Again more subtle parallels of Don and Betty, just in their own way on different ends.
Sex and the boardroom. Don had to deal with the fallout of that idea with Sal. Betty, in her own version of sex and boardroom and Henry, also had to deal with the fallout of the idea. And, both had no choice but to follow through what was laid out in front of them. Similar in their different ways.
Carla is no dummy. She knows what is going on but just does her proper job. Remind you of anyone? Perhaps any number of, good, Sterling Coo secretaries? That's their job, isn't it; cover for the boss. Betty has Carla in the same sense the Sterling Coo gang has their own good secretaries who know the drill and play along. Again Don and Betty parallel, just on opposite sides of a spectrum.
Both Betty and Don struck out in their business.
Another parallel in another direction, which I think is great and want to bring up to you all to pass around and give your opinions:
They both seek an escape from each other.
Don has a break from everything through the attention he gets from the teacher. Betty gets an escape through her dealings with Henry. Henry for Betty is another version of Betty's fantasyland issue. She never goes through with it and commits to actually doing it. But she still finds escape through him however, and fantasizes. Don is locked up through everything, it's the teacher's attention that gives him really his escape from everything.
And here's a BIG point I want to throw to you all since it's mostly women here:
Know why Betty didn't go through with it in his office? He locked his door. She's locked up with the homefront and now the baby. Henry is her escape, the one unchaining her. And right at the heat of the moment what does he do?
He locks her in. She immediately is turned off. Wow great episode.
And here's the other big point which I want to hear your thoughts and take on since we're gearing up closer and closer to some resolution in the coming last episodes:
Speaking of the conflict and struggle between being locked in vs escape (I think this season's biggest theme) isn't the teacher this year's version of Anna? Except this time with sex as consummation, but I want you to think about it.
Seriously, the best photography of the episode was when Don knocked on her door, and she opened, it was SO similar to the visual of Don going to Anna's last year. Watch it again. The flimsy door opening, the man in the suit and hat. The close-up of his hand knocking.
Did you catch he cuddled with her, after instead of fleeing the seen of a crime?
Back to Betty: Do you guys remember I put up that thread about Betty posing like a Renaissance painting? Here again we open with that. The light, her content posture, posing for everyone. That's narcissistic Betty, Everyone has to admire her, even us the viewer.
Then what? Both the phone rings from work for Don, and the baby is crying for Betty. Fantasy was interrupting reality, or was reality interrupting fantasy. The Drapers.
Everything this episode was such a slow rock back and forth, a ship, or two, I guess, without a righted course and struggling and reacting.
More Don now:
Connie saying to Don, "You're like a son to me." Don never had a Dad. Bobby saying last year, "We have to find you a new Daddy." Then what happened? Conrad left Don.
3 comments:
GREAT episode folks, lots to dig in to:
Again more subtle parallels of Don and Betty, just in their own way on different ends.
Sex and the boardroom. Don had to deal with the fallout of that idea with Sal. Betty, in her own version of sex and boardroom and Henry, also had to deal with the fallout of the idea. And, both had no choice but to follow through what was laid out in front of them. Similar in their different ways.
Carla is no dummy. She knows what is going on but just does her proper job. Remind you of anyone? Perhaps any number of, good, Sterling Coo secretaries? That's their job, isn't it; cover for the boss.
Betty has Carla in the same sense the Sterling Coo gang has their own good secretaries who know the drill and play along. Again Don and Betty parallel, just on opposite sides of a spectrum.
Both Betty and Don struck out in their business.
Another parallel in another direction, which I think is great and want to bring up to you all to pass around and give your opinions:
They both seek an escape from each other.
Don has a break from everything through the attention he gets from the teacher. Betty gets an escape through her dealings with Henry. Henry for Betty is another version of Betty's fantasyland issue. She never goes through with it and commits to actually doing it. But she still finds escape through him however, and fantasizes. Don is locked up through everything, it's the teacher's attention that gives him really his escape from everything.
And here's a BIG point I want to throw to you all since it's mostly women here:
Know why Betty didn't go through with it in his office? He locked his door. She's locked up with the homefront and now the baby. Henry is her escape, the one unchaining her. And right at the heat of the moment what does he do?
He locks her in.
She immediately is turned off.
Wow great episode.
And here's the other big point which I want to hear your thoughts and take on since we're gearing up closer and closer to some resolution in the coming last episodes:
Speaking of the conflict and struggle between being locked in vs escape (I think this season's biggest theme) isn't the teacher this year's version of Anna? Except this time with sex as consummation, but I want you to think about it.
Seriously, the best photography of the episode was when Don knocked on her door, and she opened, it was SO similar to the visual of Don going to Anna's last year. Watch it again. The flimsy door opening, the man in the suit and hat. The close-up of his hand knocking.
Did you catch he cuddled with her, after instead of fleeing the seen of a crime?
Back to Betty: Do you guys remember I put up that thread about Betty posing like a Renaissance painting? Here again we open with that. The light, her content posture, posing for everyone. That's narcissistic Betty, Everyone has to admire her, even us the viewer.
Then what? Both the phone rings from work for Don, and the baby is crying for Betty. Fantasy was interrupting reality, or was reality interrupting fantasy. The Drapers.
Everything this episode was such a slow rock back and forth, a ship, or two, I guess, without a righted course and struggling and reacting.
More Don now:
Connie saying to Don, "You're like a son to me." Don never had a Dad. Bobby saying last year, "We have to find you a new Daddy." Then what happened? Conrad left Don.
This was one of the best episodes ever.
Loved it. You are right, one of the best episodes ever. Just want to say that I love your reviews...almost as much as I love this show!
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