Mad Men: Shut the Door, Have a Seat.
Nov. 9th, 2009 11:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
falafel_musingsShut the Door, Have a Seat: Review
How about I just change the title of this to 'The Most Pwnsome Episode of Anything Ever'? I'd been wondering if I'd ever love a new Mad Men episode more than I loved 'Nixon Vs Kennedy' or 'Meditations on an Emergency'. I think this episode has done it. I felt like cheering the whole time, except for the moments I felt like crying. It was such a fucking good episode. S4 is going to be incredible...
Awesome New Agency is Awesome!!! Firstly I loved that the show (finally!) got back to having Sterling Cooper as the main story and the Draper marriage being the subplot, because I think this episode is a testement to why the balance is so much better that way. But GAH!! I had been hoping for a New Agency all season long!! At this stage I'd almost given up on the idea. I thought S3 was going to end up with everyone scattered. And instead we get a new dream team coming together. I loved it! I just loved how the awesome conspiracy kept getting more and more awesome as the episode progressed. It was like the episode of The West Wing when they show Leo putting Team Bartlett together. And Mad Men could really use some of that West Wing team spirit.
Could I love Lane MORE?!! He'd be my new favourite character, if I didn't love Peggy and Pete so hard. I just loved everything that Lane did this episode, from joyfully firing Don, Bert and Roger to joyfully being fired by his nasty snooty overlords - "Merry Christmas!" Lane is simply joyful with his whole "Ooh, rebellion...what fun!" attitude. I'm sooo happy he is staying.
I completely loved everyone this episode including Don and Betty. I'm proud of this show that they didn't copout on the divorce. It was time for it, they had earned it and it even sort of justified the excessive Don/Betty screentime in S3. This was a very definitive ending and if Don/Betty ever reconcile it won't be for a long long time. I loved their close-to-violent confrontation after Don found out about Henry Francis. For a man who ritually commits adultery, it really did seem to shock Don that Betty was capable of straying too. Some of the things Don said about Betty were true. Betty isn't good and she has been crafting a life raft for herself, but even so it took real backbone for Betty to stand up to Don like that. She is a tiny little woman and Don is an intimidating bastard, but Betty didn't flinch. It wasn't just Don's physical menacing but his attempt at gaslighting, telling Betty she was sick and needed to see a doctor. I was willing Betty not to cave. And then when Don grabbed her by her nightdress and called her a whore he put the final nail in their marriage himself. Note to self Don: you don't get to call anyone else a whore. Nobody can out-whore you on this show.
The scene where they told Sally and Bobby made me cry. I'm a child of divorce. Me and my little brother went through a scene remarkably like that one when we are kids and well...there's not much else I can say about that. Ouch show. But it made me relieved that my parents are NOT Don and Betty Draper. I think Carla should get custody. The only thing that disappointed me a little was Don deciding he wasn't going to fight Betty in the end. Because, man...that fight was starting to get good!
Back to the Sterling Coup. This story was so outstandingly brilliant. I loved how they brought everyone together and then totally robbed the office. And how much did I love the scene where Don and Roger came to recruit Pete? Quite a lot let me tell you. That Pete was planning to meet his bosses in his famous pyjamas had me giggling right from the start. Trudy shouting instructions to Pete from another room was even funnier. I loved Roger smirking at Pete's attempts to play hardball. Most of all I loved that Pete's terms basically came down too - "I'll bring you all my accounts if Don admits that he loves me". And how Don's response to that was basically - "Bitch, we both know you love it when I treat you mean and keep you keen." But I love that Don and the show finally acknowledged that Pete is the one with a clear vision of where the future is headed. So we'll finally see a progressive agency in S4. Woot!
I loved the return of Don/Pete, Don/Peggy and Don/Roger. Nice to see Don appreciating his friends and actually treating them with respect. I especially loved the Don/Roger scenes. Like this! Don: "I can't believe he was going to leave." Roger: "That little shit." Heeee! I love that Don/Roger are still united in their contempt for Pete Campbell, even though that contempt now seems warmer and big brotherish. Like, I seriously think these guys are all going to work well together despite their differences.
I love that they brought Harry onboard. Cos I heart Harry Crane. The elevator scene with Pete attempting to be conspiratorial was hilarious, especially with the "Harry's here! Quick everyone, hide our evil plans!" as they entered the office. Then Cooper threatening to lock Harry in the storage cuboard and Harry's poor scared face! I'd forgotten how much I adore Bertrum.
