Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news.

‘All It Did Was Make Me Fantasize About The Day I Could Murder Him!!’ MAD MEN 2.4!!

Look, I fucking love this show... by memento108	Aug 17th, 2008 10:08:13 PM
But why is it having an identity crisis? In the first season it pretended to be semi-serious revealing Don's (or Dick's) hidden past, and then his brother hangs himself, and we barely hear another thing about....also I don't think I like the two-year gap between seasons....I don't know, it's still a great show but just sort've a dick tease.
This was a lackluster episode. by fiester	Aug 17th, 2008 10:09:16 PM
Even the structure--three Sundays--was limiting and it just seemed to be all over the place. I liked what we saw of Peggy's family earlier this season, but tonight felt like overkill. There was really not much advanced at all. But my expectations are very high for this show.
Also... by memento108	Aug 17th, 2008 10:13:29 PM
where the fuck is Pete Campbell? I haven't seen tonight's yet but was he in it?
I agree with Fiester. by Mostholy	Aug 17th, 2008 10:37:04 PM
This was the poorest episode of the season thus far. Not as bad a whiff as some of the BSG Season 4 stuff, but sub-par compared to the usual quality level of the show.
This is what I have been wating for by Dugrex	Aug 17th, 2008 10:39:46 PM
This was the best episode of the season. The reason I love this show is that you think you know what is coming and they take you someplace far better. Last years best example was the Don and Pete showdown. This episode had several examples. The Don and Betty relationship. Do we actually see a maturing in their marriage? Peggy's sister going into the confessional could have been played the cliche card all the way, but what we get is a better understanding of her sister and Peggy herself. Don actually revealing part of his past, who would have thought. This is the best show going no question.
I'm really starting to hate Betty. by Voice O. Reason	Aug 17th, 2008 10:48:08 PM
If she's the typical 60s mom, its no wonder our parents were so fucked up.
It's still by far the best made show by veritasses	Aug 17th, 2008 10:49:04 PM
But it doesn't quite match the perfection of S1. I think it's mostly a problem of everyone (writers, directors, actors but mostly the writing) trying just a bit too hard to live up to all the accolades and trying to be even better then they were last season. Problem is, it didn't need any improvement anywhere. This is a very minor criticism though and it's always good to see people working had. It's still excellent work and confirmation that S1 wasn't a fluke.
Resolved? by Balloonie	Aug 17th, 2008 10:50:34 PM
Has Don's past really been resolved? Maybe I missed something, but as far as I can tell he had a crummy childhood. I think there's more to why he took on a new identity. (And my guess is that it was alluded to in this episode when I spoke about his father.)
when "He" spoke about his father by Balloonie	Aug 17th, 2008 10:51:18 PM

