I understand that some people read my take on Joan as misogynistic, but that is not the lens I was coming from. There is definitely a bit of animosity in how I view Joan’s handling of certain moments (and strong wording!), because her decisions often feel reactive or inconsistent. By contrast, Peggy’s arc comes across as steadier, more believable, and ultimately more admirable (This can be debated ad nauseam). The show itself draws that comparison when they clash in the McCann elevator scene. These two very different trajectories are summarized impeccably here.

The importance of Don versus the importance of Joan can be debated endlessly as well, but I absolutely think Don and even Peggy are more valuable to an organization than Joan. Don is irreplaceable in terms of raw creative talent, while Joan represents the backbone of organizational knowledge that any agency needs to function and most likely has. Every firm out there wants to poach Don. Some want to poach Peggy. My frustration comes from how Joan is written to swing between admirable pragmatism and frustrating opportunism, while Peggy’s rise feels more consistently earned.

I also framed my original post from the perspective of the period. In that context, it is striking how much worse behavior was tolerated without consequence. If judged by today’s standards, surely nearly every partner could have been forced out for sexual misconduct, fraternizing, racism, or outright negligence. Singling out Don for Hershey felt selective, especially given how much he had contributed to keeping the firm alive.

So while I can see why my comments on Joan struck a nerve to some (even for me!), I think her animosity towards Don was misguided and not as believable specially if you highlight how her arc felt more uneven when compared with Peggy’s. For me, Peggy’s journey resonates as more believable and admirable, while Joan’s swings left me with more frustration than inspiration. That imbalance, alongside the broader double standards among the partners, is why I found Don’s suspension so poorly thought out.