Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

[Leon]

Re: Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

"Let's pretend like I'm not responsible for every good thing that's ever happened to you."

Dear ma'am...you just got DRAPERED! But that was an outstanding scene between Don and Peggy.

As cool as I find Don, I don't think I've ever aligned with his character on a moral level. That's why I was pretty surprised when I did when it came to Don preferring to lose Jaguar over Joan. Also, two straight, good Don/Joan interaction episodes.

And Pete needed to be punched this episode.

[TDAWG89]

Re: Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

my favorite line was when Don said "Just keep doing whatever the hell you want!" idk why but that made me lol pretty hard

also what's the deal with Betty? is she being written out or something? I miss seeing January Jones

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

That scene with Don and Peggy was great. I was just hoping for Don to finally come out of his shell with her, but their dynamic is so different that I guess he either feels like he can't or he truly believes he's the sun of her universe.

To me, this was an episode that is deceptively "okay" but underneath there are two majors things going on - at least that I thought about:

1) What women are willing to do to advance their professional careers.
2) Exactly how powerless Don has become now.

Pete is getting back to season 1 "under my skin" douchery, hell probably even eclipsing everything he's done in the past with his pitch to Joan. Pete is scary with power. I did love his one-liner to Trudy about using all his energy to put his foot down, haha.

[DrJones]

Re: Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

As cool as I find Don, I don't think I've ever aligned with his character on a moral level. That's why I was pretty surprised when I did when it came to Don preferring to lose Jaguar over Joan. Also, two straight, good Don/Joan interaction episodes.

Remember, Dick Whitman's mother was a prostitute, so it's not hard to imagine this being a sore spot with Don.

[DrJones]

Re: Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

To me, this was an episode that is deceptively "okay" but underneath there are two majors things going on - at least that I thought about:

1) What women are willing to do to advance their professional careers.
2) Exactly how powerless Don has become now.

I think it was about what these particular women felt they had to do to advance their careers (and in Joan's case, secure her and her child's financial security).

Peggy had been taken for granted by Don for years. Being humiliated by Don in front of Ken & Harry was the last straw. IRL, if your boss is unfairly singling you out in front of your co-workers, you seek other employment if it's available.

As far as Joan goes, how devastating for her to think that the people she worked with (including the father of her child!) had so little respect for her that they'd be willing to auction her off for a car contract. It had to be a crushing blow to her self-esteem, even more than the deed itself. If Roger had stood up for her (or if she'd known that Don had), I don't think Joan would've gone through with it.

[jt45]

Re: Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

I think it was about what these particular women felt they had to do to advance their careers (and in Joan's case, secure her and her child's financial security).

Peggy had been taken for granted by Don for years. Being humiliated by Don in front of Ken & Harry was the last straw. IRL, if your boss is unfairly singling you out in front of your co-workers, you seek other employment if it's available.

As far as Joan goes, how devastating for her to think that the people she worked with (including the father of her child!) had so little respect for her that they'd be willing to auction her off for a car contract. It had to be a crushing blow to her self-esteem, even more than the deed itself. If Roger had stood up for her (or if she'd known that Don had), I don't think Joan would've gone through with it.

I think she saw it as an opportunity to no longer be dependent on any men. She now has financial stability for both herself and her son through the partnership stake.

[JayBee74]

Re: Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

As far as Joan goes, how devastating for her to think that the people she worked with (including the father of her child!) had so little respect for her that they'd be willing to auction her off for a car contract.

Not too devastating-she did it.

[Guffers]

Re: Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

This show just keeps impressing. The writing and acting is superb and I'm going to be sad when the season is over. The scene between Don and Peggy was brilliantly acted. I might have to splurge and buy seasons 1 to 4 on blu ray, no doubt they look amazing.

[Steel5]

Re: Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

Fantastic episode.

The Joan stuff was very hard to watch, it was crushing. :/

[Leon]

Re: Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

This show just keeps impressing. The writing and acting is superb and I'm going to be sad when the season is over. The scene between Don and Peggy was brilliantly acted. I might have to splurge and buy seasons 1 to 4 on blu ray, no doubt they look amazing.

