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RE: Mad Men - US - 6/3/2012 8:34:46 AM

discodave101

Posts: 1883
Joined: 4/10/2005
From: Sheffield

Well - decided to start this show by buying the seasons 1 by 1, but I'm REALLY now struggling around the start of season 3. Betty has just had the 3rd baby, and I found the entire episode (apart from Duck coming back trying to poach staff) completely and utterly mind numbingly boring. I drifted off so many times.

Its well acted, it looks beautiful, and its an authentic period piece with some great insights into the times and the slow destruction/breakdown of the "American Dream". But, my god, its just so boring at times. I hate to use the word "boring" when reviewing shows, but I honestly can't think of a better way to describe it. I know a lot of it is quaint, understated and a clever character psychology study, but does that really add up to good drama? I've read some of you saying that season 3 is better than the first two, and that it gets better with each season - but so far, for me, season 3 is easily the weakest (4 episodes in). I breezed through Season 2.

I've already bought season 4 and its still in its shrink wrap - and I'm seriously considering just giving up.

I've really loved some of the episodes, especially as the ramp up the episodes at the end of each season, but there's too many instances where I'm really questioning why the hell I'm wasting my time with this show.

< Message edited by discodave101 -- 6/3/2012 8:35:22 AM >

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RE: Mad Men - US - 27/3/2012 10:12:37 PM

Coyleone

Posts: 480
Joined: 13/10/2008

@ discodave101, season 3 and 4 are brilliant and easily the best of the show up to that point. I think you should stick with it as particularly the last half of season 3 and season 4 as a whole are brilliant.

So is anyone watching the new season?

SPOILERS

It was an awesome start! The Roger/Pete exchnages are gold and both had some great lines. Can't wait to see more of that. Megan/Joan/Peggy stuff is very entertaining, but we all know Joan will smoke them bitches. Harry is a fool but he's likeable. Don continues to be a complete boss, but Roger was the highlight though, getting all that money out in front of Harry and the 'Is it me or is it filled with Negros out there' line were amazing. Great stuff, the show just gets more and more entertaining as it goes on and I can't wait for next week.

< Message edited by Coyleone -- 27/3/2012 10:15:57 PM >

(in reply to discodave101)

Post #: 122

RE: Mad Men - US - 27/3/2012 10:17:54 PM

Proudfoot

Posts: 319
Joined: 13/4/2009

quote:

ORIGINAL: discodave101

Well - decided to start this show by buying the seasons 1 by 1, but I'm REALLY now struggling around the start of season 3. Betty has just had the 3rd baby, and I found the entire episode (apart from Duck coming back trying to poach staff) completely and utterly mind numbingly boring. I drifted off so many times.

Its well acted, it looks beautiful, and its an authentic period piece with some great insights into the times and the slow destruction/breakdown of the "American Dream". But, my god, its just so boring at times. I hate to use the word "boring" when reviewing shows, but I honestly can't think of a better way to describe it. I know a lot of it is quaint, understated and a clever character psychology study, but does that really add up to good drama? I've read some of you saying that season 3 is better than the first two, and that it gets better with each season - but so far, for me, season 3 is easily the weakest (4 episodes in). I breezed through Season 2.

I've already bought season 4 and its still in its shrink wrap - and I'm seriously considering just giving up.

I've really loved some of the episodes, especially as the ramp up the episodes at the end of each season, but there's too many instances where I'm really questioning why the hell I'm wasting my time with this show.

If I felt like that after two entire seasons of a show I would just drop it.

Anyway, not really a super fan but I like and I just watched the new episode... And it reminded me that I always forget why I like it.
It's like that all the time. I think about the show, go "yeah, guess it's not bad", then I watch the next episode and I remember how amusing/funny/interesting it is.

It's not the kind of thing that changes tv, it's a soap of some kind I guess, but it's so damn well made it's just fun to watch.

But if you're looking for bigger moments, or more episodes that really brings the drama... I just think it's the wrong show. It's kinda aloof in a way, a little selfsatisfied, seems sure it can interesting by "just" being "writerly".

But then there's of course that suitcase one (which you haven't seen yet), so maybe I'm just talking bullshit.

Glad to have the gang back either way. Things went slow, Roger quipped, that Megan chick sang, things kept going real slow...

But then they always are going real slow.

