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Mad Men, Season 5. General Discussion Thread (spoilers welcome)

Yeah, I think Don was hurt by Peggy leaving, but I don't think he harbours any resentment toward her. He just didn't see it coming.

I think that it made him think. It was a major reason, along with what happened with her mother, that mad him submit her reel for the job.
 
Wow. Lane had $50,000 invested in the company as collateral (equivalent to well over $300,000 in today's money), and that's not even taking into account the money he had to invest in his portfolio to buy his stake in the company. It still boggles the mind that he couldn't arrange something financially without resorting to embezzlement over $8,000. I suppose banks might not like lending to him as he's still a foreign citizen, and there are laws regarding a company lending money to its employees. Still, though, one would think he could at a minimum sell part of his stake in the company (or the collateral he would be getting back within 6 years) to one of the other partners. Lane is a finance guy, after all. Though, it would be easier if he would just suck it up and ask one of his friends or relatives for a short-term loan.
 
That was a heck of a way to end the season... What does he answer?!?!
He answered yes. The smile says it all..

More the point: "Are you alone?" Yes. Don's always alone.

It was also cool closing out the episode with a James Bond theme song (1967's You Only Live Twice).
This is like the third or fourth Bond reference this season, isn't it?

Not to mention that Don and Peggy were at the movies showing the Peter Sellers version of Casino Royale. I recognized the background music.

Pete is just a little shit. He never knows when to keep his mouth shut.

This season has been the “punch out Pete Campbell season,” meaning “best season evah!”

But, seriously, Pete thinks he’s a yearning romantic, but he’s just a creep. Though he seems to be realizing it and, maybe, he’ll grow up. But I doubt it.

I'm glad we're still seeing Peggy. She's an important character and I think there's a genuine bond between her and Don. I'm pretty sure we'll keep seeing her.

Peggy needs Don and Don needs Peggy. Maybe not in a romantic way (yet) but they share a bond that no one else on the show shares.

... I think Don was hurt by Peggy leaving, but I don't think he harbours any resentment toward her. He just didn't see it coming.

I think that it made him think. It was a major reason, along with what happened with her mother, that mad him submit her reel for the job.

Megan kind of deserved Don’s initial reaction to her, when you consider she could have been in that “test kitchen” ad with Don earlier in the season and, further, some of her anti-advertising comments. She also deserved her mom’s dressing down a bit. But, man, she’s a cute drunk.

Still, Don getting the part was, as others have noted his attempt to help someone he cares for and part of his attempt to be a better person. We’ll see how long that lasts.

Other random thoughts (more to come as I read the thread)(apologies if others have brought this up while I type this in ‘word’):

· One thing I didn’t like was the patented “David Chase/Matt Weiner-someone’s sick and they have prophetic dreams” (again) bit. Enough. It’s quickly becoming a cliche.

· Lane’s initial contribution to the firm was $50,000. That’s equal to over $322,000.00 in 2012 dollars. Where’d he get that money and why was $8000 such a problem for him?

· Roger, you dog! (Though I think this LSD thing ends badly. The man was in combat in WWII. One bad trip and he’s not going to be pretty)

Argggh!!!! When’s the next season start!?!?
 
More the point: "Are you alone?" Yes. Don's always alone.

Exactly. Partly based on things he has no control of and many he caused. In helping Megan he is letting her have her own life, which likely will mean they will separate.
 
More the point: "Are you alone?" Yes. Don's always alone.
Exactly. Partly based on things he has no control of and many he caused. In helping Megan he is letting her have her own life, which likely will mean they will separate.

Presactly. Also, even though I didn't care for the 'dream' sequence part, it was indicative of Don being alone. He drove his brother to suicide, he drove his friend to suicide, he drove Peggy to another firm, he'll drive Megan away too.

Hell, he drove GLENN away, back to school, in the prior episode. Don drives EVERYONE away. ;)
 
More the point: "Are you alone?" Yes. Don's always alone.
Exactly. Partly based on things he has no control of and many he caused. In helping Megan he is letting her have her own life, which likely will mean they will separate.

Presactly. Also, even though I didn't care for the 'dream' sequence part, it was indicative of Don being alone. He drove his brother to suicide, he drove his friend to suicide, he drove Peggy to another firm, he'll drive Megan away too.

Hell, he drove GLENN away, back to school, in the prior episode. Don drives EVERYONE away. ;)

I saw his helping Megan as a way to not drive her away like he always does with people. It would be tragically funny if in his attempt to change and not drive her away, that he ends up cheating on n leaving him for some producer/actor/director, ultimately justifying his old behavior.
 
But that's the thing. Don doesn't want to drive Megan away but he's so closed off it always happens no matter how good his intentions.
 
Matthew Weiner himself confirms this in the behind the scenes video for the episode put up on the show's blog. That shot of her in the spotlight on the set and him walking away in the dark alone speaks volumes.
 
Yeah, that was a wonderfully shot scene. Megan in the spotlight, almost a fantasy world, while Don walks off into the darkness.

Oh, and, again Jon Hamm for the next Batman
 
But, seriously, there are some interesting parallels between Draper and Batman. Both of them live secret lives with dark secrets and now both of them are set up as people who tragically have to live separate from those they want to save.
 
I'd love to see his take on Bond...

Problem is he's not British and, as talented as he is, we've got no indication he can do accents.

Besides, if we want a 60s era Bond again, look no further than Michael 'X-men First Class' Fassbender...
 
But, seriously, there are some interesting parallels between Draper and Batman. Both of them live secret lives with dark secrets and now both of them are set up as people who tragically have to live separate from those they want to save.

I agree. I have thought that from the beginning. Remember early on Pete asked Harry about Don. Harry jokingly said something like "Draper is such a mystery he could be Batman"
 
Oh yeah. He told her he was alone. He'll end up cheating. I looked at Megan as his "phantom," like acting success was supposedly her "phantom" that she needed to give up according to her mother. He loves her, but deep down he's angry that she isn't the dream he imagined her to be--the perfect wife in the office with him, great with his kids, who doesn't really want her own life away from him. Him helping her act in the commercial was giving up his phantom. It's also his built in excuse to cheat because she'll end up on location away from him enough of the time.

Beth was Pete's phantom, this illusion of a perfect life that he thinks exists somewhere else, with someone else. Now she's like a ghost because she's still there but doesn't remember, but she's kind and she listens. Her husband really is a prick. I can't blame Pete for that confrontation; this time he was right. Ironically he doesn't appreciate Trudy anymore than Beth's husband appreciates her. It's just that Trudy doesn't suffer from clinical depression and she's stronger than Beth psychologically. They're not so different.

If Don and Peggy ever end up together romantically, I'll put sugar in the gas tank of Matt Weiner's car. NO WAY. Please, no. Man, Megan's mom is all kinds of harsh, but sweet little Megan sure screwed her friend over for the shoe job, didn't she?
 
He might answer "Yes" to the question of being alone, but I don't think it's a given that Don will cheat again at this point. That would be too expected. Also I doubt Season 6 will start off exactly right where we left off.
 
He might answer "Yes" to the question of being alone, but I don't think it's a given that Don will cheat again at this point. That would be too expected. Also I doubt Season 6 will start off exactly right where we left off.

Has any season started right where the last left off?

If nothing else, the need to work with the realities of growing child actors requires the time jumps. Glenn might have a full beard by the time season six airs
 
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