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Mad Men 2x12 Reaction (Patreon)

Published:
2025-09-05 00:04:43
Edited:
2025-10-19 18:56:41
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Files

Mad Men 2x12

________________________ patreon - https://www.patreon.com/LMreactions twitter - https://twitter.com/LMreaction tv time - lola - skysstillblue, milena - oneofthe100

Comments

Taya

I've been so excited for this one! (and dreading it at the same time tbh)

bondbond53

Damn it I forgot THAT scene was in this episode... Joan my girl...

Nina

Let's gooo! Except for THAT scene, let's NOT goooo!

JBK405

It looks like this a problem on the YouTube side instead of Patreon, but I'm unable to play this video. It presents an error with the message "Sign in to confirm you're not a bot". (BTW I'm not a bot). Has there been a settings update?

T0ast

goat episode of television

JBK405

It's working now.

Cobalt

Around 14:00 the joke with the mom's pose being familiar is because it's similar to a pose of the Virgin Mary. Peggy figured it would work

Julien

Pete's refusal to adopt has nothing to do with masculinity or wanting to appear a certain way. What an odd take. It is entirely normal and ok to not want to adopt, and it's not an gendered sentiment. Tons of women in this world would want their kid to be only biological - and that's obviously ok. If you are a person like Pete who is not particularly into having a child, adoption is an absurdity. He doesn't even really want to reproduce and be a parent but he should go out and get some random kid? How does that even make sense? Adoption is a wonderful thing and people who do it deserve praise. But people who don't want it should not be judged because again, this sentiment is most normal and natural thing in the world. Not everything Pete does or feels is about performing masculinity. His feelings about adoption are 100% valid and shared by billions of women then and now. Put some respect on my boy! ;)

Chris B

Anna Draper the GOAT

JBK405

Oooooooh, THIS episode. This is like turning over the apple cart: nothing stays right-side up. I agree that Jon Hamm's performance as "Dick" is so shockingly different than his normal demeanor, even though he's not really DOING anything different. This episode is one of the perfect examples of how he's not just handsome, he's actually ridiculously talented as an actor. I think the whole thing boils down to Don being ABLE to relax here. In New York he is ALWAYS acting. Even when he's alone. In the shower, buying gas, going to the movies, he Always has to be Don Draper. But here he can finally stop. So even when he's just sitting down, it's infinitely more relaxing than anything he can do 'back home'. And Jon Hamm manages to SELL that. I love Peggy claiming Freddy's office. She definitely earned it, but it's also only available because Freddy was unjustly turned out a few episodes ago, when Pete even mentioned that she might get his office. She didn't turn on Freddy, she's got nothing to feel ashamed over, but she's still (metaphorically) stepping over his body just like she worried other people would do. Greg.....ugh, Greg. You knew you were going to hate him even before It happened, and then he lived down to EVERY ill thought we had.

Kara

Milena almost crying just from the way Anna looked at Don (Dick???), god. I felt that 😭 the love you have for Don and other characters at this point is so amazing, it's still literally only been 2 seasons, 2 irl years of television production. every week I'm shocked how much there is left to discover + develop. Don is so calm in California. He seems born to fix up hot rods near the beach, hanging out with Anna. The show uses California as a sunny antidote to its portrayal of NYC as a bustling, looming, grimy "center of the universe" city. 100% agree that Jon Hamm's acting sells all the flashbacks in the show, they also do a good job with makeup and lighting to make him look younger. Don's dialogue about feeling like he's scratching at his life trying to get in is how I've felt a lot especially during more dissociative periods. Like you're on the outisde looking in, and you want in so bad, but you literally don't know how, you're just not built that way. imo he has a sibling-type relationship with Anna this episode, she seems like his older sister almost. The real Don was ~8 years older than our Don, so Anna might be closer to his age if they got together young. I've been dreading the Joan scene for weeks every since you latched onto the character so much. It's still so hard to sit thru even after all these rewatches. I think you had really good reads on this. A good time to remember that the series is written by women and this episode was co-written by a woman (Robin Veith) based somewhat on their own experiences. Yes, to confirm what Lola said: 'Spousal / Partner Rape' wasn't even illegal everywhere in the US until 1993 (was fully legal in the 60s) and to this day many people struggle to believe victims, as if choosing being in a relationship with someone is permanent consent to have sex with them. We get a few timelines this episode. Roger has been at the firm 20 years. Joan has been there 9 as of 1962, so she started in 1953, which we could guess already but makes sense (maybe Paul joined in like 1955 hence their bad relationship). The Popsicle advert was religious, that's what the guy was remembering - the woman handing out popsicles looks like an angel or a saint with the orange halo behind her head. Peggie is semi-consciously using her background/life + religion in her work, like how Don uses elements of his life. Roger automatically covering for Don's absense is interesting, maybe he senses Don would do the same if the situation was reversed. Betty is soooo funny like, "we're all trying to find the woman who arranged this affair"... girl!

