Mad Men is back

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don treats the women who are important to him harshly. Witness him with Dawn at the beginning of the ep on the phone. Just about the only one he hasn't outright lashed out at when he's in a corner is Sally. I think that would be the writers signaling that he is beyond redemption if he did that. That he still manages to right his ship when dealing with her is about the only positive thing about his relationships with women.

I thought his scene with Roger was FABULOUS and sheds light on this dynamic. It had that same harsh character but was really a negotiation, and he was very very comfortable with it. He and Roger, being equals on paper but Roger having more power at the moment, could speak that way to each other safely. It made me wonder about whether he feels that women have power over him and when he snaps at them he's sort of expecting them to push back as Roger did. It's certainly what he loved about Megan at first (thinking of their fight/foreplay romps).

I must say I am not quite believing his arc in this ep. He sat in the workroom the whole workday, alone for half of it or more, doing what? Thinking what? And then took the offer?

When they offered Don those stipulations, I thought 'Tell them to Eff off Don!" and when he said yes, I was shocked. But I have been thinking...

Of course he said yes. Don needs to be back in the game AND he likes a challenge. He got there and creative was all over him, desperate to get his input. They need him there and now Don knows it. I am sure he knows he can easily overthrow Lou (or make it so miserable for Lou that they will get rid of him). THe partners think he is still crazy Don, but he isn't. He told Megan the truth: No more women, not as much drinking, so he isn't really changing that much of himself right now so these stipulations aren't bad. He has the support of creative, Roger and Pete. He will get it back from Bert and Joan.

Don is now oozing with confidence. He is about to make his comeback.

He was on his way out until Michael called him back in. I think that is when he got his confidence back. He knows they need him there.

I had the same thoughts, although I didn't think about the significance of Creative getting him up to speed, wanting his input etc. Great point. He knows he'll be able to work the system despite the limitations. It should be a great season!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don treats the women who are important to him harshly. Witness him with Dawn at the beginning of the ep on the phone. Just about the only one he hasn't outright lashed out at when he's in a corner is Sally. I think that would be the writers signaling that he is beyond redemption if he did that. That he still manages to right his ship when dealing with her is about the only positive thing about his relationships with women.

I thought his scene with Roger was FABULOUS and sheds light on this dynamic. It had that same harsh character but was really a negotiation, and he was very very comfortable with it. He and Roger, being equals on paper but Roger having more power at the moment, could speak that way to each other safely. It made me wonder about whether he feels that women have power over him and when he snaps at them he's sort of expecting them to push back as Roger did. It's certainly what he loved about Megan at first (thinking of their fight/foreplay romps).

I must say I am not quite believing his arc in this ep. He sat in the workroom the whole workday, alone for half of it or more, doing what? Thinking what? And then took the offer?

When they offered Don those stipulations, I thought 'Tell them to Eff off Don!" and when he said yes, I was shocked. But I have been thinking...

Of course he said yes. Don needs to be back in the game AND he likes a challenge. He got there and creative was all over him, desperate to get his input. They need him there and now Don knows it. I am sure he knows he can easily overthrow Lou (or make it so miserable for Lou that they will get rid of him). THe partners think he is still crazy Don, but he isn't. He told Megan the truth: No more women, not as much drinking, so he isn't really changing that much of himself right now so these stipulations aren't bad. He has the support of creative, Roger and Pete. He will get it back from Bert and Joan.

Don is now oozing with confidence. He is about to make his comeback.

He was on his way out until Michael called him back in. I think that is when he got his confidence back. He knows they need him there.

I had the same thoughts, although I didn't think about the significance of Creative getting him up to speed, wanting his input etc. Great point. He knows he'll be able to work the system despite the limitations. It should be a great season!

It is going to be AWESOME when Lou and Don throw down!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I keep waiting for them to bring back the gay art director from season 1.

Lou is so annoying. Is he a partner or just a hired guy?

Lou is not a partner. I hate him, and his stupid Mr. Rogers sweater and his Grandma glasses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep waiting for them to bring back the gay art director from season 1.

Lou is so annoying. Is he a partner or just a hired guy?

Lou is not a partner. I hate him, and his stupid Mr. Rogers sweater and his Grandma glasses.

Lou is the absolute worst, completely insipid and seemingly without an artistic bone in his body. Cannot wait for him to get Draperized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great episode this week. I loved Betty's reappearance and Don and Megan's confrontation. Peggy was a major bitch to Don for no reason. Ugh...Just when I begin to root for her...

If Don comes back, it is not good for Peggy.

She thought she was going to be the next big thing at Sterling Cooper after Don left. I think she felt he was in her way of really being successful because he turned her down a lot and challenged her a lot (I think Don has always admired Peggy and is challenging her like a loving father - but that is me). However, they brought in Lou, who doesn't like Peggy, for whatever reason (he feels threatened? She is a woman? ) so she isn't able to really do what she wants to do and be as creative as she wants to be because Lou is stiffling her.

now, if DOn comes back, her success with either be attributed to him (which she will resent - and maybe already does because she may already think her success was because of him) or she will have to compete with him to get her stuff out there.

And don't forget, he threw that money in her face. I thought that was the worst thing ever.

Wait, I don't remember what you're saying about Don throwing money in Peggy's face. Remind me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep waiting for them to bring back the gay art director from season 1.

Lou is so annoying. Is he a partner or just a hired guy?

Lou is not a partner. I hate him, and his stupid Mr. Rogers sweater and his Grandma glasses.

Bring back Sal!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great episode this week. I loved Betty's reappearance and Don and Megan's confrontation. Peggy was a major bitch to Don for no reason. Ugh...Just when I begin to root for her...

If Don comes back, it is not good for Peggy.

