tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post2948956606181661215..comments2024-03-18T13:50:45.615-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: Mad Men, "Six Month Leave": Be careful what you wish forAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-6266799007742409512010-01-27T05:55:17.798-05:002010-01-27T05:55:17.798-05:00I'm just working my way through the second ser...I'm just working my way through the second series on DVD before the third starts on BBC ... might need to get a move on as it begins tonight!<br />Just wanted to say, as no-one appears to have spotted it, that Don's anger with Roger at the end is not just because he used him as an excuse to break up with Mona. Roger manipulated Don into opening up. Jane, the one person who knew about Don's marriage problems, obviously told her lover Roger, who in turn used the information to open Don up. And Don doesn't like being opened up by anyone. <br />I just think it's great there's a TV series with such rich characterisation, and where the audience has to do at least some of the work itself. <br />p.s. And obviously, given the theme of living alone, the ad campaign was for Samsonite. However did Don think up the tagline "you're never alone with a Samsonite," you wonder.Dan Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09172908686710716009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1073352854810671092009-11-15T01:52:51.712-05:002009-11-15T01:52:51.712-05:00I would venture that the woman in the green dress ...I would venture that the woman in the green dress is a prostitute, and dropping in on Don and Roger to see if they're interested in her services.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-67264331419710092812009-01-02T13:17:00.000-05:002009-01-02T13:17:00.000-05:00why didn't i think of googling???i was just so thr...why didn't i think of googling???<BR/><BR/>i was just so thrilled to have the episodes retagged by season (thannks Alan) I have to start season 2 of HIMYM (with bloggage)Pamela Jayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06135379188588301400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-90556361336772156412009-01-02T04:52:00.000-05:002009-01-02T04:52:00.000-05:00I gotta' commend you on your work with these blogs...I gotta' commend you on your work with these blogs. You must really sit down and give each episode the proper thought to churn out such great write-ups.<BR/><BR/>I'm working through the second season as we speak and I've found myself instinctively googling your blog entries for each episode I watch. It's always enlightening and helps me catch things that I wasn't immediately privy to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-24883685458750384522008-12-07T23:38:00.000-05:002008-12-07T23:38:00.000-05:00The "Yellow Wallpaper" that Betty puts up is a ref...The "Yellow Wallpaper" that Betty puts up is a reference to a famous proto-feminist story "Yellow Wallpaper" written in 1892 by Charotte Gilman:<BR/><BR/><I>The narrator is a woman whose husband — a physician — has confined her to the upstairs bedroom of a house he has rented for the summer. She is forbidden from working and has to hide her journal entries from him so that she can recuperate from what he has diagnosed as a "temporary nervous depression — a slight hysterical tendency;" a diagnosis common to women in that period.[1] The windows of the room are barred, and there is a gate across the top of the stairs, allowing her husband to control her access to the rest of the house.<BR/>The story illustrates the effect of confinement on the narrator's mental health, and her descent into psychosis. With nothing to stimulate her, she becomes obsessed by the pattern and color of the room's wallpaper. "It is the strangest yellow, that wall-paper! It makes me think of all the yellow things I ever saw — not beautiful ones like buttercups, but old foul, bad yellow things. But there is something else about that paper — the smell! ... The only thing I can think of that it is like is the color of the paper! A yellow smell."[2]</I>Quantumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18268443505509349437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-83262325568717117982008-10-10T12:47:00.000-04:002008-10-10T12:47:00.000-04:00yeah, you're right... typo on my part. The traile...yeah, you're right... typo on my part. The trailer shown was for <I>Revolutionary Road</I>, based on the Yates novel, not the inferior but similarly named <I>Reservation Road</I>.Shawn Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05703481653646144923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-65265257180404766942008-10-10T11:11:00.000-04:002008-10-10T11:11:00.000-04:00Hey to drake leLane: I'm so glad someone brought u...Hey to drake leLane: I'm so glad someone brought up a Richard Yates reference to this show because all along, especially the 1st season, I've noticed the comparisons (down to the emotionally disturbed boy next door who connects with the vulnerable wife). But just a small correction...the novel is "Revolutionary Road" and has nothing to do with the 2007movie "Reservation Road."