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Post #: 123

RE: Mad Men - US - 27/3/2012 10:23:26 PM

Proudfoot

Posts: 319
Joined: 13/4/2009

quote:

ORIGINAL: Coyleone

@ discodave101, season 3 and 4 are brilliant and easily the best of the show up to that point. I think you should stick with it as particularly the last half of season 3 and season 4 as a whole are brilliant.

So is anyone watching the new season?

SPOILERS

It was an awesome start! The Roger/Pete exchnages are gold and both had some great lines. Can't wait to see more of that. Megan/Joan/Peggy stuff is very entertaining, but we all know Joan will smoke them bitches. Harry is a fool but he's likeable. Don continues to be a complete boss, but Roger was the highlight though, getting all that money out in front of Harry and the 'Is it me or is it filled with Negros out there' line were amazing. Great stuff, the show just gets more and more entertaining as it goes on and I can't wait for next week.

That was very, very funny. But as great as it was, I prefered the image of him with a cigarette dangling from his mouth while holding the baby.

They know how to write, act and edit those sort of Wow It's the Olden Days jokes to get the maximum effect.

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Post #: 124

RE: Mad Men - US - 28/3/2012 2:53:24 AM

scarface666brooksy!!

Posts: 2505
Joined: 24/10/2007
From: The Valley of the Wind

The new episode was fantastic in my opinion, I'm so glad Mad Men's back, it's one of my favourite shows

quote:

ORIGINAL: Coyleone

Roger was the highlight though

Definitely, that and Harry's blunder in the break-room with Megan and Stan

The sub-plot with Lane and the wallet seemed a bit weird but if it's leading up to a bigger sub-plot with Lane I don't mind. Also I smell a divorce between Roger and Jane in this season, the loathing between them is getting palpable

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Post #: 125

RE: Mad Men - US - 28/3/2012 3:57:23 PM

Goodfella

Posts: 15018
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: North Devon

I know next to nothing about Mad Men but it comes highly recommended and I've just downloaded the first season. What am in store for then, obviously without giving away too much?

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Post #: 126

RE: Mad Men - US - 28/3/2012 4:26:58 PM

matty_b

Posts: 12846
Joined: 19/10/2005
From: Outpost 31 calling McMurtle.

I'm not much of a fan.

Persevered through the first two seasons, but just can't see what everyone else sees in it.

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Post #: 127

RE: Mad Men - US - 29/3/2012 9:22:18 PM

Reidy

Posts: 826
Joined: 30/9/2005

quote:

ORIGINAL: scarface666brooksy!!

The new episode was fantastic in my opinion, I'm so glad Mad Men's back, it's one of my favourite shows

quote:

ORIGINAL: Coyleone

Roger was the highlight though

Definitely, that and Harry's blunder in the break-room with Megan and Stan The sub-plot with Lane and the wallet seemed a bit weird but if it's leading up to a bigger sub-plot with Lane I don't mind. Also I smell a divorce between Roger and Jane in this season, the loathing between them is getting palpable

I thought Lane and the wallet was going to lead to something similar about race, as he didn't seem to trust the taxi driver.

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Post #: 128

RE: Mad Men - US - 30/3/2012 10:06:06 AM

talpacino

Posts: 3624
Joined: 15/11/2005
From: The Royal County

quote:

ORIGINAL: Reidy

quote:

ORIGINAL: scarface666brooksy!!

The new episode was fantastic in my opinion, I'm so glad Mad Men's back, it's one of my favourite shows

quote:

ORIGINAL: Coyleone

Roger was the highlight though

Definitely, that and Harry's blunder in the break-room with Megan and Stan The sub-plot with Lane and the wallet seemed a bit weird but if it's leading up to a bigger sub-plot with Lane I don't mind. Also I smell a divorce between Roger and Jane in this season, the loathing between them is getting palpable

I thought Lane and the wallet was going to lead to something similar about race, as he didn't seem to trust the taxi driver.

Spoilers

I think he's just starting to get bored with the marriage. The only time you see them together, she's asking for money for groceries or something mundane like that.
Didn't he have an affair in the last season as well?

Downloaded the first two episodes with the Sky Go desktop thingy, very handy. Great start to the new season, found it a lot funnier than usual. Great to have it back.

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Post #: 129

RE: Mad Men - US - 31/3/2012 7:26:18 PM

musht

Posts: 1130
Joined: 21/1/2009
From: Oireland

Am finally up to date on this show!!

