402 replies to this topic

[Memory Lane]

Iskaral Pust said:

Lane is revisiting his extra-marital temptations and this time with financial difficulties hidden from his wife, and possibly from the firm?

He might not be drawing a regular salary, in order to make the financial situation at SCDP look less precarious than it is (since he already mentioned that they've maxed out their credit line). That would explain why he's pushing the bills off as far as humanly possible.

More generally, it seems like the firm is still down there. They've got a few small clients after Topaz, but nothing in the seven figures yet unless Pete hooks Mohawk Airlines. How long can they keep that up, particularly with the company's outstanding debts to the bank?

Fez said:

The one thing that does interest me a lot, as always, is Don himself. And like Chuck Klosterman asks, I wonder if this might be the "real" Don. I do look forward to getting an answer to that.

I think it's closer to his Dick Whitman personality, which would be the "real" Don. Whitman always seemed a bit timid and shy, except with Anna Draper. Now that he's "made it", perhaps that translates to apathy and contentment.

Edited by Lane Pryce, 26 March 2012 - 01:18 PM.

[WrathOfTinyKittens]

That's my theory as well - Lane isn't drawing a regular salary. The firm seems to have some solid regular clients, but they aren't buying enough.

If Pete can get Mohawk, that would mitigate their trouble, but they're barely keeping head above water. It might not be enough.

(null)

[Blaine]

I'm working in an editing room today, so I don't have time for a full analysis yet.

But briefly, let me just state that:

Megan Draper > Betty Draper

[Harry the Heir]

Mad Men season five premieres to series-high ratings, and this probably understates the number of people watching the first two episodes. In previous seasons, Mad Men's ratings have more than doubled once you included DVR, On Demand, and subsequent airings throughout the week. I wouldn't be surprised if more than eight million people end up tuning in this week.

Lane Pryce, on 26 March 2012 - 11:12 AM, said:

I wonder who is going to have the biggest issues with a new black employee. Joan had some racist issues when she spoke with Paul Kinsey's girlfriend in Season 3. Peggy's got that "Nixon voter" thing you mentioned a long while back. Pete doesn't really seem to care about race, but that also means he could do something stupid and insensitive. Roger is . . Roger.

My guess is that Pete and Peggy wouldn't have a problem. Pete's a closet Jet reader (ever since the Admiral television account), and more sensitive to racial issues than Don or Roger. (He wasn't amused by Y&R's antics, and was very uncomfortable with Roger's blackface routine at the Derby Day party.) Peggy, meanwhile, has been hanging out with a lefty, racially mixed crowd since she met Joyce last season. If she was a potential Nixon voter, she wouldn't be going out with Abe Drexler, underground journalist.

Roger could be trouble, of course; and I wouldn't underestimate the possibility of Bert Cooper saying something offensive. And Joan could be a wildcard, because she's been a little racist in the past but she can also be very protective of her girls.

Edited by Harry the Heir, 26 March 2012 - 03:13 PM.

[Arbor Goldson]

I lol'ed when I saw Roger smoking Camels instead of Lucky Strikes.

[Tears of Lys]

WrathOfCyvasse, on 25 March 2012 - 11:37 PM, said:

I don't know why we didn't get Betty in this episode, though I noticed that JJ is still a full cast member. I had hoped we would see something of her when he dropped off his kids. Speaking of which, Sally seemed to not be a big fan of Meghan here, but I thought the kids all liked her?

As far as foreshadowing goes. I see Sally treating Meghan the same way she ultimately treated Betty, perhaps out of jealousy.

I read it totally as jealousy.  A lot of little girls at that age, especially when their parents have divorced, feel very protective of and want attention from their fathers (as do little boys with their moms.)  When another woman comes on the scene, it is not a good thing from their perspective.  (Speaking as an expert in this area. )


While I would have liked Don to stay with Dr. Faye, it was just not in the cards.  Terry Gross of NPR had an interview with Matt Weiner today too, and MW talked about Dr. Faye vs. Meghan and why Don chose Meghan.  It was something along the lines of Dr. Faye expected Don to face up to his double identity predicament, get a lawyer and straighten it out, whereas Meghan is young, wide-eyed, innocent and accepts Don as who or what he wants to be.   I guess she appeals to the dreamer in him.   Frankly, I think once Meghan matures a bit more, she's going to get tired of Don's bullshit.  He's handsome and charming as all get-out, but too set in his ways and rigid, even if HE doesn't think so.  The guy's never going to be truly happy.  He doesn't have it in him to be so.

[Jojen]

I think the reason for the absence of Betty is because January Jones was something like eight months pregnant when they began shooting. I guess they weren't able to work around her schedule for the first ep, but they did shoot some later eps with her, but they had to be creative in hiding it, as I don't think Betty is meant to be pregnant this season.

