Mad Men Season 6 Episode 9 Recap "The Better Half"

Mad Men tonight felt packed with events and I really enjoyed the episode. Shall we get right into it?

Random Thoughts As I Watched the Episode

Ah, the age old question continues, what is better margarine or butter? Hmm...let's get Peggy in here to pick sides in our little tug of war, then blast her out when she doesn't take your side, Don.

For as far as Peggy has come, certain men in the office definitely don't respect her, Peter's comment to Harry asking him if he was suddenly dumber than Peggy. Nice, Pete, real nice.

Megan's whole outfit in her soap scene was ridiculous. A red lace jumpsuit?Ugh, no and that wig is just horrific. 

Peggy's great line -"He's interested in the idea, you're interested in your idea." New Peggy has no qualms about telling Don off and telling him exactly how selfish he is, I keep expecting him to really just insult her like he used to, but he hasn't yet. He just looks at her stunned all the time probably wondering where the heck quivering little Peggy with her peter pan collars and ponytail went....

Oh hello Betty. You are looking fabulous in that yellow outfit, the man coming up to her while she waited reminded me very much of how Henry arrived on the scene hitting on her when she was pregnant with Gene. Betty loves the attention she is getting ahead, and needs an ego boost asking the guy if she looks like she has given birth to three children. For the record Betty- no you do not-but your hair is looking a tad bit on the ridiculous side and probably wouldn't move if you went through a wind tunnel.

Oh yes, Abe. You are ridiculous and dumb. We get it, you are so above everyone else with your morals, that you come off being a complete and utter jerk. Peggy tries to work with him about being stabbed and love her snarky comment about how she was brought to the west side by him.

Megan is in jeans- how far we have come from Betty being fully dressed from dinner- now Megan greets him in a tank top and jeans. Society is moving in a very casual direction. I'm not sure but she may be the first female we've seen on the show wearing jeans. 

I like how they had all the noise from the city in the apartment, the constant sound of the police sirens again noting how dangerous NYC was in 1968.

So Henry is jealous? Nope. just turned on, and he and Betty get it on in the limo. 

Joan may have had the funniest line of the night when Roger told her he was taking his grandson out to the movies and the zoo, "Oh so it's just a regular workday?" 

Couldn't help but think what people would say if Roger ever held Kevin up to his face, like when he put his grandson's face up against his and asked if they looked alike. 

Margaret definitely gave the side eye to Joan.

Eck. Duck and Peter in a room together, an apartment that was solely bought for cheating. The room just got sleazier, can't stand Duck.

Pete's response to a job opening in Witchita, "Anything back here on earth?" haha.

But who knew Duck would have some wisdom in him telling Peter to get his life and family back in order because that is his true source of his confidence. Peter's life is falling apart between moving out of his home and his mother being sick.

Ted is in love with Peggy. Called it. 

Don checking out Betty? Of course, she's not his anymore, he wants his toy back.  

I thought it was actually really cute when Betty was singing the song with Bobby- an actual maternal scene, and not sure if we would have seen it a few years ago with her constant annoyance at her children who she blamed for being stuck. She's in a happier place now, and no longer takes her frustration out on her kids.

As soon  as Don saw Betty acting all maternal I knew they were going to sleep together. Acting like a mother is one of Don's biggest turn ons.  Didn't Megan pretty much seal the deal of an engagement once she was calm about the kids spilling the milkshake. He has such mommy issues (among other things). But overall this was a really cute scene of the three of them together, and possibly one of the only times they have acted like a family unit. 

Back to the office with Pete asking Joan for some help and ending with Peter actually thanking someone (Joan) for their help. Wow, words you don't often hear come out of that mouth without sarcasm.

Traveling back to the camp once more, Don and Betty reminiscence and the differences in their childhood become apparent as Betty went to camps all summer and we know Don was too busy hanging out with hookers at brothels during his childhood.  Talking about your past with an ex is never a good idea-especially memories of making their first child......

Betty is loving the attention, and I'm sure it was very satisfying to her to have the upper hand in this situation, and know that she had one over Megan. She still needs her ego boost- and can't help but ask Don what he thought when he saw her again.

Who knew Betty would have such pearls of wisdom telling Don that she knows she can only have his attention for so long and then saying of Megan, "That poor girl- she doesn't know that loving you is the worst way to your heart." Betty nailed that one on the head.

Don wakes up alone,  and is quickly put in his place when he sees Henry and Betty eating breakfast together. Laughing and talking and having true intimacy, and he just gets to sit by himself in the corner-alone.

