(no subject)

[shapinglight]

Still can't buy extra user pics. What on earth is going on?

:grumble, grumble:

Anyway, I realised that I haven't said a word as yet about the last episode of season 3 of Mad Men. Spoilers for that behind cut.



I hadn't thought there could be a better episode of the show than the penultimate one (the Kennedy assassination episode), but the final episode proved me wrong.

Don once again showed why he's one of the most fascinating characters on television, slipping seamlessly from complete s**t for the way he talked to Betty when she said she wanted a divorce, to the guy you want to root for when he conceives his plan for confounding the merger and sweeps Sterling, Cooper, Lane Price, Peter, Ken and Peggy along in his wake, with Joan making a very welcome addition. I wonder what Dr Killanything will say when he realises she's gone back to work, but perhaps she won't be forced to break another vase over his head if he gets shipped off to Vietnam? We'll see.

I like very much that Peggy played hard to get and that Don had to meet her terms. Good for her. I just hope she ditches the odious Duck in short order.

As for Betty, she really is the ice queen, isn't she? Not that I blame her for wanting a divorce after everything Don has done to her in the course of the series- the trip to Italy was her last attempt to save their marriage, and he didn't seem interested - and when he called her a whore I wanted her to slap him (but he might well have slapped her back and that would have been horrible), but she didn't. Instead, she stayed icily cool, and it's that determination to get what she wants when she decides she wants it that carried her through the horribly painful scene when Don told the kids he was leaving (I had tears in my eyes, I admit) and will probably carry her through the divorce and into remarriage with Wossisface. I suspect she'll only be disappointed again, but you never know. I quite like Wossisface and he does genuinely seem to be in love with her.

She's not an easy character to like, though.

Anyway, the series ended with the crumbling of the old order, or rather the old order crumbling itself and then reconstituting itself in a different form, and just when the 60s are about to get very, very interesting.

I can't wait to see what happens next.

Comments

[vampirefever.livejournal.com]

I think one of the best things about the final episode was that it left you excited about the new season. After the way the characters all seemed to be heading for disaster, this was a huge surprise.

I can't wait for Mad Men to deal with The Beatles, Vietnam and the whole flower power movement. Supreme television.

[shapinglight]

After the way the characters all seemed to be heading for disaster, this was a huge surprise.

I agree, though of course it is entirely possible that they are heading for disaster. I do like the fact that they changed things so radically. Sterling Cooper Draper Price. Heh! Not a terribly snappy name really.

I can't wait for Mad Men to deal with The Beatles, Vietnam and the whole flower power movement.

Oh yes! I wonder if they might jump forward a year or two, or if we'll pick up where we left off?

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

Mad men is brilliant. I can't wait for the next season to roll on. I'll have to find this one on DVD sooner or later.

Betty is interesting because you see her grow up on the show. In the beginning she is more or less a child that already has children herself and she really creeped me out. Now she's growing up, finding her own legs to stand on but also finding that she made a lot of descisions far too early.

[shapinglight]

Mad men is brilliant.

It really is. I have the first two series on DVD, but K borrowed them because she wanted the NSEB to watch it, and now they're both addicted. I need to get them back. Intending to watch them with M over the summer.

I agree about Betty. She did start off as more or less a child. In fact, Don treated her as one - even sicced a psychiatrist on to spy on her (no patient confidentiality for a woman then, it seems, if you were married). She's a lot more grown up now, though I'm not sure I like her any better. Maybe I do. She's such a complex character.

[whichclothes.livejournal.com]

I need to watch that series. It sounds great.

And I'm frustrated about the userpics, too--been meaning to buy some. Why is it taking them so long to to sort out the problem?

[shapinglight]

I need to watch that series. It sounds great.

You must, and it is!

I have no idea why it's taking so long to sort out this user pic business. I feel quite envious of the people who managed to buy them before it all went wrong.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I like very much that Peggy played hard to get

Yes. That was awesome and so well earned! As was her telling Roger that she wouldn't get his coffee. Yay!