[Datepalm]

Iskaral Pust, on 26 March 2012 - 12:41 PM, said:

I noticed a change in visual tone -- some brighter background colors than earlier seasons, fewer dark bars and restaurants.  One particular element that I liked was that Pete's house was reminiscent of Don's old suburban house (the lighting, decor, etc), quite unlike Pete's old apartment and quite unlike Don's new apartment.  And right on cue Pete is feeling some marital strain.

I noticed that too, and I thought it was very deliberate - Pete: family man, clearly paralleling (but also subverting) the Don of season 1, house in the suburbs, taking the train to work, not quite getting along with his wife and the advice to stay out later and later... I quite liked the scene with him coming home and eating cornflakes from a box as well, maybe in contrast to that veneer of ideality with Betty's cooking back in the day.

[Tears of Lys]

Another thing from the NPR interview with Matt Weiner... This season opens in 1966, so approximately 12-14 months have passed since Don proposed to Meghan at the end of last season.


Here's some of what happened (in the real world) in 1966:  http://www.thepeople...y.com/1966.html

[Spoony]

As far as story goes, I think the  series peaked in the second season.

But I still watch it because it is a good period piece - and they do about as good of a job as they can to represent the setting, which is nice.

But now it is more about scenery for me, rather than anything else.

[Commodore]

song from the party

[Tears of Lys]

I'm curious as to how many guys would like it if their wife performed a song (as well as Megan did) at their birthday party, and how many wouldn't.

Personally, I thought she was absolutely gorgeous and it was a really cute scene.  Don obviously had a stick rammed up his ass so far that it was interfering with his thought processes.

She kind of reminded me of the old Dick Van Dyke Show's Laura Petrie (young, gorgeous Mary Tyler Moore.)  They'd have musical routines like that at their house parties every once in a while.

My husband said he'd be kind of uncomfortable - which means he's got a stick up his ass too, I guess.  



ETA:  I just remembered, Christina Hendricks as Joan performed a song (complete with accordion accompaniement) at a small dinner party too.  "Ces't Magnifique."

Edited by Tears of Lys, 26 March 2012 - 07:36 PM.

[Brady]

I think that dance was the entire reason Megan threw the party. She thinks she has power and dominance over Don and she wanted to show that off publicly, while rubbing it in the face of every other man that they can't have her. Of course, Don being Don, it blew up in her face. But she's a clever girl, and changed tack with the whole "Oh I'm going to clean the house in my lingerie and scold you" routine, which worked like a charm because as we know, Don is really fucked up.

[Spoony]

Tears of Lys, on 26 March 2012 - 07:22 PM, said:

I'm curious as to how many guys would like it if their wife performed a song (as well as Megan did) at their birthday party, and how many wouldn't.

That song - I wouldn't mind. But if she sang something topical, I'd probably be less enthused. (I'm not so big on pop music).

Nobody I know would want to have some lady gaga thrown at them like that.

[Tears of Lys]

I didn't get the feeling that she thinks she's got Don whipped.  I think she was feeling excited and exuberant and misjudged how he would take it.

It was sort of weird how she kept saying, "No, you can't have me."  "You don't deserve me" after he rebuffed her advances and pissed her off.  But until we see more of their interactions, we can't really tell if there were any ulterior motives on her part.  Early days.

[Harry the Heir]

I don't think that Megan wants to have Don whipped--clearly she gets off on Don being dominant sexually, if nothing else--but I get the impression that she wants to establish her own independence. Don is the kind of guy who is attracted primarily to sophisticated, self-confident women; but he also likes to have relationships primarily on his terms. He expected Rachel Mencken to drop everything and run away with him, he thought nothing of demanding that Faye violate her professional ethics to get SCDP out of a jam, Betty Draper sat docilely at home, etc., etc.

Megan isn't interested in something like that. So she throws a party that's primarily about who she is and what she wants, she gives Don a present that's largely a celebration of herself, and she later defends it by saying that it's her money to spend as she likes. At work, too, she wants to establish that she's not just junior creative because she's married to Don, she works hard and has talent too. That's why she's so sensitive to the possibility that Peggy doesn't think that she works hard (even though what Peggy said seemed mostly about Don not sticking up for their work, not about Megan) or has good ideas.

[Memory Lane]

Tears of Lys said:

I'm curious as to how many guys would like it if their wife performed a song (as well as Megan did) at their birthday party, and how many wouldn't.

I'd probably wince with embarrassment, but I wouldn't really be upset about it. The problem is that we'd be the butt of jokes for a long time afterwards, although not like in that episode of Seinfeld where Elaine dances very badly (since the performance would actually be good).

It's interesting to see the reactions of the women Don's been intimate with in regards to his Big Secret. Betty was deeply upset, Faye wanted him to come clean and get it sorted out, and Meghan doesn't give a shit.

Harry the Heir said:

Don is the kind of guy who is attracted primarily to sophisticated, self-confident women; but he also likes to have relationships primarily on his terms. He expected Rachel Mencken to drop everything and run away with him, he thought nothing of demanding that Faye violate her professional ethics to get SCDP out of a jam, Betty Draper sat docilely at home, etc., etc.

