Mad Men - amazing stuff

[swanriver]

It doesn't make you laugh, but it is getting more subtle and complex by the minute.
I loved the way Peggy looked at Pete through the glass as she went off with her hip friends regret, hope closure, and the way Peggy refused to admit she had ever been in Alison's shoes (although she had), and the way Don bumps into the elderly married couple bickering about pears.
I love the way it is Alison who is the first to make Don face up to his problems with women. He thinks of himself as kind and caring and respectful. I love the Ponds - all women want to get married --- stuff.
Each episode is like a mini-play.

Don Draper is dead, his identity was stolen by Don(aka as Dick) so that he could escape the army

I think

the whole unravelling of Don's life is amazing

I thought that the woman who died of cancer was the real Don Draper's wife?

I may have all this wrong

Yeah, I get that TheFoosa, but Anna knew all about it (yes, she was the cancer woman). As did her sister and niece, I think. Not sure about anyone else. I can see why the unravelling could start, of course.

BUT, Don shagged an air hostess at the start of Season 3 on "Dick's" birthday, the implication being that he couldn't normally celebrate his real birthday because now he marked the real Don's instead. But one of the questions that was incorrect on the government form was the birthdate. So, I am puzzled.

I am far too involved in this show

Did anyone else find the incident with Lane Price's father really, really weird? Are they going anywhere with that?

I found it chilling, Matsikula. I have a bit of a problem with the way they portray any of the Brits in MM, all little public schoolboys who never grew up. Although, that may not be far off the mark in some I have met.... I must say that I have spent quite a lot of this season watching through my fingers.

I think it's part of the set up to get Lane out of the picture for when the shit hits the fan re Lucky Strike.

Ah ok, I missed the beginning of the cancer woman episode and I thought she was his real sister - makes more sense now that he made a pass at the daughter.

I think that Don Draper's real parents (ie Dick's not Don's) are dead. In teh first series his younger brother found him and recognised him, Don tried to deny that it was him but in the end admitted it. His brother was thrilled to bits to have found him but Don told him to go away and never bother him again. Then the brother killed himself.

I get confused over the time line at the minute as I'm watching the second and fourth series at teh same time.

Yes, I missed almost the whole of the first series, so am still not quite clear about he backstory.

There are times when they just want to confuse you so you start a buzz by talking about it. Yes, Cancer woman was the real Don Draper's wife. I think she was pleased he didn't come back! Dick then paid her an income as she lost out on a widow's pension. The daughter belongs to her sister. I don't think they have ever explained who or where the real Don's family???? You do have to watch the first series. You still need to go back to it too as so much goes on you need to watch previous programmes to explain what is happening now! Very clever marketing I say 'cause you feel like you need to buy the box set!

IIRC, Dick's mother died in (his) childbirth and his father died after getting kicked by a horse in front of him. He was raised by his uncle and aunt (adam's mother) and I think Adam said that they were both dead by the time Adam found him again.

Not sure about the real Don's family. Still puzzled about the age thing.

re: Joan and 15 year old "daughter". I don't think she has one. Just that she is old enough to have one, and yet she hasn't had a pregnancy to term yet. Previous episode made clear she had had two "procedures" (abortions) and was trying for a baby with husband.
I think point of that scene was that Joan realised she was now old enough to "cope", be a mother and if now wasn't the right time, there was never going to be a right time. Also shame that someone else in much worse situation had coped aged 15. Joan is meant to be super-organised after all. I think she also realised Roger was useless, even if devastatingly attractive, and had used her.

Re: Don false identity I think it would be obvious you were a fraud the deeper you delved, school records, dental everything.

Yes, probably you're right. Perhaps her daughter would have been 15 if she's had previous abortion? Aww. Poor Joan. I love Joan.

I love Roger

How I remember it: Dick was raised by his real father and his father's wife who was not actually his mother - father got a prostitute pregnant and she died in childbirth. Both horrible and abusive towards him. Father was subsequently kicked to death by a horse and 'mother' takes Don and his half brother to be raised by her and 'Uncle' Mac who was nice to him.

Yes I love Roger too, but swanriver is right, he is useless.

at last - a feelgood story line for Peggy.

But why didn't we get to see the Baby?

The agency going down is fascinating and perfectly played. Love that they use real agency names.

I even love Pete Campbell.

what do we all think of Megan??

i quite like megan, hope she gets a chance to get on a bit - ob going the right way about it by sleeping with the boss asapossible!

wonder why he didn't sleep with his last pa?

i miss her

My DH doesn't get the Peggy story line as he doesn't watch every week and just goes on looks. What is the name of the big hulk bloke who kissed her in this eposide. I like the 'will they, won't they' thing. She gets him going but, he's annoyed with himself for fancing her as she is not the babydoll type. Love it Love it.
I think Don thinks that his life will unravel if he works for anyone else.
He did a big whoopsy with his secretary, that will blow up in his face!
Well now back to RL and house work

I quite like her to. She is v.attractive but not in a traditional way don;t you think?

Yes, I also love her style. I loved her blouse in this weeks show

The scene with Roger pretending to talk to the Lucky Strike guy on the phone was brilliant. It looked like the others sensed what was really happening, but didn't want to admit to themselves that he was losing it.

Not sure what to make of Megan, I think we know as little about her as Don does.

I've also now started to like the little guy related to Jane's wife that they had to employ. He had some good lines this week - which makes you wonder whether he is really as useless as Don and Peggy decided he was.

D'you think this episode was recorded pre or post BP oil spill? Notice that'British Petroleum' got a mention at the memorial service.

ha yes the bit where he put up his hand and got ignored

oh afaik it wasn't filmed that long ago, this series can back very quickly