I'd been dreading Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 since Aug. 16, 2009. The end of season 3 of the AMC series Mad Men. Now that may seem pessimistic to some people. But if I'm being honest with myself I am a bit of a pessimist and in some small way it made me savour this short but remarkable season all the more. The intrigue, the romance, the histroy, the politics, THE OUTFITS!! Every little bit of this season had me so entranced that I didn't want to look way. So that I spent every week anticipating the return of my Sunday night ritual, 2 hours, the same episode in a row. That's right, I watch the same episode twice - don't want to miss any of that Matthew Weiner glory. And truly it takes 2 viewings at least to understand and appreciate the complex story line that is Mad Men. Every little thought out line of dialogue, movement of a character, placement of a poster on a wall. For those of us who enjoy breaking down entertainment for all the nuances it can deliver, this show is packed with details for us to appreciate.
And the season finale did not disappoint. To be honest I wanted to post this blog a bit sooner. To come out with it the day after the episode aired with all my sweet little insights and thoughts poured out into a tight-knit little blog. But I couldn't. The piece of art that I was delivered deserved far more of my attention and careful thought. Well that and I had to take a sick day, weather changes are not kind to me. Though now, after a couple more days of rumination I finally feel ready to give my own summary and review.
***Spoiler alert, from this point onward the blog will reveal plot details***
Will she or won't she? That was the question we were all left pondering on the second last episode of Mad Men when Betty Draper decided to throw a passive aggressive tantrum and let Don know that she wasn't having any of his behaviour anymore, she just wasn't in love. Of course this all came after she had secured a way out with a man she had met, oh, a handful of times (but don't worry - they're madly in love and totally getting married). When will Betty learn? After Don finally comes clearn and starts behaving in a semi-decent and respectful manner, she decides she has had enough and is ready to go. Betty seems to prefer Don as a bit of cad. She really seems to want a bit of a chase, to have a husband she needs to work to get the attention of. Maybe Don should just go back to sleeping with whatever is a brunette and walks with a sway. Will Betty's trip to Nevada with Henry Francis work out? Will Betty really be able to carry on without Don? You'll have to wait until next season people, but if you're a fan of Matthew Weiner and you really (and I mean REALLY) watched The Sopranos, I think there are some guesses you could make. Personally, I don't think we've seen the end of their relationship.
Now Sterling Cooper and Don Draper, what isn't happening in the world of Don Draper?! His wife is leaving him and his family is coming apart. Sterling Cooper seems to have come to the last of its days as Putnam Powell and Lowe seem to be throwing in the towel, or rather passing it off to McCann. And Peggy won't even consider his offer to jump ship and come along with him? Having devotedly watched all 3 seasons I don't think anyone could have said they saw it coming - until they heard him command her to leave, rather than ask. In that moment I just felt so proud. Though I'm not a Team Peggy kind of girl, having her stick it to the man and stand up for her work held a bit of joy for me. 'Equal pay for equal work' anyone? Or in this case at least equal respect. Here we see Don really struggle to grab his footing. For one of the first times in the series we really see him lose his temper and have issues with a challenge. What problem can't Don Draper solve? Apparently it was almost this one as the powers that be in Britain almost got the best of him. But anyone who knows Don Draper knows it wasn't going to be like that. In exactly the type of plot point you were hoping for, he manipulates his way out of the situation and reminds all the viewers exactly why you love this show.
One of the best things about Mad Men is how timely and accurate it manages to be. It hasn't left any political or historical issue unaddressed. And it hits the issues head on, not in some passive 'yeah I guess women had a hard time of it' or 'sure, African Americans really did have a struggle around this time huh?' - Mad Men really takes all the revolutionary things happening at that period in history and uses them to create this rich world of advertising with these deep and diverse characters. This relevance was on display this season as the times continued to shift at Sterling Cooper. Old married far too young, a woman pondered an abortion, another dealt with domestic abuse, segregation boiled, and a president hit new heights beforing falling to an unfortunate low - death. Using the assassination of JFK as a plot line to really highlight the emotional and mental state of the characters was a brilliant move on the part of Weiner. It really paired well with the climactic end of the season and served to move along the story, not just as a scandal happening in the background.
And now here we are. With the end of this episode we have reached a pivotal point in the plot. They're going out on their own. Sterling Cooper be damned, now I'm watching to absorb and become engrossed in the lives of those at Sterling Cooper Draper and Price (and maybe Campbell). To be honest this was a genious and thrilling move for the viewer. And truly they took all my favourite characters anyways! Let's just hope they bring back Salvator and I'm really very comfortable with the turn Mad Men has taken. This new advertising firm is just as exciting as the last, if not more. Because this one has brought Joan's character back to a more central role. This one is going to force Peggy and Pete to work closely together. And this one will show us who Don Draper is. At the beginning of the episode Connie (Conrad Hilton - painful character that he is) seemed to challenge Don to go out and make it on his own. To show that he's not just some man with a contract working as a cog. This is exactly what the fourth season of Mad Men is going to allow us to see. Will Don Draper and the new firm be a success? Will Roger Sterling keep providing the best lines in the show? Will Peggy stick with Duck? Is Pete going to make it as a partner? Will Betty and Henry Francis work?!
Like Sterling said, they've dangled that golden pork chop, and I'm just waiting until next summer to get my piece. Until then, you can find me watching my DVD's and attached to my on-demand.
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