Mad Men

Oh Mad Men. This is a show that generally drives me crazy. Since it's inception it has been a show that I love to hate. Back in its early days, I go over to the now-defunct New Critics and join in on the live-blogging, but the show annoyed me - it seemed to be about a mess of unappealing people who continually made bad choices in beautiful period costumes. And I always felt that every significant moment was underlined to the point of hitting me over the head with it. I shouted, "I GET IT!" at the tv a lot the first season.

Blue Girl and I would write long emails back and forth after episodes full of exclamation points and annoyance. But I still watched it. I didn't want to be out of the loop - its cultural significance seemed too important. Before the third (and current) season started, I even started buying into the hype. Hell, I even Man-Men'ed myself. And I finally feel like my perseverance is paying off. 

For me, the third season has been about where the women were headed, especially Peggy and Joan (as Betty tends to annoy and bore me). But poor Joan got herself saddled with a creepy and useless husband, and I feared for her. Is it wrong for me to hope that now that her husband has enlisted he might get killed in Vietnam? I just hope she keeps working. And Peggy's rise and navigation through the boy's club has been interesting. I think next ep we'll see what else has been happening to her and Duck.

But last night's episode belonged to Jon Hamm's Don. Betty cornered him with his past and he came clean about who he is and was. It was a staggering bit of acting and he really does deserve all of the praise heaped on him. (Read Maureen Ryan's excellent overview of the episode. I love her recaps.)

Is anyone else watching? Blue, are you? I'd love to hear what you thought.

Comments

[blue girl]

Ahhh, I should have emailed you! I have to admit that the last few episodes of Mad Men have captivated me. Last night's episode was a stunner. Very emotional. The scene between Don and Betty was really, really good. (Betty gets on my nerves, too) Although, I kept wondering about the teacher (who so reminds me of Courtney Cox at certain angles) in the car. It would be just like the Mad Men that annoys me never to have addressed her.

Joan bonking her creepy husband in the head with the vase? Wild! lol

And I love Roger. Although his "You weren't" line last night was too brutal for my tastes. Other than that line, the guy really has the best lines in the show. And I love the way he delivers them.

I loved the phone scene between Roger and Joan. I'd like the show better if it had more "them."

Anyway, yes, I agree with you. It's finally NOT driving me nuts.

I watched last night's episode after a very emotional episode of Dexter. Did you watch? One scene even made me cry. So, after that with Dexter and then the intense-ness of Mad Men, I was wiped out.

[blue girl]

Want to add...

The only reason I kept watching Mad Men this season was because of Wolcott's reviews the next day. Such great re-caps! They make my day. Anyway, in this re-cap of a recent episode, Wolcott wrote:

This is an episode where so much is being left unspoken that the characters seem to be trance states set into motion, passing through each other in karmic flight. I could easily imagine an episode that dispensed with dialogue altogether, a mosaic of silent vignettes that would end on a shadowy note of irresolution.

First of all, how awesome is that? Secondly, how true is it?! So true! Of most of the episodes of Mad Men. I thought after I read that -- They might as well just shoot photographs of scenes and use them as a show -- for as much as I get out of what is going on between these characters. I mean, bring 'em to a full stand still if that's the effect you're going for, for crying out loud, and be done with it.

But, the last few episodes have been different. And I think it has to do with what Maureen Ryan wrote: It centered on the truth.

And not just the truth of Don's background, but the true way people engage each other or behave around each other, etc.

So much of Mad Men has been so weirdly forced to me. And then everyone's gotta look deeply into the crystal ball backwards to figure out what the hell they *actually* meant. And then they call it good writing! That's not good writing to me. That seems like a *trick* to me. I don't like being tricked.

Just felt like blabbing -- and wanted to add that.

[Claire]

Argh - my response was just eaten and it's my own blog!

Anways, thanks for the blabbing, you know I love it. This post was definitely for you, BG. In lieu of an email, I thought I'd use it as blog fodder. I'm out of the loop with Dexter. We don't get Showtime. It's something I need to Netflix.

I need to start reading Wolcott's recaps, because sometimes I find the recaps more interesting than the episodes. (And keep reading Mo Ryan's; she's really great.)

I agree with your feelings of it being forced. My big problem with the show is how heavy-handed I feel Matt Weiner is. It feels like he's forcing his worldview onto the story instead of just letting the characters take us there.

Thanks again for the blabbing!