I got all the Mad Men blu-rays the past two Black Fridays for $10 each. They're worth it and PQ and AQ is outstanding! Go for it when the price suits you.

[Guffers]

Re: Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

I got all the Mad Men blu-rays the past two Black Fridays for $10 each. They're worth it and PQ and AQ is outstanding! Go for it when the price suits you.

I just logged off ebay after buying the lot.

It worked out to be about $20 each, which is a bargain compared to the store prices here. I can't wait to watch the series again in HD on my big TV!

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

I just logged off ebay after buying the lot.

It worked out to be about $20 each, which is a bargain compared to the store prices here. I can't wait to watch the series again in HD on my big TV!

The commentaries (especially the ones with the writers) are pretty good too if you want to really get obsessed haha.

[rsnomar05]

Re: Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

Not too devastating-she did it.

Yes, she did do it, but I think she felt she had no choice. She thought all the partners were in unanimous agreement (not realizing Don didn't want her to do it), and Pete and Lane put a lot of pressure on her. And when she heard even Rodger voted yes, I think that was the last straw. First her scumbag husband, then all the partners at work, even Rodger, I think she felt like all the men in her life had betrayed her.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

To me, it seemed like a big leap from Joan to go from her talk with Pete and Lane to actually sleeping with the guy. Joan always seemed like one to not give a **** what people think (or at the very least project that image out). She's professional yes and really the caretaker of the company, but I don't really "get" or buy into her reasoning for doing it. Not to mention it really surprised me that Don was the lone voice of reason (even though he literally throws money in the face of another woman). I understand Pete and Lane (slightly less so than Pete). Bert has, sadly, been a nonfactor this season, but Roger really surprised me trusting the words coming out of Pete's mouth that Joan actually considered the offer. That would have made more sense if Roger actually confronted Joan about it, but he's absent until the end of the episode IIRC.

I think this episode's themes are bigger than what happened on screen. There's a ton of talking points and different angles to approach things, I just didn't find characters motivations (sans Peggy) to be that sturdy.

[aholbert32]

Re: Mad Men (madmen) Season 5

To me, it seemed like a big leap from Joan to go from her talk with Pete and Lane to actually sleeping with the guy. Joan always seemed like one to not give a **** what people think (or at the very least project that image out). She's professional yes and really the caretaker of the company, but I don't really "get" or buy into her reasoning for doing it. Not to mention it really surprised me that Don was the lone voice of reason (even though he literally throws money in the face of another woman). I understand Pete and Lane (slightly less so than Pete). Bert has, sadly, been a nonfactor this season, but Roger really surprised me trusting the words coming out of Pete's mouth that Joan actually considered the offer. That would have made more sense if Roger actually confronted Joan about it, but he's absent until the end of the episode IIRC.

I think this episode's themes are bigger than what happened on screen. There's a ton of talking points and different angles to approach things, I just didn't find characters motivations (sans Peggy) to be that sturdy.

It didnt seem like a leap to me. She is a single mom. Keep in mind that this is the 1960's. Counting inflation, $50,000 (The first offer) equals $350,000 today. I dont know many single moms who wouldnt think hard about sleeping with a guy one time for 350k.

The second offer gives her an ownership stake in a company she loves and pretty much guarantees job security.

Regarding Roger/Joan, Joan has pretty much rejected Roger everytime he's talked to her this season (including last week when he offered to care for his son) so I'm not shocked he wouldnt confront Joan about this. His way of taking a stand was saying that he wouldnt take part in paying Joan. Also lets not act like Joan is a saint. She was Roger's mistress when he was married to his first wife and cheated on her husband with Roger.

Finally, Don was the voice of reason because he respects Joan but also because of his ego. He wanted to win the Jaguar account his way...with his pitch. He didnt like the fact that Joan's actions tainted whether he got the account on his own.