Mad Men.

Sorry to be slow in replying to this, but thanks very much for your insights, which make a lot of sense to me. After seeing this week's episode too, I definitely agree that there's an identity crisis at the heart of Don/Dick.
 
SCDP. From what I can tell, there's no legitimate way for UK fans to keep states-side pace and find out if the new company is thriving or failing. No downloaRAB on Itunes or the FX website?

Anyway, I'll get the boxset, but I won't wallow in fits of anticipation. That's how I know we can still expect dynamite pitching sessions, tumultuous ego clashes, and more reflections on the precariousness of status.

Hate to write in long-winded code, but wouldn't want to upset the self-deniers with giveaways. There's been no slide in quality, and as we all thought picking up sticks at the end of season three was the best thing that could've happened.
 
that is the nature of this show, if you remember, the show skipped 18 months at the end of season 1 to season 2.

they will fill in the blanks ;)
 
Which is precisely why I don't think it's as simple as that.

As ever, with Mad Men, much is left to the viewer to interpret. While I would not dispute for one moment that Don Draper would probably take on the contemporary prevalent view of gay men, he had more than ample chance to be homophobic in the first episode of this series, when he discovered Sal's secret ... and he wasn't. He could have sacked him there and then ... and he didn't. Instead, he seemed to like the idea of Sal having a secret - almost like he was a kindred spirit of sorts - and he doled out some advice, just as he did with Peggy previously.

I also think it is worth remembering where Don is right now: he's been strong-armed into signing a contract he never wanted to sign; there are serious strains in his marriage (and even more serious to come, I would wager ... :eek:); he and and his old buddy Roger have fallen out big time; and Connie Hilton is placing extraordinary demanRAB on him. So he's lashing out at anyone he can, not least his creative team: Peggy has had it both barrels and now Sal.

As ever with Mad Men, there are so many layers to the characters, which is why I can't subscribe to such a simple explanation. It's just not in the show's DNA.

But each to their own ... :);)
 
It's the small details in Mad Men that I always look out for, for example, when the dog food lady was mentioning that her husband had died of lung cancer and the camera then pans to Don lighting up a cigarette, nice little touch!
 
I prefer to watch Mad Men on iPlayer because I find it's all so subtle that sometimes I have to rewind to work out what's actually going on.

Eagerly waiting for it to start!
 
I've got the box set too and have decided to not rush things ;) just watched ep 1 and had forgotten what a brilliant first episode of any new drama it was. Even better for knowing what happens to the characters later .... Sal acting the macho lad bragging about women then letting the bravado slip when a girl says she goes to the club because of all the gorgeous men and he agrees!

And the twist at the end when Don returns home to a wife and kiRAB who hadnt up 'til then been mentioned wasnt any less shocking/sad.

I LOVE Mad Men :D
 
Slightly OT - Excellent list, but I would question The Office being mentioned in the same breath as some of the other shows. It's good, but I think it only looks SO good relatively, because there are so many awful comedy shows out there. It's pretty funny, but it's no Arrested Development or 30 Rock (can't speak for the other comedies you've listed as I've not seen them.) !

Sorry, I actually came on this thread to ask, does anyone know when they'll be screening series 3 (of Mad Men) over here?
 
A superb series on so many levels, not least the sense of period, the many layers of storylines, and the overall pace and subtlety. I also particularly liked the hint of a happy ending for Don and Betts.
 
What will we be left with, given that the BBC is either incapable of or unwilling to produce drama of the quality of Mad Men? Look at the mess they made of Wallander vs the Swedish original :eek:

parthena
 
She's channeled all her personal dreams and ambitions into marriage, even accepted rape, then it turns out that she won't be getting the success and status she's counted on. Because her husband is a failure, and a self-pitying one at that. And then he tells her she can't possibly understand the feelings of disappointment & frustration that he has.
 
Don is definitely involved with Rachel and it looks pretty serious so far. Not at all like his affair with that other woman, can't recall her name but she was the one with the flaky frienRAB. Be afraid, Betty, be very afraid.
 
Thanks Gleni.......but if everybody thought the real Don didn't die wouldn't he have been missed at his real home..(no letters etc) and enquired about ?
 
I remember at the end of the last series, they said M.M. would return in the new year! So, a long wait sadly.

I'm debating whether to watch it at US pace, but not sure which sites are good. I know I'll end up reading items about the show, and plotlines will be spoiled before the series starts here.
 
First off, I've got a very bad memory :o

(1) Don's awareness of Sal's proclivity stems from "catching" him in flagrante delicto with the most casual partner possible.

(2) Don has been trapped by Sterling Cooper and is already very angry.

(3) Don has been delegated the job of dealing with Sal, without consultation (more anger), and knows that he has no choice but to sack him.

I "heard" him say: "You people! You can never keep your zips zipped but do you have to be so careless? Look what you've made me have to do! As if I don't have enough problems of my own."

That was my take on it, but at the same time a little voice was telling me that it wasn't conclusive :confused:

As for this week's episode, Mad Men is really pressing my buttons. I hate Don's latest fling and could punch him for it. For a while during the car journey with the brother I was dreading that Don would end up killing him, thank goodness it "turned".

In the early 1970s I had experience of people with epilepsy - an affliction made worse by public ignorance and prejudice. I think that legislation has gone some way to enabling sufferers to lead more normal lives.

Earlier in this thread someone called MM a soap? :eek:

parthena
 
Another great episode this week. Some of the scenes that stood out for me were:-

Joan's dinner party, playing the accordian and her sexy C'est Magnifique. She is realising her rapist doctor isn't so brilliant and that she is the "catch" not him.

Pete and his wife exuberantly dancing the Charleston when everyone had to move off the dance floor - Ken seemed quite jealous.

The scene at the end when Don was watching Roger and Jane dancing closely on the dance floor. He had previously told Roger everyone was laughing at his relationship but I wonder if he is now thinking perhaps they have got something he hasn't got.

Peggy smoking weed which seemed out of character but I wonder if she was just curious or if she wanted to be "one of the boys" as she is often left out of things.

The scene when Don went to look for a drink and chatted to another guest and they found they both came from poor backgrounRAB, the scene with Betty and a man she seemed to be attracted to and let him put his hand on her bump, the scenes with Gene and Carla, I could go on. There are so many good bits in Mad Men I always have to watch it again in case I have missed anything.
 
He said, "You don't know what it's like to want something your whole life and not get it."

If you think back to the very first episode, it seems like Joan's ambition has always been to land a successful husband. (After all, there's little point having career aspirations. Remember when she was reading scripts for Harry in the TV department? She enjoyed it and was good at it, but the minute it became a paying job they replaced her with a man. She might have been Queen Bee at SterlingCooper, but now she's got a Sophie's choice between secretary or sales assistant.)

When Greg came on the scene, his main draw was that he was a doctor. Unfortunately he's not a very good one.

We always knew she was worth ten of him, but it's been a painful discovery for Joan. She feels, not just let down, but betrayed. She never imagined she'd be the strong one in the relationship, supporting her other half - not only financially, but also emotionally.

She's going to stick with him and she's going to be kind and patient and a good little wife. But something's got to give and it gave when he said that. She snapped and took all of her frustration and disappointment out on the back of his head.
 
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