Season 1
Season 2
I would like to see the popular consensus on the best seasons of Mad Men - of which I'm sure I can find with a simple google search - but I will hesitate until I've seen every old episode. I'm pretty clear on my ranked seasons so far surprisingly enough: 3, 1, 2, 4. The third season is proof that a fantastic ending will just about elevate everything before it (whether that be a book, movie, or a full season.) The first season will hold a place in my heart for its novel-like structure. And I don't have any problems with the second season like I do with the fourth.
Quality-wise, it's really hard for me to grade episodes against each other, because Mad Men is so damn consistent. They've definitely never had a bad episode. So when I say the fourth season is the lowest in my seasons, it's not like I'm saying the show is noticeably worse than the first three seasons. It's not even that it IS worse, but there are certain things that got repetitive or annoying.
It's not like it's a big variation from previous seasons, but holy hell did Betty Draper become unbearable this season. Ok, I get what the show is going for. She clearly wants to be more than a housewife and she didn't realize replacing Don with another husband would fix those problems. Fine idea. The problem is that she's exactly the same with her new husband - a vastly better husband and person than Don - except now we can't point to Don being a massive asshole and explain her behavior. Which I guess is kind of an interesting direction to take the character instead of making her likable all of a sudden. There HAS to be a way though to compound that and make her sympathetic in some way though right?
Like I said before, through this rewatch through the series, I was looking for my opinion on January Jones' acting ability. Honestly, I think her performance has something to do with the unbearableness of the character. She was well-cast in the first season, where her extremely limited abilities were perfectly suited to the character. But since she has no other mode, the writers are kind of stuck. I think a better actress - say the wonderful Caitlin FitzGerald on Masters of Sex - would have done more with the material. I think the writers are letting Jones down a little in this season, but I also sort of think on a subconscious level (or even conscious, but I doubt it) they are afraid to give her more complex storylines.
Moving on, I hope they do something more interesting with Don's annual season-long affair going forward. This is probably where watching four seasons in a couple months probably hurts my opinion of the season more than if I had waited a year. Because there's nothing wrong Dr. Faye Miller if you look at her character, but man I am so tired of "woman compromises her character in order to be with Don Draper." It's gotten to the point to where I'm liking the Bobbie Barrett arc so much more in retrospect, because it's so much different an affair than the other three - which essentially are all variations on the same thing. The teacher storyline last year was actually less interesting than this, but because it came after Bobbie Barrett, I was probably less frustrated by it.
With that said, Faye Miller does in fact answer a question: If Don Draper weren't married, would he marry one of his "interesting" woman with whom he has an affair? And the answer appears to be no. He's basically presented three futures throughout this season: Bethany Van Nuys, kind of a "new" Betty; Dr. Faye Miller, and Megan Calvet, who's kind of a mix between the two it seems. Van Nuys was never going to be with Don if she knew of his past so that was really never going to work. And the reason he's not with Faye is actually really simple: she's not good with kids. That's apparently a deal breaker for Don.
Season four represents a Don Draper in transition between marriages. His divorce from Betty has left him at a low point in his life, where he makes a pass with anything with a pulse. Has he always come off as much of a creep as he does in this season? Before, it kind of seems like woman would just fall in his lap with seemingly very little effort from him. This season, he might literally fuck anything that walks. His previous "standards" of not dipping his pen in the company ink falls flat TWICE: the first time to devastating effect removing his most competent assistant ever (yes even over Peggy whose talents are better suited elsewhere) and the second at least coming with a disclaimer from the bedded.
The worst part is that he could have solved the entire issue by being honest with his first dalliance in the first place. But unfortunately, he has a Mark McGwire level of commitment to not talking about the past. At least he slept with Megan with the knowledge that both knew exactly what they were getting into, which ironically leads to marriage and not a one-time thing.
I've already seen the two-part premiere of season five, so I know that Megan is more than she appears to be, but there are already hints of that here. It's not as simple as labeling her another Jane - despite the fact that she manipulates her way into Don's good graces, she also seems to get along with his kids and has actual ambitions. (It admittedly wasn't clear if her ambition was genuine until she in fact gets promoted in between seasons, because she clearly sees the way to win Don's heart is be more like Peggy - something we should all live by.) It's weird, but I do think Megan was a better choice for Don than Faye, mostly because I can't imagine the latter would have worked out long-term. Not that the Megan one will either in a likelihood, but it at least has something resembling hope.