Nina

Partner rape is so incredibly disgusting it's insane it was ever accepted. I say that but we all know why, women were seen as the property of the men they were with.

Kara

Lola: "I want to meet Joan's fiance" us: NO YOU DONT 😭😭😭

liminal rinds

so happy! Been waiting for you to see this episode!!! The free man that couldn't exist in either world, with the one person who knows him

Kara

Yep, and it's sadly still a core of SA today. TV and movies focus almost entirely on violent rape from strangers in dark alleys and stairwells but the vast majority of rape occurs in the homes of partnered couples, it just doesn't get reported. And if you do report, good luck convincing the police, doctors, a judge, a jury, that your loving partner raped you at home or work or in a hotel. Not just women either, there are unique prejudices against queer victims and legit straight male victims. UK police wouldn't even bother opening a case file for gay partner abuse for decades, "they're probably into it" "it's their own fault" etc etc etc 😩

dandelions2

The reason they said the mother in the popsicle commercial looked familiar is because she had the same haircut as Peggy -- basically representing Peggy and what she gave away

Taya

Lola: "I want to meet Joan's fiance" us: *sweating profusely*

Julien

I thought it was her hair because Smitty gave her that same "modern cut" in the last episode (or maybe the one before). But maybe not, since Peggy was standing right next to the pic and the client was obviously referencing something more distant. So you're probably right.

Julien

@Dandelions2: that was always my thought, which I just wrote and then dismissed in a comment below because after all, Peggy was literally standing next to the pic and the client's reference seemed a lot more distant. So now I'm very confused. Lol

Taya

Imagine being angry at your spouse and your first instinct is to grab the roast chicken they just cooked and toss it out the window of your high rise ... just Peter Campbell things!

Eric Viola

No, Kara's right. It's a very Christian portrayal of the mom so that is why it was familiar to the popsicle guys. I remember reading an article on this episode in like '09 about how this ad would never get made IRL because it was way to Christian.

Mike

Had to pause the video immediately after that conversation about Pete being a king lmao Mad Men didn't invent the idea of California/the West as a mythic, restorative paradise -- I'm thinking of Kerouac, Steinbeck, Tolkien, Led Zeppelin, even Katy Perry knows there's a special something about the west coast -- but the switch up between last episode's perverted hedonism and this episode's genuine, almost naive peacefulness is really striking. (And so much of it is down to Hamm's incredible performance -- and the hair styling! -- as L&M rightly note.) *This* is what Don was looking for when he ran away to California. That run in with Joy was a temptation along the road. For a show that, on the surface, glamorizes New York and Madison Avenue so much, it's fascinating to see how much more at ease Don/Dick is here, and what that says about New York by proxy. I mean, he wants to give up being a high-powered ad man to sell hot rod cars. Put him in a Beach Boys music video already. He is happy here, and that final beat of him in the ocean -- as west as west can get -- communing with air and water and everything from Anna's tarot reading... Throw in that incredible George Jones song and it really does feel holy. I guess the question is whether it can last. I also have to shout out Melinda Hamilton who is so instantly welcoming as Anna Draper. From the second she opens the door on the porch, you believe that Don would feel safe and at home with her. Great performance. OK, one more thought: It seems... significant that Don ran away from the convention after the presentation about nuclear warheads and the potential) annihilation of mankind (just like he ran away from Betty & New York and the potential end of his marriage), and then reads Anna's "Judgement" tarot card as "the end of the world" and tells her he doesn't want to know what it means. Now I'll just take a big sip of water and look at when this episode takes place, and what major geopolitical event is right around the corner...

Kara

we shouldn't joke about this, my great-grandmother (bless her soul) was tragically killed in NYC Uptown when a full juicy roast chicken fell on her head!

Mike

It's a Virgin Mary reference. She even has the halo. Peggy is pulling a Don here, sublimating her church stuff with Father Gill into something she can use at work.

Mike

Have to think that Freddy would be thrilled to see Peggy taking over his office. He's the one who pulled her out of the lipstick brainstorm, after all.

Mike

Pete is being an ass about it -- to Trudy, to her roast chicken, and to the poor people walking on the sidewalk outside their apartment -- but his feelings about adoption, while warped by his poor relationship with his own parents, are still valid. He has been clear that he doesn't want to adopt a child. Trudy scheduling an appointment anyway was uncool.

