Episode Report Card Couch Baron: A- | 635 USERS: A- YOU GRADE IT Oh, Canada
By Couch Baron | Season 5 | Episode 7 | Aired on 2012.04.29
...so let's jump to a scene that, I'm sure, is going to go sooooooo much better. You see, Peggy and Abe are bustling around getting dinner ready, and the nervous care they're putting into it can only mean that Peggy's mother Katherine is coming to dinner. Abe insists on a solidarity kiss before they open the door, and then Peggy removes her apron and opens up. Katherine, pink cake box in hand, greets "Peaches" and "Abraham" warmly enough, although she does tell Peggy to leave the dessert in the box, as "it's very delicate." You may not be enamored of her manners, but you have to admire her foresight. Katherine accepts Abe's offer of sherry as he helps her with her coat, and then she offers that it smells nice. Abe tells her Peggy made a ham, which is his favorite, and there is an absolutely delicious pause as Katherine runs through everything she knows about Jewish people before she replies, "Really!" I'm not doing it justice, but in a really excellent episode it's one of my favorite little moments.
Elsewhere, the Draper family is dressed and ready when the doorbell rings, and it's Roger, dressed in a tux with his bowtie undone. Bobby asks him if he's babysitting, which is a plotline idea that will tragically go unexplored, as Roger tells him no before greeting the Calvets and asking if anyone knows how to tie his tie. Marie helps him out in spite of a knowingly disapproving look from Emile, and the fact that Marie tells Roger he looks like he was born in a bowtie probably doesn't help matters. Sally then appears, and everyone draws a breath, as she looks quite lovely in a silver sleeveless top with matching purse, off-white skirt, and white boots; she's a little young for the outfit, but that doesn't stop Don from gazing in wonder. Emile tells him there's nothing he can do: "No matter what, one day your little girl will spread her legs and fly away." In! Appropriate! Of course, Roger, guffaws at that one while Megan corrects him that it's "wings," while Don, trying to keep Sally's wings and legs on the ground for a bit longer, orders her to remove the makeup and the boots, or she can stay home. Sally reluctantly agrees...
...and then the group of them are walking into the ballroom, with Sally disappointedly noting that there's no staircase. With this group, the insurance probably wouldn't cover it. As Pete approaches, Roger makes a joke at his expense to Sally, and then Pete tells her she looks lovely before he whisks Don off to meet "Ed Baxter," Ken's father-in-law, who you'll remember is RAY WISE. Don takes Megan along with him to greet Ed, whom he thanks, but Ed tells him he had to recuse himself from the voting, although Don does write "some stirring copy." Don informs Ed that Megan's quite a copywriter too, and Ed's voice drops conspiratorially as he says he should pretend otherwise, but Cynthia told him all about the Heinz dinner. Megan smiles graciously but then casts a nervous look over at her parents...