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

[the G-man]

I, too, find Pete's character fascinating even if I don't approve of all of his actions. Maybe it's because I can identify far more with Pete's insecurity than Don's self confidence and slick demeanor. That, and Kartheiser really does an outstanding job with the character. He doesn't get nearly enough credit.

Yeah, Pete is in some ways one of the most human characters on the show, insofar as his flaws are sadly very banal.

I like that they brought back in Cosgrove's writing. It's cool that he writes sci-fi. I actually want to read that story that was talked about. Hope he leaves the ad game eventully and pursues writing full time.

Geez, you want Cosgrove written out of the show? What do you have against the poor guy?

Speaking of Cosgrove, I got to thinking: maybe it was Peggy, not Pete, who blew him into Roger. In her own way, Peggy can be just as ambitious as Campbell and she may be more stung by the possibility of Cosgrove leaving to publish than she let on. Remember, she kept bringing up their "deal."

 

[Lord Garth]

I have a very hard time believing that. Otherwise, she wouldn't have seemed disappointed that he "stopped" writing. Why would she feign disappointment?

On the other hand, since Pete wants to act like he's above Roger, why would he tell Roger anything?

Don in casual conversation? I doubted it was Don but maybe it came up while he was talking to Roger at some point and Roger felt the need to flex his muscles, like he does with anyone who's not a partner.

 

[the G-man]

I have a very hard time believing that. Otherwise, she wouldn't have seemed disappointed that he "stopped" writing. Why would she feign disappointment?

So Ken doesn't know it was her?

 

[Commander Riker]

On the other hand, since Pete wants to act like he's above Roger, why would he tell Roger anything?

Pete would stab Roger in the back the first chance he could get. The only person he might have second thoughts on would be Don. However, he has already tried to black mail him. I'm sure we will see more of this power struggle as the season progresses.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

I, too, wondered if it might have been Peggy who ratted out Ken because she was ticked off. I like Peggy. I really do, but there's no denying there's a little bit of a vindictive streak in her that she doesn't often show. I can picture her being vindictive in a fit of pique at Ken. All the other guys have pissed her off, then Ken reneges on their deal--she's in a bad mood and just blurts it out. She might regret it later, but it wouldn't shock me. That's why she and Pete gravitated to one another back in the day. She's also the somewhat awkward, smart girl who never got enough credit and wasn't beautiful and confident like a Joan Holloway was. People laughed at her at times, too.

Or, perhaps Megan blurted it out in casual conversation. She might not have realized it would be a problem. Plausible, IMO. Why would Pete go to Roger for anything? I agree. If there's anyone who deserves to get the crap kicked out of him, it's Roger. Mr. Roger who was trying to write a book himself and was a total tool about it to Ken. Roger who left his wife for the 20 year old chick, who came on to Betty in her own home, who didn't tell anyone he'd lost Lucky Strike and nearly bankrupted Sterling-Cooper before Lane saved the day by firing everyone. Roger who thinks blackface is funny. Pete should have kept on point and continued to be a thorn in Roger's side and left Lane alone.

 

[Rowan Sjet]

who didn't tell anyone he'd lost Lucky Strike and nearly bankrupted Sterling-Cooper before Lane saved the day by firing everyone.

Different Finales, Lane fired them so they wouldn't have to go to a rival ad agency when Sterling-Cooper was bought up. Roger nearly killed off SCDP.

 

[Warped9]

Can't believe I missed this thread. I couldn't wait for Season 5 to start and I'm loving it.

Betty is and has always been a miserable bitch. Cancer would have been too good for her.

Don is showing signs of growth although I liked his blonde (before Megan) much better than Megan.

Loved the dream sequence even though I was wondering

Loved the Lane/Pete fight and Campbell the twerp gets what he deserves. He's such a weasel and a weenie.

Loved Peggy taking Roger for 400 bucks! :tech man:

Loved Joan tossing her loser hubby out on his ass.

Right now Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire are my favourite shows.

 

[gblews]

Don correcting the name of Charles Whitman! Whoa!

The first thought I had was, does everyone know? (Don's true identity, that is)

 

[Dick Whitman]

Trippy!!!!

 

[Warped9]

Watching Roger get stoned this in evening's episode was a riot. Loved it when he heard music whenever he opened the bottle. And now it looks like Roger will be a free agent. Of course the fun of "cheating" won't be there.

Peggy spoke to those Heinz guys almost like she was channeling Don. They probably would have taken it from Don, but not from "a girl." Frustration got the better of her.

Megan's place at work is gonna blow up because it's really distracting Don. She's better than Betty, but there's a distinct generational difference there that may be insurmountable.

 

[J.T.B.]

"I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" was a great choice. Period-perfect, from a very acid-associated album, and it has to do with being sad and feeling like you need to make a change.



