MAD MEN -- Season FIVE Official Thread (part2)

Article about the season finale:
http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-phantom,80839/

 

I think I need to watch this again.

 

Peggy

>>>>I was surprised, as well. But.....I dont think we are going to see her regularly next season.

knowing the way Weiner writes, I think the scene with Don and Peggy meeting accidentally at the movies was to provide closure to the Peggy character.

Now, they are friends again, there is no conflict to resolve.
That was, I think, the whole purpose of the scenes with Peggy in the finale (which truthfully, were not needed) to provide closure to the Peggy character. Sure, we might see her a few times next season, but i think it will only be in passing ...and rightly so...there are too many other plots that I'd like to see developed. They have to do something with Roger......he's on a wall and can fall either way.

Tell you what.......those black and white scenes of Dons wife screen test were amazing. SO clever how they used the black and white 16 mm reel as a set up for the beautiful color scene of the "Beauty and the beast" test.....THAT was really, really clever filming. Good job!

 

Was that Megan's friend Emily talking to Don in the last scene? If so, it's very reminiscent of last year's finale where Don's latest wife does something selfish (refusing to allow Carla to accompany Don & the kids to California) and it results in a [potentially] significant hook-up for Don.

I love so many details about this show and one that always gives me a smile is how crappy the intercoms sounded back then. Another was how crappy the Casino Royale theme sounded when it kicked in. [And because I think way too much about these things: Don & Peggy must've seen the trailer, as the film opens with the "creditials" in the pissior scene.]

 

I agree.

 

No. But you're not the only person who thought that.

Megan's friend was Russian or something -- the girl in the bar was American.

 

Does anyone else here have Dish Network and thus missed last night's episode due to them changing the broadcast channel and screwing up the DVR recording? I was able to record a later broadcast on channel 9609 (which is crappy quality) but not being able to watch the season finale on its initial broadcast night is extremely irritating. Crap like this (battle between AMC and Dish, which are both being childish) makes me seriously consider dumping cable (or satellite, in our case) one of these days.

 

That was great. And it was interesting how Don never told anybody about Lane's embezzlement or how Don fired him. Plus the ongoing riffs on his brother's suicide -- also by hanging.

I had to explain to a friend of mine my theory that "You Only Live Twice" was used because Don Draper also had a previous life as Dick Whitman. And it's a 1967 song, so it works. (Though technically, it's from June, and I think we weren't quite that far into the year chronologically.)

That would be hilarious if Peggy develops the 1968 ad campaign for Virginia Slims, with "You've Come a Long Way, Baby." Even more interesting to reflect that Draper walked away from the cigarette ad business, while Peggy is embracing it.

Doh, it's gonna be hard to wait for new episodes...

There's always the hope that Pete will remind Joan why she was made a full partner, and she can just kick him in the azz and knock him down the elevator shaft. I gotta say, Pete is the most snivelling weasley TV character I can think of in recent history. Everything about him makes me wince.

 

Pete is the Eddie Haskel of Mad Men.

 

Matt Weiner discusses the season, and even addresses the elevator shaft question:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2...thew-weiner-reflects-on-the-season-so-far/?hp

 

Great interview, thanks for posting.

 

Wow, that was a great interview. The plots are obviously much deeper than I realized! At least I can cross that question off my list. Weiner is definitely a very thoughtful, interesting guy.

BTW, am I crazy, or did the opening titles for this final episode have a lot more colored graphics in them than they used to? I swear, I can't ever recall seeing that many billboards and ads float around on the buildings in previous shows.

 

Men taking care of the women, and he ladies not reciprocating. Take what they can from you then off they go.

Don gives in and gives the wife what she really wants.... Then literally and figuratively walks away... "screw it I'm outta here". Back to his old habits once he realizes he has another Betty on his hands.

Roger being told "don't expect me to take care of you".... Basically give me what I want it's not about you.

Peggy and Don's conversation at the movie theater.... About Peggy developing under him then taking off.

Trudy only concerned about what's next to buy (the pool) and making sure her husband has what he needs (the apartment) so long as he's meeting her own material needs.

Lanes own emotional needs not being met at home.... Existing solely to serve his wife's materialistic needs. And HOW DARE the firm encourage his ambitions! Don't they know Lane serves ME?