From this point on the story just got more and more awesome. I love Peggy so much it hurts. I love how bruised she was by Don's treatment of her and yet how self-assertive she was (without being arrogant). Just like Betty I was willing Peggy not to give into Don, even though I wanted her for the Awesome Agency too. But when Don acknowledged his personal connection with Peggy - echoing both their scene in the mental hospital and the Pete/Peggy "It's just gone" scene - that was when I was practically yelling for Peggy to take up Don's offer.
And this. Roger: "Peggy will you get me some coffee." Peggy: "No." *looooovees!!*
Of course, this episode exploded with awesome when Joan arrived. I so knew that Roger was going to call Joan. Who didn't? I loved that the context for Joan's return was - "Crap! We don't know where anything is or how this office even works." Joan to the rescue! I loved it. It already feels like Joan is the boss of the new Awesome Agency. Can she be the boss? She should be.
Pete walking out of the offices with his rifle over his shoulder *loves* Roger telling Don to leave the doors unlocked *loves* The final darkened shot of the Sterling Cooper offices *cries, but loves*...the future will be better than the past.
Like most fans the only thing missing for me was Sal. When they were kicking in the 'Fart Department' door I was really hoping someone would think to call Sal and bring him onto the new team. But then, their main account is Lucky Strike. Damn it. I really hope they find a way to bring Sal back in S4 but it's going to be very difficult. Not just because of Lee Garner junior; I also find it hard to imagine Sal forgiving Don and Roger for the way they treated him. I'm also worried about Ken and Kinsey being left out of the exodus. I hope we'll see them again in some fashion. The same goes for Kurt, Smitty, Hildy, Mr Hooker and Lois.
But those final hotel scenes got me so so excited. Pete and Peggy sharing a desk!! Seriously, Pete and Peggy are sharing a desk and now S3 is ending! Noooooo! Damn you to hell, Weiner!! And then Trudy bringing everyone lunch, bless her. Give Trudy a job already. It really seems like she wants to be involved and she is such a great team player. I loved Pete and Trudy's victory kiss. I can't believe that S3 has made me a Pete/Trudy fan while still making me yearn for Pete/Peggy. That shot of Pete, Peggy and Trudy gathered around one table. Gahhhh! I don't want anything bad to happen, but knowing Pete it will. Finally, I loved the shot of Don emerging from the bedroom. I loved the transition from the flashbacks showing his father's death, to the current destruction of his married life and then finally showing Don with his new family of sorts, after he inspired all these people to make a change with him.
Bring on 1964. I hope they don't jump very far ahead. I really want to see this agency rebuild itself.
How about I just change the title of this to 'The Most Pwnsome Episode of Anything Ever'? I'd been wondering if I'd ever love a new Mad Men episode more than I loved 'Nixon Vs Kennedy' or 'Meditations on an Emergency'. I think this episode has done it. I felt like cheering the whole time, except for the moments I felt like crying. It was such a fucking good episode. S4 is going to be incredible...
Awesome New Agency is Awesome!!! Firstly I loved that the show (finally!) got back to having Sterling Cooper as the main story and the Draper marriage being the subplot, because I think this episode is a testement to why the balance is so much better that way. But GAH!! I had been hoping for a New Agency all season long!! At this stage I'd almost given up on the idea. I thought S3 was going to end up with everyone scattered. And instead we get a new dream team coming together. I loved it! I just loved how the awesome conspiracy kept getting more and more awesome as the episode progressed. It was like the episode of The West Wing when they show Leo putting Team Bartlett together. And Mad Men could really use some of that West Wing team spirit.
Could I love Lane MORE?!! He'd be my new favourite character, if I didn't love Peggy and Pete so hard. I just loved everything that Lane did this episode, from joyfully firing Don, Bert and Roger to joyfully being fired by his nasty snooty overlords - "Merry Christmas!" Lane is simply joyful with his whole "Ooh, rebellion...what fun!" attitude. I'm sooo happy he is staying.
I completely loved everyone this episode including Don and Betty. I'm proud of this show that they didn't copout on the divorce. It was time for it, they had earned it and it even sort of justified the excessive Don/Betty screentime in S3. This was a very definitive ending and if Don/Betty ever reconcile it won't be for a long long time. I loved their close-to-violent confrontation after Don found out about Henry Francis. For a man who ritually commits adultery, it really did seem to shock Don that Betty was capable of straying too. Some of the things Don said about Betty were true. Betty isn't good and she has been crafting a life raft for herself, but even so it took real backbone for Betty to stand up to Don like that. She is a tiny little woman and Don is an intimidating bastard, but Betty didn't flinch. It wasn't just Don's physical menacing but his attempt at gaslighting, telling Betty she was sick and needed to see a doctor. I was willing Betty not to cave. And then when Don grabbed her by her nightdress and called her a whore he put the final nail in their marriage himself. Note to self Don: you don't get to call anyone else a whore. Nobody can out-whore you on this show.
