Raw Data: The Quality of Mercy

Initial thoughts and observations for Mad Men episode 6-12, written by, Andrew Jacquemetton, who shares a writing credit on several Emmy nominated Mad Men episodes ("Commissions and Fees", "Six Month Leave" and "Blowing Smoke") and you guessed it, Matthew Weiner.  The episode is directed by Phil Abraham who recently directed "The Better Half", the duality heavy episode earlier this season.

• The episode title "The Quality of Mercy" comes from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, in a quote which discusses why mercy is the most virtuous virtue.
• "The Quality of Mercy at 29K" is the title of a favorite SportsNight episode from 1998, where Dan attempts to figure out where to donate money, Dana sees The Lion King on Broadway and the show follows climbers scaling Everest all while everyone tries to scrounge up food.  I could talk all day about it.  It even features "The Weight" by The Band.
• Mercy-ness is next to godly-ness.
•  KEN!
• For all their bellyaching about the hardships they've undergone as account men, their stories focus on degradation and not danger.  Ken already was using a cane due to his car crash which also involved firearms.  Viewers' incredulous-ness at their incredulous-ness is off the chart.  With his family, Ken again highlights the difference between him and Pete where advertising is a part of Ken's life while it is Pete's life. 
• There's an Emmy for best actor.  But there needs to be one for best scene and one for best single line delivery.  The nominees would all be John Slattery/Roger Sterling and the winner would be "Lee Garner Jr. made me cup his balls!"
• The Nixon campaign is heading to a narrow popular victory, but an electoral landslide.  Nixon campaigned (with the help of Roger Ailes) on peace at home and abroad, seizing on the crime epidemic, which has been painted well this season, and promoting law and order (opposite of the disorder of the Dems).  Despite Nixon's "secret plan" to fight inflation, er, end the Vietnam War, it continued through his first term.
• This dates the episode between Sept 20, 1968 (last week's episode) and Nov 5, 1968 (Election Day).  The lack of Halloween decorations and election fever probably put it in early October
• Rosemary's Baby was released June 12, 1968, so that is not much help, but seeing a scary movie in the Halloween season makes sense.
• It's possible Ted was watching an episode of the second television incarnation of Dragnet, but that is only a best guess
•  "Harry's such a pain in the ass" Megan probably never told Don about Harry's behavior regarding her.
• Betty was bearable, even likeable.
• Ted is still a dick to Don ("Feeling better?"), despite being awkwardly found with Peggy  even though it's completely reasonable for Don to feel better later in the day than in the morning.  Passing judgement on the severity of someone's illness is a pet peeve.  
• Ginsberg's description of cranberry-prune juice is hilarious and makes me wonder if they are so good at coming up with great ad techniques for products, be they good or bad or neutral, how effective would they be at  etching these images into consumers' heads so they don't buy a particular product
• The GM guys wanting to stop for lunch on the way to the hospital brings to mind Donna's boyfriend from West Wing
• "I'm just saying if you were in an accident, I wouldn't stop for a beer"..."If you were in an accident I wouldn't stop for red lights"
• Ken totally and hilariously missed Pete's hand due to a lack of depth perception 
• The stairs make another appearance, but nothing was apparently noteworthy.  Sometimes stairs are stairs I guess.
• Ted chastises Don (SCDP) for not being good to their word, which brings to mind Don's attitude toward Mohawk, pre-Heinz
• Bob's leaving the meeting was the best move he could have made, making Pete look petty, and because he already knew he had gotten into the account
• Speaking of Bob, is this him?
• Bob seems to be able to inhabit whatever skin is necessary for a situation
• He has a bit of Don Draper in him, apparently conning his way into a job (like Don)
• He also tries to gaslight Pete.  And takes on a forceful demeanor with Pete, not letting go of his hand and changing is tone to include a certain expectation.  You could feel him squeezing Pete's hand
• Interesting cut from the "blue blood" description to Bob speaking Spanish
• I am not sure if Pete is trying to make Bob an ally or make him grateful to him (Think back to Season One when Don fired Pete and Cooper overruled him, though Don got to re-hire Pete and make him grateful about it).  Or if he is paranoid about what someone who has such capabilities could do to someone like Pete.
• Or maybe he is being merciful.  He is at least by keeping Bob's gay tendency to himself, much like Don did for Sal on their business trip 
• "Servile" is a word I never heard before but was so clearly a great choice coupled with the contempt dripping off Pete's delivery of it.
• Looking for some Bob Bensen/Arrested Development overlaps involving the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mary, and the Seaward
• Sally was making drinks for her parents as early as Season Two's "Flight 1".  I guess that will come in handy?
• Pete's DoD friend got a mention last week.  This off screen character had a part in the Pete-Don-Dick unveil.  And now Pete's in the midst of another multiple identity case
• Glen's coat gets in there with the secretary's boots Pete's suits and Stan's beard and jacket for best costumes of the year
• Mr. Plow, That's my name.  That name again is Mister Plow
• Don is not being super nice, but that doesn't make him wrong.  It's possible for him to be acting in his interest and be correct/be in the company's interest.  Though, probably not merciful.
• If he really wanted to wound Peggy he'd say something like "Do you want your work to be for nothing?" which would bring up erroneous but well traveled idea that she got ahead by sleeping with Don.  If I recall correctly, she brings this up in "The Suitcase" and is actually somewhat disappointed at how preposterous Don thinks it is.  But if she and Ted continue this, it will be even worse because it will be the second time through she's getting ahead by sleeping with the boss...at least that's how it will be viewed
• "My father's never given me anything" Happy Father's Day! 
•  They do this a lot, such as this past Mother's Day.
• The color in the frame when Pete stood outside his office was staggering, especially compared to the drab old, just out of the 1950's Sterling Cooper offices of Season One
• The episode ends with a shot from Requiem for a Dream...Don in the fetal position, possibly a reference to Rosemary's Baby?  If only I'd seen that movie...Or maybe the ad Peggy came up with?