Shut Up It's On » Drama

Mad Men: The Rejected

Liz — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:19:19 +0000

It is about time we had a non-Don centric episode. We know virtually nothing of Pete and Trudy in this season and Peggy has had no concrete part this season besides that awful publicity stunt they pulled. Shall we dive deeper?

Just to show in a comedic light how strapped this company is for cash, Lucky Strike’s Lee calls to basically tell Roger and Don that he knows his money isn’t going just to Lucky Strike. They need money and the guarantee of a few million from Pond’s is needed, at Pete’s expense. Clearasil has to go and Pete had to bend over backwards to get his father-in-law to agree to the agency switch so, he is pissed.

When Pete goes to meet Tom for drinks he tries to prolong the news as much as possible but Tom strikes him with some information of his own. Trudy is pregnant! Pete is so overwhelmed by the surprise that he can’t even fathom speaking of the agency drop. When Pete gets home, he’s not even mad at Trudy for hiding it, just happy it’s happening. Trudy offers to be the one to tell her father but Pete declines, he can deliver this message on his own.

When Peggy leaves the office she greets a woman in the elevator and they talk of nude photographs. That’s my icebreaker too, you know. This lady, Joyce, continues to hit on Peggy and then checks her out as she walks out of the elevator. Do I smell a crazy twist happening?

The next day Peggy, Don and Freddy are having a Pond’s focus group with some girls from the office, including Allison. Everyone’s favorite market researcher, Faye is back to talk to these girls and basically just figure out how they work and what would appeal to them. Things run a little off course when one girl breaks down about her boyfriend and this sends Allison over the edge. She looks up basically through the mirrored glass straight at Don and soon after leaves the room in tears. Peggy leaves to comforts her, someone always cries in these things but Allison let’s it all go. She looks to Peggy for sympathy but gets none of it when she implies that Peggy has slept with Don to get where she is now.

When the meeting is over and Don gives Allison some more time to be alone in his office he enters and echoes Peggy’s “everyone cries” statement. Allison tells him that he’s the reason she’s crying and that she thinks it’s best that she finds a job elsewhere. Don seems indifferent, do whatever you want to do, Allison. She asks him for a recommendation and Don agrees, even telling her to just type it up herself on his letterhead. His callous attitude toward her finally came to a head with this statement, she throws some shit across the room and calls him a bad man. Too bad she didn’t figure this out when we did, her heart might still be intact then.

The most wonderful part of this freak out Allison had is when drunk Don gets home from work. He sits down and writes the 60s equivalent of a drunk e-mail. How lucky were people back then? That their drunk, impulsive alter egos didn’t embarrass themselves through social media. I’m jealous.

After Pete gets a snarky Lane telling him he must go through with this Clearasil meeting today, Pete meets Harry and Ken for lunch much to his chagrin. Harry excuses himself for a phone call and Ken just lays it out for Pete. He’s been talking a lot of shit for no reason and Ken wants to understand where this hate is coming from. Pete apologizing for any miscommunication and then they continue their meal like the friends they were before that whole, shared Head of Accounts thing.

Peggy’s lesbian friend comes by the office and asks her if she wants to go to a photography event hosted by the guy that shot the nudie pictures she liked. Peggy agrees and the receptionist calls her pretentious as she leaves. Peggy agrees as they both stare off at the space she was once in. Girl crushes all around!

Pete arrives home to Trudy and the in-laws, presumably dreading what he has to do. Trudy tries to slyly be the one to drop the news but Pete takes control and goes at it himself. Now that Pete has finally given Tom what he wanted, a grandchild, Pete can be a little more decisive in the business end of things. Pete talks his way through what is happening and gets Tom’s back against the wall. Either he gives SCDP everything Vick’s has to offer or he will be dropped. Tom is not happy about these new stipulations but he has no choice.

Peggy arrives at her sketchy party and smokes some weed and talking about who owns whose vagina. She meets the photographer who is, as expected, a real douchebag and one of his friends. The cops show up and he takes her and they hide in a closet. They kiss for a moment before Joyce breaks that up and they leave quickly.

The next day we get to meet Don’s hilariously old new receptionist and hear of Pete’s good news. A bigger account acquired so no need to let Clearasil go. But what will happen to Pond’s and Freddy then? When Don tells his old lady to move his meeting with Faye she takes that as “call an emergency meeting with Faye” and she comes in to discuss the group and her results for Pond’s. Don isn’t happy with this, everyone wants to just get married hypothesis and gets unreasonably upset at her. Don really needs to start seeing a therapist.

As Peggy is explaining her night to Joey we find out that she really doesn’t read the newspaper. She also learns that Trudy is pregnant. She doesn’t sign the card but instead goes to Pete’s office and congratulates him in person. They share a moment of “this could’ve been us” before she leaves and slams her head against her desk. She doesn’t want to feel what she feels for him and damn every girl knows that feeling.

So Joyce calls Peggy asking her to lunch with a few friends and as Peggy is leaving, the Vicks people are in the lobby with all the important men of SCDP, minus pissy Don. Peggy walks out, laughing with her friends but takes the time to glance back over through the glass at Pete while he brown noses the my new client. There will always be something tangible between them, but not enough to bring them back together.

The last scene had to do with an old couple and pears in Don’s hallway and I didn’t understand this at all. If Don is all angry/upset over the fact that his world seems to be revolving around marriage (or the lack there of) wouldn’t seeing this old woman ignore her husband be a relief? Oh that will never be me kind of feeling? I couldn’t get a good read off of Don so maybe I’m just wrong here.

A few notes and quotes:

If I hadn’t known ahead of time, I would have still been able to tell you that John Slattery directed this episode. The one-liners from most of the cast just oozed of Roger Sterling. If I didn’t know any better I would’ve thought he wrote it too. I thought this was one of the best shot episodes this season so I’m looking forward to him returning to the director position later on.
Look at Peter Campbell, all grown up! Turning lemons into lemonade at work with Vicks and not even getting mad at Trudy about the baby. And there was close to zero pettiness when talking to Ken and he owned up to his words, apologizing like a man. I was thoroughly surprised Pete didn’t put his foot in his mouth when talking to Peggy too. When did this all happen?!
Ken Cosgrove appears in the opening credits so clearly, he’s back. How I want this to go down? Ken just waltzes into SCDP one day with all his big accounts, becomes a silent partner, like Pete and totally owns the place. It’s the only way I think we can get childish Pete back.
Faye is like a female form of Don. She’s charming and happy when she needs to be but authoritative too. Her true colors really showed when one of the girls popped into the viewing room, asking about Allison and Faye’s only response was, “Who”? She puts on a good act.
I had to pause and laugh at the show when after Joyce left reception they show Burt in the background, sitting on the couch eating. Of course he is.

Mad Men: The Good News

Liz — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:14:16 +0000

Somewhere during last season I had written off Lane Pryce as one of those main characters that you never really get to know (or want to know) more about because their lives don’t add much to the lives of others. I was surprised to see the emergence of Lane and maybe a replacement of Roger as Don’s office best friend? He is one fun drunk…

Before Lane, a few questions are answered about Joan’s life now. Greg is not in the army yet, she has had two abortions and wants to conceive a child before Greg goes away. Her doctor seems confused by her timeline, I’m confused by a doctor smoking while checking out someone’s vagina. We’re all even here. We get to see that the interactions between Joanie and Greg has not really changed. He has issues that she passive-aggressively responses to, he gets mad, she coos, everything is alright.

It’s those weird few days between Christmas and New Year’s and the office is still open for a reason unbeknown to Harry and Joan. All everyone talks of is the impending vacation, except for Lane. He says there is still a lot to be done and shoots down Joan when she asks for a few days in January off. Doctors have weird schedules when going to basic training, you know. He throws out an angry “don’t go and cry about it” and tells her that her charms don’t work on him. Someone’s panties are in a knot.

The following day, while pretending to care about Peggy’s life, Joan gets roses and storms off. She walks right in to Lane’s office and let’s him have it. He’s is rather confused until they figure out the flowers he sent for his wife and the flowers for Joan were mixed up. After the secretary is fired, it settles down and goes back to normal.

