Episode Report Card Couch Baron: A- | 5 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Oh, Canada
By Couch Baron | Season 5 | Episode 7 | Aired on 04.29.2012
...whereupon Megan pulls him out of earshot of the door and whispers that Emile went to his publisher that morning "and was back within the hour," whereupon he proceeded to call up "Claudette," his "latest grad student," and cry to her when Marie walked in. I seem to recall something -- remember Megan's offhand remark about her college roommate liking her father a little too much? Serial cheater, this one, not that it doesn't happen all the time with professors. Don misses the point entirely, shrugging that Emile has a lot wrapped up in the book, and once again I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for his cluelessness, as this has been a lot to take in pre-coffee. Megan corrects him without acrimony, pointing out that Emile should be crying to Marie if he's going to cry to anyone, and Don sees her point. He asks what this means for that night, but Megan only sighs, "They do this all the time." Don the wordsmith has no response to that...
...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...