Mad Men

Agreed. I really felt for Lane during the episode, it was heartbreaking stuff seeing him sink so low.

And yeah, I'm glad there was no ceremony about the whole thing. The writers tell it like it is, there's no mollycoddling, and it has much more of an impact that way.

Finally watched it. Man. Sorry to see Lane go like that. Great episode, tough but great. I can't believe there's only one left, I wish there were more to come. I'd say this is probably the best season they've worked on so far.

http://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/mad-men-star-jared-harris-explains-lane-pryces-f-you-office-42646

I have to say I'll miss Jared Harris. I enjoy him so tremendously as an actor.

So, the season finale is "The Phantom". Maybe Rolls-Royce Phantom? Just thinking.

I saw a funny theory mentioned that the whole show is a story written by Ken Cosgrove. I would hate that.

I've been going though the last couple of seasons on my Blu-ray discs. Third go 'round on S3 and S4 for me. Still love it, and S4 is looking a little better than it did on the last go.

S3 is such a terrific, well-rounded season. It's got that stately quality of the Sterling Cooper years, but the writers really seemed to know the characters and push them more than in S2. S2 just lacks something to me. It's good, but it doesn't feel like it has momentum.

Just watched "The Suitcase". Staggeringly good, of course. Has some favorite lines of mine. Miss Blankenship's remark about the fight is up there, of course. And Roger's booze-fueled Nixon tape is a riot. I like Don's "People do things".

And a line from "Public Relations" made me howl. Pete's (I'm paraphrasing) "I could put it on my expense account if I say they're whores." But you've gotta hear it in context. It has a great ending, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcnEDQXo_0s#t=25s

My dad wants to start watching S1 after the finale so I might join him on that. He hasn't seen them since they aired, and I wanna watch because I wanna see how they come off in retrospect.

I've enjoyed them more rewatches.

Is it just me, or is the cinematography better in Season 1 than it is now? Something about the lighting looks less... flat.

It may be just because I have Season 1 on DVD and watch the rest on Netflix.

Fairbairn-Sykes wrote:

Is it just me, or is the cinematography better in Season 1 than it is now? Something about the lighting looks less... flat.

It may be just because I have Season 1 on DVD and watch the rest on Netflix.

Well, Chris Manley took over as DP from S2 on, though he directed the latest episode. I have them on Blu and they all look great, though maybe S1's cinematography is more cinematic.

I love a lot of the songs from the show, but I really liked this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM2Xa4RUBCk

I need to go to sleep, but I'll also throw out the random thought that I really enjoy the actor Christopher Stanley who plays masochist Henry Francis (for diving head first into the ruins of Don's life). Great voice, too.

Fairbairn-Sykes wrote:

It may be just because I have Season 1 on DVD and watch the rest on Netflix.

That would do it.

As far as I can tell, I don't think the cinematography is much better in Season 1 than it is in subsequent seasons.

Damn. That episode was rough.

I liked that limey son of a bitch. :(

I liked his glasses. And his scarf. And his wife, too. Don visits her in the next episode it seems. I'll really miss Harris. And Davidtz too. She does a good accent for a woman from Indiana.

Trying to figure out a MAD MEN timeline. Using this as best I can: http://www.madmenshow.com/page/Mad+Men+Timeline

Sykes, maybe keep an eye out during S1.

I'm just doing month and year.

This is what I've got:

Season 1

1. "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" - March 1960
2. "Ladies Room" - March or April 1960
3. "Marriage of Figaro" - April 1960
4. "New Amsterdam" - April 1960
5. "5G" - April or May 1960
6. "Babylon" - May 1960
7. "Red in the Face" -
8. "The Hobo Code" -
9. "Shoot" -
10. "Long Weekend" - September 1960
11. "Indian Summer" - October 1960
12. "Nixon vs. Kennedy" - November 1960
13. "The Wheel" - November 1960

Season 2

1. "For Those Who Think Young" - February 1962
2. "Flight 1" - March 1962
3. "The Benefactor" - April 1962
4. "Three Sundays" - April 1962
5. "The New Girl" - May 1962
6. "Maidenform" - May/June 1962
7. "The Gold Violin" - June/July 1962
8. "A Night to Remember" - July/August 1962
9. "Six Month Leave" - August 1962
10. "The Inheritance" - September 1962
11. "The Jet Set" - September/October 1962
12. "The Mountain King" - October 1962
13. "Meditations in an Emergency" - October 1962

Season 3

1. "Out of Town" - March 1963
2. "Love Among the Ruins" - April 1963
3. "My Old Kentucky Home" - May 1963
4. "The Arrangements" - June 1963
5. "The Fog" - June 1963
6. "Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency" - July 1963
7. "Seven Twenty Three" - July 1963
8. "Souvenir" - August 1963
9. "Wee Small Hours" - August 1963
10. "The Color Blue" - October 1963
11. "The Gypsy and the Hobo" - October 1963
12. "The Grown-Ups" - November 1963
13. "Shut the door. Have a seat." - December 1963

Season 4

1. "Public Relations" - November 1964
2. "Christmas Comes But Once a Year" - December 1964
3. "The Good News" - December 1964/January 1965
4. "The Rejected" - February 1965
5. "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" - March 1965
6. "Waldorf Stories" - April 1965
7. "The Suitcase" - May 1965
8. "The Summer Man" - June 1965
9. "The Beautiful Girls" - July 1965
10. "Hands and Knees" - August 1965
11. "Chinese Wall" - August 1965
12. "Blowing Smoke" - September 1965
13. "Tomorrowland" - October 1965

