"The New Girl"

Mad Men Season 2, Episode 5 "The New Girl"

Clever title, this. It refers to A) Bobbie Barrett starting to 'negotiate' her way into Don's pants; replacing Rachel. B) Peggy's more assertive character, and C) Don's new secretary-what a little yummy!

-Everyone seems to be giving Don that "I know what you did!" look this episode. Rachel-with her new husband, Tilden Katz (?!), Peggy, Betty, Joan, Jimmy, hell, even the cop at the station.

Though in the context of the episode, leaving things unsaid seems to be the best strategy all around. When Roger Cooper and Joan discuss Joan's marriage, they wind up sniping at each other, as do Pete and his wife regarding their pregnancy issue. To be honest, Pete's wife already has a kid to deal with.

-I might be reading too much into this, but doesn't Don's advice to Peggy during her stay in the hospital seem awfully close to what he told Adam in season one? Could Don be trying to make up for abandoning Adam by mentoring Peggy? That may not be the best decision for Don, considering the leverage he's giving Peggy over him.

-Bobbie's becoming a more interesting character as the series progresses, mainly because she's the one doing the chasing, as opposed to Don, this time around. It's odd seeing her reach out to Peggy, as this worldly show-biz type and this odd mousy copywriter live on different worlds.

There's two bits of humour that come out of left field in this episode- which is where the best gags come from. The first is Pete's, er, 'visual aids' in the doctor's office where he's giving his sperm sample- there's a copy of U.S. News and World Report mixed amongst the nudie mags. The second is Freddie Rumsen's cockblock of Ken Cosgrove and the new secretary. Just as Ken's moving in for the kill, Freddie comes out and zips his fly up and down arrhythmically. "Sounds like Mozart!", he enthuses. What the fuck, Freddie?

Speaking of the new girl, while Joan's leaving 'single girl' status, she's not so willing to give up her status at the office so eagerly, as her remonstrating the new girl so bluntly demonstrates. Again, maybe it's just me, but her wiggle seems more pronounced then ever this season. (Don't tell me the writers have actress Christina Hendricks donning the fat suit, now?)