Mad Men

[fuser]

It was a fitting end/beginning.  Kinsey's reaction was priceless.  Still odd how I can side with Don in all of this, despite the hundreds of times he's been unfaithful to Betty.

Maybe because he's charming, and she's a lunatic.

Even with his "whore" statement? That fight and the couch discussion was really rough for an episode with so much comedy.

[Rasix]

Even with his "whore" statement?

He was waaaaaaaaay drunk, even for Don Draper standards.  Not too sure he wasn't accurate with that statement, although not in the way he likely intended.

Couch discussion was brutal.  Betty, for once, was a lot more mature than Don and handled the situation better (holding the cards helps).  Sally is going to be a wreck.

[fuser]

Couch discussion was brutal.  Betty, for once, was a lot more mature than Don and handled the situation better (holding the cards helps).  Sally is going to be a wreck.

[Rasix]

Couch discussion was brutal.  Betty, for once, was a lot more mature than Don and handled the situation better (holding the cards helps).  Sally is going to be a wreck.

Reno.   But yes, agreed. 

[Tannhauser]

Such a great finale!  Don realized how much of an ass he has been to those around him.  Peggy standing firm, although desperately needing Don's respect and affection.  Joan sailing back in and saving the day.  Pete and Trudy really coming together as a team and playing with the big boys. 


This was the salvation of Don Draper.  He may have lost his marriage, but he has regained his soul. 

[Xanthippe]

Don Draper's an asshole.  A charming, pretty asshole, but still an asshole.  Not much of a man.  Betty's always been a jerk especially to her kids, but she has had some great lines. ("Mom, I'm bored."  "Go bang your head against the wall." - loved it and plan on using it.)

I used to hate everyone on this show, except for Joan.  Roger's starting to grow on me - at least he knows what an asshole he is.

It struck me last week how much my dad looked like Don Draper back then, dressed like him too.  Suit to work, every day (not quite as snazzy a suit since he was an aerospace engineer, not an adman).  This show still is a little too much a caricature of the times than an accurate portrait but the sets are generally quite good.  What the set designers forget is that just as now, offices and homes aren't completely to period - there's always the odd pieces from previous periods.

[Polysorbate80]

Ad agency offices do often tend to be set pieces.  Appearances are very important to folks who sell images for a living.

[Big Gulp]

Don Draper's an asshole.  A charming, pretty asshole, but still an asshole.  Not much of a man.  Betty's always been a jerk especially to her kids, but she has had some great lines. ("Mom, I'm bored."  "Go bang your head against the wall." - loved it and plan on using it.)

I would have more respect for Betty's choice to divorce Don if she weren't doing it on the coattails of a guy she only just met who looks to be 20 years her senior.  She's not without means; she can still sell her father's house, that's a big chunk of change, not to mention she's got Don by the short and curlies knowing that he's really Dick Whitman.  No, she's just trading one subordinate role for another one, with someone she really doesn't know.  At least with Don all the cards were finally on the table.

Sorry, but I have less respect for Betty than I do for Don.  He was right when he called her a "Main Line spoiled brat", and she's an ice cold bitch to boot.  Frankly, I think the kids would probably be better off with Don.  He may be a philanderer, but we do know that he loves his kids and they'd probably actually receive some warmth from him as opposed to the ice queen.

[Draegan]

Me and the gf watched the whole series over the last few months.  From the start of season 1 ep 1 through last Sunday's episode, my gf has good from hating the cheating prick of Don Draper and feeling sorry for Betty to calling Betty a dumb whore and cheering Don on.

It's funny to watch that transition.

[voodoolily]

Maybe because he's charming, and she's a lunatic.

I have spent all three seasons wondering if Bets is supposed to be a numb moron or if January Jones is just a terrible actress. Don't get me wrong, she's fucking stunning, but it always sounds like she's just spitting out her lines without any expression.

The worst part of the year is when Mad Men ends. Gonna be a long 9 months.

I would have more respect for Betty's choice to divorce Don if she weren't doing it on the coattails of a guy she only just met who looks to be 20 years her senior. 

Her father just died. This sets up the storyline for Season 4.

[Xanthippe]

I have spent all three seasons wondering if Bets is supposed to be a numb moron or if January Jones is just a terrible actress. Don't get me wrong, she's fucking stunning, but it always sounds like she's just spitting out her lines without any expression.

Me too.  She is reminiscent of Grace Kelly - minus the warmth and sincerity.

Can someone please explain to me the hatred that Draper has for Roger?  It seems completely out of character for him.  I assume it's because Roger left wife #1 for wife #2, but Draper's a philanderer too, so... why?  Draper's a jerk in a lot of ways, but never struck me as a hypocrite in any other way but this Roger hating thing -  they aren't friends, they're business associates, yet Draper didn't want to have anything to do with Roger including at work.  I don't get it.

Agree with Big Gulp on Don being the better parent of the two - Betty's an ice woman with her kids.

[Abagadro]

Roger a) hit on Don's wife and b) went behind Don's back to get Betty to put pressure on him to sign the contract.  I think he also is generally tired of Roger's shit in general (in part as indicative of the whole Creative v. Account tension), including meddling with his firing of and then ultimately taking away his secretary to marry her.

[Rasix]

Can someone please explain to me the hatred that Draper has for Roger?