Best Series on TV? by codymr	Aug 17th, 2008 11:40:04 PM
Could be. Could be. Every once in a while there is a show that is so ahead of anything else anyone else is doing... A show that is so fresh and innovative that nothing else comes close. The last program I remember being like that was Homicide: Life on the Street, but the Sopranos is on the short list too. I wonder if we are going to see a bunch of Mad Men knock offs the way the 90s saw a bunch of supernatural investigation shows after the X Files was a success?
That's the problem... by memento108	Aug 18th, 2008 12:16:59 AM
There really is no moving plot. It's all pretty self-contained in each episode. It's a great show, but not the best on TV. Lost still holds that spot...
MOTHERFUCK LOST by Dan the Geek	Aug 18th, 2008 12:27:44 AM
BREAKING BAD is where it's at.
There's a slight difference between by veritasses	Aug 18th, 2008 01:07:24 AM
"best show" vs "best made show". Best show is more or less subjective. Best made show can (to an extent) be quantified by looking at specific technical elements and seeing how well/poorly those elements are executed. Interestingly, "well made" doesn't necessarily equate to "most entertaining."
Colin Hanks really took me out of it... by DanielKurland	Aug 18th, 2008 01:28:59 AM
I don't know what it was, but he just didn't work for me. The culmination of this Betty/Don stuff is so interesting and painful to watch. Also Breaking Bad is wonderful. There were times when I didn't want to watch the show because I knew it was going to depress the fuck out of me due to the great writing and acting. I'm sure I've cried through the "Talking Pillow" scene.
Breaking Bad is starting again in January... by DanielKurland	Aug 18th, 2008 01:33:50 AM
I'm fairly certain, although AMC hasn't confirmed anything. They're filming from July to December though. And I'll say it again, Betty is the best character on Mad Men, all her mannerisms and ticks and lines were so subtle in season one, I think they've gone a little too far with her hatig her son. We knew that ages ago and the brief hints we saw were enough, without having to be so blatent, but I guess it progressed Don as a character, so I'll overlook it.
Just finished watching the 1st season by half vader	Aug 18th, 2008 02:54:12 AM
set on Blu-ray. Whoa. The 'carousel' speech was fantastic, and beautifully juxtaposed with the Betty stuff. I love to watch ongoing story stuff all at once like this, but I don't think I can wait 'til the 2nd season makes it onto disc. Consider me a new convert!
Voice O. Reason...no one on this show is typical by bacci40	Aug 18th, 2008 04:26:23 AM
and i still dont understand the hate for betty...her husband cheats on her for no better reason than he doesnt know himself and really only married her as a useful tool...for years he treated her as a child, and she had to forgo her dreams to become an absolute milf...i just dont get the hate...why does no one hate draper? i mean no one hates him...despite the fact that he was a fucking coward who stole another man's identity, in order to get ahead in the world (note how quickly they dropped this pretty absurd and unneccesary plot point) he used his wife's shrink to spy on her for god sake...the man barely works and blames his underlings for his own failures...hes a fuckup and just doesnt know it, cuz in the 60s companies covered for fuckup middle management...i dont hate anyone on this show...they all behave in the way they are supposed to...this is the early 60s, where 50s sensibilities still prevailed...really hope the show lasts long enuf to take us all the way through the 60s, so we can really see every character's arc
mod parent up by Dradis Contact	Aug 18th, 2008 05:44:46 AM
oh wait
Damn, I missed last night's ep. by Mr. Nice Gaius	Aug 18th, 2008 08:40:22 AM
Does anybody know A&E's replay schedule?
Ashok0 by Mr. Nice Gaius	Aug 18th, 2008 08:47:05 AM
Dude, you need to relax with this whole "I don't get it, it's no BSG or LOST or THE SHIELD or THE WIRE" schtick. It's bordering on a Memories-Of-Murder/Bayformers level of tiresome. And take the BSG S4 cock out of your mouth. The first half of S4 was not above criticism. Don't be that guy.
bacci40 by Prespez	Aug 18th, 2008 08:48:10 AM
The reason for the Betty hate? It's the Ain't it Cool talkbacks where women-hating geeks come to hide behind the internet to show what scares them the most...the vagina.
"We have to get you a new daddy." by HoboCode	Aug 18th, 2008 09:06:12 AM
Seriously Ashok0. STFU. All you do is come on here bitching every week. As for the rest of you that think this episode or season have been subpar? Chill. Last season began slo w and then hit it in the second half on all cylinders. They are setting shit up still. Have some patience. And stop bitching about the plot. Fucking geeks on this site act like a show isn't any good unless it has a serialized overarching plot. Just enjoy the self-contained episodes and enjoy any secondary arcs as they develop. Takes some ritalin. Jesus.
By the way HERC. by HoboCode	Aug 18th, 2008 09:06:32 AM