She thought she was going to be the next big thing at Sterling Cooper after Don left. I think she felt he was in her way of really being successful because he turned her down a lot and challenged her a lot (I think Don has always admired Peggy and is challenging her like a loving father - but that is me). However, they brought in Lou, who doesn't like Peggy, for whatever reason (he feels threatened? She is a woman? ) so she isn't able to really do what she wants to do and be as creative as she wants to be because Lou is stiffling her.

now, if DOn comes back, her success with either be attributed to him (which she will resent - and maybe already does because she may already think her success was because of him) or she will have to compete with him to get her stuff out there.

And don't forget, he threw that money in her face. I thought that was the worst thing ever.

Wait, I don't remember what you're saying about Don throwing money in Peggy's face. Remind me?

Not PP, but it was something about her saving the Chevalier Blanc account, by pitching some idea that Don didn't like? It was the episode where Joan prostituted herself to Jaguar. Peggy quits at the end of the episode.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I freaking love this theory, but wonders who has this much time on their hands to know all of this...
http://wtop.com/541/3603423/Megan-Draper-sparks-juicy-Mad-Men-conspiracy

This is fascinating. I don't know much about this time period so wasn't getting the connection before. I'm embarrassed to say I've never seen Rosemary's Baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don treats the women who are important to him harshly. Witness him with Dawn at the beginning of the ep on the phone. Just about the only one he hasn't outright lashed out at when he's in a corner is Sally. I think that would be the writers signaling that he is beyond redemption if he did that. That he still manages to right his ship when dealing with her is about the only positive thing about his relationships with women.

I thought his scene with Roger was FABULOUS and sheds light on this dynamic. It had that same harsh character but was really a negotiation, and he was very very comfortable with it. He and Roger, being equals on paper but Roger having more power at the moment, could speak that way to each other safely. It made me wonder about whether he feels that women have power over him and when he snaps at them he's sort of expecting them to push back as Roger did. It's certainly what he loved about Megan at first (thinking of their fight/foreplay romps).

I must say I am not quite believing his arc in this ep. He sat in the workroom the whole workday, alone for half of it or more, doing what? Thinking what? And then took the offer?

When they offered Don those stipulations, I thought 'Tell them to Eff off Don!" and when he said yes, I was shocked. But I have been thinking...

Of course he said yes. Don needs to be back in the game AND he likes a challenge. He got there and creative was all over him, desperate to get his input. They need him there and now Don knows it. I am sure he knows he can easily overthrow Lou (or make it so miserable for Lou that they will get rid of him). THe partners think he is still crazy Don, but he isn't. He told Megan the truth: No more women, not as much drinking, so he isn't really changing that much of himself right now so these stipulations aren't bad. He has the support of creative, Roger and Pete. He will get it back from Bert and Joan.

Don is now oozing with confidence. He is about to make his comeback.

He was on his way out until Michael called him back in. I think that is when he got his confidence back. He knows they need him there.

I had the same thoughts, although I didn't think about the significance of Creative getting him up to speed, wanting his input etc. Great point. He knows he'll be able to work the system despite the limitations. It should be a great season!

It is going to be AWESOME when Lou and Don throw down!

indeed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep waiting for them to bring back the gay art director from season 1.

Lou is so annoying. Is he a partner or just a hired guy?

Lou is not a partner. I hate him, and his stupid Mr. Rogers sweater and his Grandma glasses.

Lou is the absolute worst, completely insipid and seemingly without an artistic bone in his body. Cannot wait for him to get Draperized.

+3. I hope Peggy forgives Don and they work together to make Lou miserable!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great episode this week. I loved Betty's reappearance and Don and Megan's confrontation. Peggy was a major bitch to Don for no reason. Ugh...Just when I begin to root for her...

If Don comes back, it is not good for Peggy.

She thought she was going to be the next big thing at Sterling Cooper after Don left. I think she felt he was in her way of really being successful because he turned her down a lot and challenged her a lot (I think Don has always admired Peggy and is challenging her like a loving father - but that is me). However, they brought in Lou, who doesn't like Peggy, for whatever reason (he feels threatened? She is a woman? ) so she isn't able to really do what she wants to do and be as creative as she wants to be because Lou is stiffling her.

now, if DOn comes back, her success with either be attributed to him (which she will resent - and maybe already does because she may already think her success was because of him) or she will have to compete with him to get her stuff out there.

And don't forget, he threw that money in her face. I thought that was the worst thing ever.

Wait, I don't remember what you're saying about Don throwing money in Peggy's face. Remind me?

Not PP, but it was something about her saving the Chevalier Blanc account, by pitching some idea that Don didn't like? It was the episode where Joan prostituted herself to Jaguar. Peggy quits at the end of the episode.

Immediate PP again. OMG--thank you for reminding me of this!!! DH and I couldn't remember why Peggy was so pissed. This, and that she believes he pushed Ted to California, I think, right?

[Anonymous]

But why is Joan so pissed? Now that she is an "account man" is she worried about the competition from Don? Also, wonder where Don's office will be & who will be his secretary, Dawn got a promotion.

[Anonymous]

Why is Joan so pissed at Don? I didn't expect her to be so harsh on him. Is she just looking out for the company and now views him as a loose cannon?

[Anonymous]

The Joan thing has to do with what happened with Jaguar, and also I think with the company going public. I can't totally remember the latter storyline but with Jaguar, Joan was upset when Don fired Jaguar -- to her, if she could live with Herb and Jaguar then so could everyone else, and she also felt it marginalized what she put herself through to keep the business.

(Someone correct me if I'm remembering wrong!)

[Anonymous]

Why does Don even want to be there? Why doesn't he take a buy-out & work on his own?