Chaos man, sorry, we'll have to agree to disagree (On office politics). Each office works differently; but if I called a partner into my officewitha junior clerk and handed them the exact same marching orders? I'd be putting a bulls eye on my back for at least the next year. As for Joan--Joan is head of personnel; her job is partially logging meetings between other offices. She travels to the offices because that's part of her job, which is probably why she accepted her account position; because the personnel head is a naturally subordinate position (It's head secretary; as Paul said in S1). However, when she was brought to Ken's office--notice it was for GOOD news on an *account*; a field Joan has been trying to break into. (Ken was essentially giving her the day-to-day meetings on the account--he sounded like a dick about it, because he's about to have a break down BUT it wasgoodnews all the same--watch S1, Don gets called in a lot, but almost always for good news.).
Also, was there another peon in the room? Did Joan get anunimportantassignment alongside said peon? Nope. So the orders were obviously specially crafted for her (Again, good news too) and not just some marching orders you toss to a junior. So I don't really see the situation as analog, there were more variables than just the "summoning to the office". (The real analog was Lou summoning Joan--but again, that's due to the nature of head of personnel.) If Peggy had asked Don to come to her office--and talked to himalone, to explain a unique situation, you might have a point. That's been done before (But usually only with good news). But she specifically called him in, told him it was her account, and gave him the most menial set of tasks on said account along side a junior copywriter (Subtle Pegster, oh socleverand subtle).
Peggy bluffed, Don called and Peggy realized she had nothing. Even Don's stipulations didn't give Peggy any ammo, because they all have to deal with clients. Don knew that, which is why he chose to have a tantrum and call Peggy's power play (And she folded, instantly). What brought him back to the table was the long game, as explained by Rummsen. (The thing about this that gets me, is as you see in the show--Peggy KNEW what was happening. She knew Don was essentially a land mine for her, which is why her actions seem so perplexing to me.) However; again each office is different so maybe I'm seeing something that's striking a personal cord with me. We'll have to agree to disagree. But what I saw there, personally? Was Peggy realized the trap and still went ahead anyway and bull-headedly committed the faux pas they set her up for. (I mean, she even ASKED Lou to tell Don because she knew this was bad office juju; yet after Lou ramped up her confidence, she decided--whelp, I'll handle this in the most blunt, tactless, matter-o-fact fashion I can think of!)
Which is why it feels like sloppy writing. Lou could not have been more transparent in setting up that show down if he had a twirly mustache. I mean come on; a raise and a pep talk about her being boss, as well as a "I'm on your side, I'd have hired you" allegiance talk, before unleashing her on a partner? It was anobvioustrap. Build up her confidence and then send her for a show down against someone with a massive ego and somewhat more power than her. And Peggy saw right through it (Hence asking Lou to tell Don), but rushed the trap anyway. It just felt forced and silly. (And I know Joan said they just didn't care--but she was talking about the partners; there was a plot, just from Lou).
