Mad Men: Betty *spoiler alert!*

[Anonymous]

I know there's already a thread on the series end, but I think this needs a dedicated thread: I am SO sad and depressed about Betty's fate! She was never my favorite, since she was so awful to her kids, although sometimes I felt bad for her. But her diagnosis and imminent death have made me feel so sad.

I loved the letter to Sally. So narcissistic and vain, until the last paragraph. When I saw the photo I thought, "aha, something personal she specifically wants to leave to Sally" but then that was also just about her postmortem appearance. Great writing! Then the perfectly-pitched last paragraph.

Anyway, none of my friends is caught up on the episodes, so I'm hoping others on DCUM will weigh in on this....

[Anonymous]

Such a complicated woman and so complicated of relationships. She would have lived a more fulfilling life if she had been born decades later.

I think the impact of her dying is very real because series viewers are invested in the characters and we feel like someone we know is dying.

Tis the beauty of Mad Men.

[Anonymous]

I didn't find the letter all that touching because I was hoping she would finally tell Sally she loves her. Well, maybe she did in her own way. What a depressing end for her and the kids. I hope Don comes back for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't find the letter all that touching because I was hoping she would finally tell Sally she loves her. Well, maybe she did in her own way. What a depressing end for her and the kids. I hope Don comes back for them.

She did say I love you in the letter.

[Anonymous]

I don't think so, but she said that she does not worry about her anymore, and believes that her life will be an adventure..or something like that.

She was a horrible mother, but always a loyal wife.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think so, but she said that she does not worry about her anymore, and believes that her life will be an adventure..or something like that.

She was a horrible mother, but always a loyal wife.

Here's the text of that paragraph:

“Sally, I always worried about you because you marched to the beat of your own drum, but now I know that’s good. I know your life will be an adventure. I love you, Ma.”

[Anonymous]

I think Betty's death hits us hard because it seems so unfair, just as she was going to school and finally doing something FOR BETTY, not as a wife. And truly, we are all Sallies because of when we were born but we could just as easily have been Betties and I think we all see ourselves in her.

However, I don't think this is a horrible ending for her. As Sally said, she kind of loves the tragedy of it. She will never get old, she will be beautiful forever. She finally has the gift of being able to see the good parts of Sally's nature; she isn't a child who is intent on rebelling and embarrassing Betty, but a strong girl who can get herself and her brothers through this. Betty knows she will be okay and can finally appreciate Sally for that strength and will and hardheadedness that always vexed her. I am sad to think of a future with no Betty Francis in it but I think the ending giving to Megan is much sadder. What did she get? A bunch of lost dreams and hush money to go away. Betty got everything she ever wanted- she even said "I have everything and nobody could want anything better."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think so, but she said that she does not worry about her anymore, and believes that her life will be an adventure..or something like that.

She was a horrible mother, but always a loyal wife.

Here's the text of that paragraph:

“Sally, I always worried about you because you marched to the beat of your own drum, but now I know that’s good. I know your life will be an adventure. I love you, Ma.”

It says "I love you, Mom." Betty would never use Ma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think so, but she said that she does not worry about her anymore, and believes that her life will be an adventure..or something like that.

She was a horrible mother, but always a loyal wife.

except when the dude at the bar banged her in the back room of the restaurant bar. but other than that, totally loyal.

[Anonymous]

For a split second on the stairs I thought she might be pregnant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think so, but she said that she does not worry about her anymore, and believes that her life will be an adventure..or something like that.

She was a horrible mother, but always a loyal wife.

Here's the text of that paragraph:

“Sally, I always worried about you because you marched to the beat of your own drum, but now I know that’s good. I know your life will be an adventure. I love you, Ma.”

It says "I love you, Mom." Betty would never use Ma.

Because that's what we were really talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think so, but she said that she does not worry about her anymore, and believes that her life will be an adventure..or something like that.

She was a horrible mother, but always a loyal wife.

Here's the text of that paragraph:

“Sally, I always worried about you because you marched to the beat of your own drum, but now I know that’s good. I know your life will be an adventure. I love you, Ma.”

It says "I love you, Mom." Betty would never use Ma.

Because that's what we were really talking about.

I contributed other valid points. In a detail orientated show like Mad Men, yeah, I think it does matter!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think so, but she said that she does not worry about her anymore, and believes that her life will be an adventure..or something like that.

She was a horrible mother, but always a loyal wife.

except when the dude at the bar banged her in the back room of the restaurant bar. but other than that, totally loyal.

That was all about revenge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think so, but she said that she does not worry about her anymore, and believes that her life will be an adventure..or something like that.

She was a horrible mother, but always a loyal wife.

except when the dude at the bar banged her in the back room of the restaurant bar. but other than that, totally loyal.

That was all about revenge.

i know this. but a revenge f*ck still ain't loyal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Betty's death hits us hard because it seems so unfair, just as she was going to school and finally doing something FOR BETTY, not as a wife. And truly, we are all Sallies because of when we were born but we could just as easily have been Betties and I think we all see ourselves in her.

However, I don't think this is a horrible ending for her. As Sally said, she kind of loves the tragedy of it. She will never get old, she will be beautiful forever. She finally has the gift of being able to see the good parts of Sally's nature; she isn't a child who is intent on rebelling and embarrassing Betty, but a strong girl who can get herself and her brothers through this. Betty knows she will be okay and can finally appreciate Sally for that strength and will and hardheadedness that always vexed her. I am sad to think of a future with no Betty Francis in it but I think the ending giving to Megan is much sadder. What did she get? A bunch of lost dreams and hush money to go away. Betty got everything she ever wanted- she even said "I have everything and nobody could want anything better."

great comments, I agree completely. I thought the letter was pitch perfect in terms of staying true to Betty's character. Betty has taken a lot of heat during this show and I love that she is being redeemed, both through the storyline of her going back to school and now this. I keep thinking about how this will irreparably change Bobby and Gene (and Sally, of course, but to a lesser extent since she is older.) And then I remind myself that these are fictional characters. Can't wait till Sunday!