On the other side of the country, Don has stopped in to visit Anna for a bit before heading to Acapulco. They’re always glad to see each other and he’s also greeted by Anna’s sister and niece, Stephanie. She stays for dinner at a bar and when they come back we can assume Anna didn’t break her leg by slipping in the kitchen. She’s a sloppy drunk, y’all. Don offers to drive Stephanie home and of course hits on her. She responds by telling him Anna has cancer, but doesn’t know. Don is totally heartbroken and when Anna’s sister arrives the next day he puts on his angry face and asks for answers. After hearing her side, he doesn’t want to, but he agrees she doesn’t have to know. Don regretfully leaves, as it may be the last time he sees her.

It’s New Years Day and Joan has waited up all night, preparing a meal for Greg. He comes in and rudely says he already ate but still sits at the table. Joan goes to make him some fresh orange juice and cuts herself pretty bad. She wants to go to the hospital and seems more shaken at the idea of Greg stitching her up than the cut. After he soothes her, tells and joke and successfully finishes the minor procedure, Joan let’s out a cry. He plays it off, the joke was supposed to be funny! Joan clears thinks less of Greg than what he truly is and what came out as a cry was probably more like a sigh of relief in her mind. He isn’t a terrible doctor and she can put her mind at ease, they will be alright.

Don doesn’t go to Acapulco (maybe the plan all along?) and heads in to the office. He finds Lane there and they share a drink before Don heads to his office. Later Don shouts at Lane that they are going to see a movie. They mull over ideas while filling a flask and land on Godzilla. Lane is a fun drunk. After, at dinner, Lane admits his wife is leaving him but he barely minds, he loves New York. He takes his steak and loudly proclaims it’s his belt buckle in the worst Texan accent I’ve ever heard. Lane is a hysterical drunk. They then go to a club where a comedian makes fun of them before their dates (read: escorts) arrive and even when it seems like, just for a second, the night is going to turn sour, it doesn’t.

They head back to Don’s place, they each get their respective booty and the next morning Lane is thankful toward Don for the distraction from his life.

In the final scene, the conference room is full of SDCP head men and Joan. Lane arrives a little late and Joan asks them if they are ready to begin 1965. Well, I am.

A few notes and quotes:

“The minute she saw who I really was, she never wanted to look at me again.” Betty isn’t even in this episode and I still hate her in this episode.
The way Joan asked Lane about the fried chicken got my mind going. Then the way she reacted to the roses? I immediately thought, “OMG THEY’RE HAVING AN AFFAIR” then ,”EW” and five seconds later a sigh of relief. That would’ve been too much.
Lane points out at dinner with Don that he never had felt as though the the office had welcomed him to America. It has been what? Two years? That’s is an awfully long time to be ignored. Lane seems like he was okay with it though, and maybe this inability to gain friends from coworkers, him just waiting for life to happen, is a reason his wife left him.
Something about this episode made me think of character development. The way Don brushed off Allison, how Lane spoke to Joan, just Pete being alive. These men are assholes. Don of course has his redeeming moments since you can’t completely hate the main character but look at the rest. Duck wasn’t a great guy, neither is Greg; Pete, Lane, Roger, Freddy, Father Gill even; all have their moments in the asshole sun. This show is pointed out for having sexist dialog that is of course, on par for the times but it’s like the writers are balancing it out by making the women (minus Betty) much more likable than the men.

Mad Men: Christmas Comes but Once a Year

Liz — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:10:51 +0000

Christmas in the summer! My favorite! I had read a brief synopsis of the episode before watching and was certain Ken and his haircut were going to be joining us again but no. No fretting though, another old face does come back!

Sally Draper is living a shitty life. She hates being at home and she knows Santa doesn’t exist. While tree shopping, Glenn creeps up and says hello to her, giving her some “new father” tips. Sally remarks on his lanyard but the conversation ends since Bobby is such a cock block. A few days later Glenn calls Sally and offers some advice on how things are going to change and don’t worry, they will. This is all top secret missions stuff, so don’t get telling your mother. Sally hates living in that house with them, where she expects her dad to be and Glenn tries to help her out. He breaks in when he knows they aren’t home and trashes the place. If they live in an unsafe neighborhood, they’ll surely move, no? The only room left untouched is Sally’s. Glenn let’s her know he was trying to help by leaving his lanyard for her. D’awww

Over some bridges and through some boroughs to SCDP we go. Don goes through his mail with his secretary and we learn of a Christmas Party! It will be small and the office really can’t afford this so no dates allowed. His girl, Allison goes to leave but he ensures her that even if it has to come from his own pocket, she will be getting a holiday bonus.

The first big surprise of the season: Freddy Rumsen! He called a meeting with Roger to discuss a possible job opportunity, Roger regretfully informs him they just don’t have the money, room, etc for another man but Freddy sweetens the deal with a big client, Pond’s. Roger can’t say no and the only stipulation? Pete goes no where near this account. Bad blood runs deep or some other mashing of idioms.

Freddy is greeted to open arms in Don’s office by Peggy and Pete. Pete tries to sour the situation as always, bringing up the past but Roger flips the conversation and somehow, Freddy becomes Santa at the party. Worth noting, he is a successful teetotaler. Not like that good for nothing Duck. Poor Chauncey!

The entire office is in the now-table-furnished conference room learning of a new way to dive into consumer’s minds, through intimate questions followed by ::SNORE::. Anyway, the example the foxy lady running the meeting uses is something about how your father treats you and then she asks for everyone to fill on out. Since Don is so sensitive and a pansy, he excuses himself and leaves the meeting because wahh feelings! Joey, the art guy that I am positive is gay (baby Sal) was hitting on Allison when Don takes the five steps to his office and he does not approve.

The next morning, Don is awoken by some banging outside. It’s some cute nurse putting up lights and garland for her own party later on. She claims they have run into each other on a few occasions but Don being Don, doesn’t remember. He goes back in his place to get ready for work and Phoebe is left outside to keep hammering away.

When Roger comes back from a lunch with the Pond’s people drunk, Freddy is immediately alarmed. Putting the pieces together on our own, Freddy didn’t land this account because they’re old frat buddies but rather, new AA buddies.

Awoken from a drunk, mid-afternoon nap, Roger answers the phone to find that Lee Garner from Lucky Strike is in town. Drunk Roger puts his foot in his mouth and in some round about way, Lee invites himself to the Christmas Party. Lane is going to freak! And he does! Now they have to make it a big deal and spend way more than they can afford to.

Peggy is at home and greets her beau, Mark, at the door. He came by for a surprise visit with cookies and an agenda, sexy time. Peggy tells him that she is making him wait because she knows it’ll be special and all this and he says something about her being a virgin. Oh, Mark. If you only knew. I wonder what has changed Peggy back into a school marm from the heated secret affair she was having with Duck. I hate that I’ve mentioned him twice now. Chauncey!!!

Don is coming home for the night, drunk and drops his keys while talking to Phoebe who is cleaning up a mess in the hall. She helps him inside and takes off his shoes, but nothing else. What a good neighbor.

While Joan and the girls are all aflutter readying the office for the night, Peggy and Freddy are discussing pitch lines for Pond’s. Freddy keeps harping in this whole “if you use Pond’s you’ll get a man” line and finally Peggy has had enough. She calls Freddy old-fashioned and that she just can’t commit to a project like that. Freddy leaves defeated, but Peggy still trying to be nice asks about Viola and his attendance in the party. Give it up girl, be a bitch or not.

So begins the party! All the couples are standing around discussing their vacation plans and we learn Don is heading to Acapulco solo. Peggy shows up with Mark and shoots a glance at Pete before heading for drinks. Joan is wearing the dress that Roger requested she wears but that doesn’t mean anything/much, Joanie’s husband is still around (un)thankfully.

They all wait for Lee to come in and greet him warmly. Lee is still the asshole we know that got Sal fired, asking Don when he’s going to actually be creative with Lucky Strike and then practically forcing Roger into the Santa suit when Freddy never shows. Then to ice that cake a little bit more, he grabs Jane by the waist while joking about Roger having a third heart attack. Classy fellow. Still gets what he wants though, a Polaroid camera and he’s happy, so the party was a success.

