I'm ready for Fat Betty to go away now. I'm having BSG Fat Lee flashbacks.

But OMG when she squirted whipped cream in her mouth and then spit it out! I felt such sisterhood. :)

I thought Betty's line at Thanksgiving dinner was so sad. "I'm thankful I have everything I want, and no one has anything better." Oh lord.

Interesting how insecure Don is. Both Don and Roger are passing off the ideas of the staff as their own.

I just loved the last scene between Roger and Jane. Fascinating how she says the sex was something he "did" and he totally accepts that. And he understands her point about tainting the apartment.

But lately I just love every moment Roger's on screen. It's possible Slattery is a bit like Roger minus the gross parts, in which case I think I love him.

Sally Draper has ice in her veins. Scary as fuck.

Ok, I actually watched the encore showing because this ep was sorta stuck in my head.

I love the scene where the staff are pitching the snowball ideas to Don. The show does a great job of distinguishing between the sensibilities of Don and the younger ones. I especially like the bit where Peggy lays out the "water, water, water, snowball" visual. Don suggests adding a joke, and Peggy says, "It already has a joke." Exactly right - the evolution of comedy is, partly, about counting on subtext.

On second viewing, I liked the Ginsberg/Roger and Ginsberg/Don stuff even more.
R: "It involves a client dinner."
G: "...and MURder."
Roger is actually quicker-witted than Ginsberg; Ginsberg just being his whimsical self, which might throw a different guy, but Roger just moves on.

For example, when Roger tells Ginsberg he needs ideas for Manichewitz:
G: "You assume I'm Jewish!"
R: "Stop talking."
Compared to Don or maybe Cooper, Roger never seems back on his heels.

Don is sometimes a little unsettled by Ginsberg, possibly because he was always Creative and he feels competition from the younger version. But I do love the scene in the elevator where Don reminds Ginsberg "Good thing you work for me."

The second time, the Betty stuff was even more poignant to me. The way she looks at Megan dressing, the way she measures her food, defining her victories in half-pounds lost. I think what struck me was that Betty probably isn't overweight, by any medical definition, yet her weight has taken over her life. This is such a common condition -- so many women know what it's like to take a bite of something and spit it out, or to be mad at yourself for not losing weight and take it out on someone else.

So when Don says something about Betty "sticking her fat nose" into his business, it's like a slap in the face. Identifying with Betty, I wanted to kill him for that comment.

And the neat thing about a second viewing is that I'd seen Sally lie to Betty (about the conversation with Don about Anna)... and then saw the start of the episode where Megan teaches Sally to cry on cue. *shudder*

*Manischewitz*

(No one assumes I'm Jewish.)

Kiernan Shipka's Betty imitation is frighteningly good. As I was watching Sally unwittingly carry out Betty's plan, I remembered JH saying that Kiernan has picked up some of January Jones' Betty mannerisms, and holy cow, was it evident in the scene where Sally is trying to hurt Megan. I'm telling you, we are all going to be working for Kiernan Shipka or dead by her hand. (tm, once again, 30 Rock)

Megan is obviously a good influence on Don. He's about to do exactly what Betty hoped he would do, and Megan calls him on it and persuades him to not take the bait. You can see everything from the high road ...

So when Don says something about Betty "sticking her fat nose"
... unless you take the Cheap Shot exit.

The thing is, Sally is just old enough to realize that she was being manipulated. She turns this newfound ability to be just like Betty on Betty; she figures out what Betty wanted out of her plotting, and gets revenge of her own by not giving it to her.

The second time, the Betty stuff was even more poignant to me.
Betty is obviously unhappy, and struggling. Her weight is an aspect of the unhappiness and the struggle.

Full credit to January Jones for her portrayal of Betty this season. Watch all the different emotions on her face as Betty chews her food in the last scene. JJ is a much better actress than people seem to want to give her credit for.

However, I would have a lot more sympathy for Betty if she didn't use her own daughter as a pawn. You want to needle Don and Megan, fine. Have the guts to do it yourself. Don't use your child. That's just rotten.

Edited because the word "just" might have been taken to mean something I didn't want it to.

Edited at 2012-05-14 10:08 pm (UTC)

I'm telling you, we are all going to be working for Kiernan Shipka or dead by her hand.

Haha I actually said that about Sally last night. :)

Tom, I agree that January Jones has been doing a great job this season. I haven't been a huge fan of hers; I think that comes from JJ in interviews. :) Not so much with the talking for her.* But she's turning in a great performance.


* Paul Buchman, Mad About You

I'm telling you, we are all going to be working for Kiernan Shipka or dead by her hand.
Haha I actually said that about Sally last night. :)
Great minds, etc. :)

Sally's now about 57 or so. It's not too late for her to take over.

Sally's now about 57 or so. It's not too late for her to take over.

Wow, what a freaky thought!