Mad Men returns. Thumbs up or down?

I thought he was wincing because Peggy was using a line that she had heard Don use on her.

 

I saw it as a smile because he taught her well enough to use his tricks against him.

 

The only thing missing from the bar scene was Peggy turning to Don and going "once you were the teacher but now I am the master."

 

Is she? They both failed.

 

My interpretation of Don's expression at the door was that he was a weird combination of proud/defeated. And while her boss looked pissed they didn't get it, initially she still looked a little pleased with herself until Stan flipped her off. The fact they both "lost" was besides the point. She went toe to toe with her mentor and maybe one-upped him. At least that's how I read it.

 

When was Don's last big win? These are starting to pile up.

 

Jaguar

 

I read it very differently. Peggy's smile seemed to be more of a grimace, a show of her frustration in herself for betraying one of her only friends, Ted for forcing her hand, Stan for being unforgiving and Heinz for making it all worthless by picking neither company. I don't think she was proud of anything. She has no way of knowing whether her pitch was better than Don's. And it wasn't, even though both were good.

Don has done plenty of good work, helped by Stan and Ginsberg and, in the recent past, Megan and Peggy. I thought he completely nailed the Hawaii pitch, which isn't settled yet. Last season he nailed Jaguar.

 

He nailed the Hawaii pitch by comparing to death (or at least giving off that impression)?

 

I loved it. It's the idea of killing that stiff in a business suit in order to be reborn in a bathing suit. It fits the theme. It's a great idea. Stan had it right the whole time.

 

I think it was an idea that actually was ahead of its time. He presents that in the 80s and they probably love it.

 

I guess I should clarify: In the cases of Heinz and Hawaii, he nailed the ad but not the pitch.

His ads remain great, but he has become increasingly combative with customers, as he was with the Jaguar pervert.