By the way HERC. by HoboCode	Aug 18th, 2008 09:08:02 AM
Sorry about that. The show Bobbie pitched was "Grin and BARRETT." As in Jimmy Barett.
bacci by HoboCode	Aug 18th, 2008 09:17:29 AM
I actually agree with you somewhat. Draper is a bit of a scum, as all of the men on the show are. Part of it is the social mores of the time period. But Draper has the added excuse of being abused as a child. I wouldn't say Draper stole his identity out of cowardice though. He wasn't trying to "get ahead." He knew the only way he could escape his past was to be reborn as someone else. That's the reality of the world. More often than not if you're born poor you're going to stay poor. Not to mention Draper had the added stigma of being a "whore child," something that would have inhibited him for the rest of his life.
this is basically by ZO	Aug 18th, 2008 09:38:27 AM
a poor mans version of the sopranos nothing much goes on. no story gets told.
Mr. Nice Gaius by Mockingbird Girl	Aug 18th, 2008 09:54:48 AM
Errrr... it's on AMC, not A&E. Check the website for replay schedule: http://www.amctv.com
Mockingbird Girl by Mr. Nice Gaius	Aug 18th, 2008 10:04:31 AM
Thanks. Uh, not sure how I mixed that up...
It was a like a evil episode of "Leave It to Beaver" by cookylamoo	Aug 18th, 2008 10:16:25 AM
With Hugh Beaumont and Barbra Billigsley getting crocked on Vodka and Jerry Mathers burning his lip off. Speaking of Beaver, didn't dad get some in the office?
This was a great episode by Philo_Beddo	Aug 18th, 2008 10:16:40 AM
Great title. Great structure. Great character studies. And Betty is not a villain. She is a well-drawn character and January Jones is doing a fine job fleshing her out. Don is hesitant to punish his son for lying because his dad wailed on him when he was a boy, but also because has done plenty of lying himself (remember 2 episodes ago Betty was angry that the boy copied a drawing of George Washington at school, and it didn't bother Don in the least).
I thought it was the best episode of the season by exie	Aug 18th, 2008 11:12:34 AM
It's setting up all the Pete Campbell stuff with Peggy to come, setting up the Don/Duck clash to come and it added yet another layer to the Betty/Don relationship. It also showed Sterling is back in saddle again. I wonder if last night was foreshadowing that he's going to croak fucking a whore this season. I do agree with Daniel Kurland that Colin Hanks took me out of the show. I would prefer they cast complete unknowns. That said, Hanks did a great job with the part and it was the best acting I've ever seen him do. This is a great show. I'm currently giving season 1 to everyone as gifts this year and I haven't had one bad report back from anyone.
Colin Hanks by HoboCode	Aug 18th, 2008 11:33:00 AM
I thought he was great as well. I recognized him immediately but it didn't take me out of it any way.
American Airlines Pitch! by mitortilla	Aug 18th, 2008 12:30:29 PM

