AMC, the mother ship itself, has a nice entry in the Mad Men Fashion File about last week’s episode. And in honor of Trudy’s completely off screen delivery (guess she’s busy over at NBC with Community, which I hear is pretty good, but I miss Trudy!!) here’s actress Alison Brie’s essay for Nerve about the time she tried to get her gay (man) friend to sleep with her. For therapeutic purposes. Hmmm. Uh, Alison Brie? I could use some therapy too.
- AMC
Last night’s episode, “Chinese Wall”, was full of plot, but before we get to all that I’d like to jump to the end and say…
Welcome back, Don Draper.
We haven’t really seen him all season, but there he was. Faye in his arms, having just violated her ethics for him. Him staring into space, having just nailed his secretary. Just one drink over the limit for the day…this is the Don we learned to love. He’s despicable, but he’s the crux of the show, and I’m glad he’s back.
And how about Megan THROWING herself at him. Just like the old days. Don’t we suck compared to the people on TV? I mean, when’s the last time a knockout like that demanded you sleep with her, right then, no strings attached? I’m guessing never. Losers.
Continuing my “fuck Roger” bit from last week, Fuck Roger! I totally hate him. He is the worst liar on the show by far and I’m surprised an old pro like Don fell for it. It’s fitting that he’s punished. Joan rejecting him, Cooper basically telling him his life’s a joke, and finally by his wife, his opulent home, and his book (the sketch was awesome). A mockery of everything he thought he wanted. Ha.
Apropos our conversation about the work environment at SCDP a few weeks ago, I still think some of the banter seems just like my work, but Stan of course takes it too far and makes it demonstrably creepy. Is he really into Peggy? That move might work on drunk sorority girls, Stan, but not on Peggy Olson. By the way, did she think the lipstick prank was cute? Or was her smile just an, “ok, ya got me?”
The big question now is, who will save the agency? Will it be saved? My friend had a scenario in mind where Don gets Sal to help blackmail Lee Garner Jr. into staying with the agency, but the account is already gone. Will they all scatter? Will Ken come to the rescue? Pete? Don? Faye?
Random Observations:
– Don standing up for Pete to Roger. Did Pete get a little boner right there? I also got a rerun of my favorite Pete line ever, “Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?”
– The muted reaction to Trudy’s delivery was hilarious. Name suggestions?
– A good episode but some of the writing was heavy handed. Don’s “close the door” to Peggy. Roger’s exit from Joan’s apartment. The speeches at the funeral were kind of insulting (though I loved the juxtaposition with their hunting for new business).
– Last week I said Joan totally kept the baby. Then I rewatched the episode and decided she probably didn’t, and this week she’s avoiding cigarettes and I don’t know what to think. Help me out?
I also subscribe to the theory that Don could use Sal to blackmail Lee Garner Jr. back into the fold. Or maybe now’s the perfect time for Conrad “Connie” Hilton to step back into the picture?
Last night’s episode reminded us of how good television can be. By bringing back Danny Strong’s character, they reminded us just how awesome Buffy the Vampire Slayer was. So much better than the turgid soap opera that is Mad Men.
I think the speeches at the funeral were insulting by design. They were reinforcing what we have been seeing focused through Roger all season long: that he has absolutely nothing going on in his life besides work. (Well, in Roger’s case, there’s also a racist hangover from WW2).
All the dead guy’s “friends” can say by way of eulogy is how he did this or that in the course of business, all while the grieving wife and daughter sat by looking embarrassed, appalled, and horrified that maybe the dead ad man was never a mystery to them after all — he was exactly the empty husk they knew and nothing more, surrounded by other dead-eyed functionaries whose conscious lives start and stop at the office door.
Does Roger even take off his suit? And those memoirs he wrote underscore the same thing — they’re so ridiculous we’re meant to laugh … nervously.
We saw the same dynamic with Pete basically trying to pretend to give a shit that his wife was spending hour after hour giving birth, when all he really wanted to do was rescue SCDP. Even his douche father in law knew better.
Peggy and Megan maybe has it figured out for the moment — fucking is more important. Let the world fall. Don is fine with receiving that lesson from Megan. To his credit, maybe, Roger tried for the same, but Joan shot him down. I’m surprised she hasn’t already just forced a pillow into his face until he shuts up and leaves her alone. Regardless, now that Lucky Strike is gone, there’s a pillow with Roger’s name on it.
It was interesting how everyone piled on to Roger using almost exactly the same words Roger had thrown at Pete for losing the North American Aviation account — and yet no one stepped in and said, for Roger’s sake, “this is the business we’re in, accounts go in, accounts go out, blah blah.” I’m not saying Roger isn’t a complete shit, I’m only noting the irony.
Another irony: Roger’s account of why Lucky Strike left was *true.* (Pete’s story about NAA was not.) Roger’s waiting around to mention this rather large development was a completely weasel move, but he didn’t lie about the reasons why when it came down to it. He could have come up with a more ass-covering story, or found someone to blame. He didn’t.
Gawd I hope they don’t scatter the characters. It already feels a little contrived when they try to pull Betty, Henry, Sally, etc., into the stories.
Working in more Ray Wise would be a master-stroke.
And Alex Mack? They’ve some unique cameos, to say the least.
Just ordered my advance copy of Sterling’s Gold!!
Maybe he’ll tap dance at their wedding.
Seriously, though, does Jane have the tackiest sense of interior design, or what? There were like 4 or 5 different eras of furniture in their living room alone! You’d think Roger could keep the nouveau riche waste of Daddy’s money in check. As we all know, that man is nothing but class:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_7Zzb-t9Lc
Also Joan is “exhausted” and that is why she is wearing ADORABLE PAJAMAS and not sexy lingerie. Is she exhausted because she’s pregnant? IS SHE?
Do you think she and Bert buy their jammies from the same supplier?
boooorrrriiinngg