Mad Men

[shipperx]

I liked this week's episode better than last week's.  I thought that they did a good job of switching focus to Vicent Kartheiser's character

and giving his character some sympathetic qualities -- while not actually softening him up any.

I have a feeling that I'm going to be someone who roots against Don Draper though.  Thus far, while I've found him interesting, I haven't seen anything particularly sympathetic about him.

And what exactly was the scene between Draper's wife and the kid she was babysitting?  That was just odd.  The kid is odd too.

Comments

[ladypeyton.livejournal.com]

Not just odd, IMO. I found it to be a little creepy.

I am not a fan of Draper but then there are not a lot of characters in the show that I find to be likeable. I think I can narrow it down to Helen, Rachel, Harry and the gay, closeted, commercial artist whose name escaped me (Paul?). All minor characters...

But I love the show. Go figure.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

True.

And I'll add that I have a suspicion that at some point I'll probably want to throttle Betty (that's Don's wife's name, isn't it?)

[ladypeyton.livejournal.com]

Yes, Betty. I have the same impression. Every time she mentions she was in a sorority my teeth grit.

Peggy is also someone who I have a feeling I will want to kill soon. She makes the dumbest decisions! I'll be shocked if she isn't pregnant.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Yes, Betty. I have the same impression. Every time she mentions she was in a sorority my teeth grit.

I sort of laughed (both at the line and at the TV Guide summary, because I think the TVGuide blogger missed the point). My interpretation of her claims that the woman was jealous of her was all projection of the fact that Betty is in fact jealous of the neighbor. Thus far, Don has been quite the shit-tastic husband. Being wholly unable to admit to herself that she's wildly unhappy, she secretly longs to for a different life and is in fact jealous of the woman who stood up for herself enough to walk the hell away from that kind of marriage. Of course, that would take way more self-awareness than Betty has so she twists it all around to it being more acceptable, and claiming that the other woman is jealous of her.

[ladypeyton.livejournal.com]

My interpretation of her claims that the woman was jealous of her was all projection of the fact that Betty is in fact jealous of the neighbor.

I introduced my husband to Mad Men last night and that was the very first observation he made. (after viewing the 1st 3 episodes before last night's episode aired)

It kind of surprised me because until he pointed it out I was under the impression that Betty's panic attacks were caused by the fear of Don leaving her and the possibility of having to be a divorced woman in 1960's society. But after last night's episode I have to agree. I think you (and he) are right and Betty is very jealous of Helen.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I agree that Betty is having panic attacks. I think they're partly an unacknowledged depression and partly a subconscious fear that she's living a lie. If she looks at it too hard or examines it, it will all fall apart. I think she fears being left and getting a divorce as much as she probably longs for it. I think emotionally, she may long for it while at the same time being terrified of where that would place her in 1960s society. She's very much the "living in quiet desperation" wife.

[deborahc.livejournal.com]

The creator of the show said on an NPR interview that his objective isn't to make the characters necessary likable, but complex and compelling. He wrote for the Sopranos too.

[jerrymcl89.livejournal.com]

That certainly seems to be what's going on. It remains to be seen if they can do that in a way that makes people want to watch. I did think this episode made Pete less loathsome, though not exactly sympathetic.

[celesteavonne.livejournal.com]

*must dash off to IMDB*

What is this Vincent Kartheiser goodness you mention? I am so very far behind the times...

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

He's on a new series on the American Movie Classics cable channel. (It's had some excellent reviews and is produced by one of the old producers of The Sopranos)

http://media.amctv.com/originals/madmen/

The series is a period piece set in a Madison Avenue Ad agency in 1960. VK's character is a younger ad executive who has very blue blooded connections (His family, the Dykemans is said to own half of NYC).

Mad Men

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid895162757/bclid757622785/bctid769701141

[celesteavonne.livejournal.com]

Curse me for not having cable!

thanks for the link. I'm intrigued now. There's this whole other world I'm not seeing :)

[cy-girl.livejournal.com]

I interpreted the scene that way as well. Besides, the divorcee looked completely radiant, not tired.

I wonder if it's occurred to Pete that he has absolutely no say at home. If he gives his wife the wrong answer, she'll go to her parents to get what she wants. They're obviously newer money and prize him for his old name.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Good observation Re: Pete. I think you're right, and yet at this particular point in time, I think Pete has a better chance of being happy in his marriage -- if he allows it -- than Don does. The only options I see for the Drapers down the line is either divorce or slowly growing to loathe each other.