None of the men feel as if their own emotional needs are being taken care of.... So they live the life they are supposed to.... And then plot to live the one that gives them some pleasure..... You only live twice...

The ad campaign at the beginning..... "not cheap"..... Or are they? you've come a long way baby!

Quite the misogynistic theme all season long, for those of y'all tracking along between the lines....

 

Every episode has a much larger theme that all the subplots point towards. The plot points serve the characters and the themes, not the other way around. sopranos was also like this. The fun part is piecing it all together after an episode. On occasion I've posted my thoughts on this but none of you guys like to play along....!

 

At this rate I expect Peggy to appear in every episode next season... and stereoguy to show up here every week to tell us we won't be seeing her again.

 

Megan's conniving behavior -

I think that blonde at the bar in the last scene IS Megan's acting partner. My reasoning: recall that she and Megan are rehearsing at Don's apartment and she asks Megan to ask Don to help her get an audition. Megan is reluctant, but agrees. In a following scene between Megan and Don in their bedroom, am I the only one who thought that Megan was going to ask Don to consider her friend (the blonde) for the audition, yet was surprised to see her asking Don to consider her for the part? Up to now, Megan has appeared to be one of, if not, the most likeable character on the show, but this showed she can also be self-serving and will do what is necessary to get what she wants. Which gets me to my original point. No doubt Megan's actress friend finds out about this (in fact, the "shoot" is in the same space as the bar) and to extract revenge on Megan, intends to hurt her by having Don stray from the marriage. Thoughts?

 

I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a television series so much. While watching last week's episode, when Lane got in the Jaguar, I'm yelling at the tv, "don't do it Lane!" over and over again.

And I have to say, while watching the Lady Lazarus episode, I was shocked and so drawn into watching Megan. I was watching my daughter. It dumbfounded me. Everything about her, I saw my daughter. And it was funny: a few days later, my sister brought up this same thing. Both her and her husband had the same experience. I've never associated a tv or movie character so strongly with anyone I know, let alone family.

I love this show. I went to Best Buy with my other daughter over the weekend and picked up seasons 3 and 4 for $14.99 each.

 

My thoughts are.... it wasn't the same actress. Go back and watch it again.

 

It did screw up the recording for me, yes, but I was watching it live anyway, so I just set the DVR to record the 12:05 showing for later reference (and for my wife, who was passed out asleep about halfway through...)

I did miss the first five minutes or so, too, because I thought I would be able to just hit the DVR and play it back a few minutes late and catch up during the commerical breaks.

 

Post

>>>>>>So, you actually took the time to scroll thru hundreds of messages, just to pick out all my posts so you could quote them all. I guess you dont have much going on in your life.

 

There seems to be a crowd of people complaining that the show went out with a 'whimper'. I thought the tone was perfect, especially after the jaw-dropping events in the previous two episodes.

Speaking of jaw-dropping (and as mentioned already), that scene of the partners lined up in their future office almost made me tear up in it's perfection! The empty spot where Lane would be? OMG, probably the most perfect visual composition in the history of TV. Combine that with the stunning tracking shot of Don walking away from Megan's set and it's almost too much awesomeness.

The '...are you alone?' line at the very end in the bar is loaded with so much meaning. Obviously on the surface it opens the door for old cheating Don. Under the surface it's much more complicated. These are some very lonely people who will probably never be able to find true happiness.

God what a show! This season might not have been as beautifully paced and drawn out from a narrative perspective (season 3 was probably the best), but it stands out with the risks and dramatic shifts its explored. One of my favorite seasons.

dan c

 

I thought Marry A Carrot's tabulation of your anti-Peggy posts was extremely amusing.
I anticipate your next hilarious addition with glee.

 

I absolutely knew no one would go flying down that shaft. Way too obvious! I'm relieved actually because it would just seem so cheap. Looking back now that empty elevator takes on all sorts of new meaning, what with Lane's sad demise along with the departure of both Megan and Peggy from the firm. It's an emotional free-fall for Don.

dan c

 

Matthew Weiner, in that interview posted upthread in post #135, said specifically that no one was going to fall down the shaft!

BTW, they updated that interview after the season finale too:
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2...creator-matthew-weiner-discusses-the-phantom/

Great interview, again.

Not to stir up trouble, but: