Archive for October, 2009
October 26th, 2009
Register Star Podcast: Mad Men Episode 11 recap [23:01m]:
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After Betty unlocked Don’s secret desk drawer last week, Mad Men fans were bracing for the worst. How could this possibly end well?
Somehow, Betty defies all expectations and plays the situation perfectly. She consults a lawyer. She arrives home early to get the jump on Don. And she confronts him so tactfully that he has no choice but to spill the beans about everything. And I mean everything.
All the while, Don’s mistress patiently waits outside in the car for her weekend getaway. Betty doesn’t know she’s there. Don does, but he appears to completely forget.
I can tell you without any hesitation that not a single viewer forgot about her for one minute. After three seasons of watching, it’s safe to say last night’s episode was my favorite of the series. I was on the edge of my seat most of the time. What do you think?
Highlights from the episode:
- Score two great episodes in a row for Roger. He had the opportunity to cheat on his bride and handled himself with dignity and class. If only Jane could’ve watched last week’s episode, as I suspect something major is going to down between her and Roger before the season ends.
- Joan whacks her rapist husband over the head with a vase. So he buys her flowers and tells her he’s going to buy her a new vase to replace it. Amazing.
- Still no sign of Sal, though AMC has a sneak peak on their Web site that hints at a possible Sal replacement.
Only two episodes left!
October 19th, 2009
Register Star Podcast: Mad Men Episode 10 recap [21:19m]:
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Lots to talk after this week’s episode of Mad Men, titled, “The Color Blue.”
After three seasons of wondering, Betty finally unlocks Don’s secret desk drawer. Inside are relic’s of his previous life, including the divorce certificate he needed from the previous Don Draper’s marriage in order to marry Betty the model all those years ago. Betty has all the pieces of Don’s double life right there in her hands, but she clearly doesn’t quite understand what it all means.
That being said, she is furious. She reacts with immediate (and lasting) anger and means to confront Don whenever he decides to come home later that night. Unfortunately for Betty, his affair with Sally’s former teacher means he doesn’t come home at all. She instead puts everything back as it was, leaving lots of setup for what’s sure to be a spectacular final three episodes of the season.
Elsewhere:
- We learn that Sterling Cooper is suddenly for sale on the eve of their 40th birthday, to the dismay of Mr. Pryce and the dismay of Mrs. Pryce
- At celebration party, we see just how polished Roger Sterling can be
- Kinsey realizes that there’s a lot he could learn from Peggy
- And poor Joan and Sal are no where to be seen
We’ll do the podcast right through the end of the season. All comments and e-mails (podcast@rrstar.com) are appreciated!
October 12th, 2009
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Back to a three-man podcast this week now that Driscoll has returned from his vacation. And boy, not a moment too soon.
Although loved by The Movie Man, I had a hard time enjoying this week’s episode (titled “Wee Small Hours”). It managed to make me mad at every character on the show, with the exception of Sal and possibly Harry. They’re all out for themselves, summed up best in Betty’s line to baby Eugene: “I want what I want when I want it.”
The fact that not everybody gets what they want makes the episode very dark. Lee from Lucky Strike wants Sal, gets rebuffed and fires him. Harry doesn’t want to make the wrong call on the situation, does nothing, and still manages to screw everything up. Connie wants the moon. Betty wants an affair.
And there’s not a redeeming moment in the episode for me. Damn you for giving in, Suzanne Farrell.
Here’s some other highlights of this week’s podcast:
- Don’s wilting under the pressure of Connie Hilton
- The tragedy that is Sal
- And the podcast’s general loathing of Betty Draper
October 5th, 2009
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Driscoll is on vacation this week, but we’re podcasting without him after taking last week off. And despite The Movie Man’s apparent amnesia for anything more than two days old, we manage to tackle episodes 7 (”Seven Twenty Three”) and 8 (”Souvenir”) in one convenient podcast.
You’ll notice a good 15-second pause after Will argues that Pete Campbell is a good guy early in the podcast. I’m thinking, “REALLY? Pete? A good guy? I’m not buying it.” However, I can’t come up with a good argument. I still can’t. So I’m asking listeners to help me out by responding to this question:
Is Pete Campbell a good guy, a bad guy or something else? Drop us a line at podcast@rrstar.com, or just comment on this post. We’ll talk about it in the next podcast.
Here’s some other highlights of this week’s podcast:
- Peggy’s shockingly dirty, dirty hookup with Duck
- Don’s apparent change of heart (and attitude) after signing his three-year contract
- And the evolution of Sally Draper
