I think it's partly 2 and 4, but the biggest aspect, really, is that Dawn is the only black person in the office, and she isn't interested in being "the black one." When people tell her that they think she, especially, would want time off, it's condescending, and it implies either that they think they know all about her because she's black, or that they think they know BETTER than her what she wants. Joan's hug is a great example of trying to be considerate but just being condescending. Dawn is trying to be the black Peggy here, after all. She knows that she needs to be defined by her work ethic. Consider the conversation with her friend at the Harlem diner last episode. When Dawn's in the office, she's in the office.
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Mad Men - Season 6 - Sundays on AMC
- Thread starter Cornballer
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I think it's partly 2 and 4, but the biggest aspect, really, is that Dawn is the only black person in the office, and she isn't interested in being "the black one." When people tell her that they think she, especially, would want time off, it's condescending, and it implies either that they think they know all about her because she's black, or that they think they know BETTER than her what she wants. Joan's hug is a great example of trying to be considerate but just being condescending. Dawn is trying to be the black Peggy here, after all. She knows that she needs to be defined by her work ethic. Consider the conversation with her friend at the Harlem diner last episode. When Dawn's in the office, she's in the office.
Ultimadrago
Member
She doesn't want to be "out there" where most of the reaction is towards the event. No. 3 partially covers it, with riots going on at nights who feels safe even during the daytime? It took her a while to get there, no doubt another result from it. But No.4 I believe is the largest factor. Assuming No.1 is indeed true (not all blacks would react the same towards it, so it could be she thought it was unfortunate but wasn't bawling), going back home wouldn't be much better.
It would be all on television, family would discuss it, friends would discuss it, solitude would have her think on it. It would give her too much time to be constantly reminded about it. Working could give a chance to (somewhat) keep her mind off it and in her working environment it wouldn't be nonsensical to assume company less openly emotional about it. That along with Joan's usual demeanor in contrast to the strange embrace would catch a number of people in her position off-guard, I believe.
Yeah, it really was a condescending, awkward scene.
I just love diving into these things is all.
I assumed the delivery guy couldn't speak English and had no idea what Pete was saying. Just highlighting how alone he is.
And Don's disgust was more at Roger making a fool of himself, than a racial thing. Pete has been fairly consistently progressive in that regard, like ripping on Roger for being racist against the Japanese, etc.
I'm sure his feeling that MLK's death was shameful and disgusting was genuine, though the magnitude of his absolute explosion at Harry was more brought on by his family situation, or amplified at least.
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
ON emore Pete thing-- he's scared to go out and get food, at least that's how I read it.
Ultimadrago
Member
Yeah, I thought this was confirmed when he asked the delivery man, "Have things calmed down out there?" or something along those lines.
Sapiens
Member
Yes. She's not mad at him for fucking other women.
She's cool with it.
It's the recklessness and incompetence of it all.
She's not going to shed the Dykeman "name."
Just a matter of time.
Loved this episode. They handeled the Martin Luther King story really good. Don 'bonding' with Bobby was good to see. And that powerful ending.
If Pete actually said "I screwed up, I'm sorry, and I'll try to do better," I think Trudy would let him back into the house, at least.
The problem, of course, is that Pete has now tried twice (in the episode where he gets thrown out and this latest one) to express his desire to reconcile and both times failed. Until Pete can say what he wants instead of projecting it onto Trudy, it's not going to work.
-Pyromaniac-
Member
I think she'll take him back once Pete hits rock bottom humility wise. Like said, she already knew he was fucking around but he just did it in such a stupid way that she found it offensive the last time around and she done had enough.
I haven't been totally on board with this season, but I thought this was a tremendous episode. The scenes with Don and Bobby were some of my favorite Mad Men material in years. Bobby's fear for Henry was a such a great gut punch of a scene. I like that the episode focused on that and other storylines instead of repeating the familiar 'Don has an affair' beats that it's been hitting far too often recently.
Jackben
bitch I'm taking calls.
Don is truly all about appearance. Even to his kids. I really believe that's why Bobby was afraid for his step dad rather than Don. Henry is seen as more human to the kids than Don.
That's exactly how I felt during their awkward phone conversation. He had plenty of opportunities to interject a real apology into those silences but his pride just makes him want to smooth it over and get a free pass back home. Trudy don't play that shit.
Cornballer
Member
Great episode.
I love episodes like this and I take it we'll probably get a Bobby Kennedy one as well seeing as he was killed a few months later.
Seeing Don mildly happy taking bobby to the cinema was nice and the reactions of the people like Peggy and Joan were priceless. Although you can imagine back then when someone well known died like that it would be huge shock to everybody. A sense of shock and fear.
Also got to give my props to Pete he is usually overblown but it comes from a real place it was quite pitiful seeing that last shot of him.
I love episodes like this and I take it we'll probably get a Bobby Kennedy one as well seeing as he was killed a few months later.
Seeing Don mildly happy taking bobby to the cinema was nice and the reactions of the people like Peggy and Joan were priceless. Although you can imagine back then when someone well known died like that it would be huge shock to everybody. A sense of shock and fear.
Also got to give my props to Pete he is usually overblown but it comes from a real place it was quite pitiful seeing that last shot of him.
Anton668
Member
"I only ever wanted to be the man who loves children. But from the moment they're born...that baby comes out, and you act proud and excited, hand out cigars. But you don't feel anything. Especially if you had a...difficult childhood. You want to love them, but you...don't. And the fact that you're...faking that feeling makes you wonder if your own father had the same problem. Then one day they get older, and you see them do something...and you feel...that feeling that you were pretending to have. And it feels like your heart is going to explode."