Don and Peggy's relationship gets put to the forefront in the astoundingly good "The Suitcase." Their relationship has been on the backburner since season two so they address all their problems with each other, which have been growing ever so slowly since he saved her from her surprise pregnancy. But they blow up at each other putting everything on the table, bond while getting drunk, and it culminates when they hold hands the next day. Don finally acknowledges something happened and it makes their relationship grow stronger.
Meanwhile, Joan is dealing with her husband enlisting without even consulting her, which even Roger finds appalling. (Roger's opinion of Joan can be succinctly described in a quote of his: "You are the finest piece of ass I've ever had and I don't care who knows it. I'm so glad I got to roam those hillsides.") Roger eventually chips away at Joan eventually scoring post-robbery. She gets pregnant - one of the benefits of Mad Men's time period is surprise pregnancies seem less convoluted as a storytelling device - and decides to keep the baby. Apparently, Matthew Weiner thought it was being clear she would keep the baby, but I'm not sure how you can read the abortion clinic as anything but ambiguous at best. (I feel like she would have told Roger immediately as well, but she just lies to him)
Anyway, Joan's importance to the firm is more evident than ever and everyone at least seems to realize it. She gets promoted, but without a raise, and really what's a promotion without a raise? And while she finally seems to have a job suited to her talents, it still kind of feels like she could be higher, because there's no question she's as valuable to the company as Don or Lane or Peggy.
Meanwhile, Pete has everything he has ever wanted, but that's still not enough because he will always want more. He's got a loving wife, which some infidelities excluded, seems to be about the best marriage in this entire show (which wow is that depressing unless someone can give me a better example). He's a junior partner in an advertising agency, clearly one of the most useful and hardworking people at that agency, and I cannot emphasize enough how good he seems to be at his job. Remember the Pete back in season one? He's come a long way.
Peggy continues to excel at work and experiment away from work. First, she tries to create a new persona for herself for the very vanilla Mark. I actually had to IMDB his character's name he makes so little of an impression. (Not a complaint: I have no desire to see more of him.) That doesn't work and while Don and work cause him to break up with her, there's little question that's a good move for Peggy.
Peggy becomes friends with Joyce Ramsey, a woman clearly interested in something more than friendship with Peggy. She leads him to Abe Drexler, a character I hope becomes better because for some reason after awesomely rejecting him, she gets back together with him. It's probably leftover from his awful decision to write a patronizing letter about the ad agency and think it would just magically make her fall in love with him, but she can do better. (Again, having seen the season five premiere, I know he returns and my impression of him didn't exactly rise after having seen it.)
I hadn't realized watching the first time, but Roger Sterling's increasing irrelevance and old age is a constant theme throughout the show. I mean there's more there thanks to John Slattery's performance, but that's basically it if you break it down. Thus, it of course makes sense that after he is only prominent due to his old-standing relationship with Lucky Strike that at the end of the season, he is quite literally irrelevant. He longer contributes anything or has any value to the company. That's always been his greatest fear.
In terms of the side Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce side characters, they get a little more polish than in the beginning seasons, when they were mostly indistinguishable except by one specific thing. Joey Bard is an entitled, condescending artist who probably thinks he's a "nice guy." His behavior was like a truncated version of Harry Crane as he at first seems likable, but then quickly grows irritable. Unlike Harry Crane, he gets fired for disrespecting Joan. (And in an interesting twist, Joan is pissed at Peggy for firing him, but really I think she made the right move, even if Joan has a point.)
Ida Blankenship provides comic relief in her short run as Don Draper's secretary. I read there was some people who didn't like the overtly comic tone this took in a way unlike Mad Men, but I didn't mind and Mad Men has always been a stealthily hilarious show. There's also Danny Strong, who doesn't last long, and to be honest, his character is every Danny Strong character ever: small, meek, and oh so small. There's also Stan Rizzo, who comes across as a dick immediately, and then less of a dick throughout the season as he becomes smitten with Peggy. (Probably has something to do with her freely getting naked in front of him without letting it impair her work)
Lastly, I've been expecting some great acting from Kiernan Shipka since I've seen a few people refer to her as one of the greatest child actresses. Last few seasons, I won't say she was bad by any means, but I was certainly confused by her designation. But this season, I think she definitely elevates and I am starting to understand that praise.
Other Points
- Though I've liked Mark Moses as Duck Phillips, I've never been a fan of his romance with Peggy so I was happy with how this ended. I wasn't really pleased he is now sadly drinking again and unhinged, because Moses did a good job portraying him as sympathetic. I oddly lose that sympathy when he's with Peggy though.
