“Everybody likes to go to the movies when they’re sad” —Bobby Draper

Oh boy. I want to say Don redeemed himself in this week’s episode “The Flood” just by taking Bobby to see Planet of the Apes (twice! And it actually came out one day before MLK’s assassination on April 3), but I’m still mad at him for his shenanigans with the fiery Miss Sylvia (I mean, he can barely keep his composure upon running into her and her husband!); if and when Megan ever finds out, I will simply die.

And well, so it went. Not saying that Don was being necessarily responsible by neglecting everything for the movies, but his bond with Bobby was a significant one at best. Like you know, actually feeling human emotions instead of dicking everybody over.

Megan and Peggy are up for an award for their advertising expertise (Which, PEGGY’S DRESS! Megan’s outfit, not so much), forcing Don and Peggy to interact for the first time in a while—but Don handles it well, joking with Megan about the whole fiasco and later offering Peggy a ride home (AWW!).

Paul Newmann was hosting the glamorous awards event, but things took a drastic turn when someone shouted the news of the assassination of peace advocate Martin Luther King Jr.—what would have been April 4, 1968. Everyone at the venue goes into panic, but Don being the natural cynicist he is, accepts the fate of it all and asks why wouldn’t they resume the ceremony? “What else would we do?”, he asks. Well Don, I don’t know, maybe mourn a beloved civil rights hero?!? Sheesh.

Later on in the episode, Betty is unable to reach Don because he blatantly forgets to pick up the kids. Uh oh. Everyone knows there’s no messin’ with Betty (especially with that new hairdo!), so out goes Don into the night, to pick up the kids in a very chaotic NYC post-MLK tragedy.

We get inside Don’s “other” world more so this week (so like, less sexy stuff), and there’s that definitive moment where Megan scolds him for neglecting the kids, but he responds with an experienced explanation for his actually having dealt with childbirth, etc., versus her naivete with motherhood. But regardless of his infidelity record and Betty and his rather atypical childhood, Don has for the most part been a good father—he did slip though.

Way too much time was spent dealing with that horrific realtor trying to sell Peggy and Abe that flat in the upper east side. But instead of the possibility of Abe not really wanting to own property with Peggy, he reveals his plans to want to spend his future with her, just not wanting to raise children in the upper east side. So aw, shucks, Peggy and Abe are like, for real. Except when he has deadlines for breaking news stories…

“The Flood” showed many variations of response in just how people deal with tragedy, and basically made us love/hate Don even more than ever (surprise, surprise); who knows where Matthew Weiner, Inc. will take us next.

(photo via The Guardian)

Other Notes & Quotables:

• • “You’re really good at everything.” – Sylvia
  • “I need to shave, change my clothes, prepare. She had a jump on me!” – Ginsberg
  • “Tell her laxative radio spot is the sentimental favorite.” – Don
  • “You’re a sexy girl, and you smell great.” – Ginsberg
  • “I’ve never had sex, not even once.” – Ginsberg
  • “This cannot be made good. It’s shameful. It’s a shameful, shameful day!” – Pete
  • “I don’t really want to talk. I was trying to communicate without words, but it wasn’t working.” – Randall
  • “All I see when I close my eyes, is our name… being lit with a batch, and then a coupon at the bottom.” – Randall
  • “Youd go to Canada on your KNEES to pick up your girlfriend.” – SICK BURN by Betty
  • “We’re going to a vigil in the park.” – Sally
  • “Want some Asprin?” – Don
  • Bobby is way too aware of the whole movie-going concept: “Everybody likes to go to the movies when they’re sad.” Like father, like son!
  • “Betty I hope you know you’ll never have to worry about money.” – Henry
  • “I don’t think I ever wanted to be the man that loves children.” – Don
  • “Don’t make me sorry for taking you to the movies.” – Don