The Mountain King
Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 08:52pm by freakgirl
This week’s Mad Men — and remember, next week is the season finale — was intense. We got a real glimpse of Dick Whitman, found out more about our mystery woman and saw Peggy come into her own at work. Betty starts to grow up, but not before reminding me how awful she can be. What are your thoughts about the bleeding thing? Period? Miscarriage? Something else? Lastly…Joan. Oh, Joan. Probably one of the most disturbing scenes of television I’ve seen in a long, long time. Awful.
1. Ctobey said ( Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 12:11 am )
- Maybe because he’s my favorite character, but I noticed, and enjoyed, the looks of admiration Sal gives Peggy when she rocks the Popsicle pitch meeting. It’s cool to see the subtle ways certain relationships are forming and deepening, almost in the background.
- A lot of the recaps I read pointed out the religious themes throughout the episode (the mom with the halo in the Popsicle ad, the “baptism” scene at the end, tying in the ritual of Communion to the breaking of Popsicles). I really don’t pick up that stuff, to be honest, but once it’s pointed out, I’m even more amazed by this show.
- The actress who plays Sally Draper was heartbreakingly good in her scenes.
- Where was Duck Phillips this ep? Sleeping off a celebratory bender?
- Even though it was in a dramatic scene, I laughed when Pete exclaims “Hell’s Bells, Trudy!” Almost as good as when he angrily used the term “donnybrook” in Season 1.
- Leo the White Lighter makes hot rods!
2. Grey Rainbow said ( Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 7:45 am )
it was another great episode. i can’t wait to see what happens next week. don’t forget jon hamm is hosting snl!!!! hopefully they will do a mad men thing….i believe elizabeth moss (peggy) is doing “speed the plow” on broadway w/jeremy piven….it would be cool if she did a cameo!
3. freakgirl said ( Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 8:03 am )
We picked up on the religious themes, especially Dick/Don’s “baptism” at the end. But I didn’t pick up the Popsicle halo and communion images until I read about them on Sepinwall’s column.
Betty was just awful this week.
4. GeekBoy said ( Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 8:22 am )
Right, Leo the White Lighter, that’s who that was. I haven’t watched “Charmed” since the first season, so that just didn’t click into place in my head. The only thing I could remember seeing him in was the Stephen King movie “Sleepwalkers” … but I knew I had to have seen him in something since then.
All I can say is I’ll be really sad when this show ends for the season next week.
5. sandra said ( Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 10:23 am )
Despite all the sad and terrible things that happened in this episode, I think I laughed out loud more times during this one than any other: The Day The Earth Stood Still reference, Roger telling Alice Cooper he didn’t know who’s eyes to look at, Roger’s interaction with Peggy, when the boys asked Joan if she’s heard from Don she smartly replies, “yes he just called and said get back to work”, them leaving but not before advising Peggy to replace the couch in her new office, etc. It was nice to have moments of humour throughout. It was wonderful to watch Don/Dick be so giddy while telling Anna about Betty, seeing how at one time he was so sweet on her and saw a life full of promise and love. Then in present time, seeing him so relaxed, another person entirely than the one we’ve been accustomed to. Jon Hamm is an amazing actor.
Peggy moving up the ladder both in her career and in her confidence while Joan keeps tumbling down is amazing to watch – that interaction between them just before Copy Writer Peggy goes into her new office about Still Just a Secretary Joan’s amazing, gorgeous, great catch Doctor fiancé was painful.
Betty’s bleeding … not sure. Could it be early pregnancy spotting? How long ago was the night she crawled next to Don on the floor of her old bedroom? They certainly made a point of Betty looking puzzled. That would surprise me, if they brought in another unplanned pregnancy.
6. freakgirl said ( Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 10:35 am )
GeekBoy and I were discussing the Betty bleeding thing while we were watching it last night…thinking that maybe they need a reason to bring Don home. Betty needing medical attention would give him that reason, I guess.
On Alan Sepinwall’s blog, many people were posting that perhaps it was just Betty getting her period unexpectedly — another signal that Betty is becoming an adult (after kicking out the kid last week, taking over Don’s desk to pay the bills, being honest with Sally).
7. sandra said ( Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 12:14 pm )
That’s a really interesting take on it - I like it.
8. Bianca said ( Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 4:26 pm )
Poor Joan! What a frightening scene. I fear she’ll never be the same. You could see in her face in the scenes afterward that all the confidence, power and inner strength she once possessed were just sucked right out of her.
On a slighter note I really enjoyed the scenes with Sally Draper. I really liked her and it was nice to see Don acting like a human with feelings for a change.
9. Michael said ( Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 7:28 pm )
Wow. The most powerful episode of the series, I think. WAY more substance than style this time around. We found out about a whole other life Don’s been leading, and how he has a distinct personality in each. I found the timeline confusing because he’s such a different person in that other life, that I kept thinking it was ALL in the past. Dick Whitman is definitely trapped in a Don Draper prison of his own design. Fascinating.
I can’t even think about Joan. God.
10. Michael said ( Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 7:32 pm )
Oh, and definitely one of the funniest eps. Marti Noxon was a writer.