346 replies to this topic

[Memory Lane]

Harry the Heir said:

* I assume that Peggy isn't really off the show after this, which means that we'll be spending a lot of time with Teddy Chaugh next season, if not in the final two episodes. And given how brilliant he was in selling the job to Peggy, I honestly can't wait to see more. (I could see a season six that was largely Peggy versus Don from their rival agencies.)

If Peggy is now at Chaough, you know what that means?

Kurt and Smitty are back!

Maybe. I've got to hand it to Chaough - that was a very smooth presentation. Aside from Peggy being a big asset (as Blaine mentioned up-thread, good Female Creative folk were in hot demand back then), he also gets to rub Don's face in it. I loved Don's reaction to her news about where she was going: "Perfect".

[Harry the Heir]

I'd love to see Kurt and Smitty come back. It would be interesting to see how they're experiencing the culture of the late sixties, and Smitty would be an asset if they wanted to tell a Stonewall story in season seven.

[Rhom]

I don't even think I know how to comment on that episode.  I suppose the structure of the season shouldn't surprise me.  Wiener generally has the "climax" around this point.

[Brady]

Wow. When Don kissed Peggy's hand, it nearly broke my heart. She doesn't know it, but she's getting out just in time. The rot has set in at SCDP. And while Pete deserves all the hate that will undoubtedly be sent his way, I was actually more disgusted at Roger. That's the supposed great love of his life and the mother of his son that he just helped pimp out.

Tears of Lys, on 28 May 2012 - 12:15 AM, said:

The scenes between Don and Joan were hard to read for me too.  You couldn't really tell whether Don was just personally offended by the auto dealer guy's disgusting demand of Joanie, or whether his ego was involved to the extent that he wanted his selling of the pitch to be the determining factor in winning Jaguar.   There's a lot of uncertainty about what's going on in their heads in that whole exchange when he shows up to her apartment.

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet, but I think the fact that Don's (Dick's) own mother was literally a prostitute, and he was raised as the "whorechild", played a huge part in his reaction.

ETA; Loved seeing Peggy and Freddy together again too. The way he calls her "ballerina" is adorable.

Edited by Brady, 28 May 2012 - 08:10 AM.

[Harry the Heir]

Yeah, this was a scummy move by Pete, but everybody else on the board, save for Don himself, happily sunk to that level with him. Roger's passivity was disgusting, and so was Lane, convincing Joan not only to go along but to ask for something that won't expose his misappropriation. (And of course Bert Cooper, who we've seen go to extreme lengths before; he practically blackmailed Don into signing the contract back in season three.)

Edited by Harry the Heir, 28 May 2012 - 08:11 AM.

[Ran]

Was anyone else shutting their eyes in dread that Peggy was going to be get L.A. Lawed and take a header down the elevator shaft? Ugh. Yeah, it was more of a metaphor than anything, but...

And Cooper is definitely not a very scrupulous businessman. It's the bottom line that counts. Don's the only one with moral spine in that office, and even he isn't that scrupulous (re: Sal). I can definitely see a future implosion for SCDP over all this, doubtless kicked off by the discovery of Pryce's embezzlement.

[Tears of Lys]

Brady, on 28 May 2012 - 08:07 AM, said:

Wow. When Don kissed Peggy's hand, it nearly broke my heart. She doesn't know it, but she's getting out just in time. The rot has set in at SCDP. And while Pete deserves all the hate that will undoubtedly be sent his way, I was actually more disgusted at Roger. That's the supposed great love of his life and the mother of his son that he just helped pimp out.



I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet, but I think the fact that Don's (Dick's) own mother was literally a prostitute, and he was raised as the "whorechild", played a huge part in his reaction.

ETA; Loved seeing Peggy and Freddy together again too. The way he calls her "ballerina" is adorable.

I can't believe that this didn't occur to me.

Great post.

[Kaldaur]

The open elevator shaft earlier in the season also came to mind, but looking back I think it was more metaphorical than a precursor of trouble to come. It would be such a...silly way for one of the main characters to go.

From Don and Peggy in season 4, where Peggy seemed to fill the role that Anna's death left in his life, to this...Don did this to himself.

Now we get to see if Peggy truly believes what she told Megan earlier in the season: "This is as good as it gets." Or perhaps she discovers a place where she is valued creatively.


Also, a bit of a sidetrack--but the actor who plays Freddy Rumson starred in a movie recently called 'God Bless America'. It's a rather...different tone for Murray, and it was great seeing him on the show again.

Edited by Kaldaur, 28 May 2012 - 09:49 AM.

[TheBigTEA]

Anyone else catch Pete's line to Trudy about them not having sex anymore?

I don't have the energy for it because I am using it all up putting my foot down!

I laughed and laughed. Great episode.

I cannot praise this show enough. I think about it even when I am done watching it and not a whole lot of shows do that.

