Episode Report Card Couch Baron: A- | 498 USERS: A YOU GRADE IT You May Not Like Pete...
By Couch Baron | Season 2 | Episode 5 | Aired on 2008.08.24
Several SC males are using the filing cabinets and lingering in Jane's vicinity with all the subtlety of...well, it's hard to find a superlative that tops SC males in this particular instance. Joan appears and puts paid to the ogling: "Unless one of you needs help finding a dead client file, I suggest you pitch your tents elsewhere." Hee. They disperse, and Joan chides Jane for her "décolletage," saying that the office prides itself on professional decorum. It's less likely Joan actually believes this and more likely that she doesn't want anyone reminding her of the halcyon days of yore when she was the Marilyn of the office, but regardless, Jane apologizes and covers up. Once Joan's gone, Ken comes up to Jane and says he has some important talent coming in the next day to see Don -- somebody famous. He rather solicitously tells her he just wanted her to be aware of that, but is bummed when she's all business about it, noting that he's down in the book with Jimmy Barrett. Ken soldiers on, however, and asks if she'd like to go see him sometime. She does not look too into the idea, but is spared having to respond when Freddy comes rushing out of his office and pulls his zipper up and down to the tempo of a very famous part of Mozart's Einekleine Nachtmusik. Well, as sexual harassment goes, it's at least pretty upscale. Jane and Ken have the same "..." reaction, so good news for him that they have something in common, I guess.
Bobbie's working on making up her eye when Peggy comes in, and Bobbie thanks her for her hospitality. She then carefully asks if Peggy's aware of the value of her service, and cautions that people might take advantage of her. Peggy replies that she knows what she's doing, but Bobbie counters by asking what she wants. "You have to start living the life of the person you want to be." She looks Peggy straight in the eye and counsels her to start treating Don as an equal. "And no one will tell you this, but you can't be a man. Don't even try. Be a woman. It's powerful business when done correctly." She puts a kind hand on Peggy's shoulder and asks if she understands, and Peggy gives a small smile in return as she says she thinks she does. The lesson imparted, Bobbie puts her brassy mask back up and asks how she gets to Grand Central. Peggy offers to walk her to the subway, but Bobbie decides to call a car. Bobbie has certainly grown on me -- it's hard to dislike anyone who's kind to Peggy, and it's also a lot easier to respect her when she gives such valuable advice. Also, I think I finally see the theme of the season -- women starting to assert their power, while last season it seemed like it was more about men trying to come to grips with their gender identity. Betty, Peggy, even Francine -- they're all doing it, and Bobbi fits perfectly into the story. I still hate her and Don together, but really, if she weren't married to such a douche, we might actually get somewhere. Great work from Melinda McGraw, anyway.