Mark here... we're on to episode 6 of "Mad Men". This episode was called "Babylon", I have to say this episode was a little dryer than the previous two. Definitely entertaining still, we find out that Joan is having a private affair with Roger Sterling, which is a bit scandalous. It's also interesting that Joan has no illusions about their affair. Roger is promising the world. At least at this point, Joan is having none of it and clearly just enjoying the moment.
Separately, Don and Betty's relationship is interesting to watch evolve. Clearly they both like each other, yet neither wants to really be married. On top of this Betty confesses to Don that she waits for him to come home every day to sleep with her (essentially). Yet we know Don has a mistress on the side and disappoints her repeatedly by being too tired or too busy. How crazy to have no outlet except to just be waiting for someone to come home and fulfill you!
We also get to see Don with his East Village mistress who chooses to bring Don and another would-be lover to some beatnik poet reading, or so it seemed. This goes pretty awkwardly, and I'm left wondering why she would bring him in the first place. Is she trying to make Don jealous? Because clearly he's as uninterested in her life as in the suburban life he shares with Betty!
Laurel here...I agree with Mark on all points, I especially like what he said about Joan. She is so awesome in terms of navigating the ins and outs of this office. Don't hate the player hate the game! She is so smart and is playing the whole office, including roger, like a fiddle.
The other noteworthy thing about this episode is that Peggy is asserting herself as more than just a secretary...The office is working on a lipstick account (belle jolie) where they have all of the secretaries (or chickens, as they call them) participate in a focus group about the array of lipstick colors that all come in a huge box. Peggy is quiet during the focus group, but expresses to an ad exec later that it made her feel like they were expecting women to define themselves as just a color in the belle jolie box, the beginning of her career as an adman?
Mark here... Yeah the other point of note was Peggy becoming a copywriter. After, her commentary during the lipstick trials, the men want her to come up with some copy.... Of course she gets no more money and still has to complete all her regular jobs!
Saturday, February 23, 2013
5G
Hi Laurel here...This episode we start to learn a little more about Don Draper's past. We don't know all of the details yet but a young man shows up at Don's office (Adam Whitman). I don't know if you guys remember but a few episodes ago some guy runs into Don on the train and greets him as Dick? Dick Whitman? Anyway, Don leaves a meeting to go out to the lobby and meet him. In front the receptionist this guy says "it really is you..Dick it's me, your brother. I know I've grown up but it's me". Clearly Don either has been, or looks like this person Dick Whitman. Don rushes him out of the office, promising to meet him at a diner after the meeting.
At their meeting it is clear that Don does recognizes this person from his past but doesn't want anything to do with him. This Adam tells him he just wants to be part of his life (I thought you were dead but here you are!), and Don tels him that's just not going to happen. After this he receives an old photo in his office mail of him with Adam. Don calls him and asks to come see him. He brings along $5000 in cash and asks Adam to leave him alone, leave town, and start a new life someplace else. He also lies to Betty about the money...she brings up buying a vacation house someplace and he tells her she has to wait until next year because their money situation is not as good as it seems. Little does she know it's because he just gave somebody 5 grand!
Anyway long story short it becomes clear this episode than Don is trying to hide something from his past, something that he hasn't even been honest with Betty about. And he REALLY wants to keep it in the past.
Mark here...Laurel and I talked quite a bit about this episode. I mean, clearly this guy from Don's passed had idolized him and thought he was dead. Now on meeting him he thinks that Don will be psyched to see him and is crushed when Don has the opposite reaction. On Don's side it shows he definitely has a mysterious past, but its also unsettling that he is so willing to dismiss this kid from his past. I say kid because its obvious this guy was a young kid when Don knew him and that they were close. Don burns the picture of the two of them and is determined to block out the past.
