Didn't love last night's (Season 7 episode 4) show. I didn't really care that much about Roger's daughter (why should we now when he never did?). We've seen other characters become hippies and although losing a child to that is a traumatic comeuppance for Roger, we didn't need that much time on it.
[ ]The Don stuff was totally necessary, hitting a semi bottom out of work wasn't enough and a new bottom needed to happen in the office. I liked Freddy's role a lot, very real.
[ ]They are still torturing us with Lou Avery being a detestable 'every company's got one' villain with no skills other than playing office politics.
[ ]The computer stuff was heavy handed symbolism even for this show.
[ ]The episode focused on probably mosts 4 favorite characters, Roger, Peggy, Joan and Don - but given those 4 characters central roles it should have been more enjoyable. I hope it is worth it later for putting Don & Roger in the same - get back to building something state so that they team up together.
I didn't think Bert Cooper was as anti-Don last week as he proved to be this week (last week Bert said; "I don't like how this agency is talked about" and I assumed it meant general lack of creative juice, but now I think it means the Don Hershey's episode). I think a mis-play on the show-runner's part. It stung more to see Bert put Don down, but it should have been Cutler doing it. If Bert thinks that little of Don and wants him to quit, Bert plays the stolen identity card that Pete told him about back in season 1. Supposedly the only reason to keep Don around was the cost of his partnership shares but if he's a non-entity they could & should (out of self interest) expose that and reclaim the shares. I'd think only Roger (maybe Pete but 50-50 and too greedy) would protest this and Roger has no power. The only reason Bert wouldn't do that is if he doesn't want an internal fight with Roger or if he's worried about press. If it is the latter then offer Don a half-price buyout in exchange for not being exposed.
Clearly the partners settled on the Don work conditions with the assumption that Don will either implode or provide them good value before getting fed up and quitting, but neither of those are as lucrative as voiding his partnership sales.