Anyone here watch Mad Men?
Just wondering what people's thoughts were on what will happen in next week's finale. I was shocked they had the JFK assassination this week instead of next, but like that they did so that we can see next week how people recover from it. After the episode I just kept flashing back to 9/11 as my frame of reference for how the characters were responding.
So, does Betty leave Don?
Do Pete and/or Peggy leave Sterling Cooper?
Does Joan ditch her rappy husband?
Is Sterling Cooper sold? If so, to who?
Does Hilton kick Don when he's down? Or does Don violate his contract with Sterling Cooper and start his own firm with Hilton as the top client?
What happened to Sal?
I love this show.
Craig
So, does Betty leave Don?
Do Pete and/or Peggy leave Sterling Cooper?
Does Joan ditch her rappy husband?
Is Sterling Cooper sold? If so, to who?
Does Hilton kick Don when he's down? Or does Don violate his contract with Sterling Cooper and start his own firm with Hilton as the top client?
What happened to Sal?
I love this show.
Craig
Comments
Now you've ruined this week's download for me!
They kill JFK! OMG!!
Actually, I'd assumed it wasn't on this week as it hasn't appeared in any of the usual places online, so thanks, I'll check again tonight.
:-)
I know you old worlders only watch because of Pryce and Hooker anyway, though, so I won't feel too bad.
Craig
Well, that and the overall excellent writing/acting etc.
Far more fun than Bobbi Barrett.
Craig
Edit: Just as an afterthought, that lawnmower scene was the kind that makes paying 8.99/month for the DVR Cable Box worthwhile, because I was like,"WTF!", and had to watch it over again to figure out what had happened and that that thing she was driving was a mower (yeah, I'm a city boy).
Another question I have is, does Roger dump Jane?
K - Excellent question. Roger seemed to have fixed his philandering ways, but now he clearly views Joan as the one that got away and with Jane being such a ditz I can see him going back to Joan. I sure as heck would be with Joan 1000 times before Jane. Joan absolutely rules that show.
Craig
So, does Betty leave Don?
Before this week, I'd have said no, but I think Mr Politics (can't remember his character's name) was actually SERIOUS about that marriage proposal. With Betty's conflicting feelings for her father & her father's recent death, not to MENTION finding out she's married to a real Dick (tee hee), she might just go for marriage with her older man. Remember 1st season, the scandalous divorced neighbor woman with the child? Betty is in no way ready to be a divorced woman with 3 kids, even with the money from her dad's house. She's the type of gal to have a plan B. Oh. And by the way. She needs another Roman beehive hairdo for the finale when she tells Don she wants a divorce.
Do Pete and/or Peggy leave Sterling Cooper?
Hmm, this is a tough one, since it depends on
Is Sterling Cooper sold? If so, to who?
Yes they get sold, to Conrad Hilton. Haha. I should google the real Hilton, but I'm too lazy. I wonder if Hilton ever owned an ad agency. Anyway, I think the sale of the company is a very good possibility for the season finale. They haven't developed the Brit characters very much at all, and we won't care if they just fade away back to London. Which will make what's-his-name's wife happy, since she loathes NYC.
As for Pete leaving, yes. He needs to start his own ad agency. But he needs to stay on the show and steal some SC clients so we can hate him even more, that little prick. He just can't stomach Ken's promotion to VP.
Now Peggy, she is going to stay at SC not because she's done with Duck, but out of a misguided sense of loyalty. The new owners will give her Sal's old job. She is of course one of my fave characters, a woman making it in a man's world. She needs to become more jaded and for god's sake, get a makeover. There was only that one episode where she got dolled up, and if this show is true to life, she's not going to get anywhere in those dumpy outfits she keeps wearing. She smoked some marijuana; now maybe she'll drop some LSD and get all Mary Quant in some future season.
What happened to Sal?
He got the shit beat out of him at that bus stop he called his wife from the night he got fired.
I just kept flashing back to 9/11 as my frame of reference for how the characters were responding.
I did this, too. I remember being at a party with older people and they all remembered EXACTLY where they were when they heard Kennedy had been shot.
Anyone else have any predictions?
Woops ~ how did I gloss over Joan? Loved her whacking her clueless husband with the flower vase. While her hubby is off to basic training & Vietnam, she is sure to get up to some hijinx. So yeah, she gets rid of him, but doesn't get divorced. Widowhood will suit her.
Betty leaving Don: I just don't see it happening. She's reeling based on finding "Dick in a box" (I love that joke), the death of her father, and JFK. All of these things so close together has made her feel like she has no control over her life (which she doesn't) so she is entertaining thoughts of leaving and marrying Henry because that is the one thing she feels she can control. In the end though I think she reverts to her notions of not wanting the world to look down on her and decides to stay in a loveless marriage. She does need to bring the beehive back though. She was GORGEOUS in Rome.