There's a subplot involving Peggy discovering that Don is having an affair and being forced to cover for him when Betty shows up at the office with the kids for a family portrait. She goes to Joan for advice and Joan gives a seemingly bitchy description of what to do. However on closer inspection, Joan is sort of taking Peggy under her wing and giving her a reasonable description of the men in the office and not to expect too much of them. Basically, play the game...
At their meeting it is clear that Don does recognizes this person from his past but doesn't want anything to do with him. This Adam tells him he just wants to be part of his life (I thought you were dead but here you are!), and Don tels him that's just not going to happen. After this he receives an old photo in his office mail of him with Adam. Don calls him and asks to come see him. He brings along $5000 in cash and asks Adam to leave him alone, leave town, and start a new life someplace else. He also lies to Betty about the money...she brings up buying a vacation house someplace and he tells her she has to wait until next year because their money situation is not as good as it seems. Little does she know it's because he just gave somebody 5 grand!
Anyway long story short it becomes clear this episode than Don is trying to hide something from his past, something that he hasn't even been honest with Betty about. And he REALLY wants to keep it in the past.
Mark here...Laurel and I talked quite a bit about this episode. I mean, clearly this guy from Don's passed had idolized him and thought he was dead. Now on meeting him he thinks that Don will be psyched to see him and is crushed when Don has the opposite reaction. On Don's side it shows he definitely has a mysterious past, but its also unsettling that he is so willing to dismiss this kid from his past. I say kid because its obvious this guy was a young kid when Don knew him and that they were close. Don burns the picture of the two of them and is determined to block out the past.
There's a subplot involving Peggy discovering that Don is having an affair and being forced to cover for him when Betty shows up at the office with the kids for a family portrait. She goes to Joan for advice and Joan gives a seemingly bitchy description of what to do. However on closer inspection, Joan is sort of taking Peggy under her wing and giving her a reasonable description of the men in the office and not to expect too much of them. Basically, play the game...
New Amsterdam
Mark here...Laurel and I are settling in for the next episode of "Mad Men". This one is called "New Amsterdam". Laurel has made us some roasted pork chops in an amazing apple and onion sauce, and scalloped potatoes that were equally delicious. I made us a side of sauteed kale with garlic, lemon and a hint of anchovy paste.
On to the episode! This one was very interesting as we get to see a bit more insight into Pete Campbell, who is quite an ass. He and is wife are interested in buying an apartment in Manhattan that is out of their price range. When Pete asks his dad, dad balks and clearly doesn't think much of Pete's career in advertising. It's funny now to think this type of career was considered somehow unserious or frivolous. Next we see Pete taking out his issues on Don in a client meeting. He goes out of his way to sabotage Don's pitch to the client and then fill the client's head with this own ideas. This nearly gets him fired, but his mothers famous name forces the bigwigs at Sterling Cooper to reconsider. Wisely though, Roger Sterling tells Pete that it was Don who saved Pete from being fired. In doing so, he is hopefully preventing Pete from feeling too invincible and reluctant to do the same thing again.
Meanwhile, there's a subplot with Betty agreeing to babysit for Helen Bishop, the neighborhood's resident divorcee (or maybe she's just separated?). In any case, Helen's son is bordering on or just reaching puberty and makes a point of barging in on Betty in the bathroom. She ends up forgiving him but then agree to give him a lock of her hair before sending him to bed! Not exactly the best way to handle his crush on her! In fact she pretty much encourages him to grab a lock of her hair and go jerk off! Later, in her psychiatrist's office, she confesses to feeling sorry for him and it sort of borders on creepy...
Laurel here...I agree with Mark on all points. It's hard to know if Pete is taking out his daddy issues on Don, or whether he is just a rich entitled asshole, but I sense it might be a bit of both. Growing up with a famous name must have trained him his whole life to think he can do whatever he feels like all the time, but he definitely has some issues with Don where he wants desperately for Don to recognize him and give him credit for things. Sorry to break it to you Pete, but that's not how work works...You work hard, put out good ideas (to your boss first, not directly to the client after hours!), and keep your mouth shut about it because that's your job, if you expect a pat on the back every time you meet the needs of your job you're in for a lot of disappointment.
