Mad Men S4

[feather]

Anyone following? Glad to have it back but whassup with the slapping

[Highsteppa]

Re: Mad Men S4

My thoughts: (posted from another conversation on another message board)

I found there to be a lot of information being tossed at us for the season premiere, but they're being just as subtle as they're used to being.

Yes, Sterling, Cooper, Draper and Pryce are in glitzy office space surroundings, as it was cued by the Ocean 11ish fanfare as Don was walking through the office, but as they all were saying in the meeting, they're still struggling to get off the ground - hinted at this was the lack of a boardroom table (as Cooper says - Pryce felt it "invited conversation"), the constant lying to clients by saying that they have a second floor (which Harry wishes that he could throw himself off of after getting back from L.A. and finding out the deal he closed with ABC was fucked after jai alai was ready to leave) and the meeting with the prudish bikini company after Don's interview with advertising trade mag at the beginning. They're in a lot of trouble, as Pryce had indicated that 71% of their business now is supported by Lucky Strike. I'm not business major, but that's fucking insane, and their image of success is hiding a business that's close to the brink of folding.

The thrust of the episode is mostly about the first line of the season premiere - "Who is Don Draper?" Apparently, even Don doesn't really know - he's still under the dark cloud that followed him around in season 3 for most of the episode.

This is shown by how he was not in as much as control with the date that Roger had set him up on, and how she very gracefully and with some very savvy talking from her. Contrast this with how smooth he was with the airline stewardess from season 3 - Don's not on his game, and he's adjusting to the changes around him that he's not entirely comfortable with - his getting chewed out by Cooper for not living up to being a figurehead, which is what he essentially is which was the purpose of him being interviewed in the first place. The fact that he's paying for sex just shows how far Don has fallen; he's no longer the invincible guy that could lurk in the shadows - he's now in the limelight with his name on the door of the office and him being a name of notoriety in the business he's in.

The turning points of the episode came up at tow points; the first was the prostitute telling him: "Don't tell me what to do, I know what you want." It seemed like a catalyst for him losing it on the bikini client for wanting things both ways: to sell an item that shows a fair amount of skin for that time, but without any of the titillation that goes along with it if they're to remain competitive. It was this outburst that I think was a release from all the shit he's been putting up with over the last little while - Betty having the house and the man banging his ex-wife living under the roof he paid for (more on that later) and a guy that is forced into growing into a role that he's not sure he'll be as good as he was an adman. He was drifting for the last little while is what the episode was implying.

The second part was with Peggy telling him that everyone at the company is simply looking for his approval. I think that it was at that moment that he realized how important his role was with the new company - he's no longer an adman presenting to clients, he's much more of a face that gives confidence to the clients that he's attracting and needs to give Peggy and Pete their chance to do what he was doing before. Which, both did show that they have grown - Peggy with her contemplating how to market the slogan and the image for the ham company with the Pilgrim and the Indian being in a tug of war over the ham - she was very confident with coming to this conclusion, a lot more sure of herself with it being a suitable ad positioning. But they also showed that they still need to learn more as how Don chided her outside his door when she showed up asking for bail and payoff money for the publicity stunt aftermath. It reminded me a lot of how he was ripping into Peggy in season 3 when she asked for a raised and he accused her of having her hand in his pocket all the time - the message is fair, the delivery was excessive and downright mean. It's the Don that we're familiar with - a guy that can be a total bastard but someone we can sympathize with.

Betty & Henry - I think the only reason why Don's allowing them to live there is probably because Betty schooled him after she confronted him about the contents of the shoebox and his real identity. He's never really stood up to her since, with the exception of calling her a whore when she told him that she was leaving him for Henry, which was followed pretty promptly by an apology and a submissiveness. His standing up to her and suggesting that he start charging rent, was as I see it a lead up to him throwing out the bikini company reps - he's fed up with being beaten down and he's going to take control again. I think this is what caused him to nail the interview with The Wall Street Journal at the end of the episode. He's mad as fuck and he's going to take control again of things around him.

