From the wilderness of the internet I offer you a Newsweek article about the changing cultural attitudes towards women in the '60s and how Mad Men portrays them. And at Visual Thesaurus, Ben Zimmer talks about the period accuracy of some phrases from last episode, including "Get over it."

A thought on last week, which I still feel was an exceptional episode. Peggy and Pete's long look through the glass hearkens back to Maidenform from season two, when Peggy was trying to fit in with they boys. There it expressed disapproval, discomfort. Last week it was more about acceptance of their distinct roles. They've developed a real mutual respect for each other.

But now, politics! Racism! Business Intrigue! Benihana! Masturbation! Psychiatry! And shame shame shame.

This was more of an action episode then last week, very plot heavy. Don gets a smug rival and pulls a neat trick on him. Cooper showcases some of his Japanese skills. Pete shows off more of his new spine. And the uncomfortable kid stuff gets more uncomfortable.

Sally's freak-outs from last season have only gotten worse. I thought her hair cut was cute, and the perils of childhood masturbation in the most uptight family ever... ugh. Yeah Betty, chop Sally's fingers off, because it's totally not natural to masturbate, right? I have to hand it to Henry for being so cool about it. I was hoping, in one of my anti-Betty moods, that he would turn out to harbor some secret even more terrible than Don's, but he's one of the warmest, most understanding characters on the show. I honestly think Don could have handled it if he were still in the home, he's not much of a father lately but we know he can be sympathetic to children.

Small nods to Betty for admitting to the psychiatrist she knows it's normal behavior. Couldn't have told that to your kid now, could you Bets? Guess that's why Sally doesn't want to talk to you about sex.

A side note on Sally's asking Phoebe, the nurse/babysitter, if she was sleeping with Don. I expect Betty to throw Don's habits in his face, but how does Sally know? What has she heard?

Betty opening up to a child psychiatrist was telling. She's always been compared to a little girl. But Don opening up to Faye was unprecedented. Without his family support, Don is actually building relationships with the people around him. The office knows more about his problems now, and Ms. Blankenship isn't helping that. (Love this character. She's a hilarious foil for Don.) Faye also admitted to Don that she's single, that her wedding ring is a "stop sign" that lets her focus on her work. You could almost see Don thinking after she told him. I wonder if her vagina's for rent?

The office plot is figuring heavily into this season and I love it because I missed it last year. Roger's bigotry, expressed right after he voiced support for civil rights, was interesting. I like how it irked Pete into a monstrous explosion, unartful and crude, just like Campbell. When Don said he was right I almost fell out of my chair. Pete is really working to undermine Roger at this point. He's got Don's approval and his investment in the company total. Roger's problem also gave us a chance to see how well Joan deals with him. Their relationship is one of the best on the show. It's sad, but I think they'll never end up together, and I also think Roger might be on his way towards retirement.

The Japanese subplot with Don's new rival was also interesting. It really serves no other purpose but to show off Don's smarts. The book, The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, is a study of Japanese culture, and Don, the only one who reads it, uses its lessons on shame to impress the Honda people. Shame informs the whole episode, with Betty and the neighbor who catches Sally, with Roger's outburst. Even Henry makes Betty ashamed for slapping her daughter.

Random impressions:

Happy to see a cameo from Smitty. He sounded like a wistful ex-boyfriend. I miss him.

One of Don's best lines ever, "Why do people have to talk about everything?"

Pete trying to take a package addressed to Don, again.

Big giant fake out when Betty says she wishes Don were dead and Henry agrees. I doubt they're going to hatch a murder plot but I like how the writers tease us with it.

Betty and Don still seem like they're made for each other.

One of my favorite images I've ever seen on the show, Peggy zooming around an empty studio on a Honda motorbike.

I watched this episode with a drunk friend who had never seen Mad Men. Don hadn't spoken five lines before my friend laughed and said, "I like this guy, he doesn't give a fuck."