National Post

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Mad Men recap: Never ignore Peggy Olson

Nothing especially groundbreaking took place within the ad offices of Mad Men on Sunday night, unless you count Megan’s planning for Don’s surprise 40th birthday party. Which you should. Despite Peggy’s protestations (“Men don’t like surprises,” she tells Megan, who dumbly ignores her. Never ignore Peggy!), Megan stocks the Deapers’ swank Manhattan digs with a motley crew of ad men — in varying states of Don Cherry-esque dinner jackets — and miniskirted jetsetters. Megan and her friends lounge, laugh and smoke “tea,” as Ken Cosgrove puts it, while Don’s consortium maintain the stiffness they grew up with. And as if the visual metaphor wasn’t rich enough, Don’s discomfort gets the spotlight treatment as Megan treats him to a burlesque-y performance of Zoo Be Zoo Be Zoo, complete with lifted skirt and blown kisses. It — like much of Sunday’s episode — does not tone down the intended comedic effect, nor its effect on Don.