Mad Men: Season 5

[Fritz27]

Yeah, he owed taxes. His lawyer said something along the lines of "the Queen doesn't want ex-patriates getting rich in other countries."

[DSG-TDI]

Did Peggy just leave the show?

Another awesome episode. This season has been fantastic.

[Fritz27]

I hope not, it would be interesting to see her as a competitor but I'm not sure how that would work.

Anyway, this season has been amazing. This episode was great. I can't believe Joan.

[Tornado2dr]

I hope not, it would be interesting to see her as a competitor but I'm not sure how that would work.

Anyway, this season has been amazing. This episode was great. I can't believe Joan.

Poss spoiler below


Agreed. I didn't think she'd do it...but I wonder what type of effect she will have on the firm from here on out as a more important cog in the gearbox.

It took me a second to catch the flashback and realize that don visited her after-the-deed.

Pete Campbell=Still a scumbag, but could they have picked a better guy to play the part? (weasely look, faces, mannerisms, tone)


side note....i want a goddamned e-type and I want it now.

[TurboTrucka]

Poss spoiler below


Agreed. I didn't think she'd do it...but I wonder what type of effect she will have on the firm from here on out as a more important cog in the gearbox.

It took me a second to catch the flashback and realize that don visited her after-the-deed.

Pete Campbell=Still a scumbag, but could they have picked a better guy to play the part? (weasely look, faces, mannerisms, tone)


side note....i want a goddamned e-type and I want it now.

You can pick one up for under 6k.

[Tornado2dr]

You can pick one up for under 6k.

Is your name Dr. Emmett Brown?

[DSG-TDI]

Peggy's $19,000 salary in 1964 would be $141,000 today. Wow.

It's also interesting that Peggy was able to succeed on her own talent and merits, rather than Joan, who can only climb the ladder while on her back.

I hope that's not the last we see of her on the show.

[ChrisMD]

I can't believe Joan.

If the offer had stuck at $50k (almost $350,000 today), she wouldn't have done it. It's just money and although it is a nice amount, it's not enough for financial security. Partnership, though, is the reward that keeps on giving. Exactly as Lane told her, it's her and Kevin's futures. She's newly separated and soon-to-be divorced with a baby. She's scared and she was offered security. It doesn't surprise me at all that she took it. Her conversation with Don last week at the bar after they test drove the Jaguar set that up perfectly.

Peggy's $19,000 salary in 1964 would be $141,000 today. Wow.

It's also interesting that Peggy was able to succeed on her own talent and merits, rather than Joan, who can only climb the ladder while on her back.

Joan wasn't doing too badly before her little bonus. She said the $50,000 was four times what she makes in a year, so that's $12,500, which is around $86,000 today. That's not bad for a secretary-come-office-manager in a time when the glass ceiling was very low. But she was very aware of that ceiling and knew that she couldn't break it on her own.

By the way, it's late 1967 in the show. Peggy's salary would be around $130,000 today.

I hope that's not the last we see of her on the show.

I can't imagine that they wrote Peggy out of the show and there's been no news of Elizabeth Moss wanting to leave. She has that pact with Cosgrove; maybe he'll leave too and then they'll compete with SCDP together.

[DSG-TDI]

Exactly as Lane told her, it's her and Kevin's futures. She's newly separated and soon-to-be divorced with a baby. She's scared and she was offered security.

But Lane only brought up the partnership idea because there's no way he could extend the company's credit by $50k because he already did that and embezzled part of it. It was for total self-preservation, not because he cared for Joan to offer her a better option than straight up cash.

Joan wasn't doing too badly before her little bonus.

Yeah, she's pretty indispensible at SCDP. As Director of Operations, she's no longer the office manager that she was at Sterling Cooper. I think of her as the Director of HR in today's corporate structure.

By the way, it's late 1967 in the show.

You're right.

[ChrisMD]

But Lane only brought up the partnership idea because there's no way he could extend the company's credit by $50k because he already did that and embezzled part of it. It was for total self-preservation, not because he cared for Joan to offer her a better option than straight up cash.

I know why Lane changed the focus to partnership; that was totally for himself. But if he hadn't done that, Joan wouldn't have said yes. She was amused that Pete made the proposition but she wouldn't have accepted it. $50,000 isn't security; partnership is. It was only when the stakes were raised and it became a true future for herself and Kevin that she thought it was worth it.