Margaret calling Roger to ream him out for taking her son to see Planet  of the Apes and now having nightmares  and when he tells her that Don took Bobby she was quick to snap oh Don Draper- father of the year. This will be Don Draper years from now being blasted by Sally for taking her child someplace inappropriate. 

"We'll probably have to get rid of the dog- he's that afraid of fur!" - Margaret

So Bob Benson is now part of Joan's life. She looks really  happy. Let's hope he's not a creep, she deserves something good after Greg. Of course Roger has to show up and almost ruin it, not sure if Bob bought the whole Roger explanation for him being there.

At first, I felt bad that Peggy stabbed Abe, but then what he said to her in the ride over in the ambulance that her activities were offensive to my every waking moment and that she'll always be the enemy (because she's in advertising) I pretty much hoped she would lean over and stick the knife in deeper.  What a jerk, he obviously didn't have objections to her activities bringing in cash and money to support them.  He only added to being a complete and utter jerk by saying their break up would be a great ending to his article. Good riddance, you are better off without him, Peggy- feel free to cry it out on Stan's beard.

Megan is just hanging out on the balcony in her underwear and her and Don has a semi heart to heart. He doesn't really open up, but who knows, maybe it will be better for a little while. We know Don can't really do long term.

Joan telling Roger that she can't count on him, women in this episode were really opening up and calling out their male counterparts on things. 

I thought for sure Bob was going to go to Peter and say something about Roger and Joan. But he didn't- so does he like Joan? He could have added fuel to that rumor, but instead went in to help Pete with his mother which we know was for selfish reasons, but he made sure to not have Peter get mad about Joan over saying anything. Can't figure that guy out!

Poor Peggy- rejected by Abe and now Ted- if the writers can indulge us in having Don and Betty sleep together again (which wasn't a huge shock) they can indulge us in Peggy and Stan getting together and making it work. 

So that's it folks. What did everyone else think of the episode? Anyone else have that Abraham song stuck in their head????


Clothes That I Want In My Closet

Peggy's cute little white hat. 
Peggy's polka dot dress
Her very fabulous red and white polka dot top 
Joan's purple dress
Megan's hair scarf
Joan's little beach outfit

Mad Men Season 6 Episode 7 Recap "A Man With A Plan"

Okay Mad Men is on. Sorry this is late in posting.

Last week's episode was definitely a curveball so lets see what happens this week.  A quick note before writing on this episode, when Don wrote the open letter dismissing cigarette clients going forward, Ted called his office pretending to be Bobby Kennedy as a joke.....and now we are in June 1968.......exactly.

Random Thoughts As I Watched the Episode
Oh Don.  He can't handle reality so of course he freaked out and couldn't hit the elevator  button fast enough when he heard Arnold and Sylvia fighting.  Grow up Man child.

Nice to see Peggy and Joan getting along so well. Although it must sting for Joan to show Peggy her office and not have her own change, but Joan is a partner and each will be showing off their power in their own right.  A Joan who knows her power and the new Peggy will be unstoppable in this office. That's the real merger in my books.

Loved Don's eye roll when Ted said groovy. Actually pretty much loved all of Don's expressions each time Ted opened his mouth, they are very different in character, very different bosses with different approaches to how to stimulate their employees. Old school meets new school, let's see how this plays out.

Her daughter in laws are Trudy and Judy, cracks me up every. single. time.

So Pete's dad obviously cheated quite a bit, and so its no wonder that the apple didn't fall far from  the tree, his mom is losing it. She was never very warm to begin with, so no wonder Pete is the way he is. People have some screwed up parents on this show and now Pete's life is falling apart even more.

Oh my goodness, I forgot about that guy getting fired and having a Jerry Maguire meltdown in the office.  lol "No Burt I'm letting you go again, no one fought for you." of course not, the guy is a total jerk.

I want that bed in that hotel.

I need you and nothing else will do. Oh Sylvia you played right into Don's neediness with that line.

"She's an excellent secretary she wouldn't tell me anything." a total callback to Peggy being told by Joan never to say anything and Peggy should know, she was an excellent secretary as well. She also knows that Don is probably out having a nooner.

"I just talked to Don."
"Black or white?" oh my word.

Ted said rap session, I just rolled my eyes for Don.

"I can talk about whatever I want." Sylvia is quite a bit stronger than she would appear.
Ugh. Don with his whole S&M fascination. We get it Don, you want to feel in control because ninety nine percent of the time, your life is spiraling.

I want Stan's mug. Is it Fire king?

