Joan's reaction when she cut her finger slicing the orange seemed strange to me.  She was a little hysterical, and wanted to go to the hospital.

What happened to the Joan who was the only person brave enough to slap a tourniquet on the Limey who had his foot mowed last season?

To me, it showed her lack of confidence in her husband's ability as a doctor.

Yeah, I think that's what they were going for, NCMadMan.

I enjoyed seeing her act like a little girl, though.  It's so out of character for Joan, since she's always two steps ahead of everyone else.

I kind of have that problem.  I could see buckets of your blood, but if I see mine, I pass out.  Very strange.

Its a view of a very different side of Joan then we're used to seeing. She has everything under a calm level of control..except her own life.

The frail little girl we see hysterical over the cut on her finger is like a pot boiling over. She cannot change her husbands mind about joining the army, or see eye to eye with him about much at all. We've been shown a very large void of trust growing from Joans' side of the marriage since the scene in the third season (I think it was anyways!) where he takes her in Dons office despite her protests.

She doesn't trust him, and it shows when she's in a weak moment. Her calm demeanor shattered, and her true colours show through.

That was a pretty deep cut though(yea, I paused it cuz I'm a nerd). I would have freaked out too, Dr husband or not. But, they had to make the whole point that she was struggling with having faith in her marriage (with it being what she always planned/worked for,etc).

I thought the scene resulted in an "aw" moment. Doc gets to show Joan that he is competent and strong and she likes it.  Bonding!  They're bonding! THen out in LA, Don is feeling actual emotions with Anna and comes home for some guy-bonding with Lane. 

IN with the new will be here soon enough--out with the old and a little softy squishy remembrance.

perhaps this is the "real" joan's personality, not the "in control, two steps ahead of the world" persona she must have at work in order to succeed?

my next door neighbor was a "cool, collected, always in control" MD...until his son swallowed something he should not had...then he darn near disolved into a puddle of hysteria.  to this very day he thanks me for being home and calming him down and driving them to the ER. 

sometimes when someting unexpected happens to YOU your "inner personality" emerges.