Mad Men

[U2isthebest]

Wait...I just remembered that the real Don Draper is dead. Maybe this idea doesn't make sense.

It definitely doesn't, but only for the fact that when the shot pulled away, it was clearly a shot of Don and Betty's house as we've seen it any other time from the outside.

 

[LMP]

You're right.

Arguably the creepiest kid on television.

Laz, would you deem Glen to be a kindred spirit of yours?

Glen = Lance

 

[lazarus]

QFT, seeing as how Glen's mom is a tramp.

Though I imagine her as more of the saucy, Bobbie Barrett type.

 

[U2isthebest]

Wow. Wow. Wow. I don't even know what to say right now. This was the best episode of the entire series. Don as "himself"/Dick is so real and vulnerable and so very different from the man we're used to seeing. If next week tops this, I'm going to pull my hair out waiting for next July. That final shot of Don in the ocean with the waves crashing over him was symbolic and visually gorgeous. And anytime I can see Jon Hamm with his shirt off, it's a good thing. The subplots tonight were all great too, but I'm still sort of speechless in a good way about the brilliance of this episode. Also, don't forget to watch Jon host SNL next Saturday.

 

[namkcuR]

This episode really crystalized Don/Dick's problems for me in a way that I hadn't fully seen until now. The whole thing where he said that he couldn't 'get in' to his life, even though it was a good one.

Dick Whitman...is trapped inside Don Draper. That's why he can't 'get into' his life. Because Betty isn't married to Dick Whitman. She's married to Don Draper. His childrens' father isn't Dick Whitman. It's Don Draper. And all the people at Sterling-Cooper don't work with Dick Whitman. They work with Don Draper. He spends his life watching all of these people interact with this fictional character that he's created, but he never gets to interact with any of them himself. He never gets talk to anybody, communicate with anybody, share with anybody, connect with anybody, nothing. He just stands silently in Don Draper's clothes as Don Draper gets to have a life with Betty and the children, as Don Draper gets to a big-shot big-city ad-man, as Don Draper takes his life from him. In his own personal prison. Screaming to get out. Because as long as he's in there, Betty loves Don Draper, not Dick Whitman. As long as he's in there, his children love Don Draper, not Dick Whitman. As long as he's in there, his co-workers respect Don Draper, not Dick Whitman. He became Don Draper so that he could shield himself from life, so that know one would truly know him and that way he wouldn't have to really worry about feelings or anything like that. Now the very reason he took this identity is making him miserable. Only when he takes Don Draper's clothes off for good and begins allowing the people in Don Draper's life to be in Dick Whitman's life, will he be able to 'get into' his life.

For these reasons, imo, it won't be believable if he and Betty reconcile without him coming clean about his real identity.

 

[U2isthebest]

^I agree. I couldn't get over the differences between the scenes with Dick as Dick and Dick, as we know him, as Don. Dick, even present day Dick on a smaller scale, is so shy, almost fearful, and lacking in confidence. Dick is still a little abused boy with low self-esteem who just wants to be loved. Like many victims of abuse, though, he has no idea how to receive or give it, so he settles for a life of numb pretense and false confidence. I think we'll continue to see the evolution of Don/Dick through the third season, but I'd be surprised if he tells Betty who he really is. I think he should, but I also think it would be too risky. She's his wife, but she'd also be another person that knows his secret. Don will never truly able to live in his identity because he'd get in major trouble if he ever tried to live publicly as Dick Whitman again.

P.S. I'd like to add that when Pete said "Hell's bells" last night I lol'ed hysterically.

P.P.S. Raise your hand if you think Peggy is going to bang Father Gill next week. In all seriousness, I love Colin Hanks in that role, it would be great if he could come back next season.

 

[lazarus]

I like how they showed no shots of Don back at Sterling Cooper in that preview; we have no idea if he'll return in time to stop the merger.

 

[U2isthebest]

I like how they showed no shots of Don back at Sterling Cooper in that preview; we have no idea if he'll return in time to stop the merger.

Don's a pimp. He'll show up just in time to save the day, and hopefully, Duck will be out on his ass. I'm guessing Betty's knocked up. Who's with me?

 

[namkcuR]

How can Don save the day? In the partners' meeting, they all but discounted him, saying his 12.5% wouldn't make any difference one way or the other.

 

[U2isthebest]

How can Don save the day? In the partners' meeting, they all but discounted him, saying his 12.5% wouldn't make any difference one way or the other.

He's Don fucking Draper, and that's enough.

 

[lazarus]

How can Don save the day? In the partners' meeting, they all but discounted him, saying his 12.5% wouldn't make any difference one way or the other.