American Airlines Pitch! by mitortilla	Aug 18th, 2008 12:31:26 PM
Why in the fuck did they not show it?!?!?! after all the drama with mohawk, it pissed me off
picking up steam by AmericanMovieFan	Aug 18th, 2008 12:55:10 PM
Mad Men was pretty lackluster the first few episodes. Last week's episode was just pointless and bad. This week had more traction, some more interesting, somewhat compelling story lines. I heard from a couple of people that HBO was offered a chance to air Mad Men, but didn't see any long-term potential and passed on it. Perhaps this is what they were referring to? That perfect first season and now a second season that, by regular standards is still top of the line, but by the standards set by the show itself, it's already considered their drop-off season. I think the problems are these: 1. TIGHTEN THE STORY LINES The show is spread too thin with too many characters, so some people will drop off the face of the planet. We basically haven't seen Pete Campbell for two episodes- save for his 'cameo' in this one. 2. DON'T BE SO REPETITIVE This show could be all kinds of original and it could easily stay interesting. Yet, they're already reverting to 'old' tactic, in just their 2nd season. We know Don Draper was a womanizer. We know a lot of the guys cheated on their wives with wanton abandon...or so the show makes us think. I'm not saying men never cheated on their wives and I'm not saying there wasn't one or two completely rotten apples in the group- such as Roger Sterling-But to see a woman, even if it's the same woman on multiple occasions- trying to seduce Don Draper gets boring and pointless. Be more inventive, guys! Those are my two biggest quibbles with the show.
veritasses by codymr	Aug 18th, 2008 03:58:28 PM
Very interesting point. You said far better what I meant to say.
Why I'm starting to hate Betty... by Voice O. Reason	Aug 18th, 2008 04:13:07 PM
She treats her kids like crap. I can pretty much rationalize away any of the characters' immorality and flaws, except for that one.
The reason that this episode seemed lackluster compared to last by Wheel99	Aug 18th, 2008 05:44:05 PM
because it is tough to top a cootch grab.
Pete's shorts by Lance4431	Aug 18th, 2008 05:47:28 PM
The scene where Pete stood up from behind the desk and revealed his tiny pants was hilarious and disturbing.
Great episode by INWOsuxRED	Aug 19th, 2008 12:21:02 AM
On a site where films are judged by their effects and set peices, it is nice to see a character driven story naturally unfold.
Philo_Beddo by INWOsuxRED	Aug 19th, 2008 12:23:58 AM
Don's whole life is a lie. He is probably just nurturing a survival tool that worked for him.
are you guys crazy? its just as good as ever by slappy jones	Aug 19th, 2008 12:38:22 AM
I love this show.
"You have big ones, my mommy has big ones too" by Starkers	Aug 19th, 2008 04:50:50 AM
I don't get the hate. This season is far stronger than season 1 was during the early episodes. And the episodes are not stand alone, if you were to show someone who had seen season 1 this episode they would be lost. The character development is the story arc for this show. Now that The Wire is done Mad Men can seize the crown of greatest show currently in production. And Don's daughters evaluation of Joan's ample bosom almost had me in tears. Bout time someone told her that to her face.
No one else mention that either by skimn	Aug 19th, 2008 08:59:01 AM
Don's and Betty's kids will need therapy in their later years, or become raging alcohlics/drug abusers. Did you see the vodka to tomato juice ratio Don's daughter (Daddy's little bartender) used to make his Sunday afternoon drink. Like his Tom Collins mixing instructions, he could be training her to be the good little housewife. Not to mention the whiskey aided nap she enjoyed at the office. It's the little things that make this show great. Every episode doesn't have to have a big reveal or twist to make it fascinating.
So good. by billypilgrimisunstuck	Aug 19th, 2008 04:31:11 PM
This show continues to impress me. The production value itself is something that deserves praise, but on top of it, we get such a rich narrative of a subject matter that can be less than interesting to the average viewer. Jon Hamm makes me want to cry everytime he talks about his past. The last scene was perfect as well. The non-judging, unbiased Father with a hurtful insinuation. Great television
Why they didn't show the pitch by Philo_Beddo	Aug 20th, 2008 08:58:40 AM
Them not showing the pitch makes perfect sense. With their liaison at the airline fired, the pitch was, in Don's words, "a stillborn child." In other words, a waste of everyone's time. Not showing it re-inforced that.
Betty and Don and the kids by rbrog77	Aug 20th, 2008 10:39:49 AM
