Now, in a lot of ways, puking is a fairly obvious dramatic device that forces a kind of catharsis (Greek for “cleansing” or “expunging”) for the viewer. Unsubtle as it is, it works so damn well on MM.

I think of “Red in the Face.” Don devises a plan to embarrass Roger in front of the clients by slipping a few to the elevator operator, forcing D and R to take the stairs after a lunch of oysters and heavy drinking. A plan designed to make R look like a sickly guy, like an old guy, but most of all, like a guy who can’t hold down his liquor. And for the boys of Sterling Cooper c. 1960, nothing looks worse than a guy who can’t keep it down. It’s the ultimate sign of weakness. You can’t keep up with the pack. Vomiting just spoils the facade.

And then Betty in Sunday’s ep. Her puking should tell us that things are gonna go downhill fast. Going off B. Cooper’s post on the main page about cars in S2: Betty just puked up a torrent of 50’s oppression inside the vessel of the future, the commodity of the 60’s. And there’s another facade gone, spoiled by chunks of puke.

Episode also made me think of The Sopranos episode where Adriana is cornered by the feds and barfs all over the table, poodle in lap. Another sad, unsatisfied woman destroyed by a selfish, philandering sociopath. Adriana’s anxiety issues make for a perfect parallel to Betty’s own psychological wounds.

In the world of Mad Men, everyone’s always expected to say the right thing. For the men: be quick on your feet, always have something pithy and clever waiting for the wings. For Don: less is more, remain mysterious, say too much and you’re exposed. For the women: keep it flirtatious, keep it simple, keep it quiet. If you bump into a younger guy whose got his eye on you at a social function with your husband, keep it cordial, never express your true desires. Everyone layer your language with falseness and keep that pain hidden. Vomiting is the only time that the wrong thing comes out of character’s mouths. The thing that spoils the new car or a business meeting. Makes you look weak or open up an even great shitstorm

I think this is interesting. Were you the one, Roberta, who wrote the post about Joan’s being a true believer in marriage? I think that analysis has really held true for her character; I think of it often.

I’m not a fan of the Roger/Joan affair. I think she had feelings for him, but there was never any heat. Come to think of it, we haven’t seen any heat in any of Joan’s encounters. As sexy as she plays, we don’t see her enjoying sex ever.

And Jimmy said to Don, “You’re garbage.”

I will always remember the closing scene of Babylon - the two of them walking separately outside the hotel, pretending to not know each other, with her holding the birdcage. Then just standing there. It was a lonely scene.

I’m a fan of Joan, and it’s really interesting to see the interaction between her and Peggy, and their respective positions and future. While Peggy is very smart, as far as I know she didn’t go to college. She went to Miss So and So’s Secretarial School (i think it was mentioned in the first episode). Yet she has the chance to rise in the organization. Joan went to college, she is smart, and she has confidence. She could aspire to more - but has she? Now she’s stuck in the pink-collar ghetto and she’ll never rise to being more than queen bee of the secretaries.

BTW, I think she is not faking the engagement, but I don’t think we’ll be seeing a blushingly happy bride come the Christmas season…