Mad Men Season 4, Episode 12: "Blowing Smoke"

[Standard disclaimer: I have avoided reading any other recaps, writeups, or other commentary on this episode before writing this, so if I express something similar to thoughts you've read elsewhere, it's entirely a coincidence. If you have not watched the episode, assume there are spoilers ahead and act accordingly.]

I felt like we were treading water a bit this week. Not a lot happening at the agency, other than the start of layoffs. Of course they're saving any significant events for the final episode of the season, but I'm not expecting anything as big as last year, mainly because from the story-telling point of view, it doesn't make sense to have a game-changing scenario two seasons in a row.

The writers used this episode to have some fun at the expense of the tobacco industry. Aside from the obvious, we had Danny asking if the ad meant Don was going to stop smoking (the same thought had crossed my mind before he said it), Roger puffing away while telling the partners about the call from the American Cancer Society, and Glen offering Sally a cigarette, which she declined. (Where does a kid his age get cigarettes? Probably stealing them from neighborhood houses.)

Even though Don's encounter with Midge ultimately gave him the idea for the Times ad, the incident still left a bitter aftertaste. I think we have a tendency to think of the first half of the 1960s as a more innocent time, but people were still struggling with drug addiction before the Summer of Love. I think Don wanted to help Midge, but knew there was nothing he could do.

Betty says she doesn't need to see a psychiatrist, but she still wants to have her monthly chat with Dr. Edna. Sally's probably made more progress than Betty has, though now it looks like the Francises will be moving away from Ossining, which could wipe out whatever progress Sally has made.

Harry's desk is completely ridiculous.

Did Cooper just give up?