Mad Men Season 4

And it might be Roger, not Don, who takes the plunge.

 

Roger hates Asians.
Roger was just mugged by a black man.
Roger and race relations? Maybe not so hot.

Loved the shot of Peggy getting on the "corporate" elevator and not going with the edgy photographer. Also a good piece of filmmaking by setting the building (Empire State) between Peggy and the writer. Pretty big divide between them.

Blankenship croaking was amazing. The shot of them covering her over the shoulder of the client was fantastic.

Anyone think it ironic that Don is abandoning his children just like he was abandoned? And I think the cure for the girl is just a few hugs and some attention. There was a reason why that hug slowed her down.

Hopefully I can get caught up tonight.

Oh, good luck explaining all the missing bling.

 

That may have been Hamm's best performance this season. Also, it's pretty ambiguous as to whether Joan went through with the abortion. I tend to think she did but I've been wrong about shit before

 

Same old Don Draper. Same fear of being exposed, same addictions, same fears. Can't change that with a new office and some pseudo-psych platitudes.

He's never actually sought complete honesty. Unless he does, he's going down Roger's road.

 

Since he's as useful as tits on a bull to the joint, now, unless he saves the bacon.

 

Sorry Lane ... if you're in your 30s to early 40s and your father is 75 easy, and you can't kick his ass, you're a total gash.

I think some of the theories of Roger taking a flying leap onto the pavement are accurate. And Pete should hold this loss of $4 mill over Don's head. Lane is useless. By the end of this season, Pete might be running the show ... little ferret that he is.

 

Don well-knows he owes Pete. Pete knows it, too.

 

FWIW, Sepinwall seems to believe Joan went through with it. Mentions it matter-of-fact a couple of times in this week's review (doesn't even seem to allow for the possibility that she didn't):

http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/mad-men-hands-and-knees-do-you-want-to-know-a-secret

But yeah, I thought she backed out, too.

 

They did leave open the possibility. Would be surprised, tho.

 

'Life goes on,' she said.

 

She is having the kid. That line from the mother cut her very, very deep.

Roger is the person falling. Heck, it even looks like him in the intro. His life is a mess. She is keeping the kid, and the only account he had is gone. He is not even prepping the firm for the big showdown in 30 days.

I love how everyone at that meeting outside of Cooper had huge news, but chose to keep it inside outside of Pete. Does Pete step in for Lane? Oh, and Pete is an ass because he is just as dirty as Don. Hello Peggy! But Pete knows Don is the firm, and he will soon see that Peggy is the vision for the future.

And after everything, Don sets his eyes on the new girl...

So how cool will it be for the Met run in 1969. They keep showing that pennant.

 

I noticed the same thing early on that Sepinwall did. Normally, Betty would be pretty put off by Don buying Sally the Beatles tickets. But she actually smiled and was happy that the father of her daughter was trying to be a part of the child's life. That kind of surprised me.

Overall, this was such a wild episode ... from the revelation of the pregnancy at the beginning to Don breaking down in a panic attack, to Pete trying desperately to man up and take control of the firm. Don's cool though. He doesn't overreact. He doesn't get his point across with anger like Roger does, and I think that's why everyone is so much more fearful of Don than Roger. He's got a cold, calculating style.

These next three episodes are going to be epic. This season has already exceeded my expectations. Incredible television.