When Don heads out to leave, the consumer mind control lady comes in to his office, presumably to flirt but then asks why he didn’t stay for the survey. They fight/flirt a little and he leaves, no one noticing as Lee takes pictures of everyone on Santa’s lap.

When Don gets home he realizes he doesn’t have his key and calls Allison to look. She find them and we find out how the office really feels about him, “he’s pathetic”. Allison goes to his place and let’s him in, and before she can leave he pulls her in for some of that Don Draper charm. She’s a little hesitant but concedes, blow away by what has just happened. She hurries and leaves, despite Don’s protests, she has to meet someone else. She does seem a little excited at the thought of that continuing though…

The next day the office is still a mess and Peggy comes in to find Freddy at her desk. They both apologize to each other for their own faults and Peggy even opens up a bit about Mark. While Freddy isn’t exactly the sage anyone would expect him to be, he does help. (Peggy has sex with Mark later that night)

Don walks in and avoids Allison for as long as possible, a short conversation with Roger, Alka-seltzer in hand and then to the lion’s den. He tells Allison to come into his office and in the coldest way possible, tells her that was a one time deal. She seems stunned, like maybe the one event set off a chain reaction in her mind that was not prepared for her to really just be another notch in his bed post. As some sort of consolation, Don hands her her bonus and she goes back out and mindlessly goes back to work.

Possibly to avoid his mistake or just the joy of others during the holiday season Don stays late and leaves when the office is completely empty, presents for his kids in hand.

A few notes and quotes:

“Looks like an Italian hospital” “Feel like with my hair you can’t even see me in here” Roger Sterling with the funnies.
Glenn re-emergence is nice because this is a lot closer to real life than many other shows would be. Bringing back a character you haven’t seen in seasons (just like Freddy) is much closer to reality. People come and go in our lives too, but its much more likely they’ll pop up again then just fall square off the map.
“Merry Christmas, Sweetheart.” That’s the second time Don has called Peggy that. They seem really frank and honest with each other too. The meeting they had at the end of season three was personal and touching for them both but who would’ve thought they’d be so close?
It was mentioned in the post for last week’s episode that maybe Roger is suicidal. I’m going to have to disagree wholeheartedly on this one. To me, he seems content to accept everything at face value. Everything is what it is. Although he may be working a lot more at this agency than his old one, he does seem happy and complacent with life.

Mad Men: Public Relations

Roger — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:12:12 +0000

Liz is having computer troubles so I’m here to over-snark on the season premiere of Mad Men. Yes, everybody else over-analyzes but here we make excellent prostitute jokes.

”It’s somehow dirtier not seeing everything.”

Don Draper is the face of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. That is unfortunate for Don Draper, a man who has spent his entire professional life avoiding the spotlight and kicking ass behind the scenes. When Don doesn’t give up much information about himself to an Ad Age reporter, it results in bad publicity. While he was jeopardizing his fledgling ad agency, Don also had to deal with a father and son duo from Squaresville trying to sell their bikinis in a “wholesome” manner. In what I believe was on purpose, Don gets mad at them when he tries to pitch a sexy ad campaign, which they of course don’t like. Don actually kicks them out of the office and demands that Bert Cooper set up an interview with the WSJ, where a cocky Don Draper spins the reporter a confident yarn about how he triumphantly told Lane Pryce to fire him one year earlier. Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce is about taking risks and being a part of the here and now of 1964.

Also we found ourselves seeing a Don who resorted to accepting a blind date with one of Jane’s friends. He didn’t even get to sleep with her! Not that it matters, because Don has acquired the services of a prostitute to slap him around and make sweet dirty expensive love to him. The son of a hooker hiring a hooker. Healthy! Or maybe he’s dealing with that issue? While having sex? So maybe he’s smarter than even I thought.

The show isn’t just about Dickie Whitman, so let’s see how everybody else is doing:

Peggy Olson is now one of the guys. She is completely at ease and in control at her job. Peggers also sports the most progressive haircut of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce with her Mary Tyler Moore doo. She still respects Don a bit too much, but that seems to be the case with virtually everyone else in Manhattan. Olson has a steady, seemingly submissive boyfriend who referred to himself to Don as her “fiance”, a title that Peggy later claimed to Don as fraudulent.

Pete Campbell now goes by Peter, which is subtle but brilliant because that’s exactly something Pete would eventually insist on. Peter’s friend Ho-Ho still insists on keeping that awful nickname and continues to exhibit petulance when Don didn’t mention his beloved Jai Alai in the original newspaper interview. Even though Harry had just secured a deal with ABC to televise the sport, Ho-Ho let SCDP go. We have to wait and see if Peter’s big client will stick around and how he’ll react to that.

Harry is still the town boob. He was mocked by Joan and didn’t even realize it. He also burns easily.

Joan Harris now has her own office and returns to her throne as office Queen Bee. No word on her hubby Johnny VonRapenstein.

Roger was more dryly coarse than usual. One blogger (I can’t remember which; I’ve read about ten reviews of the episode) is worried that Mr. Sterling is suicidal – Roger twice mentioned something related to suicide. Not to mention Don and Peter seemed a bit worried in the beginning of “Public Relations” and intimated Roger is reaching Freddie Munsen levels of alcoholic drinking. Something to look out for.

Pryce and Bert did virtually nothing. Bert set up Don’s Wall Street Journal interview and that’s about it.

Betty…oh jeez. Betty is more of a monster than ever. Matt Weiner seems intent on making the former Mrs. Draper completely unlikeable. She’s now married to Henry Francis who is having a tough year: the man he works for, Nelson Rockefeller, didn’t even get close to getting the ‘64 Republican nomination, and he’s married to Betty Draper. His mother speaks for everyone when she wonders what he possibly sees in her.

Things To Say While Drinking with Desi and Lucy

“You know something? We are all here because of you. All we want to do is please you.”
“Believe me Henry, everybody thinks this is temporary.”
“A wooden leg…They’re so cheap they can’t even afford a whole reporter.”
“Johnnn.” “Marshaaa.”

Rewind: Mad Men Season 3 Episode 2 & 3: Love Among the Ruins & My Old Kentucky Home

Liz — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:47:30 +0000

[Just as a warning, this and all future rewinds, Mad Men or not, will contain spoilers throughout for not only this episode, but others as well.]

Why am I combining these two episodes you ask? Oh what was that? You didn’t say anything? I’ll tell you anyway. Love Among the Ruins had a few points that had to be made known to set up the rest of the season, but no event really stands out as important to the overall plot. A brief run through of Love Among the Ruins and then a full recap of an unbelievable, foreshadowy episode that is My Old Kentucky Home.

Love Among the Ruins can be summed up like as so: Betty is not a happy pregnant lady; Grandpa Gene is getting worse and now moving in with the Drapers; Peggy is taking control of her life, one one night stand at a time; and lastly everyone hates Jane and Roger by proxy, including his daughter who is getting married November 23rd, 1963. Something really important happens the 22nd guys! Oh and a commercial for Patio (now Diet Pepsi) is in the works and it is based on the opening scene from Bye Bye Birdie.

While doing auditions for their Patio commercial, Ken and Pete drop in on the rest to drop a bomb. For their Bacardi campaign they have to come up with some new stuff by Monday. But they have plans! Too bad. If they aren’t tied down to Roger and Jane’s derby party, they have to stay in and put those thinking hats on. So Kinsey, Pegs and Smitty are stuck at the office over the weekend.

Don comes home to find that his father-in-law thinks he’s still in the army, peeling potatoes for the masses. Nothing you can really do to off set dementia, so he says goodnight and makes Sally go to bed, no more reading The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire tonight.

It is quite the busy Saturday for us! We are not only following many Sterling Cooper men to a party, but watching them at the office, Joanie at home and Sally stole $5 from Grandpa! He totally knows it was her too.