Isn't Don known for his powers of persuasion? He's like the best ad man there. I imagine if he had issues with the merger he'd be able to make a pretty convincing argument. Besides, Cooper was on the fence to begin with.

 

[namkcuR]

Thoughts on the season finale?

I thought it was great.

 

[Lila64]

I wanted more! How long will it be til the next season

I'll sit back & wait for y'all to analyze it & such. That's a weakness of mine

 

[lazarus]

MEH. Not even close to The Wheel.

Nothing really happened here that was unexpected, save for the scene with Peggy & Pete.

 

[U2isthebest]

I thought it was great. I'll try and be brief now, since I'm supposed to be heading out the door for work in 15 minutes, but, in short, the biggest difference to me between this episode and The Wheel is that I truly believe Don is a changed man this time. Last year, it was clearly an emotional, nostalgic reaction to seeing his old pictures and hoping he could go back to that. There didn't seem to be much of an effort on his part to make a change in his life. This week, we saw more of the good qualities of Dick Whitman and less of the douchebag qualities of Don Draper. That scene between Peggy and Pete was brilliantly acted and written. Also, the merger scene with Don's "I don't have a contract" and "If the world's still here Monday, then we'll talk" was badass. I hope Duck is gone next season. He's a bully and a jealous loser. I can't wait til next July.

 

[deep]

MEH. Not even close to The Wheel.

Nothing really happened here that was unexpected, save for the scene with Peggy & Pete.

really?

you expected Betty to shag a guy on a train?

you expected Pete to show his loyalty to Don?

you expected Duck? to get his promotion and lose? it all in the same meeting?

you expected Don to have a half million dollars (a lot of money in 1962), and no job or be in the drivers seat at his old job?

 

[lazarus]

really?

you expected Betty to shag a guy on a train?

you expected Pete to show his loyalty to Don?

you expected Duck? to get his promotion and lose? it all in the same meeting?

you expected Don to have a half million dollars (a lot of money in 1962), and no job or be in the drivers seat at his old job?

I think many people were waiting all season for Betty to have an affair, and yes, I did expect Don to return and defeat Duck, though we don't really know the outcome of that yet. He is, after all, the protagonist of the show.

 

[Dalton]

The thing I like about Mad Men is that it is making alcoholism sexy again.

 

[LMP]

MadMenYourself.com - MadMen Premieres August 16 only on AMC

 

[U2isthebest]

I am so frickin' excited about the new season. It premieres 2 days before my birthday. Oh Jon Hamm, you are the best 21st birthday present a girl could ever ask for. Me likey.

 

[No spoken words]

I am so frickin' excited about the new season.

When a sophisticated, intelligent guy like me agrees with someone so skanky on something, you know it has to be good.

 

[U2isthebest]

When a sophisticated, intelligent guy like me agrees with someone so skanky on something, you know it has to be good.

I know. It's like you're a real life Don Draper. And I'm Jane, the slutty bitch that Roger left Mona for.

In all honesty, that 21 year old chick Don banged out in California last season, I would totally volunteer to take on that role this year. Sorry Betty. I want your man.

 

[lazarus]

MadMenYourself.com - MadMen Premieres August 16 only on AMC

Aren't you a little young for a pipe?

Forgot to post mine and spread the word yesterday:

No Fu Manchus in 1963, so that 'stache was the best I could do. I wasn't feeling the Orson Welles/beatnik beard.

For the record, my wallpaper is me in the bar with Draper, a newspaper in the other hand.

 

[No spoken words]

Where's your stupid fucking hat?

 

[lazarus]

Couldn't find one of those, either. Which is strange because hats were still big in the early 60's, no?

 

[No spoken words]

Hats never go out of style, it's just a question of what is the current popular style of hat?

Draper wears a hat to work, I thought.

 

[deep]

no

more like the 30s and 40s and part of the 50s

by the 60s most men were not regular had wearers

 

[lazarus]

It's Kennedy's fault.

Clearly he was assassinated by some kind of hatmaker cabal.

 

[Lancemc]

Me in 25 years?

Yeah, probably...

 

[LMP]

Aren't you a little young for a pipe?

Forgot to post mine and spread the word yesterday:

No Fu Manchus in 1963, so that 'stache was the best I could do. I wasn't feeling the Orson Welles/beatnik beard.

For the record, my wallpaper is me in the bar with Draper, a newspaper in the other hand.

My pipe blows bubbles. Joan likes that, I heard.

Yeah, mine's at the main hall of Sterling Coop with Draper and the rest of the main cast.

And you ended up looking like Vincent Price.