Mad Men

[Jonas Grumby]

I really liked this episode a lot. I've only seen the last four or five episodes (forgive the presence of the crass newbie ) but I am really liking this show. There's always a lot going on!

So...did Conrad Hilton intentionally shove Don toward opening his own agency?

I'm beginning to like Pete's wife Trudy. The way she called Pete ("Peter, could I have a word with you?") when it looked for a moment like he might not properly consider Sterling and Draper's offer. And even the way she showed up with lunch for everyone at the hotel.

Also loved Pete's almost throwaway line when he finally threw in his lot with the conspirators. "I'm not really sick."

Sooo glad to see Joan back! And if these guys are actually going to survive working in that cramped hotel suite without strangling each other, I suspect it will be mostly due to her.

Nice little pained look from Betty on the phone when Don told her he wasn't going to fight the divorce. So perfectly in character for her.

And, a personal note, am I actually, finally, at long long last, gaining a small bit of perceptiveness in my old age? Because, as beautiful as Betty is, if I were her new boyfriend (Henry?) I think I would recognize what I was about to get myself into and run screaming in the opposite direction.

I, too, was glad to see Lane Price going with the new agency. And I hope we see a lot of how that agency progresses in the next season.

I would also like to see Sal return. Well...the new agency (SCDP?) is still short a good art man, I think. Maybe next season?

 

[sidious618]

Edit: I just realized that Paul was most annoyed when he saw that they took Peggy. I guess he didn't like being seen as worth less than a woman (despite his liberal tendencies).

I saw it more as he knows he's nothing without Peggy.

And welcome aboard Jonas!

 

[Snaploud]

I'm beginning to like Pete's wife Trudy. The way she called Pete ("Peter, could I have a word with you?") when it looked for a moment like he might not properly consider Sterling and Draper's offer.

I think she was annoyed that Pete was letting Sterling and Draper know about his plans. It's obviously going to be a lot harder to steal clients if your current bosses know what you're doing. She quieted down when it actually looked like a serious offer was being made.

 

[Roger Wilco]

I was actually a little surprised that nobody thought to invite Sal into the new company. I guess they're still annoyed at him and/or consider him a wild card (who could have blown their cover). Though, it is still early days. It's probably more important to get current Sterling Cooper talent.

They can't hire Sal, they took Lucky Strike with them and that account is even more crucial to them now than it was to SterlingCooper.

 

[ALF]

I was actually a little surprised that nobody thought to invite Sal into the new company. I guess they're still annoyed at him and/or consider him a wild card (who could have blown their cover). Though, it is still early days. It's probably more important to get current Sterling Cooper talent.

They can't hire Sal, they took Lucky Strike with them and that account is even more crucial to them now than it was to SterlingCooper.

Be patient, he'll be back. Lots of people love Sal (myself included) and I think his return will be slow and dramatic. Well, every episode is slow and dramatic, but... you know what I mean. You're right about Lucky Strike being critical so that remains to be seen what they'll do with it and what it means for Sal.

If the rumor is true that season 4 begins in 1966, the new Sterling Cooper Draper Price () will not really be new anymore. They'll have moved into an upscale office though not as lavish as the previous one. Don may have grown much closer to his co-workers, as the finale showed him losing one family but ultimately realizing that he had a support network at work.

Speaking of that network, it's fascinating that the new agency will include that group in the hotel room on more or less equal footing. I think this is great because it will strengthen the relationships between the main cast... likely they will all have the new support staff underneath them.

I had to get up from my seat and cheer at a few moments:
-Don's meeting with Cooper, Their meeting with Roger. Great to see Don lighting the fire underneath them!
-When Peggy refuses to get coffee for Cooper
-When Don calls Betty a whore. I've had enough of Betty and was so impressed that he realized he could do without her. And yes, I know Don's a whore too, but this was the 60s.
-Price firing Cooper, Draper and Sterling.
-Pete after Roger and Don leave his place and gets right on gathering his clients.
-JOAN!! Seeing her in action really pulled everything together. And the way Don verbalized that, like it didn't even cross his mind to contact her: "Joan, of course. Great idea", or something like that.
-Don humbling himself to hire Peggy. Don's speech was rather unusual and cryptic. "People buy things, and then something happens and they forget who they are." I guess he was also talking about himself? I have no idea.

Ken and Paul... two characters you love to hate. I hope they aren't written out completely, but I loved how they got the shaft. Paul is so utterly worthless... think about all he's done this season! And I figured Price would stick around, he does work well on screen with the cast. I was so sure people would be joining Duck's operation and I'm glad that didn't happen, although likely he'll be a pivotal character next season. He is dating Peggy. Speaking of which, the JFK assassination episode was described, "Peggy second guesses her taste in men." If that's so, it was done without clarity, I watched it twice and I don't see where that occurs. After they have sex and he turns the TV back on? Is that so terrible?

Same point, the finale was described as "Pete talks to his clients." That didn't happen on screen! Oh well. Interesting that these episode synopsis occur offscreen or inside peoples minds.

And again, I'm going to defend Pete. I really think he's grown out of his uncontrollable, asshole entitled to everything. Plus he seems to really treat Trudy as his life partner. When they were first married, he didn't seem to care for her at all.

Yep, the only missing piece is Sal and I'm sure they'll do something with his return next season. He guess is that the firm is starting to really gather momentum but then Lucky Strike pulls out completely leaving them scrambling for other clients, meanwhile the new art director(s) aren't working out and that creates the chance to get Sal back.

Outstanding season finale. I truly think this show has peaked. They did an excellent job of having us, the audience, yearing for the core of the company to get back together and it was faithfully executed in an hour.

