fake way. I really don't think she's pregnant, but I'm wondering where they were going with that whole storyline. For the first few episodes, when they would show her being frumpy, everyone would comment on how she should fix herself up. I guess she decided to go the exact opposite route? Maybe it's so she will be taken seriously as a copywriter?

he didn't send the money, he probably sent something that is worse for don. a picture or his mom's obit or something that pete can REALLY use to get that job. pete is a classic douchebag.

is peggy pregnant (real life actress, i just dont remember her name) or what? they are playing it well, just wondering why its there.

another solid episode. this has been a great season.

Bob -

I think we have seen more of a character swap between Joan and Roger than you've picked up on. If I'm not mistaken, you did note that when their affair was revealed, it appeared more as if Roger appeared to actually "love" Joan, and that she appeared to be in it more just for sex and have no ostensible emotional connection to him. In this episode (as well as when Roger first had the heart attack), we actually see that Joan does appear to love Roger when she promptly cried after his "finest piece of..." comment.

As a woman watching this show, it's the first time I've felt sympathy for her character, since it's an example of how most of those office hook-ups end. The woman gets tied up and thinks there might be some romantic future, and finally she realizes the man was just in it for carnal pleasure.

Ah, sigh. At the end of each episode of this show, I never know which class discussion group I want more, Psych or English Lit

Wasn't Adam seen laying money out after he had mailed the package? I don't think it's the money.

This series gets my vote for best on TV. After Rome ended I thought there could be no other. Then Mad Men came. And though very different there are similarities. The quality of writing, historical accurate culture depictions. And my nephew told me the Wire will return with one more season! It looks like there's room for quality programing along with the insane, inane, PC-centric shows like Grey's Anatomy, ER and the badly written guff out there. I'm a simple guy, one or three (Weeds and Brotherhood are also shows I appreciate) good shows a season along with the chowder keeps me happy.