mind. blown.

[verbicide]

My mind has sploded, so just a bunch of random incoherent thoughts:

Even after all this time, Mad Men amazes me with how much it can sincerely amaze me in a single hour.

I thought this episode was a fantastic example of how and why Don Draper is such a fucking compelling character.

I kept shrieking names at the television: DON! PEGGY! LANE! JOAN! FUCKING PETE!

As much empathy as I have for the women on this show, sometimes Megan pisses me off. I wouldn't assume that I could swan off to Boston for three months without having a sit-down discussion about it with my partner. I don't think it's wrong for Megan to be willing to travel for her job, but to not discuss it even? Just to assume that Don would be totally fine with it? Shitty. Not that she hasn't put up with plenty of shit behavior and assumptions from Don, though.

And DON. In a single episode, he kept whipping me into a rage and then making me sad for him. I was so fucking pissed when he treated Peggy like shit--once again--and then when faced with losing her, started oozing charm. And omfg I almost threw something at the tv when he said, "Let's assume for a minute that I'm not the reason for everything good in your life." FUCK YOU, DUDE. Yes, he gave her a shot, and I thought her giving-notice speech was beautiful and gracious. But, damn. That girl's talents are all her own and she busted her fucking ass for all that is good in her life. And I thought Freddy was dead-on when he said that, 'That's what Don would tell you." Damn. SO spot on. I was so pissed at him during that scene where he flung money at her face--especially after she nailed that account. And yet I totally cried with Peggy--and for Don--when he kissed her hand and let her go. I was so worried he was going to say something awful. (You know, beyond the earlier quote.)

Though creepy Teddy Chaough. Ewwww. He better treat her as well as he promises to.

I felt so bad for Kosgrove. I know Peggy was just post-humiliation, but I was disappointed with how she treated him.

Also, man. I... can't even function at the thought of no Peggy. Is Moss leaving the show? She's always been what Mad Men is all about for me.

Trudie and Pete. Pete's such a fucking asshole, that every week I just want to stab him in the eyes. And yet, I do wonder about these women who want to land a man who will set them up in a country home, and expect them to live half their lives in Manhattan. If you don't want to live in the country, tell the woman up front. Or don't move to the country if you hate it. Also, Pete naturally wants a bang-pad in the city like his gross buddy on the train.

And Joan. Man. I don't even know what to say. I love that it was Don who was the only one of them who was adamant about Joan not prostituting herself. Though at least Lane figured if she was going to do it, she shouldn't sell herself short (even if it was self-motivated for him in part, I think he also cares for Joan). I was so irritated with Roger for not being more repulsed, but then that's Roger for ya. I'm pissed on her behalf that the partnership--deserved for so many reasons--was offered under such shitty conditions--and that basically the other partners will know what she did to get it. But, hopefully it'll offer her security in a time when she badly needs it. And can Greg please die and Joan get some money out of it?

I'd wondered if the scene with Joan in her robe was going to prove to be the aftermath, and I was right. Ugh. I felt nauseated watching that scene unfold.

Ginsberg continues to irritate me, but it's interesting to see Don's anxiety at his continued home-runs. Although frankly, with Ginsberg being such a raving lunatic, it's not like he could ever sell a campaign the way Don does. They still need his face and savoir faire.

Damn. What an episode. I don't know how many are left this season. Was this the finale? It felt very wishing-on-a-monkey-paw with the win of a car campaign and the loss of Peggy. And of course the whole Joan thing.

Just. Wow. That was amazing.

Comments

[richboye.livejournal.com]

Like, I know.

To all of it.

I am seriously kicking the idea around that Roger's reaction was a major dropping of the ball on the part pf the writers, though - and a very uncharacteristic one for this show.

Peggy, please don't be gone.

I also quibble at the idea of Joan being made a partner for doing what she did - is that something that a room full of douchebags who would expect her to such a thing would actually reward her with? But, yay?? As much as I love Joan, she's been using sex as means to an end her whole life, so I guess the really off-putting part is how upfront the whole thing was.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

The greatest mystery of all time to me is why Trudie loves Pete. I mean, of course she wanted to marry a young successful dude, but ...she seems to genuinely love him. And I just don't get it. He's such a fucking tool.

I don't think Peggy's gone--I think we would have heard Moss was leaving the show? This is my fervent hope, at least.

[rolypolypony.livejournal.com]

PETE! UGH!! I know people have hated him for awhile, but I didn't, until NOW. UGH.

