Mad Men

Might this Sunday be the last we see of Elisabeth Moss on Mad Men?

The thought is almost too sad to ponder, but if her character of Peggy jumps ad agencies, there's a chance she'll no longer be featured on the show.

Heading into this weekend's season three finale, TV Guide Magazine asked Moss if her decision to join up with Duck's company will be addressed. The actress replied:

“It’s definitely a huge thing. It’s not going to be swept under the rug.”

In between showing off her engagement ring, presented by Saturday Night Live star Fred Armisen, Moss explained her character's recent thought process:

“Is [Peggy] supposed to be a mom? Work harder? Work less? Is she supposed to sleep around? One of my favorite lines is when she says to Don, ‘What if this is my time?’”

That was one of our favorite Mad Men quotes of the season, as well. We can't wait for Sunday's episode.

As soon as it became clear that the third season of Mad Men was based in 1963, fans have been curious about how the show would handle the JFK assassination.

Months ago, creator Matthew Weiner said: "The Kennedy assassination is very well-trod territory, and I just don't see myself adding [anything] new to that."

He clearly changed his mind, as "The Grown-Ups" dealt entirely with this historical tragedy. Follow the preceding link for a recap, and read on for our detailed review of developments from it...

Weiner was in an unenviable position here: you can't avoid the event entirely, nor can you only mention it in passing. The only way to tackle the assassination is head-on; which is what took place in "The Grown-Ups," but in a rather disappointing fashion.

As most Mad Men fans agree, last week's episode was likely the best in series history. We can't be alone in wishing this week's installment had given us more insight into how Betty and Don moved on - or failed to - following his Dick Whitman admission. The couple seemed to be on the right path at the trick-or-treating conclusion to "The Gypsy and the Hobo."

It makes sense that brief reconciliation wouldn't have lasted... but it would have been nice to have seen it actually fall apart. Instead, viewers were thrust into one of the biggest events in U.S. history, a difficult backdrop to use against the Draper's marital problems, considering the state of mourning every citizen felt during this time. Life goes on, even when a President is killed, we understand.

But Betty went from almost forgiving Don last week, to practically accepting a proposal from Henry last night - and fans scarcely got to view any interactions between the couple in between. That's very un-Mad Men like.

That said, the simple line "I don't love you" was startling to hear from Betty, and creates a myriad of questions heading into next Sunday's season finale: is this really the end of the Draper marriage? If so, will Betty actually end up with Henry? How will the show handle that relationship in the future?

Those are issues for next week. These are the Mad Men quotes we loved from last night:

Betty: I want to scream at you for ruining all this. Then, you tried to fix it and there's no point. | permalink

Roger: No one else is saying the right thing about this.
Joan: You're really upset.
Roger: What's that about?
Joan: Because there's nothing funny about this. | permalink

Don: Everything's gonna be fine.
Betty: How do you know that?
Don: You'll see. | permalink

Don: Why are the kids watching this?
Betty: What am I supposed to do, Don? Am I supposed to keep it from them? | permalink

What's your name?
Donald Draper. But it used to be Dick Whitman.

It was the conversation we never thought would take place on Mad Men. But it was also the anchor of the scene that highlighted "The Gypsy and the Hobo," possibly the best episode in the history of this great show.

Follow the link above for a full recap of events from the hour, and read on for our take on it.

This week's episode showcased our favorite characters, acting like the polar opposite of everything we're used to. There was Roger Sterling, entertaining a former lover by getting drunk and acting like a jerk (okay, we're used to that), but then turning down her advances.

Was this because he's actually in love with Jane, or because he admits this woman broke his heart many years ago? Either way, this was a soft, vulnerable side that viewers rarely see. Even the phone call he placed on behalf of Joan seemed to be made with nothing but benevolent motives. Talk about a change!

Joan, of course, finally stopped playing the role of submissive housewife. Hitting your husband over the head with a vase is always a good way to force him to notice you; and to join the army, apparently. We don't see this ending well for Greg, and we can't say we're bothered by that fact.

Then there was Don and Betty - and the talk. Earlier in the episode, Don had told a client that the only way to improve her product's image was to change its name. It's a message he knows from experience. But he was finally confronted about his former life as Dick Whitman, as Betty forced a confession out of her husband.

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Joan returns to Mad Men this week, as she and her awful husband plan their future.

However, sorry, fellas, the clip below does not star this beautiful character; instead, it focuses on another storyline from ""The Gypsy and the Hobo."

A former client returns to Sterling Cooper and gives the firm a chance to earn back her business. After the jump, watch Roger exhibit zero tact and Don consider a marketing challenge.

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Welcome to the latest edition of the Mad Men Round Table!

Following a busy episode of the AMC hit, our staff is anxious to dish on the latest developments and happenings. We encourage readers to chime in with their opinions, as well. Let's get right to it...