Loved Ted calling Don out on his shit, there is going to be some major power struggles going on with this merger. But I just want one whole episode with Roger and new Roger (Harry Hamlin) drinking, flirting, traveling, and throwing out one liners.

Peter is such a hypocrite, I know we know this, but he was all about getting his father in law to do business with his company to help him out but he couldn't even help out his own brother.

"I have to eat something."
"Doesn't ice count?" ha!

Joan is sick, this freaked me out a bit at first, and the scene in the emergency room reminded me of Don and Joan sitting in the ER waiting after that guy got his foot cut off by the lawnmover. She was also wearing green in that episode.

Okay so Bob- creepy? yay or nay? I can't decide. On one hand,he's definitely been creeping on everyone lately, but there is no way he could have planned to walk by and have Joan be sick. That was actually really nice how he handled it, and how he got Joan into the doctors. Jury is still out on him. I thought Henry was creepy and he actually turned out to be the best thing for Betty. It was sweet that he brought over the present for Joan and check in on her.

Ted is drunk, and Peggy is pissed.

"I'm voting for Nixon."
"What's wrong you? Don't you have any hope?"

I love how Ted summed up Don.
"He's mysterious he doesn't talk for long stretches and then hes incredibly eloquent." or full of crap.

Quite possibly one of the best lines this season:
"If I wait patiently by the river the body of my enemy will float by"

"Move forward." You tell him Peggy. Isn't that very much what he told her after her pregnancy?


Ted you are rocking the heck out of those sunglasses, and are in complete control of a situation where Don is not. Don looking uncomfortable reminded me of him telling Peggy the story in the suitcase about the guy freaking out on the plane over to Korea, "Man was not meant to fly!"

"honestly Joan,  every good deed is not part of a plan." uh oh. Possibly not, but sometimes that one action can be your savior. But there goes my radar going off again about Bob.....


Pete is funny again this episode!
"My mother can go to hell! Ted Chaugh can fly her there!"

"It's easy to give up something when you're satisfied. No, it's easy to give up something when you're ashamed." Sylvia and her religion won out again.

That was a nice move, Joan saving Bob's job, but I don't think it was calculated on his part, he just happened to be at the right place at the right time.

Megan is trying hard to save her marriage, don't bother Megan. Save yourself.

I liked how they had Peter's mother wake him up in the middle of the night and tell him that they shot that poor Kennedy boy, and Peter thinking that because she is losing her mind, she meant JFK and told her that was years ago. It just adds to the confusion of the era and people thinking history was repeating itself.

"I don't understand what's going on. They're shooting everybody." Peter's mother pretty much summed up this whole season, a time of complete and utter confusion.

Don looks like he is completely checking out at this point.


Clothes That I Want In My Closet
Sylvia's yellow dress and that matching coat.
Sylvia's red dress
Her Black bag
Joan's scarf and green coat.

Best Roger Sterling Line's of the Night

"Damnit Burt you stole my goodbye." After Burt called him a prick.

Mad Men Recap Season 6 Episode 5 "The Flood"

Random Thoughts As I Watched the Episode

Peggy is movin' on  up. Peggy is the one with the money and power, loved the real estate lady's face when she realized Abe was not in charge.

Abe- you look ridiculous. And dirty.

Oh Bobby is now actually doing something?  Was wondering why they even have him on the show with his Benjamin button habit of growing younger each year.

"Oh my goodness you really are good at everything." yup, that pretty much sums up Megan.

Glad we were able to view some more of Ginsberg's private life. It was sorta cute that he was set up, but could understand his frustration.

Peggy's dress is cute (I love the pink and green together), but she looks so young and insecure next to Megan and her full blow Hollywood glamour.

"Don't apologize Peggy- you deserve it." Yes Peggy, you sure do.

The guys are talking, but all you see is Joan. Joan- you are wearing the hell out of that cobalt blue dress.

Yup, Peggy definitely has a thing for her boss, and from that look he just gave her across the table, its definitely mutual.

Ginsberg on his date was so cute. "You smell great" and then just rambling about sex. Really funny.

What a way to address the Martin Luther King, Jr shooting. Joan crying, and just the shock in the room. The show always seems to find a way to address those big moments without it looking like a staged pop culture sixties show.

Pete called Trudy, how different it was from a few years before when JFK was shot and they came together as a couple. However, Trudy was going to wear that gorgeous blue cocktail gown to Margaret Sterling's wedding, and I noticed she had a blue dress on tonight. Very casual in contrast  but once again showing how far the characters have come in their lives. No more nights on the town for Trudy, she is comfortable in her suburban role.  She may be the only character on the show who is happy in her role (despite the marriage failing) but that was her ending it. Trudy is no fool.

