Mad Men: Season 5 Premier

[thirdman23]

Originally Posted by FilmTony

@thirdman23

I don't think it was really on-the-nose, but it was a bit contrived. I think they tried a bit too hard on trying to drive home the idea of, "see how much things have changed around here since we've been gone?"

Fair enough. I may be being too hard on it, having just seen all the awesome season 4 episodes that preceded it.

[Ire]

Wow. January Jones. I'm guessing that wasn't CGI.

More power to her.

[ATB]

Not CGI, but it sure looked like a fat suit.

Must have some pretty good makeup artists on hand. Blended pretty well.

[Ire]

Originally Posted by ATB

Not CGI, but it sure looked like a fat suit.

Must have some pretty good makeup artists on hand. Blended pretty well.

Definitely, great make-up.

[thirdman23]

Well, that was approximately 8 million times better than the premiere.

Good to know it can return to form that easily. Nice episode. Much more focused and well-written.

I really think trying to tell so many stories and - unnecessarily - rehash where each character is in their lives in the season 4 opener handcuffed them. They've never bothered to do that with a season opener before, and I hope they don't try again.

[omovie]

Originally Posted by thirdman23

Well, that was approximately 8 million times better than the premiere.

Good to know it can return to form that easily. Nice episode. Much more focused and well-written.

I really think trying to tell so many stories and - unnecessarily - rehash where each character is in their lives in the season 4 opener handcuffed them. They've never bothered to do that with a season opener before, and I hope they don't try again.

Funny, I thought yesterday's episode was kinda dull. I thought the writing was just okay (for Mad Men) and there was no focus on Don or his relationship with Megan. I'm still trying to understand what the dynamic is there.

Focusing on Betty might be interesting -- She says it's benign, but we didn't hear the other end of that conversation, so it might be a storyline that they continue with.

I'm not digging the Pete Campbell/Roger Sterling antagonism. I'm waiting for Roger and Joan's storyline to begin.

Also, the Ginsberg guy is super annoying.

[thirdman23]

Originally Posted by omovie

Funny, I thought yesterday's episode was kinda dull. I thought the writing was just okay (for Mad Men) and there was no focus on Don or his relationship with Megan. I'm still trying to understand what the dynamic is there.

Focusing on Betty might be interesting -- She says it's benign, but we didn't hear the other end of that conversation, so it might be a storyline that they continue with.

I'm not digging the Pete Campbell/Roger Sterling antagonism. I'm waiting for Roger and Joan's storyline to begin.

Also, the Ginsberg guy is super annoying.

I agree about Don & Megan. I'm tired of their relationship already. Megan's acting is only mediocre, I think, at least. I also don't really get why Weiner feels the need to hammer home that Don is becoming Sterling and making the same mistakes, ie, marrying a child. It's boring to watch.

And I also agree the Campbell & Sterling dynamic could quickly get tired.

This show so far has done a great job of avoiding caricature and cliche - but a few things this year worry me. The two above issues are of concern.

That negativity aside, yesterday's episode might not have been the most productive episode of Mad Men (and so, maybe a little dull to some), but I thought it got back to its style. The pace, the dialogue - it seemed back to normal. I thought the opener was a train wreck, messy writing, messy production. Yesterday's felt like Mad Men, and I found it rather engaging.

Seeing Don & Betty interact with some affection towards each other was actually an endearing, somewhat awkward, twist that they setup from the season 4 finale.

[Ire]

A return to form. A little darker but so were the times and so is Don Draper's character.

[thirdman23]

Really great Pete-centric episode last nite. Loved every minute of it. Really well done - and with some really biting touches of humor.

I love that they've taken Don's character in a new direction this year. This must be one of the few shows on TV where the characters actually grow and or develop.

[Ire]

Originally Posted by thirdman23

Really great Pete-centric episode last nite. Loved every minute of it. Really well done - and with some really biting touches of humor.

I love that they've taken Don's character in a new direction this year. This must be one of the few shows on TV where the characters actually grow and or develop.

Thoroughly enjoyed that last episode. It does look like Don Draper is changing which does make me wonder...