Mad Men

[junior94]

Originally Posted by thebridge15

Oh wow, good catch. I had no clue why they did that but that sort of makes sense as an explanation.

And yea, he was kidding. Don may not be working, but he's still mega-rich.

actually that was the other thing I'd been wondering about, if he's been out of work so long, how's he still got his killer apartment and flying to LA a couple times a month. but I guess he's got plenty saved.

[thebridge15]

He's still getting a paycheck, too.

He's still a partner at the agency. You would assume he's been getting a solid salary since he was head of creative all those years ago. Obviously isn't dumb with money. Also got a pretty solid settlement when Sterling Cooper was first acquired (I think I did the math at the time, it was like $2.5 million when you adjust for inflation).

[coldengrey12]

Cutler made some reference to Don as the ex-wife they have to keep paying alimony. He's still on the payroll, as I understand it. That's why he's still got fat stacks.

[laura22]

Originally Posted by Lee3691

Sally has a good bullshit detector, which is why she hates her mom so much.

i love sally. the scenes with her and don were great. the parent-child roles were somewhat reversed, "why don't you just tell megan you don't want to live in california?"

ending scene teared me up, hearing those words will hopefully help don get back on his feet

love that people are seeing how smart joan is

and where's bob?

[junior94]

Thing is with all that they're still giving Don, I suppose it can't really be for the sake of any clients, because I only just noticed in this episode that his name's totally out of the company title.

edit: which, now that I think about it, I can't remember why Lane's name is still in there, for that matter. I loved Roger having to apologize for "offending" the secretary twice, btw.

[thebridge15]

It already was, though, right? Or was there somewhere that had the names listed?

If I remember right, Joan thought up SC&P cause they couldn't figure out which names to use. Since Sterling Cooper Draper Price Cutler Gleason Chaough Harris Campbell doesn't sound fantastic.

[MPizzle06]

Originally Posted by junior94

Thing is with all that they're still giving Don, I suppose it can't really be for the sake of any clients, because I only just noticed in this episode that his name's totally out of the company title.

edit: which, now that I think about it, I can't remember why Lane's name is still in there, for that matter. I loved Roger having to apologize for "offending" the secretary twice, btw.

They changed the name after the merger to "Sterling, Cooper & Partners" - hence SC&P.

They decided that since Cooper, and Roger's Dad, had started the original firm, their names stayed. Don, Ted, Pete, Joan, Gleason - are the "partners".

[thebridge15]

It's my avatar, they had the art department draw it up near the end of last season.

[junior94]

that's right, my bad. the P's for partners, not Pryce.

[thebridge15]

Oh I could see how that would be confusing actually.

I watched Shut the Door. Have a Seat on Saturday for the hell of it (S3 finale). Best episode of the series, IMO. Pete faking sick is hilarious.

[junior94]

Originally Posted by thebridge15

Oh I could see how that would be confusing actually.

I watched Shut the Door. Have a Seat on Saturday for the hell of it (S3 finale). Best episode of the series, IMO. Pete faking sick is hilarious.

that's one of only like maybe 3 episodes that I've watched multiple times since I got started with this whole thing, and I think I've watched it at least 4 times. soooo good.


As nice as the scene was as far as the dialog, man the Don and Sally driving backdrop looked so fake, practically to the point like Wiener made it so on purpose as a joke It was about as fake looking as the Bruce Willis taxi cab in Pulp Fiction.

[coldengrey12]

Originally Posted by laura22

and where's bob?

A tiny part of me hopes it's like Godot or Cousin Jeffrey, that he's this unseen character who is referred to often but doesn't actually appear.

That'd be a little too TV for Mad Men, though.

[AJF_41]

didn't think he'd agree..

loved the hendrix

[laura22]

peggy is mean

[Auzz76]

Roger arguing to bring Don back was awesome. Another really strong episode.

[coldengrey12]

Jon Hamm was sensational in this episode. That scene when he's looking at his watch.

Don finna wreck shop on that creative department.

[pato]

Great episode...the Roger-Don stuff was amazing. Its amazing how much fear Don puts in the Partners (and Lou/Peggy) and how envious all the young creatives are of him. Does anyone think Don agreeing to the contract that was essentially a trap was pretty dumb? Or was it a sign that Don is ready to tear shit up again?

[AJF_41]

Originally Posted by pato

Great episode...the Roger-Don stuff was amazing. Its amazing how much fear Don puts in the Partners (and Lou/Peggy) and how envious all the young creatives are of him. Does anyone think Don agreeing to the contract that was essentially a trap was pretty dumb? Or was it a sign that Don is ready to tear shit up again?

i said to myself, no way he signs it

that said - they are making it pretty clear that he doesn't know what to do with himself. megan just left him. time to get back to work i guess.


i need to re-watch end of last season.
i knew ted and peggy were mad at him...but i thought ted left more because of peggy (not so much don). and why is joan so upset and against don?