Also, yay Joan for being back in her element. It's where she belongs as well.

And I was happy that Lane Price told his firm to stuff it. Heh.

Also, I seem to be one of the few who think that Betty really may be happier with whats-his-face. Oh, it won't be a fairy tale, but I don't know that she's expecting one any more. I kind of think what she's expecting this guy may provide (relatively speaking). I think Betty/Don were stunningly beautiful together, but they were just so incredibly different in their needs. I think Whats-his-face seems to want someone to dote on, and Betty wants to be doted upon. And that may be enough for them. It's hardly the stuff of happy-ever-after, but it may function enough to satisfy them (such as it is).

And Don really is better off single. He just is.

She's not an easy character to like, though.

When she closed the door in poor Sally's face after Grandpa died. Man, I just wanted to slap Betty, and hug poor Sally. It's not often you cheer a ten-year-old's temper tantrum on, but if anyone deserved to have a temper tantrum it was poor Sally in the aftermath of Grandpa Gene's death.

[shapinglight]

That was awesome and so well earned! As was her telling Roger that she wouldn't get his coffee. Yay!

Yes, go Peggy! And it was wonderful to see Joan. The show just wasn't the same without her.

And I was happy that Lane Price told his firm to stuff it. Heh.

Yes, me too, though I doubt his wife will be pleased. She wanted so much to go home. He, however, has this 'land of opportunity' glazed look on his face when he looks around New York. Suspect that whatever happens, he'll stay.

Also, I seem to be one of the few who think that Betty really may be happier with whats-his-face>,

I think she will too, if only because I think he's more likely to treat her with respect. However, he's a lot older than her. Suspect she's looking for a father substitute.

And Don really is better off single. He just is.

I agree, if only he can be honest about it.

but if anyone deserved to have a temper tantrum it was poor Sally in the aftermath of Grandpa Gene's death.

Yes, I really felt for the poor kid. One of my favourite scenes from the season was the one where Grandpa Gene let Sally drive the car. :)

[quinara]

I have to confess that a few weeks ago I caved into watching the last couple of episodes on Megavideo (waiting for iPlayer quality makes all the difference with Mad Men, but I just wanted to know what happened...). It was so good!! I'm really glad Joan's back. And everything! Ee! I love that they had the guts to really shake up their formula, because it feels like the next season is going to have so much life in it.

[shapinglight]

I love that they had the guts to really shake up their formula, because it feels like the next season is going to have so much life in it.

Yes, it's all going to be quite different. And I don't blame you for not being able to wait. I just wish we didn't have to wait a whole year for season 4. :(

On the plus side, the BBC have said they're definitely going to show it.

[quinara]

On the plus side, the BBC have said they're definitely going to show it.

Ooh - yay!! That does make the wait a little better.

[yourlibrarian]

This will explain what happened with the userpics add-on.

but perhaps she won't be forced to break another vase over his head if he gets shipped off to Vietnam? We'll see.

One could hope, but I doubt her storyline will get that simple.

I suspect she'll only be disappointed again, but you never know. I quite like Wossisface and he does genuinely seem to be in love with her.

I can't figure what (and I can't remember his name either) he thinks he sees in her. They've barely talked, they've barely seen one another, and he's ready to marry her and take on her family? (And apparently the family's an important part of that, since he first saw her when she was pregnant). That strikes me as really odd, and I can't figure out if it's supposed to be odd, or if it's just a writing failure.

The season finale was very satisfying in many ways. I'm curious too, about where they'll take things next season.

[shapinglight]

what happened with the userpics add-on.

Thank you. What a mess!

I agree, it's doubtful that Joan's story will be as simple as getting rid of Dr Killanything like that. Besides, no matter what we all think of him, she seems to quite like him (vase on head notwithstanding), so I suppose she wouldn't wish that.

