He’s in a lot of episodes.
I missed the show on the first run..gave it a “what the heck-its on HD on demand” viewing. I ended up watching the whole season in just two days.
I have told everyone i know to watch this as well
Christina Hendricks..oh hell yes!
I loved the first season to death, and I just finished watching it the other night. The only thing I couldn’t believe was that Peggy didn’t know she was pregnant. I still don’t get how that’s possible but I’ve heard it still happens. Also, was Peter a bit queasy in the end not because of his in-laws being there but because he was told he was a father? That’s about the only part I couldn’t discern from the final episode. Anyways, I can’t wait for the second season, it’s starting even earlier than I thought!
I think the finale made it pretty clear that Pete doesn’t know he’s a dad. His queasiness came more from the fact that he’s been reduced to begging his rich in-laws for table scraps at work.
As for the Peggy thing, it’s not that unrealistic, especially in 1960. They portrayed her as being pretty dedicated to her job throughout the season, and were clever about suggesting the weight gain was the result of her eating habits. There were enough “clues” through the season that explain why a young woman in her situation may have not noticed she was pregnant. It’s kind of a stretch from a story standpoint, but it’s not a huge one.
Oh shit. I freaked out when I saw this thread and thought I missed the premiere. Phew.
Also, the Blu-Ray transfers of season one are glorious.
Just finished watching this DVD set. Fucking amazing show!
January Jones doesn’t get enough love. She took what could have been a really cliched character and created a fascinating portrait of depression/repression. Her scene in the final episode with the little boy in the car was heartbreaking.
As for Christina Hendricks: sweet sassy molassey! She’s curved out considerably since Firefly. Very impressive.
That’s what I pretty much figured but I wasn’t sure (the Peggy thing), thanks for the second thought on it.
Quote:
| Originally Posted by RathBandu View Post I think the finale made it pretty clear that Pete doesn’t know he’s a dad. His queasiness came more from the fact that he’s been reduced to begging his rich in-laws for table scraps at work. As for the Peggy thing, it’s not that unrealistic, especially in 1960. They portrayed her as being pretty dedicated to her job throughout the season, and were clever about suggesting the weight gain was the result of her eating habits. There were enough “clues” through the season that explain why a young woman in her situation may have not noticed she was pregnant. It’s kind of a stretch from a story standpoint, but it’s not a huge one. |
January Jones is so fantastic, although a lot of that comes from the hair and the clothes.
I decided to watch the first episode On Demand earlier this week based on all the hype. I proceeded to tear through the rest of the season over the next three days. Absolutely brilliant show.
Everybody’s great, but Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell is tops. What a fantastic character.
The season premiere was pretty bad ass. These people are living some complicated, unhappy lives for sure (though things seem a LITTLE better for Don and Betty)
A bit confused about Betty’s mechanic scene though. Am I missing the point with that or what?
I took Betty’s scene with the mechanic to be a parallel with her “party girl” friend, using what she’s got to get her way (everything short of straight up sex with the guy). I love how devilish January Jones was in this premiere. It makes her 10000000000000000x sexier.
I also loved the parallel of Draper in the bar with the younger hippie-ish dude back to the first season premiere of him in the bar speaking to the older black worker about his cigarettes. It’s clear that Draper’s out of his element a bit now (with Betty too, coming home every night and having her basically more assertive on all fronts), and I’m interested to see where the Don and Duck relationship goes to. It’s interesting that Don’s arguably rash decision in choosing Duck (over Pete) could backfire, you wonder if Pete were the head of accounts, if Don would have half the headaches that seem to be forming.
Also, Elizabeth Moss? Perfection. She was totally underused in West Wing, the girl can flat out act.
I just know that Betty is looking better and better every moment. Specially in that tight horse riding outfit.
Two best moments of the episode were Peggy tearing Don’s new secretary a new one (which was made even funnier when they show that, rather than Don being out with a new mistress, he’s just eating lunch by himself in a bar), and the montage of everyone watching the Jackie Kennedy White House tour…except Pete, who’s watching a cowboy show (The Lone Ranger? I couldn’t tell from the dialogue) and eating the chocolates he bought for his wife.
This is one of the few shows left on television that begs a second viewing. There’s sooooooo much subtext.
