wait, where's the nudity?

I think this was the first time we got a nudity warning, isn't it? I can't help it, it's piqued my interest ever so slightly more!

I just ADORE Pete and Trudy Campbell. I know there are a lot of Peggy/Pete fans out there but the Campbells are perfection. Seeing Pete get so excited was cute--and this comes from someone who hates Pete half the time. But I am so worried about the growing Campbell fetus! Why is Pete telling everyone so early?? I'm fearful of a miscarriage for poor Trudy.

Tangent: WHERE do I recognize Trudy's dad from?

Peggy is starting to become a great character, IMO. Previously she was kind of just seen as the rather strange girl (pregnant, didn't know it til it popped out her birth canal) with an odd taste in men (Pete Campbell, Duck Phillips, the current wet blanket) and an unfortunate wardrobe (anyone else distracted by that puffy-sleeved, mustard-colored monstrosity she was wearing this episode? It looked like it came out of Anne of Green Gables). But she's fast becoming the most interesting and amusing character in the show, what with the crazy pot-induced grin and the eavesdropping on Don. Her floating head above the wall divider made me laugh like a maniac. And I love how she makes the audience (at least, this audience member) vacillate between loving that she's out there going to beatnik parties, kissing strangers in closets, and running away from the po-po and then feeling terribly bad for her when she's wistfully staring at the wedding ring on her finger and finding out Pete's going to have a baby. Kudos, Miss Olsen.

Tangent: I've flipped to E! during the commercial break (sorry AMC, even your clever advertisements disguised as trivia can't stop the channel surfing). Kourtney Kardashian is clearly a robot.

Don as a character is fascinating and for that, I love him. That said, he deserves every single bad thing that is happening to him this season. Jon Hamm does a great job of looking guilty as sin when Allison breaks down during the focus group. And not even writing the poor girl a recommendation letter! He's lucky that office knickknack was the worse thing she threw at him. His meager attempt at an apology letter was just pathetic. And don't think we haven't been noticing Don's increasing alcohol consumption (well, more than usual, anyway).

It's 10:58 pm and I'm still wondering who's getting naked. Then, lightbulb moment: Oh wait, it was those nude photos Peggy was looking at in the elevator! I keep forgetting this is still basic cable. Sorry, I think I've just watched waaaaay too much HBO in my life. Thanks to True Blood/The Wire I've seen enough bottoms and boobs to last me three lifetimes.

Solved: Trudy's dad is Clarissa's dad on Clarissa Explains It All!

It's not until the preview for the next week that I realize Betty wasn't in this episode and I really didn't miss her at all. Not to worry Betty fans, it looks like she'll be back next week and in full-on beeyotch mode ("I want him dead." Tell us how you really feel, B.)

Bottom line: I enjoyed this episode but it also seemed like some parts (i.e. Peggy's adventures in beatnik land) felt like they belonged to a different show. We're heading sort of into the middle of the season where things tend to go a bit slower as setup for the "omg-WHAT-just-happened-oh-no-he-DIDN'T-oh-yes-she-did" season-ending eps, so I'm cutting it some slack. I think we can all agree we're on course for a Don Draper emotional meltdown. It's gonna be epic!

And the rest...
-Loved Don's little smile when he saw Peggy trying on Blonde Doctor's ring.
-Jean Seberg shout-out from Harry Crane!
-Welcome back, Ken Cosgrove. Don't stray from us too long again.
-New favorite word: swellegant!
-Loved seeing Don's new secretary. Joan knows what's up!