Will Betty reveal what she knows to Don?
DapperDon: First let me say how shocked I was by her discovery. Mad Men typically shies away from actual suspense, choosing instead to build small moment after small moment. But I was on the edge of my suit when she found that shoebox. Yes, I think she'll confront Don with it.

PrettyBetty: Definitely. This is the new, assertive Betty. The information is too explosive for her to simply ignore it.

PeteSoup: No. She looked defeated at the Sterling Cooper party. She must know a confrontation over Don's past could end their marriage and, while she has come a long way, Betty isn't prepared for that.

How will Don and Ms. Farrell's relationship end?
DapperDon: I know it sounds bold, but I think this is it for the Draper marriage. I foresee a separation to end the season, based on the shoebox information discussed above, and Don actually moving in with Suzanne.

PrettyBetty: Badly.

PeteSoup: I don't know, but I also can't figure Ms. Farrell out. Is she sort of crazy? Or just more emotionally open and advanced that most people of that era?

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How do you know the color blue that you see is the same color blue as seen by everyone else?

It's an old, philosophical (some would say, annoying) question that kicks off the latest Mad Men episode, aptly titled "The Color Blue." What relevance does it play during the episode?

Almost every character is forced to see an individual in a different light than previously imagined.

There's Pryce and his realization that his British bosses aren't remotely interested in Sterling Cooper as anything but a profit maker; there's Paul and his solemn discovery that, yes, Peggy is better at her job than he is.

And, of course, there's Betty. Poor, no-longer-innocent, overgrown child Betty. She always knew Don had secrets, but she never would have guessed the major one would be a previous marriage. To read how she comes across this information, follow our link to this week's episode guide.

Viewers know that Betty hasn't uncovered the exact secret Don has been keeping from the world, but that doesn't change the tension that now exists between her and her husband. We can't wait to see how this plays out.

Lastly, there's Don, forced to see himself in a worse light, as he watches how much Suzanne cares about her brother. Contrast this with the fact that Don drove his own sibling to suicide.

Can Don compartmentalize this reminder of his early let downs, as he does for everything else? He's sure gonna try. But will changing circumstances allow him to?

Below, we've collected a few of the top Mad Men quotes from the episode:

Kinsey: I had a great idea and I lost it.
Don: I hate when that happens. | permalink

Cooper: I didn't get to where I am by dwelling on the past. | permalink

Don: People may see things differently, but they don't really want to. | permalink

Mad Men is far from the most uplifting show on television.

But even viewers that have become hardened to its dismal portrayal of life in the 60s for Don Draper and company had to have grown misty-eyed this week, as lovable, closeted designer Salvatore Romano received his walking papers.

In a shocking scene from "Wee Small Hours," Sal was dressed down by Don for not giving in to a male client's advances; and then fired because Sterling Cooper couldn't afford to lose the account.

How did actor Bryan Batt feel about the way his character was treated? He told TV Guide:

"I do feel Sal felt very betrayed because there are many different options that could have come into play to save his job, but none of that was exercised. Don didn't do anything; he basically washed his hands and did not believe Sal when he told him the honest truth. It's the ultimate case of sexual harassment meets homophobia. Sal is completely innocent. He played by the rules, he did what he's supposed to do, and he gets punished for it. It's quite sad."

But will we ever see Sal again? Viewers were left with the image of him calling his wife, lying about being at work... while at a park, seemingly surrounded by gay men.

"I can't talk about future episodes, but so many people love the character and really identify with him and want to see more of his story," Batt said, adding:

"I would hope that Sal will come back. There's a million ways he can come back. [Creator Matt Weiner] is such a brilliant writer, so there's a plethora of opportunities."

People often get fired for being gay.

Last night on Mad Men, however, Sal basically got fired for not being gay.

It was an action-filled hour, as Don had an affair; Betty came close to one; and one of our favorite characters lost his job. Read a full recap of "Wee Small Hours" right now.

Among our favorite Mad Men quotes from the night were:

Sterling: You're gonna use your dying breath to tell Don to fix this. | permalink

Harry: I'm not gonna panic and do something stupid like I usually do.
Kinsey: That's a good start. | permalink

Connie: I want a Hilton on the moon. That's where we're headed. | permalink

Don Draper: Give me more ideas to reject. | permalink

At various points or moments in our lives, we've all tried to be someone else.

But on this week's episode of Mad Men, that desire was more pronounced than ever; various characters, unhappy with their real lives, attempted to step into different shoes, if only for a weekend, a job or a vacation.

How did these transformations turn out? Read our recap of "Souvenir" for the answer.

When in Rome, act like other people, right Betty and Don?

On this Sunday's new episode of Mad Men, Don includes Betty on a company business trip. Conrad Hilton has sent his new ad man across the country in order to learn more the hotel chain he now represents.

Meanwhile, Pete and the boys are stuck in New York.

In the clip that follow this article's jump, Campbell, Cosgrove, Kinsey and Crane talk about the city in August.

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