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Sorry about that. I was going to type more, then decided to do it later, and must have clicked submit out of habit. Anyway, I didn't want to do the usual rundown since I didn't take a lot out of last night's episode. In fact I didn't like last night's episode all that much. But, if you insist...




the t3cii rundown....?





SPOILERS


I don't like gimmicks when it comes to television, and last night's episode was a gimmick. It was a gimmick we have seen in a countless number of television shows. We have usually two or three different story arcs that are somehow connected, and take place usually in the same time frame. We then jump back and forth to see how each characters day went. Mad Men doesn't follow this plot device exactly in this episode, but we do have these separate arcs, and we get an early glimpse of Don's arc before we delve into it. I'm not really sure why shows do this. There is almost never any real benefit from doing this, and if you were to take away this gimmick, I think you would discover not much happened in this episode. Nothing really worth digging into, at least.

It's hard to believe, but we're halfway though the season. And to be honest, I'm finding myself a bit unimpressed, not engaged with it all. The problem is, I think, that Mad Men ended its season 3 very strong, and that carried into season 4. In way it reminds me of Lost (yeah, yeah, doesn't everything?). Lost's season 3 was a bit meandering, then it ended on a massive twist that revitalized the series. Season 4 then seemed really fresh. Same with Mad Men, although as I've said a few times, season 4 seemed to peak half way through its run. Now, it seems as if Mad Men is back to its old pace. Maybe the last two or three episodes will bring the goods, but so far I feel like the show is showing off. It has earned its accolades, and now rather than create a compelling story line, we're back to these character studies, which are becoming more and more uninteresting to me, and experimental episodes such as this one. I just feel like there is less and less new revelations to be gained from these characters.

- The episode starts its focus on Peggy. I like Peggy, but I feel like we have been treading on the same ground with her over and over again. I've seen very little actual new character development with her this season. She's just in a bit of a rut. She gives some guy a hand job in a movie theater, and I guess that's adventurous of her, but I feel like they're laying on the Don comparisons rather thick. I also think she's peaked at SCDP. She doesn't seem to have recaptured that spark she used to have.

- The most significant thing to happen in this episode is Roger's breakup with Jane. I've never really liked her all that much, so the fact they broke up isn't that big a deal with me. I'll say this, though, she gives some nice side boob. Were those things held together with tape?

- Roger's arc also is the experimental one, and gives the writers a chance to play around with some surrealism, as he, Jane and her friends take an LSD trip. Because the show is grounded in realism, I've never liked these, for lack of a better word, fantasy moments. Now, I don't necessarily mind extermination on television. Seinfeld had done the odd experimental episode when it was still on, but the experiments usually added something. Having an entire episode confined to a parking garage, for example. That was a bit out of the ordinary for a sitcom. But it provided a lot of laughs, and was a well written. With last night's episode I'm just left thinking "yeah, that was kind of funny, but what was the point?"

- By far this season's biggest disappointment for me has been Don, and his marriage to Megan. First of all, Don leaves Megan at the restaurant. Dumb move. He eventually finds her, and gives her hell for going home. So the whole point of his arc was...what? That his marriage isn't as strong as he hoped it would be? Haven't we already established that? I just don't care about this plot at all. But the biggest problem I have with it is Megan. Megan sucks. I'm sorry, I've given her a shot, and I just don't like her. Not in the same way I didn't like Betty. January Jones at least is believable as Betty. Megan is just an uninteresting character, played by and uninteresting actress. Jessica Pare is out of her depth. And she kind of brings the story down, since she's not at Hamm's level. Remember when I predicted Megan might commit suicide by season's end? I think that's the only thing that would give this arc (and by extent, this season) a shot in the arm.

I hope things pick up in the next episode. I hope I become more engaged with the plot. But Mad Men has a habit of forcing the viewer to put more of themselves and their ideas into the show, without really giving much in return.

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"Heard them Walthers like to jump some" "As will you, with one in your elbow."

FUCKING UNIVERSITY

It has allowed me to have a small break today !

Sorry for not answering to your rundown, I haven't even finished last week's episode ! But I'm going to have to do a little catching up between today and tomorrow, hopefully, I'll be in top shape to keep discussing the adventures of the men of Madison Avenue !

Even if it's just you and me ...

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Awkward....

But yeah, I decided not to do a rundown this week because it's not fun if I'm the only one watching the show to comment on it. It would basically just be me talking to myself. I will say that I liked the episode more than I did the last one.

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"Heard them Walthers like to jump some" "As will you, with one in your elbow."

Yeah well, you thought last week's was shit

Which makes me wonder if that means our opinions are diametrically opposite in regards to this show, maybe I don't remember much from older seasons as you do, but I've enjoyed this season very much, even if it's been mostly without focus.

I guess after watching that painful train wreck that was the second season of The Walking Dead, it has made me appreciate Mad Men even more !

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We're probably not that different. As I've said, I feel I may have been spoiled with how strong season 3 ended, and season 4 began. We got a lot of solid episodes, and there just seemed to be more going on in terms of story. Because there was. This season is probably more in tune with previous seasons, but I don't know, there hasn't been a "suitcase" episode for me, an episode that works really on all aspects. I feel there are two basic types of episodes for this show, one where there is an actual plot and direction, and one that is more of a character piece. Since I feel there's very little left to learn about these characters, I tend to prefer episodes where characters are actually doing something.

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"Heard them Walthers like to jump some" "As will you, with one in your elbow."

I see what you mean, clearly there hasn't been a unifying plot for this season, specially considering how "apparently" the guys at SCDP are "broke", yet we see them going about their lives like if everything is fine and dandy ! If this was another show, I would say a storyline has been dropped completely, but I don't know, the writers in Mad Men are not that lame.