We also see a little insight into Trudy, Pete's new wife, in this episode. She seems like a girl who gets what she wants, and it seems like her marriage to Pete might be a means to an end for her instead of a marriage based on love...
I'm interested to see where this thing goes with Betty Draper and the kid from the neighborhood, Glen. Giving the kid a lock of your hair might not be the best way to handle the situation. You are the grown up here Betty, act like it!
On to the episode! This one was very interesting as we get to see a bit more insight into Pete Campbell, who is quite an ass. He and is wife are interested in buying an apartment in Manhattan that is out of their price range. When Pete asks his dad, dad balks and clearly doesn't think much of Pete's career in advertising. It's funny now to think this type of career was considered somehow unserious or frivolous. Next we see Pete taking out his issues on Don in a client meeting. He goes out of his way to sabotage Don's pitch to the client and then fill the client's head with this own ideas. This nearly gets him fired, but his mothers famous name forces the bigwigs at Sterling Cooper to reconsider. Wisely though, Roger Sterling tells Pete that it was Don who saved Pete from being fired. In doing so, he is hopefully preventing Pete from feeling too invincible and reluctant to do the same thing again.
Meanwhile, there's a subplot with Betty agreeing to babysit for Helen Bishop, the neighborhood's resident divorcee (or maybe she's just separated?). In any case, Helen's son is bordering on or just reaching puberty and makes a point of barging in on Betty in the bathroom. She ends up forgiving him but then agree to give him a lock of her hair before sending him to bed! Not exactly the best way to handle his crush on her! In fact she pretty much encourages him to grab a lock of her hair and go jerk off! Later, in her psychiatrist's office, she confesses to feeling sorry for him and it sort of borders on creepy...
Laurel here...I agree with Mark on all points. It's hard to know if Pete is taking out his daddy issues on Don, or whether he is just a rich entitled asshole, but I sense it might be a bit of both. Growing up with a famous name must have trained him his whole life to think he can do whatever he feels like all the time, but he definitely has some issues with Don where he wants desperately for Don to recognize him and give him credit for things. Sorry to break it to you Pete, but that's not how work works...You work hard, put out good ideas (to your boss first, not directly to the client after hours!), and keep your mouth shut about it because that's your job, if you expect a pat on the back every time you meet the needs of your job you're in for a lot of disappointment.
We also see a little insight into Trudy, Pete's new wife, in this episode. She seems like a girl who gets what she wants, and it seems like her marriage to Pete might be a means to an end for her instead of a marriage based on love...
I'm interested to see where this thing goes with Betty Draper and the kid from the neighborhood, Glen. Giving the kid a lock of your hair might not be the best way to handle the situation. You are the grown up here Betty, act like it!
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Marriage of Figaro
Mark here...Laurel and I are sitting down to watch the next episode of "Mad Men", this one titled, "Marriage of Figaro". For the occasion I made us Seafood Newberg, which Betty talked about in the last episode. I didn't spring for Lobster this time, mainly because Laurel is not a fan.
This episode was very interesting in terms of its depiction of the times. I know its a semi-exagerated portrayal but its still interesting. The episode starts with Pete coming back from his honeymoon in Niagara Falls and promptly disappointing Peggy, who he had a fling with prior to. The office surprises him by having an "oriental family" in his office, who they refer to as "chinamen"....offensive on many levels but yet rings true for the times. We then see Don sweet talk his female client after the team totally bombs a meeting with her, only to bomb himself when she finds out he's married. The rest of the episode shows Don at home for his daughter's birthday party with the family. Everyone smokes and drinks to excess, including the pregnant lady. But we see signs that all is not what it seems in this perfect suburban homestead. Betty still has the shakes in her hands from anxiety, Don is dismayed at the behavior of everyone around him and ditches the party midway through, ostensibly to pick up a birthday cake. However he doesn't come home til everyone has left...with a new dog, so it's all ok! Not so much with Betty...
