Mad Men, Season Four

[Bytegeist]

@Push_You_Down

Don’s taking to sex slapping seemed really bizarre and way too on the nose.

If it’s on the nose, you’re not doing it right.

[Carol_the_Impaler]

Unless, of course, that’s what you’re into.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

[CJJ]

@Gangster_Octopus

This whole episode is about how the changes in the company are reflecting a channge in the country, a counter culture channge. Jantzen are the old school Phyllis Schafley prudes who helped get Barry Goldwater nominated for President. Old rules don’t apply and Don hass always been had that kind of thinking when he was developing a campaing, but never in everything else. But he does see the kind of Andy Warhol-ing of America, the cult of personality, etc. He certainly didn’t get it at first, but Don finally understood it when he realized hw he botched the AdAge interview, how the ham fight actually worked and how if he wants to promote a fresher outlook then it has to ooze out of the company.

This is pretty close to the mark. The era of the gray flannel suit–the anonymous executives who quietly wielded power over politics, the economy, and culture–is ending. Self-promotion and a frank, personal authenticity are on the rise.

In the opening scene, Don remarks that he was brought up in the Midwest, where it wasn’t “polite” to talk about one’s self. This custom served him well in the earlier age, but the shifting culture is making it harder for him to get away with it. His colleagues also sense the cultural change; when Pete casts the new SCDP as the “scrappy upstart”, Don thinks he’s nuts–a bigger, more established firm is always better. The effectiveness of Peggy’s publicity stunt–despite the Thanksgiving setback–is something I don’t think Don expected (and it’s only after the stunt that Peggy comes up with that excellent campaign idea).

I think the characters are vaguely reacting to American culture’s shift toward a brasher style. I’m expecting this to be the dominant theme this season, one that will require Don to invent a personal story for himself. The whole season then will have Don (and, by extension, the employees of SCDP) developing a detailed answer to the opening question “Who is Don Draper?” It will be interesting to see how the theme is explored.

[Sampiro]

How much legal trouble would Don get into if his life as Dick Whitman came to light? I’m thinking the biggest would be with the military of course, though he has Mrs. Draper (the original Don Draper’s wife) in his corner which might help somewhat, and he could always bribe a psychiatrist into claiming he had amnesia perhaps.

[astro]

@Sampiro

How much legal trouble would Don get into if his life as Dick Whitman came to light? I’m thinking the biggest would be with the military of course, though he has Mrs. Draper (the original Don Draper’s wife) in his corner which might help somewhat, and he could always bribe a psychiatrist into claiming he had amnesia perhaps.

I’m thinking the same thing. I think it was the first or second episode where he was recognized (as Whitman) an old war buddy on his daily commuter train. If he goes national his chance of exposure grows exponentially.

[drpepper]

I’m sure the eagle-eyed Dopers noticed the scene where Don is standing in the foyer of the house and as Henry comes out of the bathroom the last of the toilet flush is plainly audible.

I’m not sure why it was put in there, but somehow it struck me as a creative little touch.

[JpnDude]

@Gangster_Octopus

It sure took Don a while to understand that he was the face of the company. My favorite line was Don to Henry after Henry says, “This isn’t permanent”

“Nobody thinks it is, Henry.”

Or something like that.

Just a nitpick.

Henry: Don, it’s temporary.

Don: Believe me, Henry. Everybody thinks this is temporary.