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[RepairmanJack]

Whelp. Never mind then. I guess Don meant something else then by mentioning the Mustang.

That line did indicate that he was talking about the Camaro, I wondered about the timeline error as well.

Kind of late to this, but didn't see it replied to. Don was just assuming it was to compete with the Mustang, or that nothing but the Mustang mattered. At the time they had nothing more than the model number to go on and had no idea what the car actually was.

 

[Divius]

Oh Sal

I have a friend who just started watching Mad Men and she's like "Sal is one of my favorite characters" and I'm like "yeah" ;_;

 

[Shortt Sirket]

I have been reading these threads pretty much every week, but I haven't really participated yet. However, all this Bob talk has made me change my mind.

My fiance and I were talking about him and we were discussing the jokes about him being "weird" or "odd" and we realized why that was.

He is a truly decent person surrounded by cynical assholes. We are used to seeing people doing whatever they need to in order to get ahead, but Bob is just genuinely a nice guy. He does stuff to be nice, not because he expects something out of it. He is friendly and charming and patient and in a world where everyone is a cynic and a dick, it stands out as "odd."

I really like his character and I really hope they are going somewhere good with him.

 

[Dance Inferno]

I have been reading these threads pretty much every week, but I haven't really participated yet. However, all this Bob talk has made me change my mind.

My fiance and I were talking about him and we were discussing the jokes about him being "weird" or "odd" and we realized why that was.

He is a truly decent person surrounded by cynical assholes. We are used to seeing people doing whatever they need to in order to get ahead, but Bob is just genuinely a nice guy. He does stuff to be nice, not because he expects something out of it. He is friendly and charming and patient and in a world where everyone is a cynic and a dick, it stands out as "odd."

I really like his character and I really hope they are going somewhere good with him.

Hmm that's interesting, I think you may be right. What's ironic is that he's a Wharton graduate, which today holds all these connotations of being a malicious businessman who does anything to get ahead. However in the world of Mad Men he's the only truly nice guy.

 

[Colasante]

Incidentally, what happened in that last episode with Bert's speech? He gets to the ending of the page and realizes he doesn't have the concluding paragraph. Is this just a throwaway joke about him losing half the speech? Or is he actually going a little senile?

I think it was just a gag about him losing the last page and being unable to deliver any of the speech without the words right in front of him. I don't think he's supposed to be seen as actually any more senile than he was when the show first started.

 

[Cornballer]

It'd be kinda funny if Bob just ended up being a nice guy after all of the crazy speculation about his agenda/secret identity.

 

[Shortt Sirket]

It'd be kinda funny if Bob just ended up being a nice guy after all of the crazy speculation about his agenda/secret identity.

I honestly hope that they do that because it works so well in the world they have created. We have seen people do damn near anything to anyone to get ahead and he is the perfect contrast to that. He works really well as a way to show us that these people really are terrible and yet it is HE who is seen as odd.

In that same vein, the girl and I always joke that everyone in this era was just a terrible person. Really! Watch the show again and just see how horrible everyone in that era was. Sexism, racism, homophobia, narcissism, greed, etc...it is a surprise any of us turned out okay after having parents from that era.

 

[BertramCooper]

The show's gotten too Forrest Gumpy.

Not really. Forrest Gump was shitty because the character somehow got involved in all of these profound historical events.

Mad Men, by and large, simply observes them from the sidelines.

 

[Cornballer]

- Tom & Lorenzo: Mad Style - Man With a Plan

And it would be impossible to view this scene without taking in how different each character is while at the same time noting their similarities. Peggy and Joan have very different ways of navigating the world and their clothes reflect that, but the blues also reflect two women who sought power in the patriarchy and two women who had unexpected pregnancies radically alter the directions of their lives.

What’s great about both of these looks is that they’re both wearing meant-to-impress business suits, but the effect is radically different on each of them. They’re feeling their power but expressing it in ways distinctly their own. And you absolutely have to refer back to the scene it’s mimicking just to see how far these two characters have come in how they express their worth:

A lot can happen in eight years. One of the great things about Janie Bryant as a costume designer is how well she understands the characters and how well she understands the relationships people have with their clothes. Peggy got her promotion to Junior Copywriter in the above scene.

 

[AnotherNils]

- Tom & Lorenzo: Mad Style - Man With a Plan

I've been following these thanks to this thread most of the season, but damn, this one is extensive. Great read.

 

[Talon]

I honestly hope that they do that because it works so well in the world they have created. We have seen people do damn near anything to anyone to get ahead and he is the perfect contrast to that. He works really well as a way to show us that these people really are terrible and yet it is HE who is seen as odd.

In that same vein, the girl and I always joke that everyone in this era was just a terrible person. Really! Watch the show again and just see how horrible everyone in that era was. Sexism, racism, homophobia, narcissism, greed, etc...it is a surprise any of us turned out okay after having parents from that era.

The myth killing of the 60s is definitely one of the biggest draws of this show.

