Mad Men Season Five Discussion Thread

[Barnes]

Comment from the article:

For Sale: Barn Find! 1967 XK-E low miles, one owner. stored in NYC parking garage since 1967. All books, paper work, garden hose, needs work. Call 555-5435 ask for Mrs Pryce.

Lol

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

At the risk of sounding morose, I now know where Joan is going to slide into in terms of day to day operations as a partner.

Ya someone (think it might have been been Lane) has said on the show before that Joan could do his job

[Joborule]

It was Lane. One of the earlier eps of the season I believe.

[MrMastodonFarm]

What an episode, what a show.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

What an episode, what a show. Ooooooh, BABY!

Bob Cole-d yp.

[octothorp]

I don't care what Jared Harris chooses to do next, I'm watching it. Between this and Fringe, he's one of my favorite TV actors right now... Well, he was, but with both those characters dying within a month of one-another, hopefully he'll pop up in something else worthy of his talents soon.

[Caged Great]

Richard Harris' son definitely turned out to be a pretty good actor in his own right, and I agree I'll definitely watch whatever he will be up to next.

[dsavillian]

Poor Lane.

He was fast becoming one of my favourite characters.


[read that in a british accent for maximum effect]

[Joborule]

What is Regina?

[nik-]

Probably the weakest of the finales, but those last few minutes starting with Don walking away from the set was amazing. Classic Mad Men tone.

[d_phaneuf]

best line of the night for me was when Pete said Don I give you my proxy and walked out

"we can do that?"

last two episodes kind of reminded me of how the wire would end the season, the penultimate episode is basically the culmination of the season and the actual finale is characters reaction to it

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Weakest of the season finales, but still a strong season overall.

I don't see how this doesn't win its fifth best drama Emmy. Everything about this show from the writing to set design to the directing is always top notch.

[Hells Bells]

Megan acted like an 8 year old girl the entire episode.

I hope another Draper divorce is in the works for season 6.

[sun]

I thought the final two episodes were a step down from an otherwise fantastic season. Loved the Megan's mother's line about how "If every girl can get her fondest wish, there would be a lot more ballerinas." Summed up the season.

More than anything though, I was disappointed that the nudity disclaimer at the beginning of the episode amounted to nothing more than Roger's ass.

[Tinordi]

I don't get the Meghan hate. I think she's been a fantastic addition to the series.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by sun

More than anything though, I was disappointed that the nudity disclaimer at the beginning of the episode amounted to nothing more than Roger's ass.

Yeah, that sucked. When Don started watching Megan's film, I thought it was going to result in some awkward "casting couch" sort of thing.

Originally Posted by Tinordi

I don't get the Meghan hate. I think she's been a fantastic addition to the series.

I also don't understand it. I think a lot of people like Don the cheating jerk, so seeing him as a faithful husband confuses them.

I like Megan, and think she's a good anti-Betty for both Don and Sally. Megan's mother though, mon dieu!


Poor Trudy deserves so much better. She should ditch Pete and go enroll in a Community College.


Good to see Peggy again. She's come a long way, baby...Hey, that would make a good slogan for something.


The two shots at the end -- the partners looking out the window and Don walking away from the set -- were both brilliantly composed.

[Tinordi]

Agreed, I think there's just some ambient sexism in the dislike of Megan, Betty, etc. You see it for the hate Skyler gets in Breaking Bad as well. Male viewers respond to these women holding these awesome men back. When in reality they are likely helping to save them or make them better people.

I like Megan because I like that she's a young woman to an old-school Don Draper and Don has had to adjust. It's been written very convincingly actually that Don just can't continue to be himself because Megan is young enough and capable enough to just leave him. Some of the best moments in the whole series are Megan standing up to Don in a way that he's never experienced before. I love it when she calls him out. This idea that Don needs to live up to her by being more of a honest man is a great pivot for the series.

[jdso]

I really liked having a woman stand up to Don and seeing Don staying faithful so that he doesn't lose Megan. I think their relationship might be done. The issue I see is that Don might have lost respect for Megan by getting him to get her the part or is completely out of his element in seeing his other half getting some success. This also seems to parallel Peggy leaving ("That’s what happens when you help someone. They succeed and move on.” ).

Anyone think the old Don Draper is back? (ordering an old fashioned, getting hit on by random women?)

[Flash Walken]

I think that's exactly what it was, jdso.

Don meets up with peggy, has that conversation, goes to the office and watches Megan's real. He realizes she's good, that he can help her, and that once she's successful she won't need him anymore.

When he's leaving the set, he's set her up to be a success, feels good about himself and now has justification to 'move on' from their relationship.

[gottabekd]

Hmm, I thought the final question at the end was a little cheesy. I also thought it had an obvious answer (that Don has a loving wife, so the cheating is done). But I see what you guys are getting at.

I commented before that Megan's character was going downhill. I just assumed they would fix it, but maybe not. She has been acting childish, and Don still likes to control her a bit too much.

Really, Peggy is the woman he has shown the most respect for...