Mad Men

There may not have been any dramatic plot movements but in terms of character development and foreshadowing -not to mention the great singing and dancing--it may be one of my favourite episodes

Roger, once the Man, is now just a pathetic has-been. It was interesting that Don walked out from that blackface show and into the bar while some of the so-called upper class thought there was nothing wrong at all with Rogers's show. A Mack truck is coming and they won't have a clue what hit them.

Joan's accordion playing and singing were marvellous and we can see already there are cracks in the marriage between her and her abusive husband.

You can tell that as the series marches forward and deeper into the tumultuous 60's people like Roger (and Harry) are going to be left behind.

Peggy will "get" it as will Pete Campbell and Joan.

And to quote the master, "And something's happening here, but you don't know what it is, do you, Mister Jones?"

 

My thoughts exactly.

I also like how Don dropped a story from his past in when he was mixing drinks and talking to that man at the bar. I bet Betty doesn't know Don parked cars at a roadhouse.

 

Problem is, you don't know whether it's true or not.

 

I thought of that. But then I thought that Don might let his guard down when he was with a stranger.

 

I continue to adhere to the theory that blacks conjured up the Charleston as an inside joke on white folks. But it doesn't bother me a bit, and Pete and wifey demonstrated precisly why I'm such a great fan of the tune, and its dance potential. To me, this -- and the epic caricature of the unemployed Princetonian -- were the highlights of the episode.

Peggy's going to make Helen Gurley Brown look like a field mouse.

Though the potential's clearly there, really hope they don't burn Roger alive, given
his awesome comedic stylings when things are going his way.

 

Surprised that Chelcie Ross (Hoosiers, Rudy) would have just a walk through roll like that - unless he reappears later this season. A really odd episode, and given the pace of the episodes this season, it surprises me that Weiner "fought" for longer episodes. Funny stuff though, Pete's dancing, the party theme was a pretty blatant "celebration"/farewell to the past, My Own Kentucky Home, the blackface, Don drinking an old-fashioned, while the newbies are working on the weekend and smoking pot, while reciting poetry and old songs. And of all instruments I'd expect Joan to be able to play, the accordian is about last on the list.

 

Scene of Don and the bartender made me think of "The Shining," where Nicholson is talking to Lloyd in the ski lodge's massive barroom.

 

Outstanding discussion on this episode/series (and an outstnding blog -- including football talk -- in general):

http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/08/no_black_people_on_seinfeld_please.php

edit: includes interesting notes on the bartender character

 

I thought that Don's walking out on the blackface episode, coupled with his knowledge of Sal's sexual nature and his promotion of Peggy shows that he's in touch with the societal changes taking place.

 

And you didn't get the sense he was disgusted with the blackface. Just that he was disgusted with Roger.

Still, my jaw dropped when Roger popped on screen like that. Quickly followed by the realization that it would not have been that big a deal in that time with that crowd, which is equally impactful.

 

Reportedly, that stranger at the bar -- Connie from San Antonio, New Mexico -- was supposed to be Conrad Hilton, also from San Antonio, New Mexico.

 

The blogger wasn't paying attention. That was not the bartender Don was talking to. As someone else pointed out, it was Conrad Hilton

He happened to be wearing a white dinner jacket, that's all.

And HC sent me this website, "The Footnotes of Mad Men".

http://madmenfootnotes.com/

Click on the United Airlines TV ad. Classic stuff.