Peggy, Kinsey and Smitty are half-assing their work in the office. Drinking and talking of things that are not office chatter. Weed, mostly. Peggy leaves to find a blender, (and finds that her secretary, Olive, is there for no real reason) and the boys talk about scoring some dope. Kinsey calls up his connect and he comes through offering an array of drugs, but they’ll just settle for the small time stuff. While they were enjoying themselves, Peggy took a nap on her couch and when she asked Olive if they’re still there, shes warned to not join that kind of behavior.

“I’m Peggy Olson and I want to smoke some marijuana.” Fantastic. She joins the boys and Kinsey’s friend rags on how he used to talk like he was from Jersey and how he got kicked out of their college a capella group. Kinsey gets mad but then proves his friend wrong, singing and then eventually reconciling over song. Peggy cannot believe how high she is.

While Smitty tries to make a move on Peggy, asking her up to the roof, Peggy is struck with genius and comes up with her idea for the Bacardi ads. She tells the boys they can go home, she has it from here. When she goes back to her office she finds a judging Olive but consoles her. Peggy is going to get everything she wants, so you don’t have to be looking out for her all the time, Olive. She will be okay.

Out, in what I believe is the Hamptons, Don and Betty are joining the party to open arms and ass kissing. Trudy and Betty wander off, exclaiming about how this reminds them of their childhood and the boys wander as well. Pete talks to Don about who is there and Don tells him, just don’t hand out a business card.

The next time we see this bunch is quite the sight. Roger is donning shoe polish singing to Jane in a very racist way. No one but Don and perhaps Pete seem to see a problem with this and Don even walks away. He finds a bar and naturally assumes the man behind it in the tender. Nope, just looking for some bourbon. Don hops on back and makes Old Fashions while they talk of how they came from meager beginnings and still feel like the don’t belong. Well, nice to meet you, Connie. May our paths cross again? Hmm?

While Betty is waiting by the bathroom a man comes up and begins talking to her. He asks about her baby, and how it feels to be pregnant. He blames the liquor but even asks to touch her belly. She obliges but does quickly walk away once reunited with Trudy.

Later during the party, Roger and Burt bring over the belly touching man, introducing him as Henry Francis. He works for Rockefeller and was just in attendance to his wedding to some broad named Happy. Betty and his eyes meet in a way that you know he isn’t going away soon.

Joan and Dr. Raper are readying the house for a dinner party. He is apparently up for a big promotion and the chief of something important must sit at the head of the table. They have a little tiff about what is the proper etiquette for seating and Joan solves the problem in a calm manner.

She keeps on her happy face while with their guests and even when the women make personal suggestions like not having children yet and how no matter what happens to Greg, he is in good hands with Joan. Sounds like the wives know a little more than Greg does at this point.

After their meal, the chatter continues and the conversation takes a little turn for the worst. Apparently Greg had botched a surgery and didn’t even tell Joan. This mistake could have possibly cost him his promotion, but we will over look that since Joan is now going to entertain us. Greg practically forces her to play the accordion and you can just tell she is not happy about him keeping these secrets. But Joan is Joan, and puts on a great performance for her guests.

Before leaving, Betty wants to take one more round at the buffet and a drunk Jane tumbles on in. She tries to get her own food and fails miserably so they help. Jane remarks on how she knew they would work out their problems and grabs at Don asking why he never liked her. Roger comes in just to see the more scandalous parts and doesn’t care so much that Jane is wasted, but that Don has had a sourpuss on all day. Roger thinks that it’s because he is conspicuously happy and no one is ever glad to see that. Don corrects him, no one thinks he is happy. Everyone thinks he is foolish. Roger offers some parting words that are a more eloquent way of saying get out of my party.

As Don is leaving, he gets Betty’s things and finds her a fair distance away, staring off. He embraces her and they kiss. It’s amazing how their relationship evolves later, you would never know from this last scene.

A few notes and quotes:

Grandpa Gene might be losing his mind but he sure knows how to read his grandchildren. I always felt that way about mine too. Best part about them? They never punish you and then let you read inappropriate material to them before bed. Awesome!
I wanted to do a grab of the black face…but it’s black face! I gasped the first time I saw it and cringed every time after. I could barely stand to watch that scene so, much like Don I walked off to find a bar and talk with a hotel mogul about life.
Pete and Trudy’s dance was great, but sad at the same time. Since they don’t do things like procreate, they have to fill up their time somehow. The worst part was how Pete was watching the crowd intently. “Look at how I dance! Impressive! Much like the way I do business!”
Anyone else surprised that Greg didn’t hit Joan when she told him to stop talking? I was. He totally has a horrible temper and maybe we will see this rear its ugly head on season four.

Rewind: Mad Men Season 3 Episode 1: Out of Town

Liz — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 06:44:30 +0000

[Just as a warning, this and all future rewinds, Mad Men or not, will contain spoilers throughout for not only this episode, but others as well.]

This season is so bonkers crazy. Nuts. Every episode has a whaat?! moment that just kills me or makes me squeal or recoil in my seat. I nearly died during this one…

A look into the past! Don is heating up some milk, stove-style and a flashback begins. There’s a lot of components in this but basically it boils down to how Dick Whitman came into the qorld. His father’s wife had a stillborn, second time. Dick’s father Archibald is pissed that he has no children and sees a prostitute. He convinces her to have sex without condoms, since those things cost money! She warns him that if anything bad comes from this, she’s going to cut off his dick and boil it in pig fat. Well, she’s pregnant and has her unnamed little boy and gets very sick after. She dies and the baby is brought to Archibald’s wife in the middle of the night. He is to be named Dick, after a wish that his mother never got to see filled.

He heads upstairs with his milk to give to an uncomfortable Betty. They chit chat about stuff, mainly his business trip to Baltimore. Seems like everything is back to normal in the Draper household. ::content sigh::

Next morning, Peggy is paging her secretary, Lola for something that secretaries do and Lola is not responding. Peggy walks out to see why, and a British man is wooing her.Lola seems to be unimpressed by him, but when Peggy shooes him away, Lola then seems enamored. What?

Burt got a new painting (that I will discuss later) and him with him is some British man we will all learn to love in a peculiar way, Lane Pryce. He’s the liaison that Duck was supposed to be so it is safe to assume he did not make the cut. Don shows up, Roger is late so their guest of honor, Burt Peterson shows up before him. Apparently they made some big cuts earlier and they held back on Burt because his wife was sick. They’re all sorry this had to happen, and Burt seems okay. Til he gets back into the office. He yells and tantrums his way around, making the boys nervous of more cuts. Pete gets a call to meet Lane, he is practically shitting his pants at this point.

The unlucky fellow that has to see Burt out is Hooker, the man that was trying to woo Lola. Joan passive-aggressively tells Hooker he could’ve totally avoided this if he had warned Burt’s girl beforehand. Hooker gets mad that the switchboard girls call him by his first name, he is not one of them, he is Mr. Pryce’s right arm! Joan agrees just to appease him, but you can tell she doesn’t care what he thinks he is, he is a secretary–just with a funny accent.

Pete goes to Lane’s office and enters carefully. He apologizes for not being more welcoming and Lane is all “who cares” and asks him to sit. Pete refuses, he doesn’t want to have to sit to be fired. Lane realizes what this looks like and apologizes, only good news right now, Mr. Campbell. He is being made the head of accounts! But keep this to yourself, buddy.

Pete goes back to his office, does a spazzy, white man from the 60s dance and calls Trudy to tell her the good news. All is right in this world with everyone!

Little does Pete know, Lane has the same exact meeting with Ken. When they run into each other at the elevator at the end of the day, they try and compliment each other and in a round about way tell each other that things shouldn’t change between them based on work.

So Don and Sal are off to glamorous Baltimore. On the plane the stewardess is hitting on Don and sees his brother-in-law’s name on his suitcase. Don plays along, gives Sal a fake name and they head out to dinner with two attendants and the pilot at a fancy schmancey restaurant. The pilot is wearing a lobster bib! Classing it up!