Peggy :(

Hah! I watched the BBC movie of Other Boleyn Girl and LANE was HENRY VIII!! INSANITY!

Megan - really? You don't even discuss leaving for another state? Hello, marriage needs communication.

[desdenova.livejournal.com]

I know, right? This episode was all, "!!!!" then "!!!" and "D:" and ":D"

Re: Peggy, I *really* hope she's not gone from the show! She's, like, the only character who is consistently likeable! (She might be done for this season, though.) She definitely made the right choice, though. She's gone as far as she was going to at SCDP, and going to another agency will enable her to broaden her experience, and get out from under Don's shadow.

Re: Don: I suppose it is too much to hope that Peggy's departure will teach him not to take people for granted. He really was a dick over the Chevalier Blanc thing. But then, he was the only partner to outright reject the idea of whoring Joan out to potential clients, and he seemed genuinely upset that the rest of them went and did it anyway.

Re: whoring Joan out: PETE OMG. Every single time I think he can't get more punchable, he proves me wrong. And Roger: SO DISAPPOINTING. (But, like you say, that's Roger.) And while Lane's advice was definitely self-serving, it was also really good advice, based on his personal experience. I just hope his financial shenanigans don't ruin the company, leaving Joan with 5% of nothing.

As for Joan herself, well, I can't really blame her for going for it. She's got a baby to feed, a broken washing machine to replace, etc., and it's not *really* much different from what she was doing when she was Roger's kept woman. So, as I said, I hope it works out for her.

Megan: I think I have a more charitable view of what her deal was; she seemed to think that Don should have known that plays can (often?) rehearse out-of-town, and that when he said he supported her, that he understood what that meant. And, yeah, they should communicate more, but the fault in this case is shared between them, IMO. He really should have made some effort to show some sort of interest in the theatre business.

Ginsberg: So, am I the only one sensing that he has Unresolved Issues with Women? His two big pitches--the ones that were highlighted in the show--were the rape-y Cinderella shoe ad, and now the 'ain't it sad that women aren't property any more' Jaguar ad.

I think this was episode 11, so there ought to be 2 more?

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

I saw Lane in something else recently too and my head exploded. I think he also plays like some smart villain in some other show, which I cannot even FATHOM!

And RIGHT??

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Dude. TOTALLY.

She can't be leaving the show. She just CAN'T! But agree that from a career standpoint, she just had to do it.

I think it is too much to hope that Don Draper will ever stop taking people for granted. But when he's the voice of morality, what the fuck does that say about the other partners. I can believe anything of Pete, and Roger is Roger, but I was disappointed in Cooper, too.

And the more I thought about the Joan thing, the more I'm upset that she went through with it! I totally don't judge her, frankly. I'm not sure I wouldn't do the same if someone offered me 4x my annual salary. (Which as the infamous quote notes, establishes what I am.) But omg yes--I hope the company doesn't tank and she doesn't get screwed in a whole 'nother way!

But with her marriage decimated, a baby at home, everything falling apart, and refusing to take Roger's money--well. (Though I sort of disagree that it's not much different from being Roger's mistress--she had the hots for Roger. This guy, not so much.)

And dude, totally about Ginzo. He has MAJOR issues with women. Someone feels ignored by women, methinks.

[desdenova.livejournal.com]

The thing with Joan is, she *didn't* do it for 4x her annual salary. She did it for a partnership, which is (1) potentially worth way more, and (2) not just money, but POWER. Which she was smart enough to secure up front. If it works out, she will have ensured that she'll never have to trade sexual favors for economic support, ever again.

I wonder whose shares her 5% came out of. Pete's, if there's any justice.

[rolypolypony.livejournal.com]

YES! When I looked up Henry VII on IMDB because I could not believe that I was right and needed proof it was him, I saw he also was Moriarty in one if the Sherlock Holmes theater-movies (as opposed to the BBC ones!). CRAZY! He's got mad skills!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

I worded my thing wrong--I know she did it for more than 4x her annual salary, I'm saying I would have done it for even less, and while in less dire need as she is. But am still bummed she did it, because all those dudes know she did it by sleeping with that skeeze.

But yeah, I'm bummed she had to do it--not judging her for deciding to do it at all!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

He totally does!! *coo*

[desdenova.livejournal.com]

He was the medium-big bad in the just-finished fourth season of _Fringe_. Talk about cognitive dissonance!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

That was what I was thinking of! (Though I haven't seen Fringe. Should I?)