#drabell

To ME the way I read the dynamic of their relationship* is very much Pete pushing and Don resisting but seeing something in Pete that is undeniable to him. I've been saying it's like tomgreg but Pete is Tom which I think is a bit counterintuitive to people at their first glance at the concept since obviously Don is the more powerful character. But Pete is obviously VERY attracted to the idea of him and Don being a duo from the first episode. Within the confines of how the show was actually written I doubt they would have ever made it some kind of happy ending with them together or either being openly gay as a resolution but I think it could have been a long term affair storyline honestly without the way they act around everyone else seeming that different lmao. I've focused on this moment a lot but it could possibly start up after the North American Aviation debacle when Pete helps Don through that to his own detriment, Don suddenly realizes how much he cares, maybe he actually makes giving Pete the money into a proposition too or something...and obviously that would be revealed to be exactly why Pete made the sacrifice for him. The later strains on their relationship in season six would also fit in fine, maybe Don needing Pete in his darkest hour and Pete having to turn him away because he finally can't take it anymore

*lol I feel like I should say for my reputation that I really don't read anything in the show as being canon evidence of anything more than a very intense platonic relationship between them like I don't think anything is meant to be implied and it's good the way it is!! My main thing is people just don't value those bits the way they do Don and Peggy or Peggy and Pete or even Don and Roger etc which I think is a shame and it's fun to kind of display them through a ship-y lens so they can get some attention. They are undeniably important to one another in a way I think is very....sweet? Like it's unspoken but Don seeks out Pete for help again and again after Pete displays the initial interest in them basically being allied together

CONTEMPT OF CHARACTERS IS RESERVED FOR MINOR VILLAINS

PETE AND DON MEANT MORE TO ONE ANOTHER THAN ANY THINKPIECE WRITER OR CRITIC HAS EVER REALIZED