They leave the restaurant and are in the elevator a while, drunk. A bellhop comes on, eyes Sal and he remarks how he feels out of place not in a uniform. Sal bids Don and one of the girls, Shelly, goodnight and they head up to Don’s room. They make out in the hall a bit and Shelly admits she’s engaged. Don basically tells her that that doesn’t stop him and that it is his birthday. So she has got to stay for the night.

Sal flops on to his bed, wastey-faced and realizes its hot. He tries to move the thermostat and breaks it so he calls down. The guy that comes to his room happens to be the guy from the elevator. As Sal fumbles for a tip the guy gets real close and makes a move. Sal doesn’t protest, (his pen even exploded) and it seems like he has been waiting all too long for this. Just as things get hot and heavy, a fire alarm goes off.

Don and Shelly scurry out of their room by way of the fire escape and while waiting for Shelly behind him, Don takes a peek in a window a few floors down. Turns out it is Sal’s room and he knocks to get Sal to get moving. Sal looks shocked and then, whammy, the bellhops appears to get his shirt. Don is surprised and keeps moving. Once they’re outside, Sal doesn’t his best to keep his distance and then avoid eye contact with a confused Don.

Back in Sterling Cooper the next day, Peggy greets Joan as they wait for the elevator. Peggy starting gossiping about Lola and Hooker and Joan doesn’t want to really hear it, she isn’t at work yet. Peggy is practically asking her to remove Lola from her desk and Joan is just glad she is leaving soon to become a housewife.

Pete comes in to work and Hilde immediately gives him a message that the Heads of Accounts are to meet in the conference room. Pete is confused by the plural and is steaming in the meeting. The accounts are divided between Ken and Pete and that’s that. Ken is basically happy to be alive while Pete doesn’t understand why he isn’t as mad as he is. Ken explains that they want them to hate each other so one can outshine the other and become the sole Head. Pete doesn’t want to just roll over and play nice. It is not his style.

Don is at London Fog, Sal is running late since he forgot his plane ticket back at the hotel. London Fog is looking to expand their business since, if everyone already has a rain coat, who is going to buy another? Don reassures them that it will always rain, they have nothing to worry about.

On the plane ride back, it is painfully silent between the two. Don turns to Sal and ask him to be honest about something. Sal summons up the courage to say okay, even if it is about the night before. Thankfully, Don pitches an advertising idea, that could possibly be a hidden tid bit of advice to Sal: limit your exposure. He agrees it is a good idea and relief is all over his face.

Hooker is chatting up some office bunnies when Joan fetches him to show him a surprise. She had Burt Peterson’s office turns into a visiting client office and thinks that since he is more than a secretary, he should be able to occupy it when no one else is. She even offered up his choice of a girl to cover his desk.

Trudy comes in to visit Pete and finds a very upset husband. He shoves away her advice but she is persistent, and right. When Pete goes to Don to discuss this, he finds Roger there as well so doesn’t go ahead with his angry speech but rather thanks them both for the opportunity. Roger tells him to grab a drink and then an exasperated Burt Cooper waltzes in. He came in to drop news of some new Penn Station campaign that could be of interest and even asks for a drink. Maybe life under British rule is a bit more stressful than they had originally thought.

Speaking of, Lane is in Hooker’s office having tea, discussing things British people discuss and Lane inquires as to why he has this office. He understands the use for it but doesn’t think he should be using it since they did just fire the man that used to work in it. Hooker is to use the desk outside this office. Like a secretary. I bet Joan laughed so much at this.

Don comes home that night and Betty has Sally apologize for breaking the lock on his suitcase before he left. She explains that she did it because she didn’t want him to leave again and not come back. He reassures him that he will always come back. Sally asks for Don to tell the story of the day she was born (after finding Shelly’s wings in his suitcase) and he begins but trails off. Betty finishes off the story as Don’s mind drifts off into his own mysterious land.

A few notes and quotes:

“She’s taken to your tools like a little lesbian.” Let the racist/sexist/derogatory quotes begin!
Burt Coop’s new painting? Quite famous actually. Theres nothing I can say about it that Wikipedia can’t.
“Shelly, it’s been swelly!” Roger isn’t the only one that can bring the laffs to Mad Men.
Peggy refers to Hooker as Moneypenny while waiting with Joan. Who is Moneypenny? James Bond’s British boss’s secretary that there was always some sexual tension with.
The ant farm isn’t terribly important but worth noting since it is mentioned later on.

Rewind: Mad Men Season 2 Episode 13: Meditations in an Emergency

Liz — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:29:42 +0000

[Just as a warning, this and all future rewinds, Mad Men or not, will contain spoilers throughout for not only this episode, but others as well.]

Lucky for this show the Cold War arose just in time for the season finale. It’s almost like…almost like it was planned. When facing times of peril one might want to rid their life of secrets to have peace of mind when nearing their death. Or something like that. That’s totally what’s going on. Father Gill says so.

Betty goes to the doctor and she’s pregnant. She doesn’t want this baby and is basically telling the doctor she wants an a-word. I can’t think of anything clever that fits in there so I’m just going to say abortion, abortion, abortion. The doctor tells her to tell her friends and family and her attitude might change. Weirdly enough, Francine tells her the same thing later on while she’s puffing a cigarette and probably drunk at the beauty parlor.

Even though doc says no horseback riding, Betty goes horseback riding. Because if Betty is anything, it’s a listener. She ends her ride by finding Don standing by her car. He apologizes and says Don-like things. He’s an idiot for doing it, but he had his reasons. None of which he explains. Betty has really felt no change in her life without him and decides she doesn’t want to deal with him. He wants to see the kids and they will work something out, but not right now.

Even though Don is back, he isn’t in the office. A few of the guys and Peggy are in Harry’s office wondering why Cooper is asking for projected profits and they’re minds start to wander. They decide to stick to talking of Don and how Coop’s urgent info and Don are somehow related. Paranoia!

When Ken hands Harry the projections, he sees that Clearasil is missing and there’s no mention of Clearasil being dropped. Peggy stops by Pete’s office to tell him that he has to tell the higher ups at some point and that the truth, although embarrassing for Pete, might be the best way to go about it.

Pete sheepishly goes to Duck to tell him the news. Duck is pouring a drink of what looks to be Tanqueray, Pete looks confused by this but goes on. He tells Duck and Duck could careless, Clearasil was a conflict account with PPL. He lets Pete in on the merger secret and the plans for PPL to make Duck president of Sterling Cooper. Pete is amazed at this, and shocked to hear Duck is making him head of accounts. Pete asks what Don will think of this and Duck shoots back at him, Don doesn’t matter. Pete gladly accepts and leaves before he can put his foot in his mouth.

The next day, Don walks back in to Sterling Cooper and all the girls are all “WHAT IS GOING ON HE’S BACK” but no one says anything but Hilde who suddenly has balls? Whatever, would’ve worked better with dumb Lois I think.Joan greets him and Peggy steps out of her office to see that he’s really there. Don is surprised at her overtaking of Freddy’s digs but happy for her too. Just like the perfect ladies’ man he is, he notices her haircut before walking into his office.

Joan briefs him on some of the things he has missed and Pete bursts into his office. He’s rich-white-people-yelling (it’s a total art to actually see irl) at Don about leaving him and Don quickly flips this conversation to his favor. He tells Pete he did it because he believed that Pete could handle it himself and since he did he’s proud; and thinks he has proven to be a tremendous asset to this company. Nice save Draper. Pete’s head must be so big right now.

Don goes to Roger’s office and is scolded for leaving like that but whatever, it’s Roger your buddy. Roger tells him about the merger and that he is now a half million dollars richer than before. He also tells Don of his engagement and all is well in the land of rich men.

Father Gill is giving a sermon on the importance of being truthful with yourself and others since salvation is near. You think he had this saved up somewhere, filed under “when the world seems like it’s going to end”? Everyone is freaking out over the Cuban Missile Crisis and understandably so. I can never read Peggy’s blank stares but I’m going to assume this sermon spoke to her.