 

[jtb]

I don't think it's odd to view someone like Bob as a shameless sycophant. That's hardly exclusive to Mad Men or the 60s.

 

[Jackben]

At first I thought he was just comedic filler as a goofy new employee, but lately the expanded screen time makes me think they are setting up Bob Benson for tragedy.

His two coffee shenanigans always seemed like good but annoying business suck-up to me and Ken Cosgrove seemed to agree given the verbal lashing he gave Bob at the beginning of the season. But some of the stuff he has done for Pete and Joan kind of go above-and-beyond the call of duty for that and stray into genuine kindness territory. It did end up saving his job, so we'll see what comes of it down the line.

 

[SaltyDoughnut]

Thanks Tom & Lorenzo:

 

[Altazor]

- Tom & Lorenzo: Mad Style - Man With a Plan

amazing as always. Thanks for the link, Cornballer!

 

[Solo]

Just watched the episode. I don't know if Don has ever been more despicable/pitiful than he was in this episode, and that is saying something. Also, Pete seems well on his way to a total meltdown.

 

[kirblar]

I don't think it's odd to view someone like Bob as a shameless sycophant. That's hardly exclusive to Mad Men or the 60s.

I figured out Bob today. He's the male equivalent to a "Secretary->Wife." Joan/Bob is playing off of the Harry/Scarlet or Don/Megan type relationships by inverting the gender roles.

 

[Solo]

I know we're only halfway through the season, but it occurs to me that this is the most I've enjoyed the show since S3. After two seasons I felt weren't quite up to snuff (S4 has some great standalones but overall it felt it lacking, and S5 is the weakest season), S6 has been a nice return to form for me.

 

[Booties]

Is it just me, or does the peggy-ted relationship seem ridiculous to believe?

 

[Leona Lewis]

Is it just me, or does the peggy-ted relationship seem ridiculous to believe?

Ted is the anti-Don: he constantly praises Peggy and validates her worth to his agency, whereas Don rendered her invisible by the time she decided to leave SCDP. Don doesn't appreciate her work, Abe doesn't respect her profession - Ted's the only man in her life who actually acknowledges her virtues as a writer.

It only makes sense that she'd identify more with him and do things like defend him from Don.

 

[Booties]

Ted is the anti-Don: he constantly praises Peggy and validates her worth to his agency, whereas Don rendered her invisible by the time she decided to leave SCDP. Don doesn't appreciate her work, Abe doesn't respect her profession - Ted's the only man in her life who actually acknowledges her virtues as a writer.

It only makes sense that she'd identify more with him and do things like defend him from Don.

That is all very good and totally true, but I just feel like it's not a personality match. Peggy is super independent, and does reckless things from time to time. Ted seems just too much of a goodie-two-shoes to me.

 

[Leona Lewis]

That is all very good and totally true, but I just feel like it's not a personality match. Peggy is super independent, and does reckless things from time to time. Ted seems just too much of a goodie-two-shoes to me.

She does reckless things when she's not given validation. She ran off to a theater and gave a guy a hand job because the Heinz guy lashed out at her campfire idea, she ran off to Duck's hotel room and had sex with him because Don told her she never wrote any copy he couldn't live without, she got pregnant with Pete's baby because he gave her the affection and attention that her boss didn't. She only indulges in stupidity when she feels slighted by a male superior.

Ted goes out of his way to give her a sense of worth and importance, so she has no reason to lash out by doing dumb things. It has nothing to do with "personality match" - Peggy doesn't seem to have a "type" (Mark was a whitebread manchild, Abe is a rebellious dufus, Ted seems to be somewhere in between).

 

[Jackben]

That is all very good and totally true, but I just feel like it's not a personality match. Peggy is super independent, and does reckless things from time to time. Ted seems just too much of a goodie-two-shoes to me.

That's why it's only a fantasy. Ted was drunk and ended the one kiss they had right away. I don't see him making the same mistake again. In other words, he wouldn't cheat on his wife and Peggy has already cheated on Abe if you count the movie theatre handjob.

Incompatable relationship only possible in fantasy.

 

[RangersFan]

not enough cosgrove, harry, or sally this season

 

[Booties]

Definitely missing Ken. They keep talking about him which is strange. Like as if they are trying to make sure we dont' forget he exists. Maybe something big is on the horizon for him?

 

[Colasante]

Definitely missing Ken. They keep talking about him which is strange. Like as if they are trying to make sure we dont' forget he exists. Maybe something big is on the horizon for him?

Maybe he becomes a successful novelist and ditches the firm, then Bob Benson takes over his accounts? Or maybe he jumps out a window...

 

[Booties]

Maybe he becomes a successful novelist and ditches the firm, then Bob Benson takes over his accounts? Or maybe he jumps out a window...

I loved that aspect of his character. It kinda got shoved under a rug somewhere.

 

[slightconfuse]

Suprised hey never put ken on copy since he is a writer . Guess I pays less than accounts ?

