(S03E02) "If you don't like what's being said, change the conversation." - Don
What love isn't in ruins on Mad Men? We have Betty knowing all about Don's affairs, Betty's dad dealing with his girlfriend leaving him (and more), Joan with someone who raped her, Roger with new young love Jane but still dealing with his ex-wife and perhaps longing for Joan, and Peggy looking for love at a bar (with a guy who looks like Pete!). Even the Don/Roger bromance seems to be on shaky ground.
The only people who seem to be at the start of love are Roger's daughter and her fiancee' Brooks. But their wedding is scheduled for November 23, 1963. Something tells me that's going to be a problem, too.
This might rank as one of my favorite episodes of Mad Men. It's certainly an improvement over the season opener. I liked the opener fine, but there was an odd rhythm to it, and didn't really pick up too many past plot threads. This one had plot threads galore. It was like a "greatest hits" package of what makes this show great. A cool advertising plot (about Patio Diet Cola, which became Diet Pepsi in 1964), domestic stuff with Don and Betty and her ailing dad, historical stuff involving Madison Square Garden and Bye-Bye Birdie, a nice quick scene involving Joan and Roger (and one between Roger and Betty, something we don't usually see), nice choices in music, classic Roger witticisms over drinks, much of the cast getting a scene or two, and a ton of great lines we'll be quoting until next week. All that was missing was odd neighbor kid Glen watching Betty through a window.I'm not sure how having Betty's dad living with the Drapers is going to work out, family-wise or plot-wise. It can't end happily (though you could probably say that about a lot of plots going on in the Mad Men universe). I did enjoy Don taking Betty's brother aside and telling him this is exactly how it's going to happen.
Two scenes I thought were interesting (two of many): I was amazed at how Lane said "I don't know" when Don asked him why Putnam bought Sterling Cooper. I predict that's the start of a very important plot development. And I'm wondering why Don was looking at the Maypole dance so longingly and playing with the grass at his feet (unless it was some California dreaming?).
Quotes:
- "Other than Wilma Flintstone, I've never seen a woman carry so well." - Joan, to Betty
- "You're not fat anymore." - Harry, to Peggy
- "Yes, everyone wants a drink that sounds like a floor." - Don, about the name Patio
- "We're near the UN, so there are a lot of Africans." - Rebecca Pryce
- "You're not an artist, Peggy, you solve problems." - Peggy
- "You're the only one around here that doesn't have that stupid look on their face." - Roger, to Peggy
- "This is the greatest city in the world. If you don't like it, leave." - client, to Paul, about NYC
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-24-2009 @ 3:20AM
marali said...
Beam me up already! What an amazing episode! I know so many complain that nothing happens on this show but they are so VERY wrong. I don't even know where to begin.
I could comment on each and every scene but will just leave it where tonight's episode ended.
Peggy (to Don): "Do you want to talk about Pampers?"
Zing!!!
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 8:31AM
Steve said...
I bet Don figured out a campaign for Patio using the teacher with flower in her hair dancing around.
It was funny when Betty's dad flashbacked to prohibition and he was dumping all the booze down the sink.
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 10:01AM
Schuby said...
I didn't think about it at the time, but you made a good point that he will somehow incorporate this into the advertisement.
8-24-2009 @ 8:39AM
litehousebeacon said...
I know exactly why Don was playing with the grass.
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 8:44AM
Craig said...
Don wanted to get with the teacher but was trying to resist the urge. He was feeling the grass to try to feel what she felt under her feet. That's my guess.
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 9:32AM
rjbtrdx said...
Oh yes, Don was definitely thinking of the teacher. I remember Patio cola. All my mother's friends drank it. While they smoked and played cards. And the kids ran around with drycleaning bags over our heads.
November 23rd 1963. I didn't think of that. That's a doomed marriage.
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 2:08PM
the dude said...
the 23rd was a friday - why did they pick a friday?
8-24-2009 @ 7:59PM
Zach said...
Ok I give, whats the significance of that day. The only thing wikipedia says is that it's the day that Doctor Who premiered.
8-24-2009 @ 9:52PM
Ryan S. said...
