Mad Men: Season Five

I've never seen it. Does it still have The Brie?

Thanks for the info. I'll probably catch up with this show on either Blu or streaming one of these days, as I'm starting to do with Breaking Bad. I guess I didn't know she was only recurring, but it makes sense with a full commitment to another show.

Umm... what's this show about again?

AMC started running it from the beginning a few months back. Usually show 2,3 or 4 episodes early on Sunday mornings.

I'm up to episode 24 and really not all that impressed. Why all the hype when this came out. Pan Am sadly got cancelled, but it was a lot more enjoyable to watch than this. My DVR still has up to episode 37 in it, but unless it improves in the next few shows, I'll be erasing it. Whole thing seems very stiff and forced. The only character I like, believe it or not, is Peggy, who is treated terribly most of the time.

Not afraid of spoilers, so is it worth finishing to see how things end up before this next season starts?

The strength of this show is how it showcases subtext from the world of the 1960s, reflects it into the face of the world today, making it relevant television if you like such fare. If you simply watch it for plot plot plot, it might not be your cup of tea.

If you are 24 episodes in and are not into it, I would just stop watching, it's not going to improve for you. By episode 24 you should be in the middle of great TV.

Honestly, I can understand his sentiment. I watch the show and like it, but I wouldn't say that I love it as much as many others seem to.

I'm really looking forward to when season 5 is out on blu ray. It's how I've been watching it. I guess it will be a long while till it comes out.

Pat, great way to describe Mad Men. I was hooked after the first episode. I couldn't put my finger on why I kept coming back. I also like Pan Am, but it's more surface compared to Mad Men. Though I think the last few episodes have veered towards the way Mad Men went. I hope it's not cancelled.

The characters are not likable in Mad Men. But they are great characters that are drawn realistically. I also identify with Peggy.

Stan, I thought the 4th season had a different tone than the first three -- IMO it was very soapy, but a lot of other people liked it more than I did. I've never seen Pan Am, but who knows, maybe it's more up that alley. You might consider checking out a few season 4 episodes before giving up on the show.

My sister really enjoyed it and says stick with it so I'll try a little longer.

Maybe my mistake was expecting more of a lighter show with somewhat nicer characters like Pan Am.

Although many of you may be correct, this far into it, if I'm not enjoying it, might be time to just give up on it.

Just seems like there is so little happiness in the show. Everybody seems so backstabbing and superficial. I know it's a drama, but a little levity here and there wouldn't have hurt.

Three things:

 

1) The lack of happiness is clearly a main theme of the show, and ties in with what is perhaps the central question of the show: can you re-invent yourself and find happiness?  Can anyone truly start over?

 

2) I'm not sure what show you have been watching for 24 episodes, but virtually every episode from the pilot onward has tons of moments that have me laughing, sometimes to the point of tears (the episode "Guy Walks in to an Advertising Agency," which you haven't seen, forced me to pause I was laughing so much).

 

3) If you aren't hooked after 24 episodes of arguably one of the greatest shows ever on television, then likely nothing in season three is going to change your mind.  I'm not saying this in any mean sense--quite the opposite.  Just because a show gets rave reviews and wins all kinds of awards doesn't mean everyone has to like it.

 

I say cut your losses and find something else.  There are a number of solid shows on right now that you might be interested in.

I also think there is funny stuff in almost every episode.

I like Mad Men for the most part, but can honestly say I don't ever remember laughing out loud.  Every once in a while Roger would get a chuckle out of me, but nothing uproarious.

Same here. There's the occasional thing like the "Iwo Jima" line (which somebody around here -- I can't remember whom -- has .sigged), but by and large the humor is drier than a popcorn fart, and not terribly obvious.

(...Which I enjoy greatly, mind you.)

This. Whenever the really, really overtly-funny stuff happens, it tends to occur in bursts of massive, absurd outrageousness, like the (as you mention) almost-Tarantino-esque lawnmower sequence.

I think that's where the show nails it.   It's very true to life, not everything is a comic riff or a downbeat moment.. it's not all drama or comedy.   That's what made Roger's moment so damn funny.. it was so somber in that room before he walked in and cracked that line that I almost choked when he said it.  And it was played perfectly - he didn't deliver it like a punchline waiting for a laugh, it was delivered like it was a statement of fact, which made it all the better.

 

This is a show that uses nuance and setting in a way that is fantastic.  There are episodes I have watched repeatedly and I marvel at the performances to make everything ring so true.   When I think about the top ten scenes of MM I'd show people, that's one of them.. though the Carousel is definitely the top moment in the series for me.

Another very similar moment for me is the, "Roger-puking-oysters-all-over-the-carpet"-bit back in Season 1 -- such a great moment of sudden, disgusting gross-out humor delivered out of left field amidst all the pompous, corporate-'60s-white-people serious-mindedness and Brylcreem. What was especially hysterical about the whole sequence was how long it went on. It almost rivalled Charlie's taxicab "blood-puking" this season on It's Always Sunny...

Then again, Slattery needs to do more comedy, period, once the show ends. Loved his appearance on 30 Rock a year or two back.

Easily the best moment of the series for me, too.  Honestly, one of the finest moments of television.

Which episode was the Carousel, again?

Season 1, Episode 13 "The Wheel"

That episode ranks up there very high on my list of "best episodes" of any series.

Reminder that season five premieres this Sunday, March 25th.

"Where are you going this early?"

"Staten Island. Shut up."

The first half-hour seemed a little...off. But then things clicked into place with that party-scene. What fun that was, and Weiner really started cutting lose.

I suspect I'll be in the minority, but I fucking LOVE Megan. What a batshit-insane character, and I don't mean that she's insane, but only that she's perfectly off-kilter enough to keep Don satisfied (for now). He tells Peggy that Peggy doesn't know her at all, but I wonder if DON knows her at all, and I wonder if that's not why he's so attracted to her.

It can backfire and lead to something like the party-scene, but it could also lead to her cleaning up their place in her underwear and subtly controlling him. She's a fascinating character, and I'm curious about where their relationship is going.

It's interesting too that even though Don tells Peggy that she doesn't "know" Megan, Megan clearly doesn't "know" Don as well as Peggy does. Sure, she knows his secrets. But she doesn't know the pain, really. It's an interesting dynamic, and I like that it's bleeding over into their work-life. He can't separate the two anymore, and even though he says he doesn't care about work, I wonder when he'll start to again.

And if, by the time he does, it'll be too late. Strong premiere.

Zou Bisou Bisou is now one of my all time favorite songs...

That said, I'm curious if Megan was faking her anger at Harry's comments. After all, she WANTED everyone to go home and have sex. She absolutely knew what her 'show' would stir. Her real anger was she was the only one who DIDN'T get sex.

I don't think she is batshit crazy...crazy like a fox maybe. She has a VERY high opinion of herself without being a bitch about it. She thought her show would start the sexual flames in the entire room and the fact that Don was pissed made her more angry than anyone could imagine. She left the office KNOWING he would come after her (or at least expecting it the way she expected the sex) and she sent the maid away and got into the black lace with one motive. Her 'scene' worked magically. I have never seen ANYONE with the power over Don that she has...and she knows how to wield it. Of course, she had me at Zou Bisou Bisou...

Don is such an ass.

The only question now is when does the air come out of that balloon. I don't see Don Draper being led around by his dick for too long. Even though she is amazing. He will eventually tire of it, lash out...and then we'll see the dark side of Megan. It may be ugly.