That might be a bit off, I'm transcribing without captionsbut yeah, that was fantastic.
close
I'm fairly sure I have it right. The rest wouldn't make sense otherwise?
sixteen-bit
Member
Haha:
- Pajiba: Did You Know That Stan from "Mad Men" Was a 90's Teen Heartthrob? http://i.minus.com/iDDj7h5Zk1d7v.gif[/QUOTE]
Looking a bit like Paré there.
When he sat next to Peggy, I took it more as "People don't even realize Abe is Peggy's BF" rather than "Ted's trying to mack on Peggy."
Anton668
Member
Oh god, now I can't unsee it.
What? Thought it was the other way too tbh. Would have to go back and double check though. I prefer it the other way
Anton668
Member
What? Thought it was the other way too tbh. Would have to go back and double check though. I prefer it the other way
He never wanted to be a father. He just did what was expected of him in the situation.
slowly he is realizing the lil buggers are growing on him
Don's point is that he didn't want kids, but he felt like he had to pretend to want kids, and so he acted like he wanted and loved them even though he didn't really. (Which should be no surprise, given that this is how Don deals with every single thing in his life.) This episode is the first time in his life he felt like he might actually love them, and he has no idea what to do with it.
That's really odd. I made sure to listen to that part like 5 times, but I definitely didn't hear "think" once. I'll have to take your word for it.
I took it more as he wanted to be a good father, but when he actually had his kids, he felt nothing. He wasn't sure whether that was something just inside him, or because of his upbringing, and wanted to know if his father felt the same way about him. Even though he went through the paces for years, eventually there would be a moment where the kids would do something that surprised him, and that's when he felt the love that he had been faking, and it was more overwhelming than he thought it could be. I thought the implication was that this had happened to him before with Sally, but it just now happened with Bobby.
VanMastaIteHab
Neo Member
Don's speech about his kids kind of had me in tears. What a powerful moment, so personal.
Dance Inferno
Unconfirmed Member
Wow, Jon Hamm is a lot funnier that I expected him to be.
BertramCooper
Banned
He's fucking hysterical.
He's one of the best guest hosts SNL has had in ages, and was awesome in stuff like 30 Rock and Bridesmaids.
Dance Inferno
Unconfirmed Member
Yeah I know he's funny in scripted stuff, but in an interview setting is when you get an understanding for what his personality is like, and he's just got that off-the-cuff humor down pat.
Apologies if already posted;
Mad Style : The Flood
Dat peggy golden/yellow costume callback...so good.
Love Tom & Lorenzo.
Mad Style : The Flood
Dat peggy golden/yellow costume callback...so good.
Love Tom & Lorenzo.
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
Jon Hamm has been hilarious every time I've seen him in a place where it's appropriate, scripted or not.
After Mad Men, he should seriously go into comedy.
After Mad Men, he should seriously go into comedy.
Cornballer
Member
Thanks! Hasn't been posted yet.
BertramCooper
Banned
Another great edition. Megan's outfits have been so bizarre and hideous this season. She really seems to gravitate toward pink/orange/salmon clothes, in the same way Peggy has traditionally worn mustard yellows (though less so now).
A bit of the end worth discussing:
T&L said:
Do people really not get why Betty is still around?
It's just kind of funny that someone would say this after this week's episode, where we're really starting to see where Weiner is taking Betty. We got a glimpse of Betty's political ambition with the Junior League reservoir deal in Season 3, and now we'll see it emerge once again as Henry seeks a spot in the NYS Senate.
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
T&L don't seem to get the long game. Mad Men *is* a novel, it's one of the reasons why any given week may not be as satisfying. It's why Don is cheating again-- not so that we can have more "cheating" plotline, but so we can have whatever it's going to lead to.
As far as Betty: my personal theory is that Don's past is going to collide with Henry's political ambitions, and be good for nobody.
As far as Betty: my personal theory is that Don's past is going to collide with Henry's political ambitions, and be good for nobody.
BertramCooper
Banned
Does Joan have a power color? She easily has the most diverse wardrobe, but I'm not sure if she gravitates toward a specific color like many of the characters do.
(Purple, maybe?)
(Purple, maybe?)
I thought we saw some real honesty with Pete's character this week. Sure, he was still scheming to come back home, but I think it was based in a very real fear for the safety of his wife and daughter.
I also think that's the genesis of the extreme reaction he had to Harry's insensitive comments. His parting shot is based entirely on the fact that MLK had a wife and three children.
I also think that's the genesis of the extreme reaction he had to Harry's insensitive comments. His parting shot is based entirely on the fact that MLK had a wife and three children.
Ultimadrago
Member
This is how I see her signature color scheme.
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
I kinda love the fashions that T&J hate. I always have had an affinity for ugly clothes, and this is the start of the heyday of that.
I love how hideous Megan's dresses have been.
I love how hideous Megan's dresses have been.
This is actually the episode where I finally got what was going on with Henry. Henry and Betty are the Republican power couple of the future. They're the ones who win once all the Democrats get shot. They are the 1970s.
That's interesting, I just assumed Henry would eventually lose whatever he was running for. Even though he has the trappings of a successful life, I couldn't imagine him with any real power, or with Betty being that close to real power, or however much a state senator has.
ZedIndyLil
Member
I really like this take. I can definitely see them becoming Nixonites (or even proto-Reaganites) by the end of the series.
Lactose_Intolerant
Member
I want some reporter or slimey political guy to dig into Betty's life before Henry and find out stuff about Don.
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