Mike

Is this the part where I say that Greg is a great character? A villain, obviously, but a really effective one. His pathetic insecurity (and the horrible ways it manifests) is a really effective foil for Joan's self-assuredness. It's tragic to watch Joan's dawning realization that this isn't *quite* the perfect future she imagined -- but that makes for good storytelling.

Sebastian

Of course not wanting to adopt is fine, but to say it has nothing to do with Pete feeling his masculinity is threatened is ridiculous. EVERYTHING is about that with Pete, and it's definitely the case here.

Mark M

Really enjoyed the reaction here. I love this episode. M&L were talking about 'favourite relationships' a while back - Dick and Anna is definitely mine. There's an unconditional love there that he never got from his parents, and that he can't get from his family. Watching this again after Sopranos, the scene with the cars reminded me of the Kevin Finnerty episodes. It's hard to imagine Don being so eager to casually chat to strangers and geek out over a car. He's so guarded that you don't notice it until he isn't. It is very emotional to watch. I love the actress for Anna, she radiates kindness. Seeing her reminds Don of Adam, and realising how badly he hurt someone he could've had a similar relationship with. The tarot card for judgement has a flag of St George on it, which is funny to me considering it's an English company buying Sterling Cooper, not sure if that was intentional. Gur svany pneq orvat gur jbeyq frrzf yvxr n sberfunqbjvat bs Qba'f svany fprar, srryvat pbaarpgrq gb gur jbeyq, naq gur pbxr nq nobhg 'ohlvat gur jbeyq n pbxr', pbaarpgvba. Abg fher vs gung jnf vagragvbany ng guvf rneyl fgntr bs gur fubj.

Mark M

Pete's mother told him she'd cut him out the will if he 'drew from the discard pile'. I don't think Pete liked hearing about the appointment from Hildy either, that it happened behind his back and made its way to the office. I think what really bothers him is that Trudy's parents are more supportive than his. He's adopted his mother's beliefs somewhat, but he's not comfortable telling Trudy the reason. Similar to how he hid the fact his father wouldn't give them money for the apartment. That's why he blew up. He is insecure, but it's dismissive to pin everything on his ego or his masculinity. Adoption is a big decision with no simple right answer.

Mark Lowe

Don doesn’t tell Anna about important things he doesn’t tell her about the exact way her husband died and he doesn’t tell her about the cheating. It’s great that he can get unconditional love from her of course.

Mark M

Yeah I was thinking about this. He's not really a great character on his own, but a very effective foil. He ticks all of the boxes that would seemingly make him 'a great man, a real keeper', but is rotten on the inside. Which makes him really dangerous in a society where he holds all the cards.

TylerNorCal

This is one of the most important episodes of the show imo, so good.

TylerNorCal

It's also much more about his own ego than masculinity, his family name and lineage is well respected and very important to him even tho he resents it. He doesn't want to adopt bc alot of his identity is based on that.

Julien

Makes sense 👍

Kara

Qbaf fcrrpu nobhg orvat ba gur bhgfvqr bs uvf yvsr fpengpuvat, gelvat gb trg va vf n irefvba bs jung Yrbaneq fnlf va gur tebhc gurencl frffvba va gur svanyr. Nobhg orvat na hacvpxrq vgrz va gur sevqtr, jngpuvat lbhe yvsr sebz n qvfgnapr. Naq gur raqvat vf nofbyhgryl jung Naan fnvq nobhg pbaarpgvba gb gur jbeyq, funevat gur fnzr nve naq jbeyq fbhy rgp, gur zrqvgngvba vafgehpgbe zvtug rira fnl fvavyne jbeqf.

Mark M

Gung'f n terng cbvag. Znxrf zr jbaqre jurgure gurl unq gurfr cbvagf vebarq bhg nurnq bs gvzr, be vs vg'f whfg trareny gurzrf bs pbaarpgvba naq qvfvyyhfvba ehaavat guebhtu gur fubj.

Kara

Lrnu V'z abg fher. Jr xabj Jrvare pbzrf hc jvgu gur vqrn sbe gur svanyr raqvat (Qba ba n uvyyfvqr, vairagvat gur Pbpn Pbyn pbzzrepvny) juvyr jenccvat hc F4, nf jryy nf bgure nfcrpgf yvxr Orggl trggvat yhat pnapre sebz nyy gur fzbxvat. Vg'f yvxryl n zvk - gur jevgref chyyvat va Qba'f ybir sbe Pnyvsbeavn naq Naan naq ure fgngrzragf vagb fubj grkg nf gurl fgneg gb oernx gur svany pbhcyr frnfbaf.

Mike

"I am the least difficult of men. All I want is boundless love."

