I'm about to watch the season finale of Mad Men

[blogslut]

The title alone has got me worried. Will I be okay?

[question everything]

1. The best episode of the season!

Yes, last week was strong. But, as many here complained: we wanted to see what is happening in the office. The strength of the program is the office dynamics, not the families at home.

I did not watch the first season - will have to get the DVD - but clearly, Don Drapper is not a nice man. Yet, I've never felt any sympathy for Betty. They probably never should have married. She got the money and the social perks and he got a beautiful wife to show on important occasions. But clearly they had nothing in common. He is from dirt poor family, she is "Seven Sisters."

And, whether it is the Godfather (or was it Prizzi's Honor?), or Hilton, or the Brits - "Hey, it is Business."

It ended up on a positive note. New beginning, for both the Drapers and the new partners and associates. So nice to see Joan again. And, one hopes, we will see Sal next season.

Great ending.

[blogslut]

4. Betty's gone from one gilded cage to another

I think Don's ending up with the better future.

I haven't seen season one either but these episodes are so well-written they're almost self-contained. But you're right, the home-life stuff isn't nearly as intriguing as the office stuff. I too am glad Joan is back in the fold and good for Peggy for making Don bend to her will.

Did I mention how much I love that they cast Robert Morse as the head of the company?

[BuelahWitch]

6. I hope that Betty and Henry ride off into the sunset

and that next season's shows focus more on Sterling Cooper Draper Price. The only one of the Draper household I'd miss is Sally. Maybe Don will get the kids and we can be finished with the Blonde Ice Queen.

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7. Sally is going to be trouble

I honestly don't think Betty likes her. I can see Betty dumping Sally on Don's doorstep or shipping her off to boarding school - where she'll get kicked out and have to go live with Don.

[Bucky]

8. About Sal... they've kept Bryan Batt on the credits all season, despite his absense

I loved the right hook they threw at us with the three partners deciding to head hunt their own staff and start up fresh from the ground up. Maybe you could've done that in 1963, but it'd never fly in the marketing world today. Maybe a few decades of disgruntled salesmen taking their clients with them is what inspired the changes, but most firms protect their clients better these days.

Sal will be back; I'm certain. They've handled every other character just right, although I wouldn't mind them bringing in lawnmower girl and having her take a run past their last British boss.

Don's superficiality was perfectly played: business dictated he forgive Roger and even be friends with him, so he did that. Business dictated that he bring in Pete, not Cosgrove, and then pretend to ignore the fact that Pete was planning on pulling out half their clients on his own anyway, so he does that too. But keep an eye on Pete.

Betty: still thinking only of herself, not of the kids. I've never really gotten the notion of "staying in a bad marriage for the kids" before, until they played out that scene with Bobby and Sally. Oh, and how weird is it that Betty is moving to Reno for six weeks, but Don still has to move out immediately, forcing Carla to give up her own home, move into Draperville, and be their new mommy. The reason why didn't occur to me until later: given his track record, almost certainly Carla was next on Don's hit list.

[Bunny]

10. What was especially weird about Betty heading to Reno is that it's

still before Christmas, right? Or did the holiday come and go and I missed it? Why would she do that - go to Reno and leave her kids with the maid for Christmas? Also, I think Betty's going to find out that life with Henry is little different than life with Don was - she will always be disappointed with her life because she's an empty shell. I was really offended when Don called her a whore, though. Who the fuck is he to call anyone a whore???

[JoDog]

11. No, Betty is leaving the kids

over Christmas to establish residency in Reno. The ep started on Friday, Dec. 13, and ended on the following Monday. I doubt Betty would have sat around and waited for something as piddling as her children's well being at a very delicate time.

Not that Betty doesn't have enough reasons to leave Don, but this is the wrong way to do it.

[Bunny]

12. Yeah, your timeline is correct. Betty's just one stone cold person, isn't she?

Did you catch the look on her face when Don called her at the end and told her he wasn't going to fight with her? Do you think a slight bit of surprise and disappointment flashed across her face? January Jones is a very good actress.

[question everything]

14. When people are angry and firghtened they don't always use the best words

and I think that Don's veneer fell when both Betty and Roger jumped the news on him. That may have been the reason to see his flash backs. No doubt, whore was a common word used in the Whitman household.

I think that Don's calling her from the new digs telling her that he won't fight her, was his way to apologize for calling her a whore.

[Duer 157099]

2. I don't know. Last week was pretty depressing

I'll probably watch it later tonight, but I bet it won't be fun. I'll have to follow it up with Dexter just to make things better.

[BuelahWitch]

3. It's great!

Best show of the season. Just wish I didn't have to wait till next August for new stuff! :cry:

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5. It was grand.

I really dig this show and wish the would produce more than 13 episodes per season.

[Bucky]

9. At least they didn't do a big cliffhanger.

Still, nine months will be a long time to wait until we get to season 4. Actually, I noticed that they arranged the finale that it could serve as a show-finisher, just in case they weren't picked up for next year. Not that that is a risk, but I felt like they tied up enough lose ends to do that.

I'm guessing something bad is gonna happen to the dashing Mr. Francis.

[Taverner]

13. I thought they were going to wait a year or two before Season 4?

Have they moved it up to this August?