No one is immune to group think so of course the boys panicked at the office when the TV went out. Harry gets mad at them for breaking something important to his job and finds another memo asking for a list of all department employees. Now that they’re getting everyone in line, they really want to find out what’s happening. They run to Lois asking her to divulge any information she knows from the switchboard. She squirms a little under the pressure and eventually breaks. She tells them of the merger and they all think they’re going to get fired. For the information she makes them promise to take her off the boards if they’re still here after. This will lead to many, many laughs in the future.

So Don and Bets did work something out and she drops the kids off at his hotel room. He asks if she wants to stay but she says she has plans. And what plans are those? Go shopping, get drunk and then have sex with a stranger at a bar, that’s what! And this goes on while Don has a nice night with the kids. He even wrote Betty a note!

After he dropped them off at home and Betty is done with her riding (is she trying to have a special child? Holy cow, lady.), Carla points it out to her Betty reads said note. Don apologizes again and understands if she doesn’t see him fit to be around anymore. But he loves her and that won’t ever change. What a guy.

That same night of Betty’s tryst, Peggy drops off some food at her church, you know, because when the Cubans bomb the shit out of New York, her church is where they will all run to for food. Father Gill tells Peggy that sometimes he feels like he was called to that parish to help Peggy get through her problems. He then gets all holier than thou (get it? Is it irony since he literally is holier than her?) that hell is not a nice place and that’s where he is going if she keeps these secrets hidden. Peggy gets upset and leaves, unable to believe in a god that would send her to hell for a few misguided mistakes in her life.

The following day, Trudy is packing up to go to her parents’ house somewhere between New York and DC. She is upset about Pete staying back to work and he could careless. He doesn’t think running out of the city would save his life anyway so why bother. They spat a little about her parents and he eventually concedes, he still loves her blah blah. A little robotic at this point, but when does Pete ever sound heartfelt?

When Pete arrives at the office he finds his buddies all aflutter about the meeting happening today. Pete doesn’t really care since he knows his job is safe and leaves them to chatter. He goes to Don’s office and tells him he knows of the merger and that Duck is going to become President of SC. Don did not know about this and thanks Pete for the news but why would he tell him? Pete just tells him that if he were in his shoes, he would want to know. Don’s “you can handle it” speech must have left a mark on Pete for him to offer up such valuable information to an almost sworn enemy.

Cut to the middle of their big meeting, we can naturally assume more important things have been discussed before we get there. Burt asks basically when they leave who will be the liaison between the offices and St. John tells him that naturally, since Duck brought this deal together, it would be him. Duck pretends to have not known and Don does the same thing everyone does in that situation: cocks their head a bit to the side and goes “huh”.

Duck begins talking business right away, what kind of company he wants Sterling Coop to turn into, one that is a big money maker. Coop seems surprised at his words and looks to Don for some reassurance. Don says that this company he wants to run sounds great, but he doesn’t want to be a part of an advertising agency that sells advertising, he sells products. Duck gets angry at Don, pent up frustrations me thinks, and tells him he has no choice since he’s under contract. No he’s not.

Don gets up and basically says it’s been nice working for you but bye bye. Duck loses his shit about how Don and his creative temperament always win arguments and he worked so hard for this deal! St. John excuses Duck from the room so the big boys can talk over what just happened. St.John explains to Coop and Roger, Duck could never hold his liquor.

When Don left the conference room and heads to his office, Joan stops him and says that Betty called, he should go home. When Joan grabs his things for him, he doesn’t take his overnight bag.

Slowly everyone is leaving the office at the end of the day, Peggy holding out because she doesn’t want to ride a crowded train. Pete sees her and invites her in his office for a drink and a little chit chat. She agrees.

Peggy tries to just be cordial but Pete just wants someone to talk to. He opens up about how he can’t be himself around anyone else because they both know each other so well. He tells Peggy he loves her and wishes that he chose her. Peggy lets Pete know that she could have had him, could have shamed him into being with her. She lets him know she had his baby and gave it up, since it wasn’t want she wanted at that time. Pete is blown into silence, only asking her, “Why did you tell me that?” Peggy sets down her drink, squeezes his shoulder and leaves.

We see Pete later, in a dark office holding his shotgun. Probably contemplating the kind of person he was then, what the gun represents in his life and why it has to stay at the office. To him, to Trudy, his marriage and Peggy.

The last scene we see of the season Betty tells Don she’s pregnant and they sit at the kitchen table, hand in hand. What do they do?

A few notes and quotes:

Let’s all take a moment now right to realize that these babies that are being born with all this smoking and boozing going on during pregnancy, these are our parents. Well, they’re mine. And I know my grandparents were boozy smokers too. This could actually be solving some unanswered questions…
“The world continues without us. there is no reason to take it personally.” I do believe that everything stands still once I leave a room. Donald Draper, you cannot change that.
Betty got drunk off of one gimlet?! You would think the amount people drank back then her tolerance would be sky high.

Rewind: Mad Men Season 2 Episode 12: The Mountain King

Liz — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 04:04:11 +0000

[Just as a warning, this and all future rewinds, Mad Men or not, will contain spoilers throughout for not only this episode, but others as well.]

A lot of changes are happening, most are turns you wouldn’t expect. Don is still not home and Peggy is finally taking some action in her life instead of waiting for the pieces to fall where they may. And Joan, well. You’ll see.

Betty is around the house doing housewife things and goes to reach for a cigarette while doing the bills. Her lighter is missing and huh? Do I smell smoke? She stumbles upon Sally in the bathroom about to light up and is furious! She throws Sally in the closet and threatens to tell her father. Sally knows that something is wrong and yells back at Betty to let her dad come back home. Betty softens up and let’s her out, and later on even buys her her very own riding gear. It seems like Betty has realized that Sally is not too young to understand things about life, and she reveals that her and Don are having issues. The gift was clearly to soften the blow, and it worked. Sally is amped to go riding and daddy is a thought a million miles away.

Maybe not a million, but a few thousand miles west, Don hops off a bus in San Pedro. He arrives at a house and is welcomes in as Dick. Oh hey lady, you look a little familiar. Remember when that woman came to Don’s car dealership and was all, “You’re not Don” and he was all, “Wut?” and we were all, “Oh shit”? They talked it out a bit and he revealed everything to her, who he was, how he got his name and why he took it.Clearly, by the welcoming he got into her house, she’s okay with this.

Over at Sterling Cooper, they’re discussing popsicles. Or I guess it’s, Popsicles. They all complain about how she’s working in a storage closet and brainstorm a bit about how much they love Popsicles and getting them was like a ritual from their mothers.

Elsewhere, Pete is getting briefed by Hilde about his messages and one is a reminder from Trudy. They have an appointment with an adoption agency and Hilde said she is thrilled that Pete and Trudy are compassionate enough to pick up a left over baby. Pete smiles and accepts this, but you can tell. This guy, fuming.

And also in the office (busy day!) Burt’s sister comes in for a lunch to discuss the merger. They talk of Roger and their old age, well Burt’s old age. Burt has his reservations about it for a number of reasons but his sister says he isn’t getting any younger and what’s the big deal at this point. How much longer will he be walking into this office anyway?

The workday ends and Pete storms home. He gets home and immediately yells at Trudy. How dare she make this appointment without consulting him first. He then throws the chicken off the balcony. Hope that wasn’t the nice china. Trudy gets angry that he can’t speak to his wife the way he is, and they both get all huffy and walk off and/or drink.

Joanie is at home in bed with her beau, Greg. They’re watching some TV and Joan wants to get frisky but Greg denies her. Apparently what she was offering was a little too much for him. He apologizes to her basically for not being as experienced as she is in bed and not knowing all the things she does. Weirdo.

Peggy stayed late in the office, stole some cigarettes out of a desk drawer. She’s becoming….one of them!

Don is sitting on Anna’s porch and their discussing his life. He doesn’t really explain why he’s there but he does open up about his life. He admits he doesn’t tell Betty anything but it really is for her own good. Later, Anna brings Don some clothes while he naps on the couch. We get a flashback to Anna and Don in the same house, at Christmas time. Don is absolutely beaming as he explains this wonderful girl he met, Betty. He’s going to marry her. But he needs a divorce too. She happily obliges, just grateful to help turn his life around and be he’s guardian angel. Don promises to always take care of her and will be thankful for a chance at a whole new life.