Bloody love it, Draper has to be one of the coolest TV characters ever.

Agreed with most people that Roger was the highlight of the first 2 episodes of Season 5, it'll be interesting to see how they deal with his apparent uselessness though. Don has definitely changed since his marriage, too soon to decide whether it's for the better or the worse. The creative drawer Stan is also very funny, I also I still miss Kinsey and his pretentious twaddlings.

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Post #: 130

RE: Mad Men - US - 3/4/2012 10:12:51 PM

musht

Posts: 1130
Joined: 21/1/2009
From: Oireland

Pete is some slimy piece of work!!!

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Post #: 131

RE: Mad Men - US - 4/4/2012 12:36:44 AM

boaby

Posts: 2786
Joined: 29/12/2006
From: Aberdeenshire

Awwww man... Betty's fat.

How shallow am I?

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Post #: 132

RE: Mad Men - US - 4/4/2012 8:41:40 AM

Reidy

Posts: 826
Joined: 30/9/2005

quote:

ORIGINAL: boaby

Awwww man... Betty's fat.

How shallow am I?

Well given that she is as annoying as hell as a character, I can understand your feelings. How she looks has always been the only way to get through her scenes. That said, I still would.

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Post #: 133

RE: Mad Men - US - 18/4/2012 11:17:15 AM

musht

Posts: 1130
Joined: 21/1/2009
From: Oireland

Great to see Pete get what he's deserved for a long time now!

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Post #: 134

RE: Mad Men - US - 30/5/2012 11:30:04 PM

kingalan

Posts: 1127
Joined: 30/9/2005

Anyone still watching this? Thought this week's episode was among the best they've ever produced. Amazing television. Last five minutes were beautiful.

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Post #: 135

RE: Mad Men - US - 30/5/2012 11:32:38 PM

paul_ie86

Posts: 11207
Joined: 4/1/2007
From: Chelsea Hotel #2

I liked it too.

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Post #: 136

RE: Mad Men - US - 31/5/2012 4:10:11 AM

furrybastard

Posts: 5099
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Ireland

Mad Men Season 5 may just be the most ambitious and perfect season of television ever made. It's just a bunch of giant leaps! I don't think anything matches it, though there are a lot of worthy contenders out there. Only two episodes left to mess it all up

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Post #: 137

RE: Mad Men - US - 31/5/2012 3:41:58 PM

discodave101

Posts: 1883
Joined: 4/10/2005
From: Sheffield

Amazing season, and the latest episode is definitely my favourite so far, ever. The little 'trick' with the Joan scene actually being 'after' she'd done the deed was ingenious. Her performance was perfect. When they repeated that scene from her perspective, you saw/noticed the emotion of the situation in her face that you didn't notice the first time.

I nearly gave up on this show during season 2/3. So glad I stuck with it now. Giving Betty less and less screen time has proved to be a godsend. Seeing Don's face sink in the realisation that she'd 'done the deed' and that actually all his creative work was probably for nothing too...now that was great TV.

Also - Don holding and kissing Peggys hand, realising what he'd lost and taken for granted....great scene....

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Post #: 138

RE: Mad Men - US - 31/5/2012 6:21:45 PM

furrybastard

Posts: 5099
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Ireland

My favourite episode so far was probably the Pete Campbell-centric episode (google search! It was called 'Signal 30'). It was written by the guy who wrote Dog Day Afternoon and Cool Hand Luke, I found out later

That or the episode where Megan goes 'missing' and Roger experiments

From a directing and narrative point of view, Mad Men is really pushing into places where most modern movies can't or won't go anymore. Great stuff. I think the fourth season of The Wire is the only thing you could put up against it at this stage and it'd be a tight race.

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Post #: 139

RE: Mad Men - US - 31/5/2012 6:46:21 PM

Proudfoot

Posts: 319
Joined: 13/4/2009

That was suprising!

I really hope they aren't going through with this.

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Post #: 140

RE: Mad Men - US - 31/5/2012 8:31:20 PM

Reidy

Posts: 826
Joined: 30/9/2005

quote:

ORIGINAL: discodave101

Amazing season, and the latest episode is definitely my favourite so far, ever. The little 'trick' with the Joan scene actually being 'after' she'd done the deed was ingenious. Her performance was perfect. When they repeated that scene from her perspective, you saw/noticed the emotion of the situation in her face that you didn't notice the first time.

