Was the train scene supposed to be real or also a dream? I felt like that was intentionally ambiguous for some reason.

Pretty sure the train scene was real. Pete knew that it would come off as just a joke, but we know better I still can't believe how much I'm loving this season. Really is amazing how far the main characters have come, and how they are still so interesting. I especially love the dynamic between Don, Megan, and Betty. I really don't need anything to happen, I can just watch these characters interact and be completely entertained. Weiner really is a genius and one of the greatest TV writers ever. More Trudy tho (isn't she miss OOT or something?!).

u expect roger who dressed in blackface and who walked in on honda and called them racist names to their faces to be progressive?

roger's great because he speaks so politically incorrect, and does it hilariously, but is actually quite progressive in some of his actions/thinking... (ie was ok with peggy being a copywriter etc)

This the only TV show I've ever would watch for the set design and costuming alone. Don and Megan's apartment is fabulous and seems quite accurate for the era. The fashion and grooming styles are spot on. I expect the original James Bond to show up soon.

I genuinely laughed out loud more than once at this scene. Can't wait to watch this episode again.

Don's improving as a person/husband, and I think Betty's role is to serve as a contrast to illustrate that. Her marriage with Henry (speaking of backing the wrong horse...) appears to be somewhat empty and unhappy while Don appears happy with Megan with the cutesy light bulb note. Don hasn't cheated on Megan , and they resolved their argument over Sally/Ann/Betty in the way that healthy couples do. Can you imagine Don and Betty ending it with "that's what she wants?" "You're right. I'm sorry," and then dropping the issue entirely? No way.

It seems as if Betty's purpose is to illuminate Don's evolution as a husband. So even if she appears to be a weak link, I think she's serving an important role right now.

I think the set designs are stunning, and exceptionaly beautiful. I would be proud if I had any part in designing or building them.

This exchange was just... perfect. From the writing, to the acting to overall execution. But out of curiosity, why were you cheering? For... Don?

Perhaps Weiner realized too late (maybe after already committing to Alexis Bledel for this guest spot) that she is a terrible actress, and the only way to save the role was to show off her (surprisingly imo) very nicely shaped breasts? I think that is a real possibility!


Needs more ? IDK I lol tho.

I came to the thread to see if someone had some insight on the bolded above. I think there's something more going on than a simple workplace rivalry / Don feeling usurped by a younger more creative up and comer. Have we ever seen Don act this petty before? He's always had an honorable approach to the job (I could totally be forgetting something).

Maybe it just is a sign that Don is behind the times? IDK.

In regards to Don and Ginsburg, I think the first piece comes in when he is looking over all the work and notices that none if it is Peggy's work. At least Don can attribute Peggy's work to himself since he was her mentor.

The second piece is Don realized that his devil pitch was terrible even before seeing Ginsburgs idea, but wanted to put his work out there to see if people were just being yes men to his face. He carried it out all the way knowing he could sell the idea to the company by just doing his I'm Don Draper spiel, even though deep down he knew Ginsburg idea was better. He wanted to see if anyone would actually stand up for it against his own idea.

Any scene with Roger in it this season has been phenomenal.

That's a solid point.

Hm - I'm not sure I agree with this but it's definitely an interesting take. Definitely plan on re-watching this and a couple of the other eps this season, been such enjoyable TV season to-date!

ETA - loyalty is a theme as well this episode (Peggy's interaction with Roger about using Ginsburg, Betty betraying Don with the Anna info etc), perhaps there's something to that and Don/Ginsburg...

I'm pretty sure Don knew Ginsberg's idea was better, but he wanted to demonstrate his alpha status. He saw that Ginsberg had better ideas but wanted to show Ginsberg that he is the boss. He thinks his idea was good but Ginsberg's was better. However he goes with his own idea because he is competitive and using Ginsberg's idea would be admitting that it was better than his own.

Don didn't know his devil piece was terrible. The terrible pitch he gives into his dictaphone from what he ends up with, but starts from the place. I think Ginsberg's campaign is better, but Don's is still adequate. People were being nice to Don, but if it were complete **** they would have told him or it wouldn't have sold.

I think they did a good job presenting them, Ginsberg's is clearly awesome and better, but Don's is not bad and nobody has the guts to plainly state his is inferior. The Don/Peggy/Ginsberg this is an interesting look at ego and how it effects people.

It seems like every episode lately has sort of focused on a commonality between all the different story lines. There was a lot of passive aggression in this episode; Betty to Don, Don to Ginsburg, Sterling to Jane etc. I feel like they're taking themes and showing them in a different light through the different relationships.

Don't really know if there was passive aggression from Roger to Jane or Ginsberg to Don? Certainly wrt the latter Ginsberg went straight to Don and explicitly stated his beef. That was surprising for how confrontational it was, and certainly doesn't fit in the category of passive aggression.

Yeah, the ego angle is interesting. Peggy was all to happy to acknowledge Ginsberg's idea in the meeting, even after he immediately trumped hers. But his hubris as the episode unfolds rubbed everyone the wrong way. Acting surprised that Don had a good idea, then just digging his hole deeper. And speaking down to Peggy when Roger went to him for the wine (that was a sweet concept he came up with as well btw, for the bus billboard). He's a bit like Pete insofar as he's got chops but lacks the ability to endear himself to others or mask the things that drive him.

Those Japs killed his friends, bro.

I didn't say Ginsburg to Don, and I disagree on Roger to Jane

My bad, you're right about Don --> Ginsberg, and I don't have a confident take on the interactions between Roger and Jane.

Brilliant! It was like something from The Office.

Can someone explain this to me. Is it that the cast would be less jewish since they're, well, acting?

This seems way off.

He looked like he was punched in the stomach when they chose Ginsburg's pitch. Even though everyone chose Ginsburg's he still only brought his pitch because he so wanted to be of value and show he can still do it.

yeah I'm not confident about Roger and Jane actually tbh

The cast of Fiddler on The Roof are jews from the old country, more religious. The audience is American Jews, probably less religious.

This.

Don is trying to show he still has value in the workplace. He doesn't want to turn into Roger.

RS is such a POW.