IMO the show is following the question how did we get here. The answer is it wasn't one thing. Don was beaten as a kid, but becaause of that he's overkill on not punishing his son too much. Betty sees that and has annimosity towards her son. Don treats the daughter like she's useless. Get me drinks. Have the girl wash the dishes. Betty sees this and has more annimosity towards the son. Add to that the fact that he disposes of her as soon as they get to the office. She hears what everyone says and feels towards her dad. She drinks and passes out. No way that could be building to anything, is there. Betty is learning to fight back. After Ep1 people were asking if she was going to sell it. No, but she's learning to use it. Use it...fight it...being a bitch. The world used to be a simple place...at least it was looked at that way. Somewhere along the line it got complicated. Mad Men seems to be taking us on a ride to see how it got complicated...or maybe the ride is to show it was never easy.
The pitch by rbrog77	Aug 20th, 2008 10:41:09 AM
Showing the pitch wasn't important. Showing how they got there was...and showing how fruitless it was was. Sometimes you give your best to come in last.
NOT GOOD???!!!WHAT ARE YA"LL SNIFFIN'?!! by Rich Malone	Aug 21st, 2008 05:18:56 AM
I can't stand all the copycat hate of this show("The first season was better than the second", "Why don't they show Pete more?", Betty's a bitch", "Why are they revisiting old subplots, i.e. Don cheating, etc")Stop it. EVERYBODY has the need to say a show isn't quite as good as it's first season! You have to disagree with something, right? Save that judgement for a show that's not progressing characters the way 'Mad Men' is. If a show is genuinely not performing season 2 as it was season 1, then of course, I'm on board. But don't be a pretentious snob and bash the show Just because somebody had be on the opposing side"! I watched season 1 ON Demand over a month, and then went to season 2. Not only is it as good, it's getting BETTER EACH EPISODE! What more do we want from TV?! Our favorite iconic films of the past are being remade or re-sequel'd, the current crop of movie are letdowns nowadays...we're getting a win here. Tonighs episode was ELECTRIC. i.e.. The priest, obviously smitten with Peggy as a woman and as a professional in her field, cools off after Peggy's sister has her confession...after Peggy sees a little boy playing....remember how Peggy told Colin Hans's priest character "Imagine you're speaing to one-person in the audience", and then the face of her sister when her mom maes the same connect that she wishes for....Betty punishing Bobby for all of Don's sins, but covering her displeasure and finally going at Don, The new account exec telling the fretting creative team to let Don 'plant the apple tree', and that it's their job to 'bend the branches', As always the lighting and set design(someone reward those depts. STAT), Don's daughter staring at him at breafast(similar to most women he doesn't want to 'bring with him'), and clapping happily while Don sighs, Sal's nervousness before the American presentation, even though he's usuaally cooler than the breeze(can't wait to see what that's about), The comedians wife dropping her coat on the ground, the bac-n-forth btween Sterling and the 'party-girl'(that's my new name for the Not sure if everyone gets it, but I bust my ass in an acting class Tues to achieve what they're capturing on 'Mad Men'....say it with me now, everyone...it called CONTEXT. everything said thru behavior and the eyes, and not ness on screen. THIS, is good acting, combined with a talented writer and team(Weiner is free to write good stuff, without the David Chase bs), and an incredible costume and set design. To compare it against others is hard, because I, similar to most TV/Film junies, dig different shows for diff reasons...This is one of them, and it progressing 'creatively'. IT'S ONLY THE FOURTH EPISODE OF THE SECOND SEASON! RELAX! They ALWAYS REVISIT THEMES AND COME FULL CIRCLE. And I enjoy not seeing Pete all the time, as it would get boring if they overdid that dynamic btwn him and Draper. His character's doing his own thing when the camera ain't on him, and we'll catch bac up to him later. It'll be that much-more interesting when they place him bac into the universe. Plus, we've already gotten that, too much would be unrealistic, and then you guys would REALLY say it's 'jumped-ship'.(by the way, he and Peggy are the best characters and actors to watch...could they become Don and Betty down the line? A corp guy who sells his soul for power & a woman who leaves her career behind for motherdom? Lots of angles, be appreciative for a show that goes their, guys....no disrespect to anyone..... Favorite line..."Is this your MAID?"....ha ha......privileged lil' bitch!

Talkbacks

‘All It Did Was Make Me Fantasize About The Day I Could Murder Him!!’ MAD MEN 2.4!!

User login

Quick Talkback

Talkbacks