While most recaps focus on the entire aspect of a show, this one’s going to be a little bit different.  As this is a feminist blog deconstructing images and portrayals of women in pop culture, why spend an entire post rambling on about the men of Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price.  Instead, these recaps will focus on the women of Mad Men – the main ladies: Peggy, Joan, and Betty, and any new additions or guest stars – hence the title “Mad Women.”

Betty
Considering the amount of anger Betty has shown toward Don since the divorce, it was good to see her smiling; (I don’t think we’ve seen her smile all season, much less because of something that Don did.  It was really good to see him doing fun things for Sally.)  I was surprised to see Betty confronted with protecting Don’s identity and doing so.  It looked like it bothered him much more than her.  I think she’s becoming slightly wary of Henry, with him working long hours; hopefully a big difference between him and Don will be honesty.

Peggy
No thoughts on Peggy this week, she was completely absent from this episode.

Joan
After the episode earlier this season where Joan visits her doctor, I was surprised to see the topic of abortion come up again this season.  (Its not the first time the topic has been addressed on the show, Betty considered and discussed it with Francine when she became pregnant with Gene at the end of the second season.)  It was curious how Roger wanted Joan to keep the child, but didn’t discuss or consider how she would support herself or the baby, with her husband off at war.  I wondered if she was so calm about the situation because she’s been through it before, and if he caught on to that.  The contrast of how abortion was treated then versus now wasn’t very big.  It is still a very taboo subject, despite the fact that it’s been legal for over thirty years.

Toni, Faye, Sally
I don’t know why, but I never took Lane for being socially progressive in his dating life.  The scene where Lane introduced Toni to his father was a bit awkward to say the least.  While he tried to play it off like it was nothing, I think she understood the racist undertones in his fathers excuses.  I’m curious whether he’ll do what his father says going forward, or stay with Toni, and continue his life in New York.

I wasn’t surprised to see that Faye was not upset by finding out that Don Draper isn’t who he pretends to be.  She was completely supportive and comforting of him while he fell apart and revealed his secrets.  Additionally she doesn’t care who he wants to say he is, it doesn’t matter if he still wants to be Don Draper or would like to start being Dick Whitman.  It was a really big moment for him, considering only Anna (who’s now gone) and Betty know.  I think Faye will be incredibly good for Don – she’s strong, independent, and speaks her mind without hesitation.

Leave your thoughts on Faye’s reaction to Dick Whitman, Joan and Roger’s future, and anything else from this episode in the comments.