Back in real life, Pete gets a call from Trudy’s father at work. Seems like Clearasil needs to get some things in order with SC since you know, if you don’t have your personal life in order maybe your professional ideas aren’t so hot either. Pete resents the fact that his choices with his wife are public information and interfering with his work. His father-in-law backtracks, it’s only a review, Pete can fix this; but Pete has no drive to. His life, his wife, no one is telling him what to do. Bye Clearasil, Pete’s biggest account.

The Popsicle meeting is today and the client is looking for Don. Ken assures him that Don has signed off on all of these ideas (no he hasn’t) and he is in more than capable hands with Peggy. She does her presentation and they love it, landing the account.

Peggy is in her office while a repairman laments about her officemate, the Xerox machine. He tells her “if you want it to work, you have to treat it with respect”. Peggy goes out to find her respect in the form of an office without a communal machine in it. She goes to Roger and asks for Freddy’s old office and he happily agrees, thirty guys don’t have the balls she has to ask for what they want. Before leaving, Joan walks over with Greg, introducing him to the office. They exchange pleasantries but we all have places to be.

Joan goes to her desk to get her things and Greg goes into Don’s office asking for her to make him a drink. She is standoffish, but eventually agrees. He shuts the door and proposes some illicit activities and Joan shuts him down, this is her workplace. Well that’s not okay with him. And now he will be always and forever referred to as Dr. Rapist.

The next day at SC, it’s the meeting of the partners, sans Don. They all agree to merge with Putnam Powell Lowell and become infinitely richer. Burt’s sister tells Roger he can now take care of his children. When he corrects her to say he only has the one, she says she knows. Haha, burn!

As Peggy is moving into her new office she talks to Joan about Dr. Rapist and how wonderful he is. The boys show up, Kinsey is back. They’re all baffled, angry, dumbfounded at Peggy getting Freddy’s old office but there’s nothing they can do. They walk away and Joan and Peggy continue to discuss her upcoming nuptials. Peggy seems happy for her and for once, there’s no biting undertone between the two. One night can really change your attitude, huh?

Peggy is in her office, enjoying the view and a drink when Pete walks in. He congratulates her and asks how she got it. She jokes that she’s sleeping with Don and really, she’s probably the only one in that office that could get away with such a joke. She asks for the truth about what happened with Don in California and Pete tells her that he just disappeared, that he has a dark past so it isn’t surprising. Peggy has no interest in gossip like that though, and believe he always has his reasons, so she’s still on team Don.

Speaking of, Don is fiddling with things at Anna’s and find the book he sent her Mediations in an Emergency. Anna does a card reading for him and everything points towards a rebirth of sorts. He’s in a strange place right now, but don’t worry it’ll all fall into place. Don goes to the beach and to help himself along, takes a dip, a self-baptism or sorts, to begin his journey back to happiness.

A few notes and quotes:

I laughed at how angry Betty got at Sally for smoking. If she knows how bad it is, why does she do it? She’s probably going to be so upset later in life once she realizing that smoking speeds up the aging process. Sucker!
Peggy’s “I love popsicles” was almost as good as Betty’s “I like hot dogs” a few episodes back.
Don’s interest in the hot rods brought him back down to a human level. He has passions and interests like the rest of us! Doesn’t make him a good guy of course, but placing him a situation where he can actually show some interest in something besides a new client was new and a little odd to see from his character.
How awful is Betty? Calling Sara Beth and practically digging for her to admit the lunch let to much more. And then calling her out for doing exactly what she had planned for Sara Beth to do. Misery loves company but you can’t have that company when they’re mad at you too, Bets.
Don had to be gone for at least a week and the only time Burt showed any interest in his whereabouts was at the meeting of the partners. Way to be on top of your staff, Coop.

Breaking Bad: Full Measure

Roger — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 07:18:06 +0000

Breaking Bad’s writers have admitted to using Westerns and movies in general as their main inspirations for the series. Unfortunately, and I may be in the minority for this, tonight’s season finale “Full Measure” was too much like a cinematic feature in the sense that the third and final act paled in comparison to the previous two.

The opening scene is clearly a flashback, where Walt is sans glasses and has a decent amount of hair and Skylar is pregnant with Walt Jr. They’re looking at a house that will become their home for the next sixteen years. Skylar in particular is funny, young and cool. Walt scoffs at the place saying it’s a starter house and he’ll make more money for them in no time flat. The conversation with the Realtor implies he used to work at a laboratory that kept its motivations secret.

After the opening credits Walt is alone with his smashed up Aztek. He meets PI Mike in a clear area. Mike says he hasn’t slept in a few days cleaning up Walt’s mess. Gus then pops out of Mike’s car and lectures him that he shouldn’t have compromised the situation for a “worthless junkie.” Walt doesn’t back down, accusing Gus of giving the drug dealers the order to kill the 11-year-old. Gus does not deny it. Gus asks where Jesse is. Walt bluffs and tells him he must be a few time zones away. Mike says he can find him. Walt says it doesn’t matter, Jesse is gone, and that’s what Gus wanted anyway. Walt says Gus can either kill him right there and Jesse ends up dead, or Walt just keeps making them meth for him and they ignore Jesse’s existence. Gus seemingly chooses the latter, but tells Walt he’ll pick his new cooking partner. Walt it should be noted wore what some people in my apartment building would call a “Sinatra hat”, which seemingly put him in character as “Heisenberg: Fucking Drug Dealer Badass.” The next day Walt finds that Gus has rehired Gale as his cooking partner.

PI Mike drives his daughter or granddaughter to her mom. He insists on keeping a few of the balloons they acquired that day for himself. That night he uses the baloons to short out electrical wiring. Mike shoots two goons. The music seems to want us to know this is inspired by seventies movies trying to make Sergio Leone westerns. Mike kills two other dudes and asks an Asian man what is going on exactly. Mike asks if the female secretary can drive. He says yes. Mike shoots him in the hand and says she can drive him to the hospital. This is all ridiculously badass. Shooty McBadass tells the guy he should return his calls more often.

Back at the lab Walt is discouraged when one of Gus’ henchmen keeps monitoring Walt and Gale while they make the meth. Gale is basically a beaten puppy whimpering to Walt that he doesn’t want to be kicked out on the curb again and he’ll do absolutely anything to make sure he isn’t shitcanned ever again. The next scene is Gale at home alone singing along to a CD. He’s kind of cultured but lame. He’s visited by Gus. Gus asks him if he could ever handle things on his own. Gus flat out tells Gale Walt is dying of cancer but doesn’t know how long it will be before he drops dead. Gale says he’d need a few more sessions with Walt to be confident that he can handle things on his own if Waltie suddenly perished. Since he’s looking right at the frightening Gus, he then decides he only needs one more cook. Ohhhhhh fucktards.

Mike approaches Saul Goodman as to Jesse’s whereabouts. Saul gives Mike the typical Saul crap, and Mike in turn threatens his life. Saul gives up the info that Jesse is in Virginia.

Saul drives Walt to the lazer tag locatiion he wanted Walt and Skylar to money launder into in the first place. As they enter we see the henchman Victor who hung out in the lab earlier is in the parking lot. Once inside the place Saul yells at Walt that his car is bugged and he’s being threatened. Jesse appears and Saul leaves the two of them alone. It turns out Walt is no dummy and he knows Gale is supposed to replace him shortly. Jesse asks what they have to do. Walt says he knows. Jesse says they should go to the cops and he can’t believe he’s saying that either. “We had a good run.” Walt wont hear it, he says if he’s the only chemist available he will always stay alive. Jesse tells “Mr. White” that he can’t do it. Walt says he’ll do it. He wants Jesse to distract Victor for an hour while he can get Gale alone to fucking KILL HIM. Walt tasted blood and now he needs a weekly fix apparently. Walt tries to guilt Jesse, saying he saved HIS life, so Jesse should save his own.

