Mad Men: A Day's Work Rewatch
February 25, 2015 4:05 AM - Season 7, Episode 2 - Subscribe
Peggy receives a bouquet of flowers at the office. Pete navigates the politics of new business. Joan is put in an impossibly awkward situation.
Peggy was a complete ass in this episode.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:31 PM on February 25, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:31 PM on February 25, 2015 [3 favorites]
I think this episode really shows Peggy's disappointment. She used to Don's girl, then she was Ted's girl, and suddenly she's no one's girl and she has to deal with Lou, who doesn't think much of her, which screws with her perception of how she views her success.
When she gets the flowers (or thinks she does) she experiences all sorts of emotions about them, and ultimately I think she realizes that she is more than what men think of her, and she's ashamed about how much importance she's attached to men's approval and to the damn flowers. Then she's jealous because Shirley is on the road she would have been on had she not decided to be a 'career woman.' Shirley has a fiance, Shirley has her roses and Shirley is perfectly, uncomplicatedly happy with her decisions. Peggy isn't jealous of the flowers or of Shirley's life per se, she's jealous that Shirley is so contented. Peggy is not content.
In a way, she's to Shirley how Joan was to her. Shirley threatens Peggy because what if she's right? What if the right answer was to be a secretary, to get engaged and then get married? What if all that sacrifice was for nothing? Just as Joan resented and was jealous of Peggy because here's Joan, doing exactly what was proscribed for her, and what did it get her?
As things unfold, we realize what's true for all of us. No matter what weird twists and turns our lives take, ultimately, we're exactly where we're meant to be, doing what we're meant to be doing.
But Valentine's Day brings out the worst in people, that's for damn sure!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:11 AM on February 26, 2015 [3 favorites]
When she gets the flowers (or thinks she does) she experiences all sorts of emotions about them, and ultimately I think she realizes that she is more than what men think of her, and she's ashamed about how much importance she's attached to men's approval and to the damn flowers. Then she's jealous because Shirley is on the road she would have been on had she not decided to be a 'career woman.' Shirley has a fiance, Shirley has her roses and Shirley is perfectly, uncomplicatedly happy with her decisions. Peggy isn't jealous of the flowers or of Shirley's life per se, she's jealous that Shirley is so contented. Peggy is not content.
In a way, she's to Shirley how Joan was to her. Shirley threatens Peggy because what if she's right? What if the right answer was to be a secretary, to get engaged and then get married? What if all that sacrifice was for nothing? Just as Joan resented and was jealous of Peggy because here's Joan, doing exactly what was proscribed for her, and what did it get her?
As things unfold, we realize what's true for all of us. No matter what weird twists and turns our lives take, ultimately, we're exactly where we're meant to be, doing what we're meant to be doing.
But Valentine's Day brings out the worst in people, that's for damn sure!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:11 AM on February 26, 2015 [3 favorites]
If we ever get around to putting together a clickbait-style list of Top 10 Mad Men Quotes of All Time, I nominate: "February 14: masturbate gloomily."
As things unfold, we realize what's true for all of us. No matter what weird twists and turns our lives take, ultimately, we're exactly where we're meant to be, doing what we're meant to be doing.
Thanks for that. That's kind of beautiful, and something I actually needed to hear today.
posted by ChrisTN at 3:34 PM on March 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
As things unfold, we realize what's true for all of us. No matter what weird twists and turns our lives take, ultimately, we're exactly where we're meant to be, doing what we're meant to be doing.
Thanks for that. That's kind of beautiful, and something I actually needed to hear today.
posted by ChrisTN at 3:34 PM on March 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
Bert is such a smiley racist.
posted by tilde at 8:19 AM on May 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by tilde at 8:19 AM on May 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
This show is generally so good about giving every character a good "total asshole" moment now and then in case we the audience are cheering for them too hard. Except for Peggy, whom they usually forget about needing those.
Apparently this episode saw that bill come due. Jesus, Peggy is a total asshole here. Obviously so is Lou but that's Lou's entire plot function, so not surprising.
Sally & Don, and Joan and Shirley and Dawn, make this one of the best episodes of the series, though.
posted by Navelgazer at 8:34 PM on March 5, 2020
Apparently this episode saw that bill come due. Jesus, Peggy is a total asshole here. Obviously so is Lou but that's Lou's entire plot function, so not surprising.
Sally & Don, and Joan and Shirley and Dawn, make this one of the best episodes of the series, though.
posted by Navelgazer at 8:34 PM on March 5, 2020
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posted by drezdn at 5:59 AM on February 25, 2015 [2 favorites]