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-6647250721174075642008-10-08T22:30:00.000-04:002008-10-08T22:30:00.000-04:00Seemed like an empty Wednesday night of TV (after ...Seemed like an empty Wednesday night of TV (after 'Pushing Daisies' and 'Bones' [recorded]), so I watched "Six Months Leave" again.<BR/><BR/>A lot of comparisons for this series with 'The Sopranos', understandably, but with this episode I was put in mind with another mob story - 'The Godfather'. All through the scenes in which Freddie was being shipped out by Roger and Don, I kept thinking of Clemenza taking Paulie for that last ride. This was the ad men's version of it, I guess.Toby O'Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06999037844031101965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-91555156965140139192008-10-03T23:04:00.000-04:002008-10-03T23:04:00.000-04:00Deseree Eve - I kicked myself for missing the sign...Deseree Eve - I kicked myself for missing the significance of that woman in the green dress. It should have been obvious that something was up when Roger didn't respond to her at all. He usually would have been all over that and the fact that he wasn't interested makes sense now that we know about Jane. Subtle foreshadowing? Love this show.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-12716352491878826232008-10-02T15:46:00.000-04:002008-10-02T15:46:00.000-04:00Wow, I don't normally get emotional over TV shows,...Wow, I don't normally get emotional over TV shows, but I was on the verge of tears throughout this episode. Mad Men is often criticized as depressing, but I think 'sad' or 'tragic' is a better description. This episode was both; from Marilyn to Freddy to Roger - these are all people who the life and times of the era caught up to and overwhelmed. I've liked Joel Murray's work on the show, but that last line, 'Goodbye Don', broke my heart; I've seen others fall to pieces in the same way, and watching Don put him on the cab to his eventual slow-burn to suicide hurt too much to watch. <BR/><BR/>This show is incredible, and though I enjoyed the first season, this one is right on par with Season 2 of The Sopranos for best season of any show, period. <BR/><BR/>PS Betty is punishing Sara Beth's husband by setting her up with Arthur; according to SB, he's perfect, and Betty sees herself as the perfect wife. Her destructive streak is far too big to be contained solely within her own household - she can feel better about her situation by wreaking havoc on other 'perfect' families, too. Betty is becoming my favorite character on the show, although she's a bit too much like Carmella on The Sopranos (another monster who stood by on the sidelines and silently judged others while often being far worse than the ones she was judging).Tully Moxnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10438180293942743843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-60680664258156722642008-10-02T08:14:00.000-04:002008-10-02T08:14:00.000-04:00Wow, a long thread for a rich episode. Just chippi...Wow, a long thread for a rich episode. Just chipping in that Pete pointedly cut Don out to Peggy when they needed to deal with the Frddie situation; he's just making power plays against Don, which expecting a raise is part of. Pete will never undervalue himself. Can't wait till he meets Peggy's kid...blogwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07362291687463326731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-51417566913455237402008-10-02T03:59:00.000-04:002008-10-02T03:59:00.000-04:00Betty and the whole SB/Arthur set up: I think this...Betty and the whole SB/Arthur set up: I think this was a case of shit or get off the damn toilet seat. <BR/><BR/>1. SB talking about how she dreams of Arthur is not the first time she has mentioned this. Almost every time she is with Betty she mentions how interesting Arthur is or how she has dreamed about him. <BR/><BR/>2. Betty can see through Arthur's game. He reminds a bit of Pete being the unsatisfied playboy about to marry some girl for her money. However before going down the aisle he is eliciting from all the "profoundly sad" and "bored" housewives (note how Betty sees him being flirty with some chick before calling out to him(<BR/><BR/>SB come over and talks about her easy marriage, her boredom, and them mentions Arthur. Betty tells her it's a switch you can turn on and off (we all get tempted, but in the end it's a choice). She sets up SB and Arthur to test if SB is going to be faithful to her husband or choose to cheat. From it SB will see something that shows her she must stay away from Arthur, or cure her boredom with an affair. Either this would most likely lead the two out of Betty's life, which I think right now is what she wants.