Mad Men

[Tannhauser]

Wow Joan finally screwed up, sorta!  And the return of Ginsberg!  Oh and when Don gets drunk he slips back into Dick the Hick it seems.  Ted keeps the place together with sheer force of will.  Peggy and Joan finally clear the air.  Bob Benson appears to be living the Peter Principle.  Listening to that record makes me think he's 'all hat no cattle'.  Harry Hamlin's character is pretty quirky and not at all I imagined.

Always good to see Don and Roger together, they're like Hope and Crosby but with drugs.

[Shannow]

A really solid episode.  Harry Hamlin is really killing it.

Agreed!  I really enjoy the interplay between him and Ted as well. 

[Shannow]

Ahh Don every time you seem to be improving you let us down. Well at least your consistent.

Is it too much to expect the redemption of Don Draper? Even I'm left feeling disgusted with him after this episode.

[Tmon]

I've given up on Don's redemption.  I suspect he is headed for a sad end, the only thing I'm really wondering is who else he will drag down with him.

[Tannhauser]

Great episode!  God, even Pete acted like a human being a few times.  And, oh the hilarity!  Seriously, Peggy's rat problem was great as was Roger with his bon mots.  Also great to see Ted's home life and his bargain with Don.  Speaking of Don, I don't think there is redemption for him.  He's the black figure falling during the credits.  Don gets less savory every year, especially contrasted with his wife, Ted and the surgeon.  Little Sally got a taste of pop's proclivities and she's rightly freaked out.

Oh and the mystery of Smilin' Bob revealed!  That was a good scene and I'm surprised Pete didn't jump out the window.  If I had to pick a weak link, it'd be Pete's mother story.  Lastly, the touching scene between Pete and Peggy was wonderfully intimate.

Just a really strong episode from start to finish.  Once again, MM seems to have gathered its momentum and is in high gear. 

[Quinton]

Don's reaction to Sally's discovery (by dinner time at least) was pretty severe.  Not sure if he's going to be able to paper over this so easily.  Also Mrs Rosen did not exactly take it well either.  I think that it's gotta be over at this point... if not worse (Sally says something to Megan or Betty or a friend...)

He always seems to find a way to sink to a new low.  I was thinking he was actually trying to help out Dr Rosen more than restart his affair with his wife, but that fell apart the moment she answered the phone.

[Tannhauser]

I agree.  He was actually doing his friend a favor, probably because he feels guilty for banging his wife.  Then he goes and bangs his wife again, taking advantage of her deep relief and gratitude.

[Shannow]

Enjoyed the episode. I kinda enjoyed the meeting with St Joseph's scene....I hate myself for liking Draper at times but he can be such a magnicificent barstard...

Was anyone's first thought though ?

[Tannhauser]

Yeah, I felt that way.  Kenny, the only decent guy, gets offed!  Not as good a show as last week, but some great moments.  That sleaze Duck's still hanging around.  I never forgave him for abandoning his dog.  Nice moment between Betty and Sally.  The return of Glen!  I'm not sure Ted can survive in the same office as Don. 

I'm not spoilering any of this because no ones here that hasn't seen the latest episode.  If that's wrong my apologies.

Finally the secret of Bob!  That was a weird scene between him and Pete.  Thought Pete was going to fire him.  I guess he can't since he's on the Chevy team.  Lastly, Megan is still clueless and Don's still a prick.  News at 11.

[Shannow]

I think he kept Bob because unlike Don who he knows about but can't do anything about, he has complete control over Bob. Pete is desperate to be in charge of something at the office.

[Quinton]

Also, given how badly his going to Cooper about Don backfired (Cooper just didn't give a shit), and how it was just made clear to him that Bob was important for continuity with Chevy, *and* that Bob just reminded him that it was Pete's decision to hire him, I think Pete decided to try a different approach this time around...

[Nevermore]

Pete didn't actually hire him, though.  No one did.  He just showed up one day and started working and everyone assumed he was hired.  I think he gave that answer to Pete just because Pete was the first person to acknowledge him.

[Shannow]

In honour of the final episodes starting on Sunday...

Here is Mad Men Blaxplotation style

[Shannow]

Anyone watching the new season? I'm liking it so far. Not enough Roger Sterling.

[Nebu]

Anyone watching the new season? I'm liking it so far. Not enough Roger Sterling.

I am.  Pretty intense so far.  Agree on the 'not enough Roger' part.

[Nevermore]

I was kind of surprised that

[Speedy Cerviche]

edit: [the agency]

[Nevermore]

It's the last season but as is all too typical for AMC, it's split into two parts and we won't get the second half until next year.

[Tannhauser]

Which is total bullshit. 

[jgsugden]

Don has gone through some character growth and humbling.  That is why he'll work for Lou.  He understands that he needs to earn back respect.

Don isn't the same character he was in the early episodes.  He no longer dominates those around him - he is now the outdated guy struggling to find a place. 

[Tannhauser]

Pretty much agree.  I think Don is slowing turning into a hybrid of Don Draper/Dick Whitman.  Which is why he's letting Sally in on it.

[Tmon]

Why is Betty still in this show?  Do we really need more scenes establishing that she is not going to win Mother of the Year.  Also, agree the show needs lots more Roger Sterling.

[Abagadro]

What do you have to worry about?

Having done nothing and having no one.

Holy fucking shit!

[Shannow]

Holy fucking shit indeed. I loved the episode, brought a smile to my face, also worried that they are just setting us up for a huge fall.

[Numtini]

What the fuck.

[Nevermore]

It was certainly out of left field.

[Quinton]

Fantastic episode.  The (very final) ending bit was pretty strange, but hey, I'll cope.

[Tannhauser]

I think Roger's deal is the nail in the coffin.  We don't like Cutler but he's right.

[Shannow]

The final 'season' started last night. I was a little underwhelmed. Some classic Don Draper moments though. Awesomely bad facial hair and Kenny Cosgrove of all people with the best lines.

[Xanthippe]

[jgsugden]

To be fair, I think her character is supposed to be stinted, awkward, unapproachable and beautiful.  Her only redeeming value is her looks.  She is supposed to be vapid and annoying to modern sensibilities.  Now, that isn't an excuse for why all of her other characters in other shows/movies are the same, but.... (actually, I have not minded her on LMOE).

[Tannhauser]

Yeah, she's in arrested development, shown when she connects to a young Glen, admires the doll house in the child psychologist's office, etc.  Also, she can't act.  I kind of like creepy Glen, the way he looks at her with those dead, serial-killer eyes.

Good to see Joan may be getting some permanent happiness.  Peggy won't though, she in her own way too much to be happy.

LOVED Don's story about the problems of attractive people.  I think he really got to see himself from the outside a bit and it was revealing, especially in his last line to Sally.

[Shannow]

[jgsugden]

I am wondering if Don just fades into nothingness in the end... If the last shot is of him putting down roots in some small town, nearly penniless, introducing himself as Dick Whitman, and after saying goodbye to everything that made him Don.

[Samwise]

I really like the DB Cooper theory.