That's a great analysis of Miss Farrell's annoyingness, Julia—I think you're right that the show has failed to explain Don's interest in her and, as a result, has failed to engage the viewer's interest as well. As for her brother's Caesar reference, it could just be the latest evocation of the Decline and Fall theme. Or it could be more specific: a hint that someone is about to stab Don in the back. Of course, the cast of potential Brutuses is so large at this point, it's hard to say where that unkind cut might come from. Et tu, Sal? Et tu, Betty? Et tu, Bobby, who would like it if for once his dad would ask him how his day at school was?
A few stray items:
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StumbleUpon—Regarding Miss Farrell's little brother: Couldn't Don have driven another 20 miles and left the kid in Framingham? Maybe bought him a steak at Ken's? If Don's so concerned with the wellbeing of this afflicted young man, why not leave him at a gas station, at least, as opposed to the side of the road, with no sign of civilization in sight? Made for a nice visual—Don turning around the big Caddy on a ghostly Massachusetts road—but it didn't make much sense logistically.
—Roger Sterling Sr.'s widow stole the scene from her son. She seemed truly dotty, although I couldn't help wondering whether she was playing it up just a bit, so as to bust Roger's chops for taking up with such a young thing. Roger is forced to explain that Jane is his wife, not his daughter, prompting his mother to reply, hilariously, "Does Mona know?"
—I loved the brief glimpse into the old days at Sterling Cooper, specifically the story about Doug Thompson persuading Roger to eat a whole roll of laxatives on the pretense that they were candies. It seems that despite having the family name on the building, Roger got his share of hazing when he was coming up. Now that's a flashback I could have supported.
—We learned in this episode that when Roger discovered Don, he was working at a fur company and attending night school. So Don really does owe Roger a lot—we don't know exactly what he was doing for the fur company, or how big the operation was, but regardless, that must have been a pretty big break, being offered a job at Sterling Cooper. And the night-school detail makes sense. Don isn't like Connie Hilton—he doesn't play up his humble origins when mixing in society. It stands to reason that at some point he felt the need to acquire a bit of book learning if he was going to pass in the boardrooms of Madison Avenue.
—It turns out that even Lane doesn't like Moneypenny. "He's such a toad," remarks Lane's wife. "He is," Lane agrees. Almost makes you pity the poor chap.
London calling,
John
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Series creator Matthew Weiner has stated he leaves nothing for future seasons and puts everything out there each season, like its the last, and this episode could almost double as a series finale. I think when Mad Men eventually ends its run, there will be discussion whether this episode was the proper series finale and should have called it quits right here, or will Weiner have new and interesting places to take us in season 4?
-- guyroy
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"And the way that they saw themselves is gone." Julia, I think this pretty clearly refers to Peggy having her child and giving it away. Until Peggy told Pete about the baby, Don was only person on the show outside of her family and priest that knew her secret. Don was the one that visited Peggy in the hospital after she gave birth and had been out of work for a while.
-- BumblebeeMan
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Who's in charge, Betty or Henry? Something that surprised me was the amount of involvement Henry had in Betty's divorce advice. Does it ring true for the period that Henry went to the lawyer with Betty and apparently also knew the lawyer and may have selected the lawyer for Betty? And, when Betty told Don that she would be consulting with a divorce attorney and Don should too, was she simply parroting Henry's words?
Certainly since Henry's divorced he knows the routine and I can understand him giving Betty the benefit of his experience. Last episode Henry was willing to give Betty the time she needed and he would wait. Now, things are fast-tracked to Reno. I'm sure that it's been hard for Betty to continue to live in the same house with Don who continues to deny Betty's feelings. But, seeing Betty sitting in the lawyer's office on the sofa with Henry, reminded me of Betty sitting on the sofa with Glen last season. Then, when Don confronts Betty about Henry, they seem to be having their first real fight.
Anyway, I wonder if Betty/Henry are the 'lasting love' mentioned in the Roy Orbison song at the end.
-- lkd711
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I think season 4 will include a serious health issue for Don-perhaps lung cancer. Note the cough at the beginning of the last episode. Also the brief scene when Sterling's dog food heiress old flame states that her first husband died of lung cancer, there is a brief cut to Don lighting up another. Thoughts while I write an order for Don to get a screening cat scan.
-- ldbmd
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