Still, I enjoy the character pieces they do with each episode, even if nothing really moves forward, for example, last week's episode made me think about where would Peggy be when the show ends ? My guess ? Quitting SCDP, that episode showed that, for all her effort and dedication, she is still Peggy, she is still a woman in the 1960's, and that she can only go so far despite her ambitions, I really liked that, no other show does it's characters so much justice......apart from.........of course:

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Going to do something new. Since I'm not sure how many of you actually will read this besides feliciano, I don't really want to do a massive rundown. But I will share a few random observations. Which, I guess, is all these rundowns ever were.

Hmm.

So, unto...

The t3cii mini rundown
(notice the smaller case?)




SPOILERS


- It's kind of funny how Don's "Just taste it" ad is annoying. I mean, it's the type of ad that probably would get stuck in your head, but it's still annoying. That's marketing, I guess.

- Megan Death Watch begins. Seriously, I am convinced she, or someone else, will die by the end of the season. But I'm positive it will be her. I can't remember the last time a character has been so prominent. I feel they've shoved Megan down our throats all season, and the reason for doing that is so we'll give a damn when she ends up dead. Another reason for thinking this is the fact that by end of the episode, where she has just quit and started acting again, there is no possible way they would let her and Don be happy. And as we see the final montage, we see Megan in her acting class, lying on the floor, almost as if she's dead.

- Pete has an affair with that girl from Gilmore Girls. Or Sin City, if you prefer. Her casting was kind of odd. For one, she's not an amazing actress, but for another, she is supposed to be the wife of Pete's train buddy. The wife of a guy who brags about having a young, 24 year old mistress on the side. So you think this guy's wife has to be as old as he is, right? But then you see her and she looks no older than seventeen. That actress is just too baby faced. And what was with their affair, anyway? It seemed too convenient. Maybe I'm wrong about Megan dying, maybe it will be Pete?

- "Pizza Place!"

- Don opens the elevator door, and gets the shaft (ha! see what I did there? Eh? Eh?). So what to make of that scene? You don't include a shot like that and not have it pay off.

- Damn, Mr Belding has put on weight!

- How sincere is Peggy? She got pretty angry at Megan for not feeling happy in her new job, but her anger seems misplaced. She also lashed out at Don, even though the line "just taste it" shouldn't be that easy to forget. I think Peggy is maybe beginning to realize she is maybe not as fulfilled by her job as she thinks she is.

- Admission time. I'm not a Beatles fan. Now when I say that, I don't mean I don't like them. But they're just a band that I always hear or read that I must like. When it comes to books, or movies, or music, I'm usually reluctant to want to check out something that everyone thinks is great. Anyway, Megan has the new Beatles album, and she tells Don to play the last song, which happens to be "Tomorrow Never Knows", and it sounds remarkable new and fresh for a Beatles song released in 1966. It sounds a bit jarring when played alongside the images of Don sitting back with a drink, as if the song (and show itself) is becoming unhinged. Eventually Don has enough and stops the record. Don was never really a rock fan.

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"Heard them Walthers like to jump some" "As will you, with one in your elbow."

Damnit ! No talking about last week's ? I saw that thing yesterday, YESTERDAY...

I'll do my best to watch the latest episode, unfortunately, college is slowly giving me a new asshole.

I will say however, about last week's episode:

That just when you think Sally is probably (just probably) going to turn out to be a normal, healthy, balanced woman.........................she has to see her father's friend getting his cock sucked by his................stepgrandmother ?

Seriously, Sally Draper is a fucking time bomb !

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Hey, you want to talk, we can talk. Why not do your own rundown? Then I'll reply to each of your points.

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"Heard them Walthers like to jump some" "As will you, with one in your elbow."

But............you're t3cii..............only t3cii can do rundowns !

Also.......lazyness.

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I'll just chime in here and say that as the thread starter, I'm embarassed that I'm stuck on Season 4 (which has been my favorite so far)! Hopefully I'll watch Season 5 soon thanks to the interwebs or to a little, almost forgotten thing known as DVD.

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My unofficial and offical work-> http://www.youtube.com/movieboyandco

So....spoilers ahead in this picture:

http://i46.tinypic.com/1z682s.jpg

WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT SHIT !?

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Have you not seen the episode?

SPOILERS


I was glad to see Paul Kinsey brought back into the story, and that his turn as a Hare Krishna wasn't used just as a sight gag. When he first appeared, I said out loud "Oh my God...". This episode really showed him at rock bottom. The problem with him was he was always insincere, the type of person who latches onto a cause even though he has no real interest in it, because it's the current trend. The joke about him winding up working at the A&P (not in an advertising capacity) was sadly funny. I don't quite think the plot with his girlfriend and Harry made much sense, though.

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"Heard them Walthers like to jump some" "As will you, with one in your elbow."

I haven't seen it complete yet ! Will comment later.

Still, what an absolute mind-fuck to see him like that !

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Tonight's episode =

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"Heard them Walthers like to jump some" "As will you, with one in your elbow."

This isn't good !

I haven't even finished last week's episode (which I didn't like as much).

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So.....talk. Give the episode your own rundown, and I'll respond to your points.

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"Heard them Walthers like to jump some" "As will you, with one in your elbow."

But.......why ?

Alright dammit, I'll get back with a rundown of my own once I get back from school, not gonna have time while in the middle of class !

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Okay, maybe you don't need to do a complete rundown, but keep in mind the episode aired almost a week ago, so you can't just expect me to be able to jump into a conversation when you say



You gotta give me something, dude.

I'll start the ball rolling. Peggy Olsen. Liberated woman, or just misunderstood. Go.

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"Heard them Walthers like to jump some" "As will you, with one in your elbow."