Mad Men

Of the two shows I follow at this time of year - Mad Men and Game of Thrones - the latter is spanking the former for the first time. A stark (no pun intended) turnaround.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

Well, three more episodes to go. I'm interested to see if things at least play better based on how the season ends.

Maybe, but it would have to be one heck of an ending.

That was an interesting episode. I like how they revisited the Sylvia situation with Sally. I like that last scene.


"Where the fuck was Bob when I was working here?"


"He digs Pete."


"..."

Really liked that episode. Felt like pieces falling into place, finally. Especially with the Sylvia thing, where yes Don doing his neighbour turned into the debacle we knew it would but having Sally find out was new and interesting because in many ways Sally is the last character on the show to have yet become disillusioned with Dob.

Fairbairn-Sykes wrote:

Really liked that episode. Felt like pieces falling into place, finally. Especially with the Sylvia thing, where yes Don doing his neighbour turned into the debacle we knew it would but having Sally find out was new and interesting because in many ways Sally is the last character on the show to have yet become disillusioned with Dob.

There's still Bobby to put into years of therapy.

Ya know what was thinking earlier in the episode. It would have been a brilliant way for Don to get caught for his past if Ted's friend had known the real Don Draper and that door open up. Because of Don trying to help a kid avoid the war and being in the same situation (being in war) that he'd been in.

Still watching it, but two things I need to get off my chest:

1) BOB BENSON'S GAY?

2) I have a feeling Pete's gonna kill his mother.

edit: one more

SALLY CAUGHT DON AT IT. OH SHIT

This ep is just full of it.

I was watching this thing about the episode that comes with my iTunes version. Matt Weiner said he's not sure if Benson is actually strictly gay, or something like that. It was something like, "he wants to be Pete". Which makes me think of TALENTED MR. RIPLEY.

I've thought Benson was gay ever since the storyline with him and Joan because it made far more sense than the two of them as lovers.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

I was watching this thing about the episode that comes with my iTunes version. Matt Weiner said he's not sure if Benson is actually strictly gay, or something like that. It was something like, "he wants to be Pete". Which makes me think of TALENTED MR. RIPLEY.

That's actually pretty interesting. There's something about Benson that's strangely intriguing.

So now we finally start to see the fruits of all the "Don's putting his family in harm's way" stuff that's been seeded throughout the season.

I'm amazed there's only two episodes to go already. This season's been pretty dull.

Toppers wrote:

I'm amazed there's only two episodes to go already. This season's been pretty dull.

Yeah, you could have pretty easily condensed everything that has happened so far into five or six episodes. Where we are in the story should be 'round the halfway mark, or just past it.

I have a feeling that this season and the next (and final) season were probably planned together, and with the ending in mind Weiner is moving more toward it than containing a narrative solely within this season.

Which in a way makes sense but I don't think it's had a good effect on the season itself. While I've quite enjoyed it, it certainly has felt much less focused than the show usually does.

Also -- is it just me or does everyone else find the "next time on Mad Men" segments hilarious? Together with the official episode synopses in my cable guide, they're almost ludicrous in their attempt to be opague.

Fairbairn-Sykes wrote:

Also -- is it just me or does everyone else find the "next time on Mad Men" segments hilarious? Together with the official episode synopses in my cable guide, they're almost ludicrous in their attempt to be opague.

Weiner admitted in a recent interview that it's pretty much his way of giving AMC the finger. AMC demanded promos and Weiner didn't want 'em, so he sabotaged them as much as he could.

Fairbairn-Sykes wrote:

I have a feeling that this season and the next (and final) season were probably planned together, and with the ending in mind Weiner is moving more toward it than containing a narrative solely within this season.

I think Weiner has basically said that he's doing that. That he has an ending to the show in mind, and everything is moving twoard that.

I do like the season, but it does feel dynamic. To use that word again. Every season (less so S2) has had it's own identity and story. S4 in particular is almost like a big movie to me. Maybe S6 is falling victim to setting up S7.

You'd think Christina Hendricks could turn any gay man straight, but there ya go.

CJB wrote:

You'd think Christina Hendricks could turn any gay man straight, but there ya go.

I'm reminding of what Gillette said of doing Lana Kane on ARCHER: "Girl, please! No one's THAT gay."

Harmsway wrote:

Fairbairn-Sykes wrote:

Also -- is it just me or does everyone else find the "next time on Mad Men" segments hilarious? Together with the official episode synopses in my cable guide, they're almost ludicrous in their attempt to be opague.

Weiner admitted in a recent interview that it's pretty much his way of giving AMC the finger. AMC demanded promos and Weiner didn't want 'em, so he sabotaged them as much as he could.

No kidding, one episode had the description: "Joan goes to the beach, Roger has a bad dream."

This episode's was "Betty prepares Sally for her future, and Peggy has problems at home."

So, best as I can guess, that means this episode was about Sally in the model UN and Peggy killing a rat.

Seriously, Weiner's dedication to obtuseness is near obsessive. It's like he's the Riddler, and the internet's Batman, trying desperately to unscramble the clues before Megan ends up dead.

The finale's description is: "Don has difficulties."

That's every episode.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

The finale's description is: "Don has difficulties."

That's every episode.

Toppers wrote:

I'm amazed there's only two episodes to go already. This season's been pretty dull.

Agreed, though I've really liked the last couple episodes.

I've liked the whole season. It's like the pulled chicken I ate just plain for lunch. Tasty, but it needed something like Tabasco.

And some things could have been compressed this season.

It also hasn't offered up (yet) any truly classic episodes. That run in S5 from "Signal 30" to "Commissions and Fees" is extraordinary. This has been a few motches down. Always quality, but not much memorable stuff has happened.

The Sally thing is the first really big moment in the season (well, the merger was significant, but not as emotionally potent).

Harmsway wrote:

The Sally thing is the first really big moment in the season (well, the merger was significant, but not as emotionally potent).

Could be the next two episodes see a collapse because of Don's earlier behavior. I'm interested to see how things go at SC&P, with Cutler making moves and Don, Roger, and Bert, all asleep.