Shark Bytes
I don't disagree with Sue's quote but it was posted August 5,2008- and now it's December 1,2008 that's almost four months or one-third of the year gone by! Come on, Sharkjumpers! Change the Home Page Trendy Show Quote Already!
Lots of style, little substance. Yes, they get the rooms and clothes and hairstyles and magazine layouts right(big deal, all that takes is a trip to the library), without capturing the emotional and human ways of that time. These "MM" characters could just as soon be a bunch of current ad-Yuppies, set in a very stylish agency. (Bloomingdale's has set the "Mad Men" clothing style as the style for this fall, and now walk into any ad cesspool and that's exactly what you'll find. Including the new smoking fad.)
Far more of a combo of the truly nauseating "Sex and the City" with early-90s "lounge culture" than any genuine embrace or embodiment of JFK culture. Actually, just another piece of swill appealing to the "know nothing about anything I don't mouse-click on" wad.
Far more of a combo of the truly nauseating "Sex and the City" with early-90s "lounge culture" than any genuine embrace or embodiment of JFK culture. Actually, just another piece of swill appealing to the "know nothing about anything I don't mouse-click on" wad.
This show hurts itself when it engages in Sopranos-style existential meandering with Don, such as with the California trip. Next comes the dream episode, I assume.
I enjoy this show from week to week. The thing with the priest and peggy is going specifically as planned. I read in a magazine that the whole point of the relationship is to fool the watcher into believing those two are gonna get together, while in the end, they aren't. Just a profound change of character is to take place in one of them. That came directly from the actors, not some halfwit analyst, and if you look back on their interactions, there really isn't any sexual tension. If anything, I see Peggy as very uncomfortable around the priest in most instances, like she can't wait to get out of there. It's all viewer-implied because that's what we want or expect, even if it's not the case. The art of nuance. It's a quite well written show, actually.
I love this show and in no way did it jump the shark. If you like procedurals or something that has a beginning, middle and an end within an hour, this show is probably not for you. If you want to watch a show that doesn't have cgi and makes you analyze what you are watching than MM is a great bet.
I disagree with the person who said that without Don the show would be over. No doubt he is a huge part, but my favorite character by far is Pete. In my opinion, he is much more compelling than Don, especially when it comes to his relationship with Peggy. The secondary characters like Joan, Sal, Kenny, Harry and Paul are also interesting and hopefully will be explored more.
I disagree with the person who said that without Don the show would be over. No doubt he is a huge part, but my favorite character by far is Pete. In my opinion, he is much more compelling than Don, especially when it comes to his relationship with Peggy. The secondary characters like Joan, Sal, Kenny, Harry and Paul are also interesting and hopefully will be explored more.
Okay, I must be getting old and dozing off in the last part of the shows, but I don't see a real direction for this season. Granted, I had to view Season 1's epis twice to get the full flavor. Frankly, I just don't have the time to do that this time around since the real world beckons insistently. Joan is underutilized; Peggy still needs to grow up some more and get rid of that little girl voice now that she's wearing more grownup clothes (Joan was right about that). Messrs. Hamm and Slattery are the saving graces in this series. If either actor departs or character gets written out, buh bye MM.
Still love the show..but season 2 has too much happening at once. Season 1 portrayed Betty as being weak and almost nutty, very vulnerable and quite the early sixties gal with hair and makeup. This season, it seems she has been reading Gloria Steinem, her makeup has change and so has her hair..she does not look sixties at all anymore..and she definately went to some empowerment school for the summer.
This is interesting now that Don is running away from reality again..a little unrealistic..leaves whats his name as the resort, in reality, you would have filed a missing persons report...he is one strange dude..and totally self centered..its a great role..and no one could do it like Jon Hamm. I feel all is going to fast, with too many characters..I would have liked to see the plot themes from last year stretched a bit..the show is moving too fast..wont survive
This is interesting now that Don is running away from reality again..a little unrealistic..leaves whats his name as the resort, in reality, you would have filed a missing persons report...he is one strange dude..and totally self centered..its a great role..and no one could do it like Jon Hamm. I feel all is going to fast, with too many characters..I would have liked to see the plot themes from last year stretched a bit..the show is moving too fast..wont survive
This has to be an all time record. This show hit it's peak and Jumped the Shark within 1 week.