It's the day after John F. Kennedy is shot....
8-24-2009 @ 10:47PM
rjbtrdx said...
JFK was shot on November 22 1963 which was a Friday. So Sterlings daughter is to be married on Sat the 23rd. It doesn't look good
8-24-2009 @ 10:54AM
Lisa said...
It is no mere accident that the genius that is Matt Weiner used the title of Browning's poem. I recommend giving it a read, as one analysis on it says "Love Among the Ruins is based on a contrast between past and present. It speaks of a great city that once stood where sheep and merely ruins now stand. The speaker prefers the carpet of grass that lies where roads once were where armies marched to their fate." The literal ruins of Penn Station to come (compared to a temple in its day), the grass, the once formidable father in the ruins of dementia…wow
This show is so layered and complex. I think a new viewer though may not see everything going on…Mad Men requires investment.
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 11:01AM
rjbtrdx said...
Thank you Lisa. This makes so much sense. In a way I like my TV to be just entertaining. But this show is so good that is deserves the extra thought and study. Besides, it keeps me going til the next episode.
8-24-2009 @ 12:10PM
jffm said...
Great episode.
Peggy's father coming to stay with them gives me serious, serious pause. He is obviously deep into the throws of advanced dementia and I keep recalling his sexual advances towards Betty in an earlier episode. And then I think about their daughter...
I'm loving the growing civil unrest between the denizens of Sterling Cooper and their British overlords. And Peggy's non-answer to the '... how you girls do all that typing.' in the bar scene was one of the best bits of 'non-writing' I've seen in a long while. Don being the force of nature to his brother-in-law's tumbleweed. It's such a dense, delicious show.
The show has such a rich cast of characters. Don, Peggy, Pete, Joan, Roger, Salvatore, Bert Cooper (Brilliant for such a small role), I could watch episodes centered around any of them (Okay, Betty is a well drawn character too, but her passive/sublimated anger, particularly when it's aimed at their sun, grates on my nerves badly).
I have a friend, who's never watched the show, who says she doesn't want to give it a try because it's, 'Just a show about the bad old days of the fifties and sixties and some advertising agency.' I'm still working to convince her that it's really a twelve course meal and she's only seeing the dinner salad that it starts with. :-)
Reply
8-25-2009 @ 2:57AM
bc said...
His dementia is actually not yet very advanced. He made advances towards Betty because she resembles her mother and his mind was occupying an earlier stage of his life with his wife--he might think his granddaughter is his daughter, but he's unlikely to suddenly become a pedophile, unless he molested Betty when she was a girl.
8-25-2009 @ 10:32AM
jffm said...
The severe time displacement and identity confusion he's showing would signal advanced dementia, which usually also includes compromised reasoning and judgement.
If he were to act inappropriately with Don and Betty's daughter it would have to do with his dementia and nothing to do with paedophillia.
8-24-2009 @ 1:05PM
Jimmy said...
Have to agree -- this episode was stellar. A++.
I couldn't help but think the opening last week would have turned new viewers away. This week, though, holy smokes.
Don's interaction with William -- after telling Peggy her job was to "solve problems" -- was incredible.
This show is so unbelievably good!
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 1:14PM
Jimmy said...
P.S. Maybe it's so blatant it isn't worth mentioning, but it's incredible to see Betty drinking and smoking through "her injury." ;)
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 1:33PM
Midnight13 said...
I think they made a point to show Betty smoking and drinking so much when she's weeks away from giving birth. This being a drama I would perhaps believe that there will be complications with the birth, if nothing else it will be premature.
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 2:12PM
the dude said...
remember - this is the 60's - people drank and smoked when they were expecting - hell you used to be able to smoke in the waiting and patient rooms at hospitals and the doctor usually took a drag off a ciggie as he walked into the exam rooms in his office. those were the days man.......
8-24-2009 @ 1:59PM
greg. said...
@Midnight - Wouldn't it be an interesting twist/statement if nothing becomes of all that smoking and drinking during her pregnancy? That sort of thing happened more often than we can imagine. It *could* lead to birth defects, problems with pregnancy, but I'm guessing it often didn't.
Reply