Justin

 

[Dick Whitman]

Yeah, I love that song. It's timing was nice too. It's the Beach Boys 50th Anniversary. Brian Wilson is touring with the band again for the first time in over two decades. I am seeing them on July 1st.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

I just watched the episode online. Ummmmm.....what was that?????? Was everyone taking LSD? Also---was there a clip of a Lifetime movie spliced into the episode? I watched the episode "by other means".....and all three links of this episode had about 4 minutes of Jennifer Love Hewitt with a southern accent and a guy named Don who was looking for a prostitute named Riley, but it was all present day. Cybill Shepherd was in it. I swear to God, I'm not taking LSD myself. Was Don having a dream....about a 21st century Lifetime movie?

Oh, and Don is turning into the prick I always assumed he was. He's reverting to his controlling form. And what was the bit with little Sally in her mousketeer ears with Don and Megan in the car? Obviously a memory but of what?

 

[the G-man]

Two episodes that were basically 'dream' sequences? It's starting to feel like Weiner's spinning his wheels.

 

[Agent Richard07]

Roger's LSD trip was fantastic.

The music in the bottle, the shrinking cigarette and the lack of clichéd warped heads... It was all great.





Don on LSD? Or just happy to have his wife back?

 

[Roger Wilco]

Loved Megan standing up to Don, she deserves better. He is a pig and he's never going to change. And what he did after coming home was borderline domestic violence (or not borderline maybe), I hope she leaves him soon.

 

[IndyJones]

Loved Megan standing up to Don, she deserves better. He is a pig and he's never going to change. And what he did after coming home was borderline domestic violence (or not borderline maybe), I hope she leaves him soon.

Yeah, but mostly I'm just hoping that he takes Bert Cooper's advice and starts taking work seriously again.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Remember when Roger came on to Betty in their kitchen--after Roger left? Betty asked Don (after Don accused her basically of being too flirty with Roger), "Are you going to bounce me off the walls?" and would that make him feel better?

I don't think Don has actually beaten up a woman, but I think he's gotten close. He yanked Betty up by her wrist when he found out about Henry Francis. He's jealous as hell (even though he was a philandering pig) and he got beat up as a kid. I doubt there was therapy for abused children in depression era rural Pennsylvania. Methinks Betty has seen this side of him--his temper. Just because he was reluctant to spank Bobby doesn't mean the potential for violence isn't there. I think he was scared to spank Bobby, scared of the anger within himself. Don Draper isn't a nice man.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Actually I love babies, the elderly and puppies.

Oh, you mean the character....

Your right! The guy is really fucked up. The question Megan asked about his mother I think started him to lash out at her. My memory is kind of vague on what she said. The reaction was clear, he was bothered that he never knew his own mother. Which I would assume that Megan does not even know this.

 

[ALF]

^^ Don was referring to the French "jibber jabber" he hears when she is talking to her mother... and of course Don feels insecure about it; she admonishes his thinking that it is "always about him." I think he chided her for calling her "Mama" when she blurts out, "What do you call your mother?"

Two episodes that were basically 'dream' sequences? It's starting to feel like Weiner's spinning his wheels.

I can't help but start to wonder the same. I was thinking recently about how great Mad Men appeals to my linear sensibilities of how a television series should be... no weird dream sequences, flash backs and Star Trek style "it was all a dream- or was it?" twist endings that really get my goat.

However, the past few episodes have included those things... I was also thinking about the similarities (if any) to The Sopranos, which I've watched over and over and over again. The Sopranos has infamous wacko dream sequences... my personal favorite being "Funhouse" in Which Big Pussy's ghost talks to Tony through the fish.

Anyway, for all the whimsical writing so far this season it has provided some unforgettable moments... like Roger's musical liquor and horn toot cigarette.

I find myself wondering which of Don's encounters during the fever episode was fictional. I'm guess the mystery lady never made it to his place... we know of course that the final scene didn't happen.

I'm not sure about the wintertime scene in the car where Don whistles the Beatles. Memory or daydream?

Don Draper isn't a nice man.

That's right. He tries... but Faye said it best last season... he "only likes the beginning of things."

If the showrunners are making the Betty haters start to wonder where she is... it's working . I have a feeling she's the one that's going to "end" Don and Megan either by blackmail or otherwise and I hope she's around next week.

I'm trying to extrapolate where all this is going, and how it's going to comment on modern day life. I think SCDP, even though it's on the upward spike, might look to trim the fat off management soon if for no other reason, make some characters richer and send others packing (hence the season-long power struggle arc). I hope Peggy doesn't leave but I suspect she will. It also seems likely to me she'll end up with the quirky new hire who was born at a concentration camp.