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-18550860122706635362008-10-01T15:48:00.000-04:002008-10-01T15:48:00.000-04:00Re: "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit," ...Re: "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit," I caught that one too. Great movie. <BR/><BR/>My immediate question was, if it was intended as an inside wink to those in the blogosphere who were speculatin' hot & heavy last year about whether Don's big secret was that he's Jewish.wjmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14787297517207269385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-29246422278819904712008-10-01T14:14:00.000-04:002008-10-01T14:14:00.000-04:00I'm late and I don't have time to read through all...I'm late and I don't have time to read through all of the posts, so I apologize if this has already been mentioned. Two of my favorite piece of dialogue from the Roger, Don and Freddie night out: A) When they're talking about getting sober and how one guy "only drinks beer now" as if that equaled sobriety. B) When Roger needs $5 to give to the doorman, he turns and without really looking and asks Freddie for $5. Then he realizes it's Freddie and says, "Umm, not you" and then turns to Don.<BR/><BR/>Great touches.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-71864588319076110832008-10-01T14:01:00.000-04:002008-10-01T14:01:00.000-04:00someone just had a mind-glitch. Polly Draper was o...someone just had a mind-glitch. <A HREF="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0237164/" REL="nofollow">Polly Draper</A> was on 30something. I knew it sounded familiar, and there are cery few people I'm aware of that are named Polly.<BR/><BR/>Personally, I know a guy named Peter Benson. Lo these mant years later, I have to stop and make sure I don't refer to him as Peter Benton.Pamela Jayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06135379188588301400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-77248326329436082492008-10-01T13:28:00.000-04:002008-10-01T13:28:00.000-04:00*Alan, do you read comments? Do cast members/show...*Alan, do you read comments? Do cast members/show creators?<BR/>*Every scene, line, shot means something.<BR/>*Surprised Peggy said, "I love Freddie." Will she help him as Don came to the hospital and helped her?<BR/>*Peggy has shown little emotion all season. Last season, feelings would cross her face - gifted actor. Ingrid Bergman was described as doing this, too.<BR/>*I think the book Don mails at the end of Season 2, Episode 1 went to Rachel.<BR/>*Pete is one of my faves. When his dad died, he asked Don what to do; like most people, he wants to do what is expected, but doesn't know what that is.<BR/>*What happened to that little boy in the first season that was the only person Betty could confide in? I miss him. Not like this show to drop a storyline like that. Hope he comes back.<BR/>*Best Wishes, FrancineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-52345393146146089062008-10-01T10:55:00.000-04:002008-10-01T10:55:00.000-04:00Great episode.As for speculation that Freddie Rums...Great episode.<BR/><BR/>As for speculation that Freddie Rumson may kill himself...I dunno. Oddly enough, he seems like a remarkably self-aware, well-adjusted alcoholic wreck. Not depressive at all. His wondering who he is without the office to come to seemed more like genuine existential bewilderment, not despair. Maybe it's the actor's performance, but it seems to me that Freddie's more likely to end up sleeping under a bridge than hanging from a light fixture.<BR/><BR/>Betty, on the other hand....Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15582136184196524214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-38824888199257400472008-10-01T09:32:00.000-04:002008-10-01T09:32:00.000-04:00cgeye, I think Roger absolutely still thinks of Jo...cgeye, I think Roger absolutely still thinks of Joan as his. Joan knows it too. Would any other woman at SC even consider going into his office when he's not there? Other than Jane, of course, but she's a nervy little thing. She didn't even start lower on the food chain the way Joan did with Paul. She went right for Roger. No matter what her current status is with Roger, she doesn't have what it takes to be his girl forever. Not that I think being Roger's girl forever is a prize. The man is schmuck of the first order.<BR/><BR/>The scheme you propose might be cockeyed on Roger's part, but your theory isn't. Roger's desperate, so I imagine that nothing seems too crazy to him right now. I'm long past making assumptions about Mad Men.<BR/><BR/>Dennis, if Sally hadn't just recently walked in on her parents in bed, I might be less skeptical about her showing early signs of promiscuity. No doubt she'll have daddy issues, but what woman doesn't, no matter what kind of childhood she had. I saw her question to Paul as inappropriate but innocent. Or maybe I'm just weirded out at the idea of Sally losing that innocence so soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-24332481854628017112008-10-01T02:14:00.000-04:002008-10-01T02:14:00.000-04:00I know, this is drunk logic, but what if when Joan...I know, this is drunk logic, but what if when Joan admonished Roger for being so callous, he had the idea in the back of his head that "I know what'll make you feel better, doll -- a wedding proposal".