Laurel here..I noticed a few things this episode. We are starting to uncover than Don has a past...He runs into someone on the train who calls him Richard, and makes references to their time in the army together. The next time we see him get on the train he sits in a seat that's upholstery is becoming tattered, in close up. If I were in film school (which I was 20 years ago) I would be writing a whole paper on how the tattered upholstery of the seat he chooses to sit in is a metaphor for his secret former life which is beginning to unravel before our eyes. just sayin'.
I also find it interesting that he makes a move on his client, the owner of "menkin's" department store, which we learn during the episode is akin to a bindel's or something like this. She is not just the heiress to the department store, she actually runs the business and makes the day to day decisions. I think the fact that Don is so attracted to a woman like this (he ends up kissing her at a business meeting at her store) goes to show that maybe he is looking for more in a romantic parter than just someone who is young and blond and will have dinner ready when he gets home.
The other men at the firm continue to show that they are complete immature unaware assholes this episode, which makes Don look all the better. He actually knows how to show restraint and to not act on his boyish impulses in public, which the other ad men frequently do. Not that he is any better than them he just keeps his boyish impulses under wraps.
This episode was very interesting in terms of its depiction of the times. I know its a semi-exagerated portrayal but its still interesting. The episode starts with Pete coming back from his honeymoon in Niagara Falls and promptly disappointing Peggy, who he had a fling with prior to. The office surprises him by having an "oriental family" in his office, who they refer to as "chinamen"....offensive on many levels but yet rings true for the times. We then see Don sweet talk his female client after the team totally bombs a meeting with her, only to bomb himself when she finds out he's married. The rest of the episode shows Don at home for his daughter's birthday party with the family. Everyone smokes and drinks to excess, including the pregnant lady. But we see signs that all is not what it seems in this perfect suburban homestead. Betty still has the shakes in her hands from anxiety, Don is dismayed at the behavior of everyone around him and ditches the party midway through, ostensibly to pick up a birthday cake. However he doesn't come home til everyone has left...with a new dog, so it's all ok! Not so much with Betty...
Laurel here..I noticed a few things this episode. We are starting to uncover than Don has a past...He runs into someone on the train who calls him Richard, and makes references to their time in the army together. The next time we see him get on the train he sits in a seat that's upholstery is becoming tattered, in close up. If I were in film school (which I was 20 years ago) I would be writing a whole paper on how the tattered upholstery of the seat he chooses to sit in is a metaphor for his secret former life which is beginning to unravel before our eyes. just sayin'.
I also find it interesting that he makes a move on his client, the owner of "menkin's" department store, which we learn during the episode is akin to a bindel's or something like this. She is not just the heiress to the department store, she actually runs the business and makes the day to day decisions. I think the fact that Don is so attracted to a woman like this (he ends up kissing her at a business meeting at her store) goes to show that maybe he is looking for more in a romantic parter than just someone who is young and blond and will have dinner ready when he gets home.
The other men at the firm continue to show that they are complete immature unaware assholes this episode, which makes Don look all the better. He actually knows how to show restraint and to not act on his boyish impulses in public, which the other ad men frequently do. Not that he is any better than them he just keeps his boyish impulses under wraps.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Ladies Room
Mark here... Laurel and I have sat down to a night of Mad Men and some pasta and garlic bread. The pasta dish is Mario Batalli's Farfalle Abruzzese with Veal, Porcini and Spinach...although I couldn't find ground veal, so it's ground beef. Laurel made some garlic bread to accompany.