The scene where they told Sally and Bobby made me cry. I'm a child of divorce. Me and my little brother went through a scene remarkably like that one when we are kids and well...there's not much else I can say about that. Ouch show. But it made me relieved that my parents are NOT Don and Betty Draper. I think Carla should get custody. The only thing that disappointed me a little was Don deciding he wasn't going to fight Betty in the end. Because, man...that fight was starting to get good!
Back to the Sterling Coup. This story was so outstandingly brilliant. I loved how they brought everyone together and then totally robbed the office. And how much did I love the scene where Don and Roger came to recruit Pete? Quite a lot let me tell you. That Pete was planning to meet his bosses in his famous pyjamas had me giggling right from the start. Trudy shouting instructions to Pete from another room was even funnier. I loved Roger smirking at Pete's attempts to play hardball. Most of all I loved that Pete's terms basically came down too - "I'll bring you all my accounts if Don admits that he loves me". And how Don's response to that was basically - "Bitch, we both know you love it when I treat you mean and keep you keen." But I love that Don and the show finally acknowledged that Pete is the one with a clear vision of where the future is headed. So we'll finally see a progressive agency in S4. Woot!
I loved the return of Don/Pete, Don/Peggy and Don/Roger. Nice to see Don appreciating his friends and actually treating them with respect. I especially loved the Don/Roger scenes. Like this! Don: "I can't believe he was going to leave." Roger: "That little shit." Heeee! I love that Don/Roger are still united in their contempt for Pete Campbell, even though that contempt now seems warmer and big brotherish. Like, I seriously think these guys are all going to work well together despite their differences.
I love that they brought Harry onboard. Cos I heart Harry Crane. The elevator scene with Pete attempting to be conspiratorial was hilarious, especially with the "Harry's here! Quick everyone, hide our evil plans!" as they entered the office. Then Cooper threatening to lock Harry in the storage cuboard and Harry's poor scared face! I'd forgotten how much I adore Bertrum.
From this point on the story just got more and more awesome. I love Peggy so much it hurts. I love how bruised she was by Don's treatment of her and yet how self-assertive she was (without being arrogant). Just like Betty I was willing Peggy not to give into Don, even though I wanted her for the Awesome Agency too. But when Don acknowledged his personal connection with Peggy - echoing both their scene in the mental hospital and the Pete/Peggy "It's just gone" scene - that was when I was practically yelling for Peggy to take up Don's offer.
And this. Roger: "Peggy will you get me some coffee." Peggy: "No." *looooovees!!*
Of course, this episode exploded with awesome when Joan arrived. I so knew that Roger was going to call Joan. Who didn't? I loved that the context for Joan's return was - "Crap! We don't know where anything is or how this office even works." Joan to the rescue! I loved it. It already feels like Joan is the boss of the new Awesome Agency. Can she be the boss? She should be.
Pete walking out of the offices with his rifle over his shoulder *loves* Roger telling Don to leave the doors unlocked *loves* The final darkened shot of the Sterling Cooper offices *cries, but loves*...the future will be better than the past.
Like most fans the only thing missing for me was Sal. When they were kicking in the 'Fart Department' door I was really hoping someone would think to call Sal and bring him onto the new team. But then, their main account is Lucky Strike. Damn it. I really hope they find a way to bring Sal back in S4 but it's going to be very difficult. Not just because of Lee Garner junior; I also find it hard to imagine Sal forgiving Don and Roger for the way they treated him. I'm also worried about Ken and Kinsey being left out of the exodus. I hope we'll see them again in some fashion. The same goes for Kurt, Smitty, Hildy, Mr Hooker and Lois.
But those final hotel scenes got me so so excited. Pete and Peggy sharing a desk!! Seriously, Pete and Peggy are sharing a desk and now S3 is ending! Noooooo! Damn you to hell, Weiner!! And then Trudy bringing everyone lunch, bless her. Give Trudy a job already. It really seems like she wants to be involved and she is such a great team player. I loved Pete and Trudy's victory kiss. I can't believe that S3 has made me a Pete/Trudy fan while still making me yearn for Pete/Peggy. That shot of Pete, Peggy and Trudy gathered around one table. Gahhhh! I don't want anything bad to happen, but knowing Pete it will. Finally, I loved the shot of Don emerging from the bedroom. I loved the transition from the flashbacks showing his father's death, to the current destruction of his married life and then finally showing Don with his new family of sorts, after he inspired all these people to make a change with him.
Bring on 1964. I hope they don't jump very far ahead. I really want to see this agency rebuild itself.
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Date: 2009-11-10 01:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-10 03:12 pm (UTC)