AMC tells us there will be a sneak preview Tuesday of Rubicon. It has the guy from The Pacific in it and everyone looks very serious. So it should be good?

Walt is spending quality time with lil’ baby Holly. Jesse calls him and says he found Gale’s home address. Walt admits he’ll go through with it tonight once it gets dark. Jesse again pleads to “Mr. White” not to do it and to go to the police. As Walt is about to get into his car Victor pulls up and tells Walt there was a chemical leak at the lab and to go in the car with him. Uh oh. Mike is there and tells him to kindly go downstairs. Walt pleads for his life. Mike says no. Walt tries to fink out Jesse. Walt calls Jesse to get him to meet him.

Jesse is somewhere sitting against a wall repeatedly on the verge to lighting up meth. Walt tells him he’s at gunpoint and to kill Gale himself. Oh and dip. Jesse runs off with a gun to presumably do it. Walt says to Mike to hold off killing him because Gale’s gonna die and he’ll be fresh out of chefs. Mike motions to Victor to run off to Gale’s.

Jesse shows up and tearfully points his gun at Gale. Gale pleads he doesn’t have to do this. Jesse pulls the trigger.

Season over.

Now, I’ve written before that unless someone is shot in the head, you can never assume that person is dead. Considering we didn’t even SEE Gale when the gun went off, there’s plenty of wiggle room here. And even if Gale dies, Gus can easily hire somebody else from out of town. This ending would have been sufficient if it was any other episode, but certainly not for a season finale where we won’t see a new episode for nine months.

P.S.

No Hank at all in the finale. I guess he was challenging Marie to a handjob rematch?

“Are you asking me if I ordered the murder of a child?” “I would never ask you that.”

According to Vince Gilligan the executive producer

Alan Sepinwall pointed out the irony that the realtor in the flashback assumed Walt was doing something with lasers at his old job and nowadays lasers are a part of his life in a completely unexpected way.

Rewind: Mad Men Season 2 Episode 11: The Jet Set

Liz — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:29:14 +0000

[Just as a warning, this and all future rewinds, Mad Men or not, will contain spoilers throughout for not only this episode, but others as well.]

Just in case you’ve forgotten, Don and Pete are in Cali and no one else matters for this episode. We didn’t get a lot of Don in the last episode so clearly it’s mostly about him. With a little home office storyline thrown in to keep everyone happy.

Jane is lying in bed reciting poetry she wrote about her man, Roger. He comes in and they talk of their relationship, how she thinks one day he’ll out grow her and he thinks he’s a bit too old for her. These fears are unwarranted though, they love each other and Roger wants to get married. Of course, Jane says yes.

The boys and Peggy are in the conference room discussing Right Guard and without Don there to keep them on task they talk about anything but. Not even Peggy is really down for working, much to Ken’s chagrin. They all agree they should go out for lunch and pretend it’s on Right Guard’s tab. They all rush out to avoid the eyes of any superiors, but before Kurt and Peggy leave they continue to talk of Bob Dylan. He says he’ll take her to a concert and she willingly accepts.

When a new clients drops off doughnuts at the office the following morning, the boys congregate in the break room to devour them. Kurt confirms the date with Peggy and the boys immediately start teasing them. Kurt doesn’t seem to understand, everyone thinks its a language barrier but no, Kurt is gay. The boys are floored and throw out a few unnecessary but 60’s acceptable remarks once Kurt leaves that seem to offend maybe someone else in the room. Sal, I’m looking right at you.

Elsewhere in the office, Roger is meeting with a divorce lawyer. Women are exceptionally irrational when angry (sigh) so Roger should probably take another route, says this guy. Roger is finally happy with his life and he wants Jane to officially be a part of it, so prepare for battle. As he is leaving, Duck shows up to meet with Roger and funny, he knows the lawyer. Duck came in to discuss the possibility of moving around in the company, partnership more specifically. Roger thinks he hasn’t done enough and it’ll be a hard sell so make yourself worthy. Duck leaves grateful for his frankness on the matter and is taking the advice.

Over on the west coast, Don and Pete are poolside but only for a moment. TWA has lost Don’s luggage and he’s not happy. Pete wants to relax the day before the seminars and things but Don is all about working. He has Pete go and do something while he walks through the hotel bar. He is approached by a man named Willie and he says that a young lady has been speaking about him incessantly since he arrived. He calls her over, Joy, and introduces her. They ask him to dinner but he politely refuses as Pete shows up, being Pete, and scares them away.

Pete and Don are at a presentation of a new type of bomb that can pinpoint 14 separate locations and total annihilation of whatever they want. Kind of like that bomb that destroyed Dick Whitman and turned Don into Don.

They come back to the hotel and in preparation for their next meeting, Don has Pete put their books at the front desk. While away, Don sees Joy and they share a moment, she invites him to Palm Springs. He says he can’t but at the last possible moment gets in her car and off they go.

They show up at a random house, a loaner from a friend and Don is introduced to this motley crew of drifters. Joy suggests a swim but the heat gets the best of him and he passes out. Luckily for Don, a man there is a doctor. He refuses any meds but just some aspirin and rest will do. When he emerges for dinner they are all happy to see him and he immediately fits in with his charm and intelligence. Him and Joy go to their room and even though there is a large age difference, 36 to her 21, she doesn’t care.

Don walks up to find Joy reading and they talk a bit about how much Don must love sex. Willie walks in and remarks on how beautiful Don is and he finds out he’s Joy’s father. This is so awkward.

Later in the evening, they’re in the pool discussing what’s next. They’re all leaving to go to the Caribbean and Joy wants Don to come. He’s standoffish and she tells him to not worry about the money, Willie likes him. Before Don can really make up an excuse as to why he isn’t going, a man walks in with two tired children. He talks of divorce and the strain it’s having on the kids. Don offers them his room and they walk away and Don thinks of his own children he is probably going to have to fight over as well.

Back in New York, Duck is meeting with some fellow we will get to know better later, St. John Powell, his former boss. He offers Duck a drink and he declines without making it obvious he’s a teetotaler. He basically asks for his job back, and Powell tells him there is just no room for him. Powell points out he moved back here for his family and he’s doing well, they toast to this and thus Duck is forced to drink his martini down. With that liquid courage inside of him, Duck discusses with him the possibility of buying up Sterling Cooper to open up their American market. Duck points out that Roger is about to lose a boatload of money to his wife so he would be willing to sell the namesake for the cash to live his life. What an evil man.

That same night is Kurt and Peggy’s…well it’s not a date anymore, is it?Peggy invites him in and almost instantly he becomes her gay best friend. He says frankly that her look is old fashioned, she needs to update herself to get better men. He offers to cut her hair and she agrees to a trim. And then he cuts off her whole ponytail.

The next day at the office, Pete comes back to no one really caring about him, since Kinsey is down south while there is a lot of trouble brewing. He notices Peggy’s haircut and learns “Kurt’s a homo”. Way to be frank, Cosgrove.

Duck receives a whole box of Tanqueray from an unnamed source, but we all know it’s from Powell for the tip off. He gives a whole bottle to Joan, almost making you believe he doesn’t even want it. But when he’s walking to Cooper’s office, he had to pop a few lifesavers to maybe cover up the lie that is his life. Duck proposes the offer to Coop and Roger as if he wasn’t the one to initiate it and they go for it. They are now just waiting for Putnam Powell and Lowe to make their offer.

We see Don waking on the couch and he immediately makes a phone call. He wants to meet someone, most likely in the area. The head scratching part? He refers to himself as Dick Whitman.

Also Don’s luggage gets returned to his house and just as he would be, it’s left outside.

A few notes and quotes:

Loretta Young was mentioned by Sal and of course he would love this broad. The upholstery wasn’t the only thing bad about this show though, The New Loretta Young Show was cancelled after only one season.
Don has never had Mexican food! No wonder people back then only ate casseroles and meatloaf, there was zero cultural influences on food back then. No wonder my grandparents eat the weirdest, most plain foods on Earth.
The way Kurt talks to Peggy in her apartment, only a gay man can get away with being so insulting and then turning it around into something wonderful and beneficial to her life.