I think Wossisface is just mesmerised by Betty's glacial beauty. Plus, she has the whole Grace Kelly blonde mystique down pat. It is odd, though. And on her side, I think she was looking for a sort-of father figure. We'll see, I suppose. I'm glad they didn't take back anyway, and have Betty cave and take Don back again.

[yourlibrarian]

I think she was looking for a sort-of father figure. We'll see, I suppose. I'm glad they didn't take back anyway, and have Betty cave and take Don back again.

Me too. And you're right about the father figure bit. I think she's definitely looking for a Don type this time around.

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

I love that show. More than the style, the glamour, the courage to allow people to be silent, the complexity and the subtlety of observation and writing, I *love* that you don't have a single character who's heroic. I like many of them, admire several in different ways, but there isn't any one of them I would call a role model. They are people.

Betty's very tough indeed. It's impressive at times, but no, not likeable.

[shapinglight]

They are people.

Yes, I think I could say this more of Mad Men than of any other American show I've ever watched. In other shows, there always seems to be an element of didacticism, which is just missing here. We're left to make up our minds about everything, and that's very refreshing.

[mistletoe54.livejournal.com]

It's because of you that I started watching Mad Men and I have found it extremely addictive in a can't look away even if the characters are repulsive way.

Betty is totally calculating and I can see a lot of her in her creepy little daughter who looks like the sort who will drown kittens and smile. The historical aspect of the show is brilliantly conceived especially the anti-feminist attitudes. If Women's Liberation pops up in the summer of love it will be an astonishing opportunity for the women to bite back. Not Peggy though, she pretty much just wants Harris(?) and the power he has to offer her.

[shapinglight]

It's because of you that I started watching Mad Men and I have found it extremely addictive in a can't look away even if the characters are repulsive way.

Really? I'm proud to be your enabler, then. I think everyone should watch it, just because it is so good. :)

I expect Sally will grow up to be like her mother in many ways. It would be surprising if she didn't. However, I think she'll always blame Betty for the divorce (which isn't fair, but Sally is so much of a daddy's girl) and I suspect that when she's a teenager, towards the end of the decade, she'll go through a wild, drug-fuelled phase - probably leave home to go and live in a commune, or something.

If Women's Liberation pops up in the summer of love it will be an astonishing opportunity for the women to bite back.

Yes, I'm looking forward to that, though I suppose we'll be mostly viewing it through the lens of Sterling Cooper (Draper Price) and how it affects the world of the ad men. We saw that a little in this series with the Civil Rights Movement. We only saw it at a tangent.

[sarian71]

"I hadn't thought there could be a better episode of the show than the penultimate one (the Kennedy assassination episode), but the final episode proved me wrong."

The final episode was definitely excellent, but for me, the highlight of the season was the episode where Don and Betty had The Talk, after she found out about Don's past. I was swept away by the intensity of it all. And then the closing line of that episode: "Who are you supposed to be?". I just sat there for a good while after that, going wow...

"with Joan making a very welcome addition."

It was a *pumps fist in the air and yells WOOHOO* moment for me, when she showed up! :)

"I like very much that Peggy played hard to get and that Don had to meet her terms."

Yes, what a triumph it was to her, when Don very directly told her that he'll spend the rest of his life trying to hire her! Loved the expression on her face right then!

"when Don told the kids he was leaving (I had tears in my eyes, I admit)"

You, too? :)

"I can't wait to see what happens next."

Oh, me neither. They changed the game completely, and practically everybody are starting practically from scratch now, in so many ways. It can't get more interesting than this!

[shapinglight]

I was swept away by the intensity of it all. And then the closing line of that episode: "Who are you supposed to be?". I just sat there for a good while after that, going wow...

Yes, that was pretty amazing, I agree. There have been some wonderful episodes this season.

They changed the game completely, and practically everybody are starting practically from scratch now, in so many ways. It can't get more interesting than this!

All we need now is Beatlemania. :)