[laura22]

my roommate started making a smoothie when they were saying the terms don had to agree on.... what were they? i know he has to stick with a script

Originally Posted by AJF_41

i said to myself, no way he signs it

that said - they are making it pretty clear that he doesn't know what to do with himself. megan just left him. time to get back to work i guess.


i need to re-watch end of last season.
i knew ted and peggy were mad at him...but i thought ted left more because of peggy (not so much don). and why is joan so upset and against don?

i thought ted and peggy overreacted. they were being stupid, that ad was too expensive, and they wouldn't have gotten the extra money for it if don hadn't stepped in. he was a dick for somewhat humiliating them, but he was right and got them extra money
~get over it~

i also thought ted left so he wouldn't get involved with peggy, to save his marriage. don decided not to leave, gave the opportunity to ted.

[AJF_41]

it was something like

he’s not to be allowed to talk to clients
stick to the script in meetings
script has to be approved by partners
no drinking at the office
report to lou

[Ascf33]

He's not allowed to be alone with clients.

[johnsonc1]

Best line last night goes to Roger saying he sees people from the Hershey meeting on the streets with signs that say the end is near

[JacobLovesYou]

i thought last night's episode was great. its hard to tell how permanent it is, but the implication that Don wants to change seems to be panning out. no way the old Don would sit in the creative lounge all day listening to petty problems and then being left alone. and no way the old Don would agree to those terms (which technically are pretty reasonable except for that his shares could be reabsorbed). i know Don stayed stagnant for much of the series, but he is still one of the most complex characters in TV history. it wasn't just that he repeated the same actions it was the reason behind why his life was such a cycle. to see him try and break free is going to be different, and i'm really interested to see where they leave the show at the midseason finale.

they also did a great job over the first few weeks showing why Roger would tell Don to come in like that. Cutler's subtle power moves are a pretty direct causation for Don being back. joan thinks things were working just fine as they were, but Roger sees the handwriting on the wall just like Pete did last year. Cutler is taking control very slowly.

[JacobLovesYou]

Originally Posted by johnsonc1

Best line last night goes to Roger saying he sees people from the Hershey meeting on the streets with signs that say the end is near

roger was great last night, as was harry. over the course of the series harry has turned into such a great slimeball.

[dmbbearcat]

I love last night's episode. I don't understand when people say that the show has "lost it." This season has been great so far.

[dmbman32]

I thought last night's episode did a great job of really showing off the theme of life, which is: Time passes, and things change.

You look at where the characters were in season 1. Don was king shit, Joan was the boss of the girls, and Peggy was a wide-eyed baby starting out as a secretary. Cut to a few years later....Don is demoted, Peggy & Joan are much higher up, and at the moment, wouldn't spit on Don if he were on fire.

Life has a funny way of completely changing roles, power, and perception as time progresses. Last night showed that off really well.

[thebridge15]

Roommate and I BOTH yelled at Don not to take the deal at the end. I guess he just figures that Lou will eventually self-destruct at the pressure of being above Don.

Am I forgetting something, or is everyone's ONLY problem with Don the Hershey meeting. Was it that bad?

[dmbman32]

Originally Posted by thebridge15

Am I forgetting something, or is everyone's ONLY problem with Don the Hershey meeting. Was it that bad?

It was the Hershey meeting, combined with the fact that Don started disappearing from the office & blowing off meetings all the time after the merger. Cutler & Ted noticed it immediately (since they weren't used to that kind of behavior), and pretty soon everybody started to notice. Hershey was the straw that broke the camel's back.

[Arby]

Can someone remind me of Don and Peggy's falling out. When Peggy approached him and said "I cant say you were missed" or whatever I was a little surprised. I forget what happened. Was it Ted related?

[dmbman32]

Originally Posted by Arby

Can someone remind me of Don and Peggy's falling out. When Peggy approached him and said "I cant say you were missed" or whatever I was a little surprised. I forget what happened. Was it Ted related?

100% Ted related. Peggy is pissed at Don for 2 reasons:

1. The merger forced her to work for Don (again), thus changing her relationship with Ted.

2. Once Don figured out Peggy & Ted's "relationship," he embarrassed them at the presentation last season. Ted realized his mistake once Don did this, so he started acting differently towards Peggy. Then eventually moving to California. Of course, this made Peggy furious, and she knew Don was heavily involved in him leaving.