I’ve been waiting for my editor to release my BR review for a month. Screw it, I’m releasing it live myself in honor of the season two return. God I hope I didn’t make any huge spelling errors.
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Fafhrd View Post Two best moments of the episode were Peggy tearing Don’s new secretary a new one (which was made even funnier when they show that, rather than Don being out with a new mistress, he’s just eating lunch by himself in a bar), and the montage of everyone watching the Jackie Kennedy White House tour…except Pete, who’s watching a cowboy show (The Lone Ranger? I couldn’t tell from the dialogue) and eating the chocolates he bought for his wife. |
There were hints of it in Season One, but I’m currious to see how far they’re going to go with Peggy’s transformation into a cold, pragmatic career woman. I don’t think we’ve heard the last of her surprise child, either.
Poor Sal seems to have himself a giant deluded beard of a “girlfriend”.
Wow. I guess the credits are a metaphor for the series. The first season was these guys and this lifestyle at the top and over five seasons we’re going to see what happens as they butt heads against the world and change in general. They’re so arrogant and aren’t going to know what hit them. The copy machine is a brilliant symbol for what’s coming. They don’t know what to do with it or where to put it. We’ve never seen Don this confused or unsure with himself. He needs his mojo back.
I loved how January Jones wanted to see how far her sex appeal could get her in the scene with the mechanic. She was very curious about her friend and the life path she chose. I guess the theme of this episode has something to do with age or getting older. Weiner comes from the David Chase school where a single plot isn’t what ties an episode together, it’s theme theme theme.
“What else do you have?”
“Several more Indian puns.”
I couldn’t have been happier. The Draper impotence thing was kind of cliche, but ties in nicely with the big theme of the series, which is “Who is Don Draper?” The first season seemed to be about the most surface interpretation of that question, but I liked how they’re continuing with that question and in turn following up on things in the first season. The O’Hara and his interest in it was a natural progression of Draper’s flirtation with bohemia in the first season.
In a way, this really felt like it was taking a page from ‘The Wire,’ in that many things were set up but it felt like nothing really happened. But the things that we did learn kept set things up very nicely. I also want to find out about Sal and his beard, and what happened to Peggy/Pete’s love child. (It seems like they’re setting that up as the big “mystery” for the season. That and ZOMG who is Draper writing to?!)
Elisabeth Moss really impressed me in this episode – I wasn’t a huge fan of her in the first season, but moments like the one with Draper’s new secretary and just the way she played those scenes with Pete and the later one with Draper. Her reactions/facial expressions knocked me out.
That scene with Draper over the ad is probably more crucial than the copier as metaphor. I really think Draper’s obsession with nostalgia and sentiment is what’s going to be the eventual death of him.
Speaking of the credits, I noticed at the end that Draper’s silhouette was a bit more filled-in than the strictly black-and-white one we got in season one. I wonder if that was intentional.
I also liked what a bitch Joan was, and I liked how Pete’s wife (who I find hot for some sick reason) was presented as somewhat sympathetic without betraying her stuck-up, spoiled character we saw in the first season. And John Slattery’s a regular! Yay!
But man, those last few minutes, so great. Jon Hamm is my new god.
I’m rambling. More to come. (Oh, and that scene with Betty and the mechanic was unbearably tense. And how fucking great was "Take off your hat?"
Mad Men fans should check out Alan Sepinwall and The House Next Door the day of/day after each episode for unmissable commentary and analysis. It was at Sepinwall where I learned, for example, that the credits listed the woman Sal was with was his wife. His wife. And House Next Door suggested that one way to read the scene in the elevator and the O’Hara stuff was that after years of being “Don Draper,” Don doesn’t like who he’s been playing, and is on a course to self-improvement that may lead to disaster.
Man, that musical montage opening felt so Sopranos.
Frank O’Hara, wow, givin’ me love, Mad Men.
Looks promising. Don is a mess.
Amazing. Outside of The Sopranos, Twin Peaks, or Pushing Daisies, I can’t think of a stronger visual scene in a TV show than Campbell finding out about his dad and stepping out into the main area. That shot behind him was perfectly in tune with the story and where his character was at that moment. I’m really wondering where Draper is going to go this season. He’s really bottoming out.
I think Don might end up hating Duck more than he hates Pete.
And Peggy saying goodnight to the kid? Yeeeeeesh. Tough stuff.