<BR/><BR/>and once he went on the town with Don, that idea just wouldn't leave his head.... <BR/><BR/>Until the next day he calls Mona in and tells her he's leaving her for "his secretary".<BR/><BR/>Even though he's schtupping Jane, Roger could, yes, still consider Joan his, and that if he makes the grand gesture in time, he wouldn't *lose* Joan, he wouldn't have to mourn something else he's lost (like his youth, faith in marriage if any, etc.). It's a cockeyed scheme, but if Roger's hungry for drama after being shunted to the side like Cooper due to alterkockerness, then why not start it up at work, and see what happens?<BR/><BR/>It's better than being bored and waiting for the next heart attack.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-17917313373151854862008-10-01T00:19:00.000-04:002008-10-01T00:19:00.000-04:00I love the show and all of the comments! Quick que...I love the show and all of the comments! <BR/><BR/>Quick question, what was the deal with the woman in the green dress that lingered, staring at Roger and Don in the casino? I just can't figure it out...Deseree Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02063646224388699837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-51330066025548211172008-09-30T23:51:00.000-04:002008-09-30T23:51:00.000-04:00Someone may have already mentioned this, and if so...Someone may have already mentioned this, and if so, I apologize, but to add to the suggestion/thought that there may be a suicide ahead: after Roger dismisses Joan's emotional response to MM's death, she says something like, "Someday you'll lose someone close to you. You'll see." I don't know - maybe I'm reading too much into things, but I felt that line was intentionally ominous, and I'm curious to see what/if that means for what happens ahead.<BR/><BR/>I also love all of the irony in the episode - Duck is all over Freddy's firing because it's "conduct unbecoming," yet we know he's off the wagon. And Don scolding the guys for laughing at Freddy - "it's just a man's name" - yet it's okay for him to parade around with an identity he's usurped? <BR/><BR/>LOVE THIS SHOW, and love reading the smart things you all have to say, too!Jeremy and Lisa Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16905882491182180724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-85973746492560013612008-09-30T22:33:00.000-04:002008-09-30T22:33:00.000-04:00I know I am very late on this, but I didn't get ar...I know I am very late on this, but I didn't get around to watching the episode until tonight. Did anyone else notice the elevator operator's Invisible Man reference? I don't remember the exact dialogue now, but he clearly stated something about people existing but not being noticed. The camera lingered on him for an extra second.Graighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13145559315195940338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-88556235681380063722008-09-30T22:14:00.000-04:002008-09-30T22:14:00.000-04:00Look Ma', another mind-boggling obscure but st...Look Ma', another mind-boggling obscure but strangely just right reference!<BR/><BR/>Jimmy calls Don "The man in the gray flannel suit" before Don socks him, which likely refers to this Gregory Peck film (which itself is based on a fine, kinda forgotten novel):<BR/><BR/>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images<BR/>/B0009NZ2OW/ref=dp_image_text_0?ie=<BR/>UTF8&n=130&s=dvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-54670974674704190602008-09-30T21:49:00.000-04:002008-09-30T21:49:00.000-04:00I don't think it's stretching at all. It looks lik...I don't think it's stretching at all. It looks like she's gonna have Daddy issues and I don't think anything's for nothing in this series so I look back at the ep where she went to the office with her Dad as a precursor to her future.Dennishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09130711642386374186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-23664657884976784642008-09-30T19:44:00.000-04:002008-09-30T19:44:00.000-04:00And given Polly Draper's early hints towards promi...<I>And given Polly Draper's early hints towards promiscuity</I><BR/><BR/>Pardon my nitpicking, but Polly is the Draper's dog. Sally is their daughter. <BR/><BR/>And I think it's a huge stretch to see early hints of promiscuity from an eight year old girl.<BR/><BR/>Whitney, I've always loved the way Hildy treats Pete. I think she'd smack him if she thought she could get away with it. I'm surprised she doesn't regularly pull pranks on him just to torture him. She'd never be caught. He would assume it was one of the guys.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com