Season 5

1/2. "A Little Kiss" - May/June 1966
3. "Tea Leaves" - July 1966
4. "Mystery Date" - July 1966
5. "Signal 30" - July/August 1966
6. "Far Away Places" -
7. "At the Codfish Ball" -
8. "Lady Lazarus" - October 1966
9. "Dark Shadows" - November 1966
10. "Christmas Waltz" - December 1966
11. "The Other Woman" - January 1967
12. "Commissions and Fees" -
13. "The Phantom" -

Vesper wrote:

Anyone seen Boardwalk Empire? I bring it up because it's a clear HBO reaction to Mad Men's success. Besides the noticeable bigger budget is it any better/completely different/worse?

We just finished watching first season. It has some strong performances, but I find the visual effects surprisingly inconsistent. The only huge problem with the show is the title sequence, which belongs on a reboot of MIAMI VICE. I didn't find it merits a re-viewing, but it was good TV.

The actor who is the fate guy in MiB3 is a key player on this show, in a very different vein, playing Rothstein, a figure you know if you've seen or read 8 MEN OUT.

I keep forgetting to post this, but one thing that could be interesting to see in S6 is the agency (whatever it will be called) getting Nixon back in '68. They had him in '60. Might be a stretch, but I think it would be interesting to see them push Nixon and win. Would be a big coup for the agency and might open doors. And it might provide a chance for Don and Henry Francis to have to work together, which would be an interesting dynamic.

I think Nixon would be a lot more intriguing than Humphrey.

Watched some of season 5 today.

-Trudy Campbell is becoming more irritating. Not a complaint, an observation. Gorgeous as she is, I can see why Pete is unhappy.
-Pete Campbell is probably my favorite character now. He's just so intriguing with his quiet (and sometimes not so quiet) desperation. Slimy and fun as hell to hate. But he is good at his job, and he's often right.
-Harry Crane entertains me to no end. This guy has got his head so far up his ass.

Anyway, on with S5: The Fall of Rome. Seriously, that's what this season feels like to me. But I do love to watch misery. There's an article that has spoilers on the finale. I shall not read it.

http://entertainment.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981386426

Ya know. It struck me recently that apparently most people see pretty every character on this show as an asshole or a jerk or something. Maybe I'm a jerk, I dunno. I plan to put my career ahead of my personal life, so maybe I just identify with those in the rat race. I think a rat race sounds like a lot of fun. Why the hell else would I want to be in Hollywood?

EDIT ADDON: Hell, I also don't get the hate for adverstising. I just don't. There are lines not to cross, sure. Selling bad food to people, and pills they don't need. But shoes and beans, and whatever Don Draper is hawking? I dunno.

Poor Pete. Trapped between Alison Brie and Alexis Bledel, two insanely hot brunettes with the same initials. Bledel looks a bit young next her oafish husband, but I'm not complaining about the casting.

I just saw "Dark Shadows", which I had only seen once. I liked it better on a second viewing. "Mystery Date" through "Lady Lazarus" is just such a strong run that I may have been let down the first time. But I like the themes of envy and spite. If that's what in fact is going on and I'm not totally misreading it.

Minor note, love the older character actresses on this show. Henry's mom, Joan's mom, and especially Peggy's mom played by Myra Turley. Every time Turley shows up I am so happy. Superb character actress.

Give that man an Emmy.

Watched "Christmas Waltz". Better on second go. The Kinsey story still leaves me less than bowled over, but the Don and Joan stuff I'm gaga for. Jesus, the class those two have together.

As I now like "Dark Shadows" more than I had, that leaves only "Tea Leaves" and "Christmas Waltz" as the S5 episodes that didn't impress me as much. "A Little Kiss" is a step or so above those two, though the party at Don's pad is magic.

"The Other Woman" Great episode. Joan and Peggy both have a price, you could say, though in different ways.

It'll be interesting to see Joan be a partner next season.

Sterling Cooper Draper Harris?

Eventually Sterling Campbell Draper Harris? I dare say, how long will be ole Bert be essential?

Or Sterling Draper Harris Campbell. Well, we'll see what happens with Pete on tonight's episode.

I'll be eager to see what happens with Peggy. She was right to move on, and Ted Chaough is an interesting character who I'd like to see more of. Peggy's probably a better fit with him, as he's a lot less formal and seems to be more forward-thinking that Roger, Don, or Pete.

I predict some rivalry between Don and Peggy.

"When I left you I was but a learner, now I am the master."
"Only a master of evil, Peggy." *downs scotch*

EDIT ADDON: There are rumors her departure is permanent. Jesus, I hope not. Don's the main character, but I've always seen Peggy as the absolute #2 essential character. She's the essential woman on the show, moving up the ladder and so forth. She's gotta be a mainstay.

DON AND PEGGY WATCHING CASINO ROYALE '67!

That was a fantastic season finale. Especialy the last seven minutes or so, from the scene with the new partners in the new floor to the end.

You're Only Mad Twice.

I wanna fuck this show.

The warning had a brief nudity thing. Roger wasn't the one whose ass I would have chosen to see, but it was hilarious. The shot of his face... I knew he was naked.

I laughed out loud. After five seasons I still find John Slattery's straight-faced clown act completely hilarious.