If Lane hadn't embezzled money from the company, he never would have suggested partnership to Joan, she wouldn't have slept with the guy, and they would have lost Jaguar. So, ironically, Lane stealing from the company actually helped the company.

[yel0wsn0]

If Lane hadn't embezzled money from the company, he never would have suggested partnership to Joan, she wouldn't have slept with the guy, and they may have lost Jaguar. So, ironically, Lane stealing from the company actually helped the company.

We will never know for sure. But it was said they needed 2 of the three votes to get it. When Roger answered the phone he said "It wasn't even close". How much of that was Joans doing and how bad the other firms did again we won't ever find out. It is still possible though that they may have gotten it based on the other two members of the board.

[tampaSi]

I'll be the first to say it: holy crap.

It's killing me that next week is the season finale.

[DSG-TDI]

I'll be the first to say it: holy crap.

It's killing me that next week is the season finale.

Holy crap indeed.

I have to confess that I LOL'ed when Lane tried to kill himself by carbon monoxide poisoning in the Jag and it wouldn't start.

[tampaSi]

Holy crap indeed.

I have to confess that I LOL'ed when Lane tried to kill himself by carbon monoxide poisoning in the Jag and it wouldn't start.

That was freaking hilarious!!

Gotta love the last scene, too.

[speaker]

Another great episode!

spoiler alert






The social pressure on a Brit in the US to succeed and break their lot in the UK must have been staggering. To get caught, dismissed, and have more pressure piled on (the Jag) would have been incredible. I truly felt sympathetic to Lane's self-made mess. And yes, the Prince of Darkness, Lucas rearing his head in the no-start scene was hilarious and perfect. And then there are Roger Sterling's lines.....



I do sense though that Don's happy life is in for a major bump & derailment. Anyone else feel that way?

[mk2eurogirl]

i hope the finale is longer then a hour....

[DSG-TDI]

I truly felt sympathetic to Lane's self-made mess.

Yeah, it was gut wrenching to hear Lane's reason to Don why he embezzled money from the agency. But if Don didn't go ahead and fire him, his fate would be tied with Lane's, and there wasn't anything Lane could offer Don to look the other way.

[zukiphile]

i hope the finale is longer then a hour....

I bet it will seem longer than an hour.

[In 4 Bagels, Left Hungry]

Just got around to watching last sundays episode i had DVR'd.

And whoa. Talk about an intense episode! I had a feeling from the first time Lane tried starting the jag and it just sputtered that it wouldn't work. Thought that was going to be his saving grace...

Great episode none-the-less. Definetely my fav so far. VERY excited for the finale! I'll have my whiskey in hand!

[PlatinumGLS]

I have to confess that I LOL'ed when Lane tried to kill himself by carbon monoxide poisoning in the Jag and it wouldn't start.

My wife had to pause it because I was laughing so hard

[dashrendar]

What, no reactions yet to the finale? I thought it was pretty good overall. Pretty straightforward. I liked the shot of the 5 of them on the new floor. But what was with the look on Don's face on the very last shot?


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[DSG-TDI]

It means Don Draper is back on the prowl! Hide your wives and daughters!

[zukiphile]

What, no reactions yet to the finale? I thought it was pretty good overall.

I resented the (mis)use of You Only Live Twice. It's the only Nancy Sinatra I have on the disc on my car, and those asshats crammed it into the end of their crumby show.

[romano258]

What, no reactions yet to the finale? I thought it was pretty good overall. Pretty straightforward. I liked the shot of the 5 of them on the new floor. But what was with the look on Don's face on the very last shot?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

I read it as Don has checked out on Megan. He lost respect for her when she tried to use his connections to land the roll in the shoe ad and then threw drama at him when he said no. Don's a self-made man, he can't stomach the kind of nepotism bs she wanted to have him pull. So at the end of the episode, where it was pretty clear that she landed the production because of him, he was so disgusted that he was back (at least contemplating) going back to his old hounding ways.

What'd everyone think of the Petey subplot? A bit too melodrama for my liking (electro-shock therapy? Really?) But I like the humanized Pete every now and then. Makes his sliminess the rest of the time that much more well-rounded

Also Howdy Doodey Welcome Brigade is an awesome fantasy football team name.