And Megan won. Of course.

You know you're a complete jerk when you get into a fight with Peter Campbell and PETER is the voice of moral reason. I'm looking right at you Harry.

Most awkward hug ever. Joan hugging Dawn. Omg- Dawn's face.

Don trying to keep a straight face the whole time Randall was talking. Stan on the other hand, didn't even bother to cover his smirk and laughter.

Ginsberg's dad. What an archaic thing to say, the reason you have all these faults (not being able to cook, clean or sew) was because he was in need of a girl. Oh, that MUST be it.

LOL. "I'm not allowed to watch TV for a week. " oh okay. Let's take him to the movies. Planet of the Apes. Classic.

Perfect time to show the ending of that movie while New York is rioting over King's death.  "You ruined it, Damn you. Damn you all to hell."

This Conversation:

"The humans blew up  New York?"- Bobby
"All  of America." - Don
"So he came back to here?"- Bobby
"In the future." - Don
"Jesus." - Bobby

Peggy seemed so happy when Abe said the reason he didn't want to live in the upper east side was because he wanted their kids to grow up around all different types of people. Deep down, she's still insecure about her decision to move in with him, and I'm sure always has that little nagging voice of her mother saying Abe won't marry her.

What a sweet thing to say, "Everybody likes to go to the movies when they're sad." If Bobby keeps giving out lines like this in the show I'll stop wanting them to write off his character.

That was a great conversation between Henry and Betty. It may have taken him some time, but he did listen to her, and then said, "I can't wait for people to meet you. I mean, really meet you." He sees so much more to Betty than Don ever did. Of course Betty, who still thinks her worth is only in looks, immediately becomes insecure.

A quick thought- could Henry going into such a public office mean something for Don? Would his opponents try to dig up dirt on Betty and uncover Don's secret?

Megan to Don, "Is this really how you want them to remember you?" Calling him out on his drinking and was surprised when Don opened up to hear about faking it with his children, until one day they do something and that feeling he's been faking becomes real, and you think your heart will explode. A moment of raw truth.

I have to say I really did love this episode, one of my favorites in a long time, I may be alone in this, but its right up there with "The Grownups" from season three.


Outfits that I Want in My Closet

Megan's fur stole. Gorgeous Darling.
Joan's glasses.
Peggy's striped sweater and adorable headband.

Best Roger Lines of the Night

Roger to Randall "It never works!" when he said he wanted to communicate without words. What a hack.

"He talked me off a roof once, I kinda owed him."


What did everyone else think?

Mad Men Season 6 Episode 4 "To have and to hold" Recap

It's that time again! Mad Men.

Random Thoughts As I Watched The Episode

Finally some information about Dawn. I loved her commentary about how everyone is so sad there (at the firm).

There were references last week to being the rooster of a place, and then this week Sylvia tells Don she'll leave a penny under the mat when her husband has flown the coop.

I want Joan's pink casserole dish.

Oh Stan you are rocking that beard and fringed coat.

Meredith looks like a little girl in that ridiculous outfit, bows and all.

Love that there seems to be quite a bit of Joan this episode- finally.

Oh Harry. So harsh. Although I am not a fan of Harry, he has done quite a bit for the company, and find it odd that they don't look into making him a partner since he was a pioneer in the tv department for them. But at the same time, I know Don can't stand him. In the end, he got a check, but not the partnership that he wanted.

Meredith, you are an idiot.

Dawn and Joan were having very similar situations this week, both feeling so powerless and not able to stick up for themselves. They were dealing with being jealous of people, Joan seemed a little jealous of her Mary Kay friend who was jealous of her. Dawn was jealous of her friend who was getting married and would thus, never have to worry about the drama Dawn deals with at work.

I love Megan's gold chevron dress- orange is a big color for her, and last season she had that orange chevron coat, very simple, but now its literally turned to gold.  As Peggy once noted, Megan is just one of those girls who seems to be able to do anything well, and basically turning things into gold. Everything that she tries is golden, and she often has so many outfits with golds to them.

How things have changed, Megan's coworker telling her not to smoke, season one, not many people would have even said that.

oh.my.goodness. Swingers. I was waiting to see how long it was before they delved into that. This whole season so far has had that feeling at all the parties that people were going to be switching partners.

Joan's bored face as her friend made out with the younger man. So priceless.

Don does not say I love you back to Megan when she said it, he's a man of few words this season with her, barely speaking in most of his scenes with her.