He also pushed back against Suzanne once she started getting needy, sneak-calling him at home* and surprising him on the train. Although he then relented and planned a vacation with her.

* Yes, I know it could have been Henry, but I still think it was probably Suzanne.

Edited by Lane Pryce, 26 March 2012 - 10:37 PM.

[ZombieWife]

Blaine, on 26 March 2012 - 02:59 PM, said:

I'm working in an editing room today, so I don't have time for a full analysis yet.

But briefly, let me just state that:

Megan Draper > Betty Draper

You don't deserve me!  You don't get to have this!

As a woman, I found that whole scene incredibly hot.

As for the kind of women Don likes, he's in an interesting situation now.  He has the outwardly prim and proper woman (when she needs to be).  But, he's also the guy who hired a hooker to dominate him.  Seems she has a bit of that as well.

Best of both worlds?  Or, does Don like his "worlds" separate?

Edited by ZombieWife, 26 March 2012 - 10:53 PM.

[Harry the Heir]

Lane Pryce, on 26 March 2012 - 10:33 PM, said:

He also pushed back against Suzanne once she started getting needy, sneak-calling him at home* and surprising him on the train. Although he then relented and planned a vacation with her.

Suzanne is kind of an interesting case, too, because it seems to me that he went after her n part because he was trying to get caught.

[Rockroi]

Quote

I'm curious as to how many guys would like it if their wife performed a song (as well as Megan did) at their birthday party, and how many wouldn't.

This is a pretty awkward issue.  A few years (and two kids ago) my wife took a poll-dancing class with some friends and then performed at a recital with a very large audience.  She was easily the best or second-best person to dance that night (and if you met my wife and her two-left feet and 10 thumbs this would surprise you as much as it did me).  I really, really thought I would be super-embarrassed and squirm in my seat as she came over and rubbed up against me.  But nothing like that happened; I actually felt amazing for my wife; I thought she legitimately "rocked;  I was so proud of her and also just mesmerized by her.  It wasn't just the titillation or the sexual energy around her but the fact that she controlled a whole room of perfect strangers and did it effortlessly.  

But then she (her stripper name was “Vixen” btw) was doing that where she was the center of attention and was not doing it as a sort of duality with one of the viewers (I was just one of many).  With Megan she clearly was putting Don on the spot; something Don hates.  He also is not in control and everyone is looking at him; something else Don hates.  Don likes to be the power behind the popularity.  He demands to be in the shadows more often than not.  There are exceptions but they are few and far between.  And when his personal life is concerned, he wants nobody to have that sort of access.

Megan did all that; she gave all these people Don keeps at a firm distance this unprecedented access to him.  Hell, he hated inviting Roger to dinner one night!  Now  his whole office is there and Megan is Zo0ma-Zooma-Zooming all over the place.   I can clearly see why that would make Don uncomfortable.  

And Megan clearly did not understand the full ramifications of all this, most notably how the office will view her even if its crudely demonstrated from Harry’s POV or more subtly by Pete or Roger.   Yeah, when you dance like that you get to have the power but (as Roger says under far different circumstances earlier on) “heavy is the head that wears the crown” and you have to be prepared to live like that now that all those eyes are upon her (and she does not love that).  

Quote

Personally, I thought she was absolutely gorgeous and it was a really cute scene. Don obviously had a stick rammed up his ass so far that it was interfering with his thought processes.

She was gorgeous.  There is no mistaking that.  But I am not sure "cute" covers that scene.  "Cute" has a sense of harmlessness and innoccence. That song and dance had no trace of that; this woman was empowered and that empowerment has a boat-load of baggage.  Don is uncomfortable but its more detailed then him being a prude or having a rod up his ass; its an exposure that others now have to his life.  And don loathes that.

Quote

She kind of reminded me of the old Dick Van Dyke Show's Laura Petrie (young, gorgeous Mary Tyler Moore.) They'd have musical routines like that at their house parties every once in a while.

I do think that comparison has some life, but only to a point.  Rememberm Dick van Dyke was a writer on a TV show and performances were part-and-parcel with the job and Dick's job had huge penetration into his personal life to the point where the two were indistinguishable.  And Laura's dances, while sexy in their own fresh and energetic way were NOTHING like what Megan did.  Megan, to some degree, used Don and did the dance (toa  degree) at his expense.  Laura never did anything like that to Dick.

Now, full disclosure, Dick is not Don.  Don is not a good man and Dick clearly was (to Laura most notably).  I think Don is changing but in some areas he'll always be Don... or Dick... wait which Dick am I talking about again?  Van Dyke or Whitman.... sometimes I need a scorecard to keep up here.  Seriously, I think to look at Don (and all his faults) and say "You are so stiff!  Lighten up" is being unfair to Don when you look at that dance from Megan's (maybe) not-so-innocent perspective.