This episode was fascinating in it's depiction of the times. First, we see the design firm and the way the women working in the office have to navigate. Essentially, because the are unmarried, they are all considered "prey" to the men working there. Meanwhile, Don Draper's wife is having issues which lead her doctor to suggest she see a psychiatrist. Of course her husband is unhappy with this, because his stay-at-home wife has the perfect life and to see a psychiatrist would imply otherwise. Finally, he accepts it, but the implication is that women can see psychiatrists because they are somehow weaker. This is underlined at the end of the episode when the psychiatrist CALLS HIM to discuss what his wife talked about! Breaking any sort of doctor-patient confidentiality... Separately, we see new girl in the office Peggy being treated like new meat essentially...
Laurel here...This episode was super interesting in terms of the treatment of women at the time. Joan encourages Peggy to go out to lunch with a bunch of asshole account execs and copywriters. I got the impression that she was trying to show her how women could get a free lunch around this place, but the dudes were such assholes that it didn't seem to me like a free lunch , it seemed to me like a lunch that you pay for with self respect. All of that aside, I think Joan is actually the first "feminist" that we see on the show because she is clearly trying to take advantage of the power dynamic between men and women in this situation, and a free lunch is the least you should get for putting up with all of the bullshit you get from the dudes in this place just by virtue of the fact that you work there.
Also this episode dips it's toes into the pool of mental health issues. Betty (don's wife) ends up going to see a psychiatrist like mark said because she is having physical manifestations of a mental health issue. Roger tells Don not to worry, that psychiatry is just the hot new accessory among wives, like a fur coat or string of pearls. This lead Mark and me into a discussion of our family history, we both have women in our family (grandmothers) that were slightly mentally ill at the time but since there was no treatment or help for anyone who wasn't batshit crazy walked the line of managing things for themselves. At the time there was no option outside of locking them up in a mental institution. Anyway I think that is shows progress from a mental health point of view to show a woman who is unhappy being able to visit a mental health professional vs 20 years before this point (1960 i think?) where visiting a mental health professional was the step before being locked up or getting a lobotomy.
This episode was fascinating in it's depiction of the times. First, we see the design firm and the way the women working in the office have to navigate. Essentially, because the are unmarried, they are all considered "prey" to the men working there. Meanwhile, Don Draper's wife is having issues which lead her doctor to suggest she see a psychiatrist. Of course her husband is unhappy with this, because his stay-at-home wife has the perfect life and to see a psychiatrist would imply otherwise. Finally, he accepts it, but the implication is that women can see psychiatrists because they are somehow weaker. This is underlined at the end of the episode when the psychiatrist CALLS HIM to discuss what his wife talked about! Breaking any sort of doctor-patient confidentiality... Separately, we see new girl in the office Peggy being treated like new meat essentially...
Laurel here...This episode was super interesting in terms of the treatment of women at the time. Joan encourages Peggy to go out to lunch with a bunch of asshole account execs and copywriters. I got the impression that she was trying to show her how women could get a free lunch around this place, but the dudes were such assholes that it didn't seem to me like a free lunch , it seemed to me like a lunch that you pay for with self respect. All of that aside, I think Joan is actually the first "feminist" that we see on the show because she is clearly trying to take advantage of the power dynamic between men and women in this situation, and a free lunch is the least you should get for putting up with all of the bullshit you get from the dudes in this place just by virtue of the fact that you work there.
Also this episode dips it's toes into the pool of mental health issues. Betty (don's wife) ends up going to see a psychiatrist like mark said because she is having physical manifestations of a mental health issue. Roger tells Don not to worry, that psychiatry is just the hot new accessory among wives, like a fur coat or string of pearls. This lead Mark and me into a discussion of our family history, we both have women in our family (grandmothers) that were slightly mentally ill at the time but since there was no treatment or help for anyone who wasn't batshit crazy walked the line of managing things for themselves. At the time there was no option outside of locking them up in a mental institution. Anyway I think that is shows progress from a mental health point of view to show a woman who is unhappy being able to visit a mental health professional vs 20 years before this point (1960 i think?) where visiting a mental health professional was the step before being locked up or getting a lobotomy.
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