(Sorry, I didn't think anyone actually read this haha)
One of the most clever episodes ever.
A lot of Don/Betty differences/similarities but other things first:
Did you catch the Duck foreplay?
It started the other episode. Either personal, or corporate, but still flirting. He started by showing interest, yet keeping distance. Working the mind, getting her to think rather than ruining it by moving too fast. He chose to have a slow hand.
He sends the gift, and when she calls him to say no, he basically doesn't take no for an answer. One of those old, cheesy, your lips say no but your eyes say yes kind of thing. And then he sets up a reason for Goldilocks to come see the Wolf. Of course she does.
She is at the hotel door, and says basically let's call it a night. He offers her a nightcap so to speak. Of course she accepts. Peggy is a lot more naive than we were led to believe, and Duck knew exactly how to play her to get what he wanted.
The question is: did he use business to get her in bed? Or, did he use getting her in bed to get business? Ponder that one, if you will...
Now Don/Betty:
Betty has now taken on a bit of Don and acts similar to him. She uses someone else's interest in order to start a deal. She's basically using looks and charm, like a certain someone we know. And just the fact that she's interested in taking a role in the group, again, the expansion of Betty even moreso. First taking responsibility in her father, then responsibility with the baby and now instead of horseback riding just to occupy her time she's trying to actually do something regarding this group.
But then where they're different is where they always have been. Don comes down to the new living room. (Is this where they had in the other episode Don complaining about "these pictures cost $3 a piece, and we all thought it was the baby's room?) He didn't contribute anything, yet rides in at the last moment, and wins because he just makes a suggestion and the designer loves it. Just like him and the kids, he rides in at the last moment and they celebrate him, much to Betty's ire.
Another Betty/Don thing is that he's getting more and more wrangled down here, yet she is becoming more and more expansive. She had a little control of the house (a house which is all his), and she is expanding by joining the group, expanding by her dealings with Henry. Tables turned a little bit here. Interesting.
So while Don is getting squeezed and Betty is getting a little more open, we have Don revisiting the teacher again. In the same scene we have Carlton talking about running, or should we say "running". The focus was on Don's face, not Carlton as Carlton was talking about..being alone.
Did you notice Don was late yet again for the meeting, and, all season long has been late for everything? (When he's not just getting up and leaving)
A couple interesting bits: Season 1 Jim Hobart tried to go through Betty to get Don. Roger does the same thing here.
Do you see a parallel between Pete and Peggy, after Don gives Peggy the business? It was akin to, I know you want everything you want when you want it, but be patient. Interesting because, like Pete, Peggy wants to be given things before she's earned them. Peggy definitely has all kinds of conflicts going on and just can't find an identity nor a way to fit in this world she's chosen.
Henry holding his hand over Betty's eyes, then seemingly wiping away. So many ways you can go with that.
And Henry/Betty in conjunction with Duck/Peggy: Flirting and business. Or business and flirting.
Did anyone else think this: did Betty remind you of a Renaissance painting?
It was a theme done over and over with a similiar piece of furniture and the beautiful siren lying prone, to be admired. That's exactly what we see with Betty, an illusion to a Renaissance painting. Look at the first shot of her, the soft lighting, the comfort and contentment of her, her arm behind her head not exactly but similar to the idea of posing.
Posing for us the viewer.
That's her character. Self-centered Betty lying there for all of us to admire. Betty enjoying the admiring of Henry, the man showing her attention. Betty, the former model, enjoying being adored, an object of beauty waiting to be painted.
2 comments:
(Sorry, I didn't think anyone actually read this haha)
One of the most clever episodes ever.
A lot of Don/Betty differences/similarities but other things first:
Did you catch the Duck foreplay?
It started the other episode. Either personal, or corporate, but still flirting. He started by showing interest, yet keeping distance. Working the mind, getting her to think rather than ruining it by moving too fast. He chose to have a slow hand.
He sends the gift, and when she calls him to say no, he basically doesn't take no for an answer. One of those old, cheesy, your lips say no but your eyes say yes kind of thing. And then he sets up a reason for Goldilocks to come see the Wolf. Of course she does.
She is at the hotel door, and says basically let's call it a night. He offers her a nightcap so to speak. Of course she accepts. Peggy is a lot more naive than we were led to believe, and Duck knew exactly how to play her to get what he wanted.
The question is: did he use business to get her in bed? Or, did he use getting her in bed to get business? Ponder that one, if you will...
Now Don/Betty:
Betty has now taken on a bit of Don and acts similar to him. She uses someone else's interest in order to start a deal. She's basically using looks and charm, like a certain someone we know. And just the fact that she's interested in taking a role in the group, again, the expansion of Betty even moreso. First taking responsibility in her father, then responsibility with the baby and now instead of horseback riding just to occupy her time she's trying to actually do something regarding this group.
But then where they're different is where they always have been. Don comes down to the new living room. (Is this where they had in the other episode Don complaining about "these pictures cost $3 a piece, and we all thought it was the baby's room?) He didn't contribute anything, yet rides in at the last moment, and wins because he just makes a suggestion and the designer loves it. Just like him and the kids, he rides in at the last moment and they celebrate him, much to Betty's ire.
Another Betty/Don thing is that he's getting more and more wrangled down here, yet she is becoming more and more expansive. She had a little control of the house (a house which is all his), and she is expanding by joining the group, expanding by her dealings with Henry. Tables turned a little bit here. Interesting.
So while Don is getting squeezed and Betty is getting a little more open, we have Don revisiting the teacher again. In the same scene we have Carlton talking about running, or should we say "running". The focus was on Don's face, not Carlton as Carlton was talking about..being alone.
Did you notice Don was late yet again for the meeting, and, all season long has been late for everything? (When he's not just getting up and leaving)
A couple interesting bits:
Season 1 Jim Hobart tried to go through Betty to get Don. Roger does the same thing here.
Do you see a parallel between Pete and Peggy, after Don gives Peggy the business? It was akin to, I know you want everything you want when you want it, but be patient.
Interesting because, like Pete, Peggy wants to be given things before she's earned them. Peggy definitely has all kinds of conflicts going on and just can't find an identity nor a way to fit in this world she's chosen.
Henry holding his hand over Betty's eyes, then seemingly wiping away. So many ways you can go with that.
And Henry/Betty in conjunction with Duck/Peggy: Flirting and business. Or business and flirting.
Either way, both very Don.
Did anyone else think this: did Betty remind you of a Renaissance painting?
It was a theme done over and over with a similiar piece of furniture and the beautiful siren lying prone, to be admired. That's exactly what we see with Betty, an illusion to a Renaissance painting. Look at the first shot of her, the soft lighting, the comfort and contentment of her, her arm behind her head not exactly but similar to the idea of posing.
Posing for us the viewer.
That's her character. Self-centered Betty lying there for all of us to admire. Betty enjoying the admiring of Henry, the man showing her attention. Betty, the former model, enjoying being adored, an object of beauty waiting to be painted.
It really is all about attention with Betty.
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