Having Don drop into Notorious meets The Thomas Crown Affair is just annoying and stupid. As the man of the house he should just go home to Betty and tell her that he owns the house and as long as he's paying for it, he'll be living there. She can get a job with Helen at the jewelry store if she thinks it's her turn to be the puppet master.
The itinerant Eurocrowd is just bound to be fleeing Nazis (I'm a doktor!)and I'm going to hurl a shoe through the TV.
I think I'd only be slightly more disappointed to find my own husband swimming in the secretarial pool.
Having Don drop into Notorious meets The Thomas Crown Affair is just annoying and stupid. As the man of the house he should just go home to Betty and tell her that he owns the house and as long as he's paying for it, he'll be living there. She can get a job with Helen at the jewelry store if she thinks it's her turn to be the puppet master.
The itinerant Eurocrowd is just bound to be fleeing Nazis (I'm a doktor!)and I'm going to hurl a shoe through the TV.
I think I'd only be slightly more disappointed to find my own husband swimming in the secretarial pool.
I am slightly disappointed with this season because I would love for Peggy to reveal her pregnancy to the father. Also, Duck is a downer and he left his dog on the street three weeks ago and apparently resumed drinking yet we have not had a scene with him since.
The scene with Don and Peggy hitting /shoving each other crackled. It is still the best show on television but all this discontentment has to come to a head for SOMEBODY- Don, Peggy, Roger. There needs to be a faster pace.
The key relationship in the show is Peggy and Don - they are both kindred spirits trying to avoid the status they were born into.
Love it love it!
The scene with Don and Peggy hitting /shoving each other crackled. It is still the best show on television but all this discontentment has to come to a head for SOMEBODY- Don, Peggy, Roger. There needs to be a faster pace.
The key relationship in the show is Peggy and Don - they are both kindred spirits trying to avoid the status they were born into.
Love it love it!
Too much hype. I've seen maybe 3 minutes of this thing, and really don't care to see more. AMC can kiss my ass. Bob Dorian left this stinking pile of šhit network behind. Ever notice how half the ads after 9:30pm are for placebo dick medicine?
God bless Turner Classic Movies.
God bless Turner Classic Movies.
The second season has really improved- Roger is sleeping with secretaries again, and Pete is back to his old scheeming ways (in a weird way he's the "JR Ewing" of the show). Also, it's good they finally had Betty find out about Don's infidelity (I mean, how long could she be that naive?).
A few potential trouble spots, though:
(1) Like the above poster said, the Peggy-priest storyline isn't going anywhere. If she causes him to leave the priesthood (or, for that matter, Mrs. Draper literally rolls in the hay with her amdmirer at the stable) this show will irretrievably jump.
(2) Also not that interesting is the whole Sal sexuality issue. We all know that men could be obviously gay in the '60s and nobody had a clue, and that a lot of them took "beard" wives. We know it so well it's not breaking any new ground.
(3) Some of the characters from last season are being neglected- Joan, Bert Cooper, Kinsey, Don's other ex's. Like a lot of cable shows these days, Mad Men seems to introduce new characters before it's really sure what it's going to do with them.
Still, I can't wait for each week's new episode.
A few potential trouble spots, though:
(1) Like the above poster said, the Peggy-priest storyline isn't going anywhere. If she causes him to leave the priesthood (or, for that matter, Mrs. Draper literally rolls in the hay with her amdmirer at the stable) this show will irretrievably jump.
(2) Also not that interesting is the whole Sal sexuality issue. We all know that men could be obviously gay in the '60s and nobody had a clue, and that a lot of them took "beard" wives. We know it so well it's not breaking any new ground.
(3) Some of the characters from last season are being neglected- Joan, Bert Cooper, Kinsey, Don's other ex's. Like a lot of cable shows these days, Mad Men seems to introduce new characters before it's really sure what it's going to do with them.
Still, I can't wait for each week's new episode.
Getting rid of Freddie has been a big plus. They need to bring the beatnik girl back from season one for a guestshot. The thing with Peggy and the priest is going nowhere fast. Roger and the secretary has definately spiced things up. Hope they take conclusion of second season up to Kennedy assignation. Hasn't been nearly enough Vincent havoc.
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