- WHY IS GLEN BISHOP ON THIS SHOW? It gives Shipka something to do when she's not with her mother, but I do not think this show should be devoting so much time to him. (I am aware he's Matthew Weiner's son and I can't help but think that is impacting his judgment.)
- IMDB tells me that's the last time we see Midge: apparently addicted to heroin and life going downhill fast. That was the prologue I didn't need to see.
- Goodbye Carla. They really didn't even try to make Betty understandable this season, did they?
- This doesn't really fit and I don't know how to insert into the review, but I've made it four seasons and I've never said anything about Alison Brie. I don't have anything to say, except that I want to acknowledge I am aware she is on this show and she is good.
Playlist (Songs from Season Five)
1. "Tobacco Road" - The Nashville Teens
2. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" - Teresa Brewer
3. "Sidewalk Surfin" - Jan & Dean
4. "Old Cape Cod" - Patti Page
5. "Signed D.C." - The Brave New World
6. "Ladder of Success" - Skeeter Davis
7. "Bleecker Street" - Simon & Garfunkel
8. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - The Rolling Stones
9. "I Know a Place" - Petula Clark
10. "Welcome to My World" - Jim Reeves
11. "Trust in Me" - Etta James
12. "Name Game" - Shirley Ellis
13. "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher
I hadn't realized watching the first time, but Roger Sterling's increasing irrelevance and old age is a constant theme throughout the show. I mean there's more there thanks to John Slattery's performance, but that's basically it if you break it down. Thus, it of course makes sense that after he is only prominent due to his old-standing relationship with Lucky Strike that at the end of the season, he is quite literally irrelevant. He longer contributes anything or has any value to the company. That's always been his greatest fear.
In terms of the side Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce side characters, they get a little more polish than in the beginning seasons, when they were mostly indistinguishable except by one specific thing. Joey Bard is an entitled, condescending artist who probably thinks he's a "nice guy." His behavior was like a truncated version of Harry Crane as he at first seems likable, but then quickly grows irritable. Unlike Harry Crane, he gets fired for disrespecting Joan. (And in an interesting twist, Joan is pissed at Peggy for firing him, but really I think she made the right move, even if Joan has a point.)
Ida Blankenship provides comic relief in her short run as Don Draper's secretary. I read there was some people who didn't like the overtly comic tone this took in a way unlike Mad Men, but I didn't mind and Mad Men has always been a stealthily hilarious show. There's also Danny Strong, who doesn't last long, and to be honest, his character is every Danny Strong character ever: small, meek, and oh so small. There's also Stan Rizzo, who comes across as a dick immediately, and then less of a dick throughout the season as he becomes smitten with Peggy. (Probably has something to do with her freely getting naked in front of him without letting it impair her work)
Lastly, I've been expecting some great acting from Kiernan Shipka since I've seen a few people refer to her as one of the greatest child actresses. Last few seasons, I won't say she was bad by any means, but I was certainly confused by her designation. But this season, I think she definitely elevates and I am starting to understand that praise.
Other Points
- Though I've liked Mark Moses as Duck Phillips, I've never been a fan of his romance with Peggy so I was happy with how this ended. I wasn't really pleased he is now sadly drinking again and unhinged, because Moses did a good job portraying him as sympathetic. I oddly lose that sympathy when he's with Peggy though.
- WHY IS GLEN BISHOP ON THIS SHOW? It gives Shipka something to do when she's not with her mother, but I do not think this show should be devoting so much time to him. (I am aware he's Matthew Weiner's son and I can't help but think that is impacting his judgment.)
- IMDB tells me that's the last time we see Midge: apparently addicted to heroin and life going downhill fast. That was the prologue I didn't need to see.
- Goodbye Carla. They really didn't even try to make Betty understandable this season, did they?
- This doesn't really fit and I don't know how to insert into the review, but I've made it four seasons and I've never said anything about Alison Brie. I don't have anything to say, except that I want to acknowledge I am aware she is on this show and she is good.
Playlist (Songs from Season Five)
1. "Tobacco Road" - The Nashville Teens
2. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" - Teresa Brewer
3. "Sidewalk Surfin" - Jan & Dean
4. "Old Cape Cod" - Patti Page
5. "Signed D.C." - The Brave New World
6. "Ladder of Success" - Skeeter Davis
7. "Bleecker Street" - Simon & Garfunkel
8. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - The Rolling Stones
9. "I Know a Place" - Petula Clark
10. "Welcome to My World" - Jim Reeves
11. "Trust in Me" - Etta James
12. "Name Game" - Shirley Ellis
13. "I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher
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