Later in the elevator, Peggy can’t wait to tell Joan what she did. Joan is well aware, and for her part, completely condescending and ungrateful. Joan wanted to take a meeting and sweet talk a client into taking Joey off some business, and getting him out of the office…in other words, use the only powers she’s ever actually been rewarded for in the workplace. Peggy is visibly disappointed; she’s still idealistic enough to think she was helping out a friend just as much as she was helping herself; establishing acceptable levels of office decorum as much as establishing her place in the hierarchy. Joan simply thinks Peggy’s actions just reinforced her spot as “meaningless secretary” while Peggy herself is “just another humorless bitch” for her efforts. This is some outdated thinking, and it’s sad to see Joan lash out in this way. I really thought Joan would join Peggy in being forward thinking but it appears Joan is going to fight tooth and nail when it comes to this type of progress. She was the queen bee before, but now her life is too complicated and unsatisfying to allow her that air of extreme confidence we once saw in the fiery redhead. It would be wonderful if she could get it back soon.
I just rewatched this episode during its rerun on AMC Sunday mornings – the first time I saw it, I noted that it was the first time “Mad Men” ended with the credits rolling but no music playing over them. I wondered if there was something particular in the episode that made it special (like the silent clock in “24”). However, I wasn’t certain, so I’d be interested in hearing what you or other readers have to say about the matter.