[PlatinumGLS]

What'd everyone think of the Petey subplot? A bit too melodrama for my liking (electro-shock therapy? Really?) But I like the humanized Pete every now and then. Makes his sliminess the rest of the time that much more well-rounded

Actually, electroshock therapy (ECT) was not uncommon in that time period. My wife's grandmother had ECT to help "treat" her depression. Crazy times.

[Internal Combustion]

I read it as Don has checked out on Megan. He lost respect for her when she tried to use his connections to land the roll in the shoe ad and then threw drama at him when he said no. Don's a self-made man, he can't stomach the kind of nepotism bs she wanted to have him pull. So at the end of the episode, where it was pretty clear that she landed the production because of him, he was so disgusted that he was back (at least contemplating) going back to his old hounding ways.

What'd everyone think of the Petey subplot? A bit too melodrama for my liking (electro-shock therapy? Really?) But I like the humanized Pete every now and then. Makes his sliminess the rest of the time that much more well-rounded

Also Howdy Doodey Welcome Brigade is an awesome fantasy football team name.

Its coming full circle. Betty Draper-Francis met Don on a commercial and gave up her dreams to be a housewife. Don loses Megan after shes given up her dreams of 'art' on the set of a commercial. He tried to be good for once and it got him nowhere.

[Sortafast]

What'd everyone think of the Petey subplot? A bit too melodrama for my liking (electro-shock therapy? Really?) But I like the humanized Pete every now and then. Makes his sliminess the rest of the time that much more well-rounded

I enjoy every scene where Pete gets punched in the face.

[DSG-TDI]

Its coming full circle. Betty Draper-Francis met Don on a commercial and gave up her dreams to be a housewife. Don loses Megan after shes given up her dreams of 'art' on the set of a commercial. He tried to be good for once and it got him nowhere.

Yeah, he's checking out on Megan. What he said to Peggy in the movie theater was pretty huge since it applied to both women: "When you help someone out, they eventually leave you in the end."

Don helped out Peggy by giving her a chance as a copywriter; she left for a rival agency.

Don helped out Megan by giving her an audition in a client's TV commercial; it's pretty clear she values her acting career more than being a stay-at-home housewife, which is what Don truly wants.

I still say Don gets back together with Betty at some point.

[mk2eurogirl]

I still say Don gets back together with Betty at some point.

oh i hope!!!

[romano258]

Yeah, he's checking out on Megan. What he said to Peggy in the movie theater was pretty huge since it applied to both women: "When you help someone out, they eventually leave you in the end."

Don helped out Peggy by giving her a chance as a copywriter; she left for a rival agency.

Don helped out Megan by giving her an audition in a client's TV commercial; it's pretty clear she values her acting career more than being a stay-at-home housewife, which is what Don truly wants.

I still say Don gets back together with Betty at some point.

I don't think Don truly wants Megan to be a stay-at-home wife. He's been down that road with Betty and saw how miserable it made her. Don wanted Megan to stay at the agency and work in creative (which she was actually very good at). I think this season made it clear that he truly loves Megan and wants her to be happy, but now it looks like that she's going to be basically impossible to please (her mother was spot on, if a bit harsh). So yeah, he's definitely checking out.

[mk2eurogirl]

I don't think Don truly wants Megan to be a stay-at-home wife. He's been down that road with Betty and saw how miserable it made her. Don wanted Megan to stay at the agency and work in creative (which she was actually very good at). I think this season made it clear that he truly loves Megan and wants her to be happy, but now it looks like that she's going to be basically impossible to please (her mother was spot on, if a bit harsh). So yeah, he's definitely checking out.

good megan is so annoying.

[Karma]

He tried to be good for once and it got him nowhere.

This.

[Karma]

Prediction: next season begins years after this season ended.

Did you all know that Pete (Vincent Kartheiser) lives off the grid in real life?

[Fritz27]

I also thought that regret was beautifully done as a motif throughout the episode. You had pretty much everyone with a speaking role have some form of regret and the way they dealt with it.

I also love that Pete is Bizarro Don. He tries so hard to emulate Don but he just can't grasp that his hero dealt with all this suburban BS misery and he cannot understand that for the life of him.

[mk2eurogirl]

the girl that asked Don if he was alone, was that the same girl who asked Megan to ask Don for the british role? if so, i thought that it was to get her back for taking the part. I like her.