Don hates Roger because Roger took Don's behavior and desires to their semi-logical end.  Don desires to start over. He wants to run away from his responsibility and just live free.  Thus his daliances, his season ago extended vacation with the hedonists, his fat stacks of cash sitting in a drawer.  Don does not like seeing what the extremes of his behavior are: thus his disgust when confronted with his pot smoking, slutty, artist hippy girl from season 1; the morally lax, rich drifter hedonists in season 2; and then Roger marrying the younger lady he's having an affair with.

Roger chose his happiness and pleasure over staying with a wife that he doesn't love and probably doesn't love him.  Roger could more easily do this because his child is older, he has more money, and he doesn't have Don's sense of duty toward his family or his self-exempt sense of morality.  Don's abadonment issues also contribute here.  

Betty's gone, his family is shattered, and so are Don's major blocks with being civil toward Roger.  He doesn't have to hate Roger anymore because now there's no shame in being like him.
 

[voodoolily]

Don also heavily relies on his family as a major component of the construct he has created for himself to escape his unfortunate past. His wife/kids/house in suburbs are crucial to maintaining the lie that is his life.

Also, the school teacher he cheats with in Season 3 is on that one Twix commercial.

[Nevermore]

New season starts this Sunday.

[eldaec]

Maybe because he's charming, and she's a lunatic.

I have spent all three seasons wondering if Bets is supposed to be a numb moron or if January Jones is just a terrible actress. Don't get me wrong, she's fucking stunning, but it always sounds like she's just spitting out her lines without any expression.

Terrible actress.

At some point the producers realised this and told wardrobe they'd have to act for her. The only variation in her delivery is whether it comes from a happy/sad/repressed/slutty/formal outfit.

[Tannhauser]

Can't wait until Sunday!  So many good actors and good scripts in this show.  I LOVE how they ended last season.  Don got his wish; a do-over.  Also love Roger.  The man knows what he wants, gets it and doesn't apologize for it. 

[Nebu]

Not sure what to think after Sunday, but last season started a bit slowly as well.  I'm really looking forward to see how they develop Don this season. 

Who's the new art guy (working with Peggy)?  Seems annoying as shit. 

[Nebu]

Can anyone refresh my memory?  Is the woman that Don went to visit in this week's episode (the blonde in California) special because she's the only person that knows Don's (Dick's) true history?

Thanks.

[Abagadro]

That's the real Don Draper's widow. So yes she knows the whole thing but it goes beyond that.

[Nebu]

This week's writing has me thinking that this show has jumped the shark.  I'll watch a few more episodes, but it seems that they're just heading into left field. 

[Nevermore]

I just got caught up with the show through this past weekend.  You'll need to be more specific, why do you think a shark has been jumped?

[Nebu]

You'll need to be more specific, why do you think a shark has been jumped?

I don't give a shit about the specifics of Don's daughter.  She's struggling through the divorce.  I get it.  I don't want to spend 10 mins of the show on her issues. 

[Xanthippe]

You'll need to be more specific, why do you think a shark has been jumped?

I don't give a shit about the specifics of Don's daughter.  She's struggling through the divorce.  I get it.  I don't want to spend 10 mins of the show on her issues. 

What's more interesting to me is Betty's issues with Sally's issues, if that makes sense, and that Don, despite being a pretty shitty husband, has the potential to be a pretty good dad - it's just potential though, he's still one fucked up guy.

[Nebu]

This week's writing has me thinking that this show has jumped the shark.  I'll watch a few more episodes, but it seems that they're just heading into left field. 

Sunday's episode redeemed the writing.  I'll wait on the shark for a bit.

[Tannhauser]

Man, that was good.  Peggy has always been a bit of a cipher to me so it was great to see her and Don interact.  "Bert has no balls?" lawl

Don fades for a bit and Peggy gets to see Dick Whitman underneath.  Golden.

[Nevermore]

Lane's father 

[Abagadro]

Lane's father 

Don't fuck with the Soul Hunter.

[Triforcer]

I've never seen this show, but what bothers me (not here, this is an internet forum of regular people, we can talk about whatever) is how every goddamn news site on the Internet with delusions of pretension run a "deep" psychoanalysis of every episode every week.  Its the same thing that made me hate Lost.  

[Tarami]

Where are the script writers otherwise going to get their ideas?

[Nebu]

I've never seen this show, but what bothers me (not here, this is an internet forum of regular people, we can talk about whatever) is how every goddamn news site on the Internet with delusions of pretension run a "deep" psychoanalysis of every episode every week.  Its the same thing that made me hate Lost.  

If the media is all over your show, good or bad, you win.  Mad Men is a great show.  That's why it gets the buzz that it does... no matter how psycho.

[Quinton]

Picked up season one on bluray last night, having heard various positive things about it.  I've watched about half and am enjoying it massively.  These people are seriously broken, but fascinating to watch.  

EDIT: Just finished up season four... think I've watched more TV this week than I do in a typical year... fun fun ride... any idea whenabouts in 2011 season five might start?

[Nevermore]

Yes it's really been this long between seasons, which is way too long for any series.  However, Roger Sterling remains one of the most entertaining characters on any television show.

[Rasix]

Zoobie zoobie zoobie zoooo.

[Tannhauser]

This show moves at it's own pace and keeps surprising me.  Love having MadMen back!  Maybe some of the characters acted out of character, but Harry with Roger, Don with his hot new wife, Price with Joan, just some great one on one stories.  I mean you just don't see Harry and Roger having a story, loved it, poor Harry was so outgunned.