Mad Men – Season 7, Episode 2 – Changes 3

The episode had more than a few shining moments.

My favorite scenes were the ones involving Shirley and Dawn, especially their hysterical co-worker chitchat that starts with Shirley greeting Dawn by her own name and vice versa – a telling and funny sendup of the way few people in the office bother to learn who those interchangeable black people are.

They were the victims for most of the episode, of Lou and Peggy, respectively, illustrating both the ill treatment of secretaries in general and African Americans in particular (Bert’s blatant racism about not wanting a black woman greeting people at the office entrance was a latter example). Peggy in particular behaved badly, mistakenly thinking a bunch of roses were for her when they actually were for her secretary. She’s still moping about Ted, thinking he sent them and getting angry about it. She then makes a fool of herself and blames Shirley. The growing up will have to be done by her. Lou is cast in a more villainous light than in the first episode, wanting Dawn removed after Sally shows up unexpectedly during the lunch hour looking for her father. Dawn is out buying perfume for Lou’s wife, so it’s silly to blame her for a situation that she didn’t create (although Lou probably might be correct to want Dawn out if he knew that she was reporting to Don in her off hours).

Dawn is always the character counseling restraint, and does so to Shirley earlier in the episode. But when Lou removes her, Dawn snaps back. And in a twist, as Joan gets promoted to do account work, Dawn gets her job – and a rare smile of satisfaction. On a very white show, it was refreshing to have the black characters play more than a minor role (and even talk to each other).

The other satisfying plotline was Don and Sally’s. Don is in New York, he says, to try to fix things, but admits to his daughter that he really doesn’t know how. His efforts to be ingratiating fall flat, but honesty works rather well. While the conclusion underlined the point a little too heavily (he got an “I love you,” to raised eyebrows from Don), it was a solid little story that emphasized the way he can repair some of the damage to their relationship. Don seemed less full of b.s. in the closing minutes with her than in a long time.

I question real estate agent Bonnie’s taste in men, but she doesn’t tolerate Pete’s self-pity and has an admirable view of the vagaries of life in sales. Jim has become an interesting character, and is throwing his weight around more in the office. Bert is semi-retired. Roger seems to be regarded as someone who can be trifled with, by Jim and even by Lou. Don is gone for the moment. Pete and Ted are in Los Angeles, unable to communicate clearly in a 1969 conference call.

It wasn’t a profound episode, and I got tired of watching Peggy act so ridiculous, but it worked.