Pete and Peggy: I agree Peggy doesn't leave. She and Don are kindred spirits and even though Don improperly takes other frustrations out on her with some regularity they really need each other. For Pete I have absolutely no idea. He was an absolute punk for season one, but seemed to be getting better and actually became one of Don's bootlickers on the Hilton stuff until his nasty interlude with the German nanny. Then again he did appear to be genuinely distraught over what he'd done when Trudy returned. I guess I just have no idea how to predict what that character would do.
Sal: I think he was actually at the area of Central Park (I can't remember what it's called) that became a gay mecca during that time period, so I'm guessing he's exploring his true self. I don't see Peggy taking his job though because she's not an artist. I think that spot is reserved for a new character.
Joan: Sadly, I think you're right. She deserves so much better than that ass, and the flower vase was probably my favorite seen in the entire series.
Roger: I don't think he'll leave Jane because he won't want to admit that everyone that thought he was an idiot for divorcing Mona for her was right.
Sterling Cooper: Will be sold, but I'm not sure to whom. Interesting idea on Hilton, though. It's a definite possibility.
I'll have to check out the site you mentioned when I get a chance.
Craig
Peggy could get his job, though - weren't they both in creative? "Everybody hates creative."
The Brits said Sal can't be replaced - the guy Don wanted was too expensive - so maybe they'll just dump additional duties on Peggy and she'll become more powerful.
Um, it wasn't until I read some online reviews that I understood why Peggy was in the office at the end. That AquaNet commercial needed to be rewritten to not have a convertible, since JFK just met his demise in one. I am sure I've missed hundreds of little details like that!
I think both Peggy and Sal were in creative, but they were very different jobs. Sal was in charge of actually creating the artwork while Peggy comes up with what should be on it. We'll soon see, though!
Craig
Craig
Craig
But seen the finale now and yes, very satisfying!
Hah! My prediction was correct about Betty asking for a divorce. We'll see if it actually happens. Six weeks in Reno might turn up some things between Betty & Frank Henry?
Halfway right in Connie Hilton being somehow involved in the sale of SC. Absolutely brilliant that they made the buyers a firm Roger, Bert, and Don all couldn't stand...
Lane's wife isn't going to be happy at staying in NYC. Loved the scene where he cheerfully got fired.
So Pete DID go to a new agency, in a way...interviewed at Ogilvie and would have left SC, rather than work anywhere near Ken Cosgrove. Interesting, that Trudy pitched in and got Pete the Clearasil account back, after getting it taken away since he wouldn't adopt.
Peggy was perfect, telling Don off. And telling Roger "No" to getting coffee.
They better be paying Joan a lot! The couldn't have done it without her.
Dang, they can't bring back Sal if they keep the Lucky Strike account. Do they keep the Lucky Strike account? Roger seemed to think it was a given, but I'm not so sure...it could make for some good angst next season.
There were lots of laughs in this episode but also a lot of sadness (for the Draper kids especially). I do think one of the telling things the show has brought out in the last few episodes is just how few options a woman like Betty had -- even by most standards a very privileged woman, she still faces very meager choices, in which she will probably be the loser.
Best part of the episode in my opinion was how everyone wanted Don to be the one to convince them to do what needed to be done. First, Roger demanded to hear it from Don rather than Cooper, then Pete would only listen to him and not Roger, and finally Peggy only came on board when Don put it all out there. It really demonstrated how powerful of a personality Don is, in that everyone (even a guy like Roger) is desperate for his approval. It also shows how poor Don and Betty's relationship is because for her all he could muster was to tell her that it had been a difficult couple of weeks and that everything would be fine. It wasn't until he came to grips with the fact that he had lost her permanently that he was able to give her what she wanted, but of course at that point what she wanted was to move on with her life.
I'm so glad Joan is back. She is just so fantastic, and she had two of the top lines of the night when they were leaving SC. First, she just kind of sighs "my husband's going to kill me", but you could hear how happy she was in that sigh. Then when Don asks her to find him an apartment, she asks if it is to be furnished and he responds "for now", that's all it takes in her awesome Joanness to know the whole story and she simply says "I'm sorry."
My favorite moment though was when Paul decides to check Peggy's office at the end and he finds it empty. His face is great as his usual facade of pompousness just collapses in the realization of his own unimportance. I hope they find a way to keep his character around though because he's a great bit player.
Good lord, as I'm typing this I keep coming up with more great moments and I'm realizing just what truly great television that was last night.
Okay, I simply have to edit to add that the little girl who plays Sally is a ridiculously good actress. The scene in the living room was absolutely heart breaking.
Craig
All the points you all made are spot on.
I'd just like to add that they caught the mixed feelings of excitement and 'what the hell are we doing?' really nicely.
Can't wait for next season now :-)
Craig
Completely agree....I want to see more of the transition/aftermath of these changes!
I also expect that the Drapers will be divorced, so I'll guess it will be February or March 1964.
Craig
I don't want to post any spoilers....did y'all see it yet?