 

[Wool]

Doesn't anybody remember jerk Ken? Don't pretend he's not a jerk anymore. Remember when he told Bob Benson to get out of the lobby a couple episodes ago? I hate him. Maybe his father-in-law will show him some napalm firsthand.

 

[Jackben]

Doesn't anybody remember jerk Ken? Don't pretend he's not a jerk anymore. Remember when he told Bob Benson to get out of the lobby a couple episodes ago? I hate him. Maybe his father-in-law will show him some napalm firsthand.

"You gotta let them know what kind of guy you are, that way they know what kind of girl to be" seems like ages ago. But we talked about this before, his wife and writing straightened him out into a semi-nice guy. Except to Bob I suppose.

 

[pigeon]

"You gotta let them know what kind of guy you are, that way they know what kind of girl to be" seems like ages ago. But we talked about this before, his wife and writing straightened him out into a semi-nice guy. Except to Bob I suppose.

Ken just thinks Bob is being sleazy and trying to advance his career by doing so instead of working hard, which I think is pretty accurate. As somebody who did have to work hard, Ken doesn't think much of th

Of course, Ken is much less nice this season than last because he hates having his father in law's account.

 

[encephalon]

That is all very good and totally true, but I just feel like it's not a personality match. Peggy is super independent, and does reckless things from time to time. Ted seems just too much of a goodie-two-shoes to me.

Something like:

"Oh don't tell me I'm nice."
"I was going to say strong."

They're both looking for people to see something different in them.

 

[bomma_man]

I have been reading these threads pretty much every week, but I haven't really participated yet. However, all this Bob talk has made me change my mind.

My fiance and I were talking about him and we were discussing the jokes about him being "weird" or "odd" and we realized why that was.

He is a truly decent person surrounded by cynical assholes. We are used to seeing people doing whatever they need to in order to get ahead, but Bob is just genuinely a nice guy. He does stuff to be nice, not because he expects something out of it. He is friendly and charming and patient and in a world where everyone is a cynic and a dick, it stands out as "odd."

I really like his character and I really hope they are going somewhere good with him.

So Bob Benson is to Mad Men what Frank Grimes is to the Simpsons?

 

[maharg]

So Bob Benson is to Mad Men what Frank Grimes is to the Simpsons?

You know, that works really really well.

Honestly he does strike me as a climber, but that alone doesn't make him a terrible person. It's not Pete's ambitions that make him a terrible person, it's... everything else.

 

[Salsa]

Thanks Tom & Lorenzo:

so hot

 

[hamchan]

Yeah this season is pretty fantastic so far. Easily better than last season.

 

[Horse Detective]

I hate Pete more and more with each episode.

 

[Hours Left]

So Bob Benson is to Mad Men what Frank Grimes is to the Simpsons?

Though it seems to be benefiting Bob. He's making dem inroads.

 

[Booties]

I hate Pete more and more with each episode.

He's self-destructing trying to pretend he isn't trying to be like Don. I love it.

 

[pigeon]

I hate Pete more and more with each episode.

Lying to his mom about reality is one of the worst things he's done in the show, for sure.

 

[Moff]

Oh Sal

I have a friend who just started watching Mad Men and she's like "Sal is one of my favorite characters" and I'm like "yeah" ;_;

I always hoped he would return after lucky stike dropped them

 

[killertofu]

Thanks Tom & Lorenzo:

HOLY FUCK THE MAIN CHARACTER FROM FREAKS AND GEEKS?

Jesus christ my mind is blown

 

[Divius]

HOLY FUCK THE MAIN CHARACTER FROM FREAKS AND GEEKS?

Jesus christ my mind is blown

Holy shit. Wow.








Wow.

 

[Booties]

Holy shit. Wow.








Wow.

Yeah, it took me two episodes to figure out, but wow.

 

[Steelyuhas]

HOLY FUCK THE MAIN CHARACTER FROM FREAKS AND GEEKS?

Jesus christ my mind is blown

WHAT

HOLY SHIT how did I not see that?

 

[sixteen-bit]

yeah how did you guys not see that

mad men rarely casts known actors which is why it was such a shock

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

yeah how did you guys not see that

mad men rarely casts known actors which is why it was such a shock

Kidding? A lot of their medium-sized guest roles are know actors. Leland Fucking Palmer!

 

[maharg]

I think calling Linda Cardellini a 'known' might be stretching things a bit. Freaks and Geeks is pretty niche. I guess she was in ER, but ... I don't remember her in it at all, though I was never a regular watcher.

 

[kirblar]

Lying to his mom about reality is one of the worst things he's done in the show, for sure.

His mother no longer has a grasp on reality, unfortunately.

 

[Divius]

I think calling Linda Cardellini a 'known' might be stretching things a bit. Freaks and Geeks is pretty niche. I guess she was in ER, but ... I don't remember her in it at all, though I was never a regular watcher.

Her face and her name were familiar, but I put no further thought into it. It's been years since I saw F&G