I nearly gave up on this show during season 2/3. So glad I stuck with it now. Giving Betty less and less screen time has proved to be a godsend. Seeing Don's face sink in the realisation that she'd 'done the deed' and that actually all his creative work was probably for nothing too...now that was great TV.

Also - Don holding and kissing Peggys hand, realising what he'd lost and taken for granted....great scene....

One thing that I wasn't happy about prior to last week's episode was the lack of screen time that Joan has had this year. Thankfully, that has been repaid in the last two episodes. Her scenes with Don last week were very well done, and showed a real chemistry between them. Now this week, which plays on the obvious appeal of Christina Hendricks' 'talents', but also showcases just how strong an actress she is. Really didn't expect Joan to go through with that.

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Post #: 141

RE: Mad Men - US - 1/6/2012 1:37:45 AM

furrybastard

Posts: 5099
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Ireland

The way I see it is that Joan and Dick Whitman are absolutely perfect for each other but Joan and Don Draper can never work out and that's one of the great romantic tragedies of the show. Don's entire life is a fiction while Joan constantly gets made to play out the different 'roles' that men force upon her (whether it be her husband, co-workers or even strangers) whilst struggling to stay true to her actual self.

Or I'm reading too much into it

< Message edited by furrybastard -- 1/6/2012 1:39:52 AM >

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Post #: 142

RE: Mad Men - US - 1/6/2012 2:37:34 AM

boaby

Posts: 2786
Joined: 29/12/2006
From: Aberdeenshire

I think they should kill off Campbell. He has no redeeming qualities whatever.

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Post #: 143

RE: Mad Men - US - 1/6/2012 3:07:40 AM

furrybastard

Posts: 5099
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Ireland

quote:

ORIGINAL: boaby

I think they should kill off Campbell. He has no redeeming qualities whatever.

He's one of my favourite characters

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Post #: 144

RE: Mad Men - US - 1/6/2012 12:31:31 PM

musht

Posts: 1130
Joined: 21/1/2009
From: Oireland

quote:

ORIGINAL: furrybastard

quote:

ORIGINAL: boaby

I think they should kill off Campbell. He has no redeeming qualities whatever.

He's one of my favourite characters

I love to hate him!!!

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Post #: 145

RE: Mad Men - US - 1/6/2012 7:44:17 PM

Reidy

Posts: 826
Joined: 30/9/2005

quote:

ORIGINAL: boaby

I think they should kill off Campbell. He has no redeeming qualities whatever.

Despite being extremely slimy and dislikeable, I just can't help but root for Pete. I think it his determination to get along in life at the expense of others is what makes his character so entertaining.

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Post #: 146

RE: Mad Men - US - 1/6/2012 7:49:15 PM

furrybastard

Posts: 5099
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Ireland

quote:

ORIGINAL: Reidy

quote:

ORIGINAL: boaby

I think they should kill off Campbell. He has no redeeming qualities whatever.

Despite being extremely slimy and dislikeable, I just can't help but root for Pete. I think it his determination to get along in life at the expense of others is what makes his character so entertaining.

He's one of the best examples of why Mad Men is so different to almost everything else out there. The characters don't have to always be likeable, just compelling.

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Post #: 147

RE: Mad Men - US - 1/6/2012 7:51:59 PM

boaby

Posts: 2786
Joined: 29/12/2006
From: Aberdeenshire

I think it'd be beautiful if the guy who's wife Campbell phucked, and who sold him life insurance, beat him to death. On a Jaguar. With a pair of skis.

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Post #: 148

RE: Mad Men - US - 1/6/2012 8:12:12 PM

furrybastard

Posts: 5099
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Ireland

quote:

ORIGINAL: boaby

I think it'd be beautiful if the guy who's wife Campbell phucked, and who sold him life insurance, beat him to death. On a Jaguar. With a pair of skis.

You know, I can see something like that happening but maybe Campbell killing him instead.

Campbell and Dick Whitman have a lot in common, when you think about it.

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Post #: 149

RE: Mad Men - US - 4/6/2012 11:57:20 AM

Third Eye

Posts: 1574
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Manchester

So the last episode was rough. The entire scene in the garage was grim but it got worse from there. Should make for a cracking finale next week.

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Post #: 150