Betty seems pretty happy sexually with what she's got with Henry, but I think she's going to have some very bumpy roads ahead with Henry's mother and the rest of the family. Her carrying the stigma of being a divorcée back in that time is starting to show. Henry's mom was right on the money with her saying that Sally is terrified of her (and from what it looks like, wants to live with her dad desperately), but kind of dismissive with calling her "silly". Henry, though seems absolutely whipped by his mother - which I think will maybe provide some disappointment down the line for Betty. I think this was also hinted at by Henry's siding with Don when they were confronted by Don after their late night out.

The thing that struck me a lot too was how Don didn't seem to give a shit about Betty being remarried - either he's come to terms with it (though I'm not sure about that as he seems pretty conflicted about her with how he was somewhat sympathetic when the lawyer informed him that it was past due that her and Henry should have moved out - almost like he didn't really want to think about it), or he's passive aggressively dealing with it with his rent suggestion.

Fucking awesome episode. It's subtle as all fuck as usual, but I'm hoping we're going to see Don behave this season like the superstar he was in season one and two that we were all in awe of.

[feather]

Re: Mad Men S4

Yes but whassup with getting the prostitute to slap him? Some kinda self-inflicted punishment for losing his family/children?

I thought a lot happened in that one episode, from Don refusing to cooperate on the first interview and being indignant about it, to him capitulating in the end. And it's nice to see the growth of Peggy's character though for me it felt like a sudden shift between S3 and S4, assuming not a lot of time has passed since the new company is still fumbling.

I am however surprised that Don is having trouble with his new role as the face of the agency (or that you think so) because he's always been the star, he wasn't just another lowly creative suddenly thrust into the spotlight. If it was Peggy in his shoes, yeah I can imagine her freaking out.

[Highsteppa]

Re: Mad Men S4

I think the light S&M is kind of reflecting the self loathing he's got for himself - he's unable to bag the girl that Roger set up for him on the date, he's paying for sex, his wife is banging another man and living under the roof that he's paying for, his time is now spent at home working and watching tv all the time and he's maybe a bit uncomfortable with the new role as a figurehead with Sterling, Cooper, Draper and Pryce (and probably dealing with Cooper's bluntly put "You failed" after the fallout of the first interview). He's a shadow of the magnificent bastard he was before season 3's events of comeuppance humbled him.

It's been about a year since the end of season three - they pulled up stakes around Christmas, and it's Thanksgiving about midway through the episode. They're trying to put up a facade that they're better and leaner than the competition, but like it was said, they're struggling with the resources and are looking to Don as the main means of attracting the new clients - he did after all get the attention of Conrad Hilton in season 3 - not a small feat for that time.

Remember that Don is no longer operating in the way that made him very successful - he had to sign a contract in season 3 where he felt he had the maximum power and advantage without having one and now his name is on the doors of the office. Remember too that in season 1 he practically wanted to flee the country, abandon Betty and the kids and run away with the client Rachel Menken. He's not exactly the commitment type, nor the kind of guy who likes responsibility given what we've seen from him. I think though by the end of the episode he's either starting to accept his new role and willing to relinquish the old role to the new blood (like Pete and Peggy), and hopefully moving on to become the Don that we saw in the first two seasons.

[feather]

Re: Mad Men S4

I didn't realise it's bee almost a year between S3 and S4, kinda sucks that they still haven't won new clients in that time.

True that from S1 to S3 it's been a downward spiral for Don even though he has been putting on a strong front on the facade

[feather]

Re: Mad Men S4

Awesome episode.

[res0nat0r]

Re: Mad Men S4

im still behind on this. only halfway thru season 3...

[feather]

Re: Mad Men S4

Oh you have something to look forward to with S3's season finale.

[feather]

Re: Mad Men S4

Another good episode. Very fascinating to see Draper writing a journal and hearing his inside voice, things seem to be looking up for him. Betty is a psycho juvenile and Henry was hilarious, what he did in the garage. Most interesting are the signs of women changing and Joan and Peggy's exchange in the lift. And Draper didn't bring the chick home Feels like a very optimistic change with summer.

[chunky]

Re: Mad Men S4

Funny how all the main female charators (Peggy Betty and Joan) all now have illigitimate children. There's a good job opening at ABC for a scriptwriter who can come up with a script that doesn't involve one of the characters getting knocked up after a on night stand.