mad men season 5 premiere

[verbicide]

YAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!



So, that was two hours of awesome. I really liked the way they progressed everyone's storyline to just a bit ahead. Joan and Trudie have had their babies. Megan and Don are settled into a place of their own. The firm has survived losing Lucky Strikes.
I haven't seen the end of s4 in awhile, so I don't remember what happened to Lane's playboy bunny girlfriend... Though his marriage seems just as dreadful as ever.

It's interesting to watch the Don/Megan dynamic. Is this what he was like with Betty at the beginning? Or is it all different because Megan knows about Dick Whitman and has more self-esteem? (Or whatever it is that Betty lacks.) Though I must say, every time I watch s1 again, I feel really awful for Betty, who then burns up all that goodwill with the appalling way she treats the kids. Watching Megan do her Zou Bisou Bisou number, all I could think of was the way Don slut-shamed Betty for wearing a freaking bathing suit.

Glad to see the civil rights stuff finally making an appearance. Curious to see how the plot treats black people going forward.

And ugh, remember when Harry wasn't a giant douchebag?

And Peggy. I love Peggy so much. And it's interesting to see how she's evolved in her role. I thought she was a bit whiny about having to work over the weekend and about wanting Don to essentially come in and browbeat the client into loving her idea--and it was appalling the way she brought it up at the party. It was good to see Megan call her on it a little--for being so cynical. Though I can't blame Peggy. Working with assholes like Stan would probably require growing a pretty thick skin. So excited to see that she and Abe are still together.

Also Roger--continuing his path of irrelevance, but still a part of SCDP. Is it just his money? Does he pay for things around the office? (Outside of petty office bribes?) With Lucky Strike gone, does he have any clients now? (Probably no, which is why he's desperately nipping at Pete's heels.)

And I still hate Pete. I don't care if he's good at his job. I can't stand the weasel.

Comments

[desdenova.livejournal.com]

IIRC Lane's father browbeat him into giving up the girlfriend? I was actually surprised to see that Lane was still married; I had kind of assumed that marriage was on its way down the tubes.

Don/Megan: It seems likely that--adjusting for generational differences--Don & Betty were probably similar in the beginning, before Betty got knocked up and shut away in the suburbs. Megan doesn't strike me as the sort of woman who's got any interest in the Donna Reed lifestyle, though. (Obviously Betty doesn't either, not really, but her tragedy is that she has internalized the notion that that's what she *should* want. Based on what we saw of Megan in this episode, she's not likely to self-deceive in that way.)

I am not sure what you mean by civil rights "finally making an appearance"? Maybe it's not as noticeable if you didn't watch the previous 4 seasons all in one go like I did, but it's been there all along.

I don't actually remember Harry not being a total douchebag.

Peggy: Okay, maybe it was kind of rude to complain about having to work on the weekend at Don's birthday party, BUT OTOH it was also inconsiderate of Megan to throw a short-notice party that all the work people pretty much *had* to attend, all the while taking advantage of her position as Don's wife to work Don-style hours. (Note I don't get the sense that Megan is doing that deliberately, but she does seem pretty clueless.)

Pete: continues to be thoroughly hateable.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

I remember Lane's father hitting him and saying that he had to settle his affairs--he couldn't live in between. And somewhere else I was reading that Lane's girlfriend goes off with someone?

And I totally agree with your comments about Megan--she doesn't seem like she's internalized that lifestyle as what she should want, so hopefully she won't be forced into suburban hell like Betty.

And I know the civil rights stuff has poked his head a bit, but I don't remember more than passing references before--some racism with a company that Peggy's working for (that Abe points out) stuff like that. Filmore Auto, maybe? Maybe I need to rewatch s4.

And that's true--the last minute mandatory invite was really rude. Though it seems to be that Megan wants to please her new husband and be accommodating, and wouldn't otherwise leave work early? I don't think she's totally clueless, just in a weird position there...

[desdenova.livejournal.com]

Civil rights: There was a whole thing in one of the early seasons (1 or 2) where Paul Kinsey went on a Freedom Ride with his black girlfriend. King's March on Washington was a Significant News Story, and the show made a big deal of contrasting the reactions of the white characters (Betty in particular IIRC) to that of Carla. Those are the two obvious bits that leap to mind, but race and racism are an ongoing background theme throughout the show, starting with the very first scene (Don trying to get a black busboy in a restaurant to express an opinion about cigarettes).

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

I do remember all of those bits--but they seem small to me. It's just little bits and dribbles, and I'd to see more!

[richboye.livejournal.com]

wow... that was not what I expected.

First of all, Joan! I love Joan - that has to be one the best comebacks OF ALL TIME. To her (slightly bitchy? exasperated? normally motherly/daughterly?) mother who says "after all, you're not exactly at your fighting weight," sez Joan, icily "try me." Oh Joan, marry me.

Meghan, Meghan, Meghan.... yes, you are the sexy, sophisticated second trophy wife, but does it seem like a good idea to do such a racy number in front of a) you're notably aloof/private/secretive/abusive husband's co-workers and b) YOUR OWN CO-WORKERS?

Harry Crane, lest we forget, had sex with one of the secretaries way back in Season One during that election night party (with the creme de menthe in the water-cooler?). He's always been a bit of a jerk.

Did anyone else cringe violently when Roger was inspecting the baby with a dangling cigarette? I have thousands upon thousands of family photos with some relative or other doing the same with me or my sisters and now it is just so horrific.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

What did you expect? (Genuinely curious.)

And seriously--loved seeing Joan's relationship with her mom!

I totally cringed at Roger's cigarette!

[desdenova.livejournal.com]

Joan's mom made me SO MAD. I hate that "My life was miserable, so now I want my daughter's life to be miserable in the the exact same way, and I'm going to tell her it's supposed to be happy, just to add to the misery" bullshit. Why do people do that??

I seems like Joan is too smart to fall for it completely, but that doesn't excuse it. GRR!

Re: Roger + Baby + Cigarette: cringe-worthy, but period-appropriate! Also, Roger-appropriate!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Oh, for what it's worth--I found Joan's mom to be utterly appalling. But it was such an insight into who Joan is, I loved seeing that backstory.

And I agree--Joan's too smart to fall for it!!