Mad Men

[c-lando]

I totally want Don to steal Midge's slogan. 

Vick's Vaporub:  Like drinking 100 bottles of whiskey while someone licks your tits!

That line was AMAAAAAAAAZING.

[rva]

No kidding.  Good on him for paying Pete's share of the "stay afloat" payment.

It was kind of dick-ish too, though. Or at least somewhat selfish. 

That letter wasn't a strategic business move, but rather a strategic personal move.  He really did fuck over a ton of people for his own benefit.  Don wins whether SCDP stays afloat or goes down.  If the letter succeeds in drumming up business, Sterling is rendered useless.  Cooper has already seen that he is in the same position and resigned.  So basically Draper is free to run the company (whatever name it takes) under his own terms.  By paying Pete's share, he's acknowledging a debt but at the same time settling it.  Pete would be free to stay or go, but it will be under Don's terms.

If the letter fails, then SCDP goes down in flames which satisfies the Dick Whitman side of him who never liked the people or the lifestyle or living the lie.  That was the addiction he is trying to beat, not SCDP's addiction to tobacco companies or a personal addiction to nicotine.

He didn't like being Dick Whitman, so he took Don Draper's identity.  Now that he screwed up Don Draper, he's doing what he does best:  cutting ties to everything regardless of what that means to others and reinventing himself as the man he wants to be.  So it really wasn't some sort of hollow, after-the-fact "I dumped you, you didn't dump me" spin like his secretary thinks.  He did in fact dump everyone (likely including Megan, although she seems not to fully realize it yet).

The way Don had boxed himself into a corner with his professional and personal life, I'm not sure he had a choice.  On the other hand, it doesn't say much for his sticktoitiveness and whose to say he doesn't just fuck things up a third time?  I mean, he's the one who screwed up Don Draper, not anyone else.  He did what he had to, but I would not be investing in Draper, Draper, Draper.

[rva]

Wha?? 

[Kwyjibo]

That was kind of a let down.

[c-lando]

Hello, Left Field!
Don Draper is not the man I want him to be.
But, he's used to disappointing the ladies. Damn.

Yay for Joanie. I'm glad for her that she kept the baby.

Betty still makes me want to vomit. I wish Carla really would have let her have it.

[Kwyjibo]

Hello, Left Field!
Don Draper is not the man I want him to be.
But, he's used to disappointing the ladies. Damn.

Yay for Joanie. I'm glad for her that she kept the baby.

Betty still makes me want to vomit. I wish Carla really would have let her have it.

We called the engagement and the pregnancy... I hate it when shows like this do such cliched stuff.

[vizzah]

I really wasn't disappointed. I guess part of me did want a bit more cliffhanger action, but I like that they wrapped a few things up. 

I don't think the engagement will play out next season, nor do I think Joanie's husband will ever make it home to the baby that's not his.  I'm pumped that Joan decided to keep it (as we predicted), and her bump was painfully obvious when she was delivering mail at the start of the episode.

I also *loved* seeing her and Peggy cut up together over the engagement. 

Another thing I could see coming is some sort of revenge from Dr. Faye.  I really couldn't blame her, and she does have mob ties, so that could weave an interesting storyline.

[Juliana]

I just didn't like it.
Don't like Don & Megan. 

[bluebastard]

Well it was predictable but solid. I like Don & Megan. He's drawn to her because she's the anti-Betty and who wouldn't be? I think Betty Draper might be the most vile character on television. The scene at the diner when the milkshake was spilt was the perfect summation of why Don was drawn to Megan's personality. Faye was boring and despite every gain Don's made, he's never going to fully be comfortable as Dick.

This entire season has felt like one big set-up and while I enjoyed it, I think the hype for this season was astronomical. Other than "The Good News," "The Suitcase" and "The Beautiful Girls," I didn't find much but a few conversations to be worth the praise people were heaping on the show this season. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't the worst season blah blah blah but as it should be, it was a season of transition. I imagine next season--and I would be willing to bank it might be the last--will be huge (no matter if my prediction of it being the last season or not). There's a lot to build on. They were heavy on Roger's health, the threat of death on Joan's husband, Peggy's slow immersion into counter-culture, and the renewed rivalry between Pete and Ken where Ken has more than leg to stand on.

I will say that I think Rubicon had a better debut season than Mad Men had a fourth season. That's as far as my trash talk will go because I love Mad Men.

[rva]

I'm not really that down on Betty.   I mean yeah she seems shallow and overly concerned about appearance and propriety and all that.  But those things were much more important in the early/mid 60's and they were even more important when Betty was growing up.  And her need for control is only going to be exacerbated by the fact that her husband was not only a major shit, but an imposter.

Don doesn't have the same issues with the kids because he's never there and leaves her to do all the dirty work.  I'm not saying she's a good parent, but I don't think she is as evil or hopeless as most people think.

[bluebastard]

Don't get me wrong, there's still plenty of space and time to redeem Betty Draper and I agree she has the brunt of dealing with the children but it's also not as if those children are wild or always misbehaving. For example, Betty had a right to be embarrassed and perhaps a bit worried when Sally was caught playing with herself (which made me feel extremely awkward) but the way she handled it was atrocious. I know she reflects certain norms and values of the time but I think Matt Weiner does a great job at exposing the ills of the "good old days" talk the elderly like to fondly remember. That's not parenting and I'm far from a P.C., coddle your kids, never punish them type (which is easy to say when we have no kids).

I would say what works against the character is how easy it is to project negative childhood experiences onto Betty while sympathizing w/ Sally.

I want to say how well the actress who plays Sally did this season. I think it's hard for child actors to adjust and learn how to act as they're going through puberty themselves but I hope she continues to grow as an actress because she was great this season and I'd hate to think that she could grow into a talent and never get another good gig again. Hell, the Harry Potter kids still suck and get plenty of work so hopefully she does as well. She's going to grow up into a beautiful girl-next-door type.

[Juliana]

Betty doesn't deal with the children either though.  That's why they had Carla.
Notice she told Henry that they'd find a new nanny, not "just handle the kids herself"

[vizzah]

I have tons more to say about the finale and the Betty debate, but not enough time to say it right now.  Tune in tonight for more shit-talkin!

[rva]

http://www.groveatlantic.com/#page=isbn9780802119896

[Ella Minnow Pea]

Finally watched the last 2 episodes. Still some of the best TV in 2010 (which doesn't really take much). Not much to add that hasn't already been said. I like Don & Megan, but I agree that it probably won't last.