Monday, September 7, 2009

Mad Men Discussion: The Arrangements

Jordan and Sam talk shitty parenting, big gay Sal, and how the writer's can break our hearts through Sally in the coming weeks...
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5 comments:

  1. Reviewer to be namedSeptember 7, 2009 at 8:48 AM

    Sam,
    I agree that Peggy has changed the most over the course of the series, and I think that's part of the larger point about the female empowerment that occurred during the '60s. As I have said numerous times while watching this show, and will likely say many more, Mad Men is really about the women. And Sally, as young, pure, and soul-crushingly sad as her character has been, is one of those women. I'm very interested to see where they take her character as the show progresses, because I think she currently stands at a crossroads between being crushed by the weight of tragedy and overcoming it to "become something" like Gene advised. I wonder if Matt Weiner has planned out a show long arc, a la my man Joss Whedon. I tend to think not, and I sort of wish he had, because then I could talk about the excellent foreshadowing that was Bobby wearing a military hat as the Vietnam war heats up...-Jordan

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  2. Reviewer to be namedSeptember 7, 2009 at 8:48 AM

    Jordan,
    Sally is so SAD!! Anyways, you may be wondering what kept this episode from being an A and I thought it came just a bit short. I try to save those for really mind blowing shit (often more Don-centric episodes). But this was a great one, subtle at times funny and terribly serious. Right now I'm at the point in the season where I'm wondering how all of these storylines will end up so my grades may be a bit lower when we get those big knock out episodes (like last year's Peggy-Pete confrontation MY GOD!) But your A grade is totally cool.

    -Sam

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  3. Reviewer to be namedSeptember 7, 2009 at 8:51 AM

    Sam,
    I agree about saving the A, and I felt that in a very subtle way this episode earned it. As you may have seen, I took this as a treatise on parenting, an issue I feel Mad Men plays with and then dismisses a lot. With the interplay between many different parents and the children they don't connect with, as well as the hilarity of Jai Alai, the depth of Sal and Kitty's conversation, Pete's soulless exploitation (which we both forgot to discuss) and Peggy's continuingly stifled journey towards independence, I thought this one earned its stripes, and did so without resorting to any of the big conflicts they like to save until later episodes.-Jordan

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  4. Reviewer to be namedSeptember 7, 2009 at 8:51 AM

    Jordan,
    Your post made me think about how much more involved Sally and Bobby will become in the show over the years, especially if it goes significantly farther into the future. Something to watch for. Maybe the Bobby replacement was made because they have something happening with that character later on, right now it just feels like a stupid move he's had one line! Also the girl that plays Sally is pretty solid as kid actors go so kudos to her. It's clear though that this season is gonna end with a shit storm (more vietnam shit, JFK)
    -Sam

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  5. Reviewer to be namedSeptember 7, 2009 at 8:54 AM

    Sam,
    This season's ending will likely blow the doors off the place. There are few events with more cultural significance than the death of JFK, and if they do it right it should be one of the best episodes of television in recent times (though I think some of the punch is already removed since there are no characters who really invest in JFK on this show. They're all too conservative, and even libby Paul never talks about JFK with the lofty, Obamaesque joy that he brought to that era). I really do think the kids will have bigger parts, and at least in the case of Sally, I'm very excited for it. It takes a damn good child actress to tear my heart out every week, and that girl deserves all the milk, cookie, and parental love she can get her hands on.-Jordan

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