[Triskele]

OK, so while the power rankings aren't up yet, Grantland does have a review:

http://www.grantland...ur-wife-wont-do

[sumpthy]

That was heartbreaking. Assuming we get another top quality finale this is by far the best season of Mad Men and one of the best seasons of television ever IMO.

Also, I'm not sure if this was obvious and I'm just being dense or not but are we to assume that Megan was subjected to the casting couch and turned down sleeping with one of those guys to get the part? It'd be a nice contrast to what happened with Joan.

[Commodore]

sumpthy, on 28 May 2012 - 12:32 PM, said:

Also, I'm not sure if this was obvious and I'm just being dense or not but are we to assume that Megan was subjected to the casting couch and turned down sleeping with one of those guys to get the part? It'd be a nice contrast to what happened with Joan.

I assumed that might be what happened. It was strange that she seemed caught off guard and uncomfortable being examined like that. I imagine that's standard practice.

[Baitac]

Both Lane and Don told Joan not to sleep with the guy, that they wouldn't want to have a client that behaved like that anyway, and then proceeded to get the client. I think that obviously they were paying lip service to Joan, but what they should have done is called up the guy and told him that the offer was off the table, as was their bid efforts. Money talks. I don't blame Joan at all. I blame the corporate culture of the times. As Chat posted, some aspects of it haven't changed that much. Ugh!!!

[Baitac]

Sorry to keep ranting. I guess what I'm saying is that the burden should not have been put on Joan.

[sumpthy]

A Senhora Baitac, on 28 May 2012 - 05:16 PM, said:

Sorry to keep ranting. I guess what I'm saying is that the burden should not have been put on Joan.

Well that was all on Pete. He brought it up to Joan in the first place then told the partners that she was amenable, then went to Don and told him the other partners were all in favour which wasn't the case. Roger was clearly disgusted with the idea that Joan would even consider it and Lane wasn't in favour.

As for Don and Lane not turning down Jaguar, how can you say that you don't blame Joan because of the money on the table and then turn around and blame them from not walking away after the deal had been done? It wasn't just their money on the table, it's been stated throughout the season that SCDP is on the brink, the survival of the company and the livelihood of everyone there could depend on the deal with Jaguar. Plus they'd get outvoted 4-2 in a partners' meeting anyway.

Don's a hypocrite though considering he fired Sal for not sleeping with Lee Garner Jr.

[Memory Lane]

Trzysztof Trieślowski, on 28 May 2012 - 12:12 PM, said:

OK, so while the power rankings aren't up yet, Grantland does have a review:

http://www.grantland...ur-wife-wont-do

Now it is.

Also, Peggy is apparently making about $134,000 in 2012 money.

Edited by Lane Pryce, 28 May 2012 - 06:20 PM.

[Baitac]

sumpthy, on 28 May 2012 - 05:40 PM, said:

Well that was all on Pete. He brought it up to Joan in the first place then told the partners that she was amenable, then went to Don and told him the other partners were all in favour which wasn't the case. Roger was clearly disgusted with the idea that Joan would even consider it and Lane wasn't in favour.

As for Don and Lane not turning down Jaguar, how can you say that you don't blame Joan because of the money on the table and then turn around and blame them from not walking away after the deal had been done? It wasn't just their money on the table, it's been stated throughout the season that SCDP is on the brink, the survival of the company and the livelihood of everyone there could depend on the deal with Jaguar. Plus they'd get outvoted 4-2 in a partners' meeting anyway.

Don's a hypocrite though considering he fired Sal for not sleeping with Lee Garner Jr.

I would like to blame it all on Pete, but there's shared culpability between him and all the partners. Once Pete presented the issue to the board, the client should have been dropped. None of them stepped up. Joan knew the importance of acquiring Jaguar. They all did. But again, she had to satisfy the agreement (no pun intended) before they even pitched. The burden was on her. Once it was placed on her, she took the best possible option that she had: the agency's viability is restored plus she has a vested interest in the firm. No one said "stop this". Everyone said "are you sure you want to do this nasty thing? You really don't have to you know.." The burden, the decision was put on her, unjustly, in my opinion. I'm not liking these Mad Men right now (as characters, the series obviously rocks.)

[Baitac]

Lane Pryce, on 28 May 2012 - 06:17 PM, said:

Now it is.

Also, Peggy is apparently making about $134,000 in 2012 money.

Absolutely PERFECT!!! And it's so true that: "this episode's plot detonations felt like finale-quality fireworks." This season has been spectacular.

Edited by A Senhora Baitac, 28 May 2012 - 06:24 PM.

[Memory Lane]

A Senhora Baitac, on 28 May 2012 - 06:24 PM, said:

Absolutely PERFECT!!! And it's so true that: "this episode's plot detonations felt like finale-quality fireworks." This season has been spectacular.

I love his "punishment" for Pete:

Quote

There's only one way to properly repay Pete for this one:

Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce Holloway.

[Baitac]

Lane Pryce, on 28 May 2012 - 06:27 PM, said:

I love his "punishment" for Pete:

PLEASE! Someone, make a t-shirt with this logo!!!!!!