Peggy is the new Don- "if you don't like what they are saying, change the conversation." A direct Don line.

So awkward when they all walked into that restaurant after the pitch.

Stan giving Peggy the middle finger. That friendship is over.

"I don't care if everybody hates me here, as long as you don't"- Dawn to Joan. Dawn recognizes how much Joan knows, and knows that the company needs her. She may be the only person that saw Joan as powerful this week.

Don is such a hypocrite with how he lashed out at Megan saying getting paid to kiss people makes her a prostitute and then handing over that penny to Sylvia that she left under the doormat.  Last season, I predicted like many others, that Megan's career could be the end of their marriage. Don does not like to share his toys.

I thought when Sylvia said that she would pray for Don, for him to find peace, was probably one of the most beautiful things ever said on the show. She may just completely understand him. Such a touching moment.

So what did you think of this episode?


Clothes That I Want In my Closet

Joan's blue dress that she was wearing when she greeted her old friend. LOVE the pin.
Joan's blue rose dress. That color looked amazing on her.
Scarlet's blue and orange purse.
Megan's gold and coral chevron dress
Megan's fabulous big ring that she wore to the work dinner.
Megan's short khaki coat with the amazing dark brown belt. So cute.
Scarlet's blue and green dress.
Joan's black and white dress.

Best Roger Line of the Night

"Should we fire him before he cashes the check?"

Mad Men' Season 6 Episode 3 'The Collaborators'

It's time for Mad Men!!!!!!


Random Thoughts as I watched the Episode:

Trudy! She is my absolute favorite. Your couch is horrific. But Trudy, you are fabulous.

It's disturbing that Don's flashback after seeing Sylvia open the door is one of a moving to the brothel, and then he gave her money after sleeping together. He has such a virgin/whore complex. That cross is everywhere. Everywhere.


"Heinz Ketchup Don! It's the coca cola of condiments!"

Love seeing Heinz on the show - a little hometown representation.

That Jaguar guy is such a creep, and Joan handled him like a pro. The episode was very clearly dealing with women's issues, from birth control, pregnancy, divorce, comments on women working, husbands and wives,  and women and money. We watched as Peggy struggled with her coworkers and  Joan coped with the aftermath of how she attained her partnership. It was an in depth look at the role of women, what they were expected to be, what they wanted to be, and how limited their power was throughout that time.


Bob seems to be gearing up to be the new Pete with handling the clients. There is just something off about that guy.

Side note: when Don and Sylvia are talking during dinner and they cut in and out to later in the evening, it reminded me of the directing from the Jaguar episode where Don's pitch was played with flashbacks of Joan sleeping with the client, an issue that was brought up again this episode.

Mistresses meeting wives. Awkward.

Trudy needs to find a better man. If Joan and Don never get together, please have Don find true love with Trudy. Oh wait, I did say she needed to find a better man....but oh Don and Trudy together. I would like to see that.  Trudy is no fool and as much as Peter wants to be Don, Trudy is no Betty, she has much more fight in her. I love how she told Peter off, and how in control she was the whole time.  I'm glad she finally told Pete it was done.

I love that they named their daughter Tammy simply because I loved all the Tammy movies.

I really don't want Peggy to betray Stan, they have such great chemistry together, and that beard is growing on me.  So funny when she played it off that she was on a business call and he replied yes ma'am your wig will be ready by then. Hilarious.

Herb the Jaguar guy is an idiot. I love how Don pitched the idea, so funny, when Herb was  saying that Don had never had been a salesman, since we know Don once sold furs and cars, and is essentially selling his false identity everyday.

We finally met Uncle Mack, who once Don remarked was about the only person who was ever kind to him during his childhood. We saw Mack sleeping with Don's stepmother, and was curious if it was a consensual relationship or she felt she needed to sleep with him because he gave them a roof over their heads.

I was confused, did Megan have an abortion? Or was that just what she was telling Don?


Pete is disgusting


Example A "Can you hurry up?" to the woman after sleeping with her at the apartment.

Example B: "What did you say to him?"  to the  same woman who was beaten by her husband, who obviously found out about Pete.


Clothes That I want in my Closet:

Peggy's little purple number, that scarf is adorable.
Sylvia's blue dress that she wore in their apartment
Sylvia's dress she wore at the restaurant- amazing earrings!

An Outfit that I don't want in my closet:
Megan's blue house coat. Not as horrible as Betty's pink one, but still horrible.

The episode ending with this line from the song:

"When the end comes I know they'll say just a gigolo as life goes on without me."

How appropriate.