Mike

Gur fubj vagebqhprf gur vqrn bs gur pbeehcgvoyr, vzcbffvoyr qernz bs Pnyvsbeavn va gurfr cnfg gjb rcvfbqrf (juvpu vf ubarfgyl na varfpncnoyr cneg bs gur pbhagrephygher zvyvrh, jura lbh trg gb Avkba, naq Nygnzbag, Srne naq Ybnguvat'f "jnir" fcrrpu, rgp) naq gung qvpubgbzl pneevrf sbejneq nyy guebhtu gur fubj, sebz gur FP&C Jrfg nep jvgu Grq, gb Qba genafyngvat / pb-bcgvat gur Rfnyra rgubf vagb n Pbxr pbzzrepvny. V'ir nyjnlf ybirq gur fyvtugyl fvavfgre ernqvat bs Qba'f fzvyr ng gur raq bs gur frevrf. Ur'f ng crnpr, naq "ng crnpr" zrnaf gheavat nyy gurfr terng srryvatf vagb pncvgnyvfz. V qba'g guvax gung fcrpvsvp raqvat vf "cynaarq bhg" ng guvf fgntr, ohg vg qbrf srry yvxr n cerggl angheny rkgrafvba bs jung gurl ner nyernql jevgvat nobhg va "Gur Wrg Frg" naq "Gur Zbhagnva Xvat".

Kendall Roy 🇧🇷

I have a bigger soft spot for Don and Peggy, but Don and Anna is without a doubt the one that gives me the most emotion and tears

JJ

I think Roger just doesn’t think Don’s absence is a big deal. Based on the PPL offer timeline it’s been at most a week? As far as covering for him, he just told the truth… as he knows it. Business trip, marital issues… taking some time. Roger Sterling of all people can understand why someone (but especially Don) might go MIA in California. Or maybe Roger feels he owes him one for telling Mona that Don was the catalyst for him ending their 30 year marriage…

Kara

@Mike: Zngg Jrvare pbzrf hc jvgu gur fcrpvsvp "qba fzvyvat ba n uvyyfvqr vagb pbpn pbyn nq" raqvat fbzrgvzr qhevat F4 cebqhpgvba, ur gryyf Wba Unzz nobhg vg gura. Juvpu yvarf hc cresrpgyl, fvapr nyy gur Pnyvsbeavn qernzl fghss vf zvkrq va gur zvyrh, gurl'ir yvxryl oebxra Fhvgpnfr ol gura gbb naq rirelguvat srrqf vagb vg.

Kara

@JJ: The first day of the aerospace conference is September 19th 1962. When Pete returns to the office JFK is giving a speech from September 30th (though this may be a small production error because that means Pete was gone a week and a half). Regardless Don returns to the office on October 23rd. We don't have a clear timeline for The Mountain King unfortunately, but it must start and end between Oct 1 and 19. Basically, when Roger covers for him Don has been missing for at least a week, more likely ~2 weeks. By the time he returns he's been awol 3-4 weeks (on top of the California trip) depending if there was a production error or not. But yeah, otherwise I agree, I was mostly highlighting that Roger is still the type of friend/compatriot to Don who will cover for him for ~2 weeks for no "reason" (there are reasons, but like, for all he knows Don is dead or quit or anything).

JayFi

Hamm has won some awards for his acting, but I still think he is very underrated.

cheech

Sometimes all you need is someone to tell you that everything’s going to be okay. And that they understand and love you. Every don/anna scene I see that way. It’s hard not to get teary eyed watching them together. The way they tease “in the hall of the mountain king” as don walks up to the door nervous. Then bring it back after the flashback. You can see him transform into Dick as Anna greets him. It’s mesmerizing. Jon Hamm def deserved to win an Emmy for these earlier seasons at least once. He kept losing to Walter lol. I feel I say this every other episode but that’s gotta be one of my fav endings of the whole show. I used to think sopranos was far and away the best at ending/song choice but MM can be just as good. Personally I couldn’t give a show a higher compliment.

Kara

He didn't win until right at the end, after Breaking Bad ended. BB basically swept every Emmys once it got hot lolll.

Rafael Faithful

Mad Men had the same number of Emmys. But Cranston beat out Hamm every single year except for one.

Infode

I just noticed upon watching the reaction that Roger and Greg are also contrasted in dialogue with Greg disapproving of Joan being aggressive while Roger appreciating Peggy for being aggressive. Different circumstances yes, one professional, the other personal but still it's an interesting tidbit

Tyrone Tyrone

So Anna Draper finds out a deserter is using her dead Army husband's name living a good life and her reaction is nothing but 100% supportive. Not believable and seems something Don would fantasize about.

Jude’s IFs

He never tells her how he died and why would she care now? It’s not like she thinks he killed him or was involved he probably spun it to make himself look better