 

[Snaploud]

I was actually a little surprised that nobody thought to invite Sal into the new company. I guess they're still annoyed at him and/or consider him a wild card (who could have blown their cover). Though, it is still early days. It's probably more important to get current Sterling Cooper talent.

They can't hire Sal, they took Lucky Strike with them and that account is even more crucial to them now than it was to SterlingCooper.

Good call. I remembered this late last night and didn't have a chance to post.

Yep, the only missing piece is Sal and I'm sure they'll do something with his return next season. He guess is that the firm is starting to really gather momentum but then Lucky Strike pulls out completely leaving them scrambling for other clients, meanwhile the new art director(s) aren't working out and that creates the chance to get Sal back.

I can see that plot-line working. Let's combine the two story-lines a bit more. Here's a variation: they decide that their only chance at survival is to get the Hilton account. Don isn't happy about making another go of it, and he realizes that Sal, who has flourished since being fired from Sterling Cooper, is needed to land that account. They have to offer Sal partner just to get him in the door. Or better yet: Sal has created his own company that has a good working relationship with Hilton. They have to buy Sal's company to stay afloat. [Sal's firm is a small "art contractor" company, so it's a good fit (no major redundancies).]

 

[Dick Whitman]

I would be surprised if it really jumped ahead too far. If this new agency is no longer new, with all potential storylines about it establishing itself and exploring this new dynamic skipped over, whats the point of this change?

Plus there is a Presidential Election in 64 which I am sure will be touched on in some way.

 

[Warped9]

I've watched this show from the beginning. And now I'm feeling so out of the loop having missed the last four or five episodes.

The third season set won't get here soon enough for my liking.

 

[Snaploud]

I'm looking forward to a three-year time jump. It will be interesting to see if Don, Pete, and Peggy grow up a bit.

1966, 1967, and 1968 are very interesting years, and I can do without the '64 election.

 

[exodus]

I would be surprised if it really jumped a head to far. If this new agency is no longer new, with all potential storylines about it establishing itself and exploring this new dynamic skipped over, whats the point of this change?

I'm guessing to see how the dynamic has changed between all the partners in it. Who will be a success & who's regretting it.
Not to mention Pryce's wife was dead set against staying in the States. We'll see if that dynamic changes or will be be divorced as well?

 

[Top41]

Very cool finale, and a surprising twist--though I do feel like it's been building all season. That's something this show really does well--lays the groundwork for twists so subtly that you don't think they're going to happen--and then pays them off. The mass exodus out of Sterling Cooper for one, and the demise of the Drapers' marriage being the other.

Still digesting it, so I might have more thoughts later. But I'm definitely eager to see where this new firm will be when season four starts!

 

[Dick Whitman]

I'm looking forward to a three-year time jump

If it happens fine but this is not confirmed. People expected season 3 to begin in 1964 due to Weiner's comments at the time. He likes to surprise us.

 

[exodus]

Is anyone surprised they didn't show the after show wrap party like the they did the two years prior?

 

[Winged Victory]

Wow, that was a great season finale and a great payoff to everything that has happened. I'm glad that Pryce is sticking around because I love Jared Harris. This was truly a great season of television.

Did anyone else think that this episode had a massive amount of hilarious one liners? "Did you wash your hands?" was my favorite.

I thought it was very funny, too. Did anyone mention when Joan answers the phone in their new hotel digs? She answers "Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce" and everyone's listening with bated breath, and it's just Harry asking what room they're in!!

Loved this episode, and I really liked the scene where Lane fires them all, then gets the ball rolling with the accounts and cash flow. I'm glad he's with them and not Duck, as well. It's going to be a looooong wait till next season!

 

[Checkmate]

Yeah, it was definitely a fun episode despite the not-very-fun topics it was addressing. I think my favorite scene was when Pryce was fired himself. The huge almost giddy grin he had during it was fantastic.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

So the season cliffhanger is a...reset button?

First time I recall seeing that used in a non sci-fi context.

Here's hoping that Mr. Lucky Strike does a 180 and insists Sal be hired by the new firm. So Don gets to squirm having to work with him.

 

[Campe]

I wouldn't really call it a reset button as that would be them owning the original Sterling Cooper and all it represents as well as having Sal, Duck and the lovely Joan returning. I say its more of a redefinition, and who knows? This could be the show jumping the shark. I do have faith that Weiner knows what he's doing with the show and will keep it going in the right direction.

 

[ALF]

I think I might need help. I've watched the finale 3 times already.

Here's hoping that Mr. Lucky Strike does a 180 and insists Sal be hired by the new firm. So Don gets to squirm having to work with him.

Don really made himself an asshole all season at Sterling Cooper, he pretty much barked at everyone. But in the finale he ate humble pie at all the right moments. His overtures to Sal will have to be deep and sincere.

Having said that, perhaps Sal is going to end up flaming, out of the closet. And that would be fascinating. Others have suggested in the mid 60s there were some sort of advances made in civil rights for gays?

Yeah, it was definitely a fun episode despite the not-very-fun topics it was addressing. I think my favorite scene was when Pryce was fired himself. The huge almost giddy grin he had during it was fantastic.

Happy Christmas!! :P

 

[exodus]

So the season cliffhanger is a...reset button?

First time I recall seeing that used in a non sci-fi context.

I thought a reset was if everything we saw prevously never happened?

 

[Dick Whitman]

I think I might need help. I've watched the finale 3 times already.

Same here! Every airing AMC had on Sunday night. Though was on the computer at the same time for some of those airings.