Ep 12: A new beginning by erasing the past, and the power of listening
Midge: What I think Don is doing is erasing that past. It's not about even what happened, but about the fact the character Midge was there, the pilot episode. And here we are 4 seasons later, and he's saying goodnight to an element of his past. He's saying goodbye to one of our first experiences as the MM viewer; Midge. He's making us say goodbye to her and the past as well.
To me that was the underlying element of his newspaper/cigarette gambit. Don says goodbye to tobacco. Structurally speaking, the newspaper act ties in with the idea of erasing the past; erasing the pilot episode. The pilot episode began with Midge and tobacco. Twice, he's actively said goodbye to strong elements from the pilot episode; Midge and tobacco. Don is erasing the past in more ways than one, beginning with erasing Midge. Then tobacco. Don is erasing the pilot episode for us the viewer.
And earlier now this season he made the first step of leaving the idea of running from his identity issue. He told in his drunken state, off camera, his real name to the waitress who magically appeared. He confessed to Faye, he wants out of running from his past. So here now this episode to add to that he kills elements of the pilot episode. He's killing our beginning of him. Is he killing the pilot episode for us the viewer as part of his escaping his past?
Which all now weaves now into Don making effort. He could have run from the company given Don runs very well from things. But he did what he did regarding the newspaper trying to save the company. He made an effort toward those around him. The idea of emotional effort for people is new in Don.
He made an effort to Peggy in not only keeping her around but asking what she thought of people.
And of great importance, he made an effort toward Pete in fronting Pete's money.
To me, Don learned this through Allison. And he learned it through Peggy schooling him in an earlier late night episode on the power of thank you and appreciation; and his lack thereof.
Since then, Don changed a little. He has been more homely toward Faye since he lost his home with Betty. He accepted no strings attached last week with Megan but was attentive after the sex, unlike telling Allison, yeah whatever you want to write about you I'll sign it. Faye and Megan both like him because of this attentiveness from him they have had.
And now he's attentive toward the company, just in his Don-uncoventional way.
Things are changing, which is supposed to be one of the underlying themes I'm assuming metaphorically of the decade but here yeah regarding Don as well. Peggy says something to Don about changing identity. Also, Don tears the pages out of his journal and starts over.
Peggy continues her identity search. She continues her own tug of war of old guard vs new guard. Last week it looked like she chose new guard. This week however she is more interested in spending time after work with Faye rather than with the new alleged hip crowd. Peggy is still an hourglass that keeps flipping before the sand runs out on either side.
Midge tries to cling to Don through sad sex, the way Don was a lil earlier this season, clinging to sad sex. Mirroring. Also mirroring, Midge's guy apparently pimps Midge like Pete and Trudy way back when.
One of the many things MM is about, is crossroads. And here is Don. What does he choose? To run, or stay?
Don chose in his own Don way of expressing the unspoken power of thank you, in working for the future of the company. He chose his alleged newfound appreciation of thank you to make sure Pete was taken care of. He's rather attentive to Faye in a relationship-type way. And he called Peggy in personally. He gave Peggy personal assurance. He gave Peggy personal trust and inclusion as his Don version of thank you in a way she'll understand.
He gave Pete the reassurance in guy terms, money and a silent respect. On the other side, he gave Peggy reassurance in the girl terms of including her and asking her to speak what she feels.
He learned this through Allison. He got this through Peggy yelling at him.
Don since then has begun to move forward when he learned one thing the hard way; listen to them, pay attention and more importantly...
I like the idea of a new beginning by erasing the past - but maybe that's because I've moved around so many times - it always feels like a new beginning.
I heard an interview with Matthew Weiner who said that "every season is its own story", so that left me wondering about the end of this season's story - and where the show will go next year.
If you're planning to watch the series finale, join us over at www.FanTalk.TV for a live discussion with other fans as the show airs. (It's free.) There is also an embeddable widget that will enable you to host live chat on your blog if you like.
MAD MEN
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Ep 12: A new beginning by erasing the past, and the power of listening
Midge: What I think Don is doing is erasing that past. It's not about even what happened, but about the fact the character Midge was there, the pilot episode. And here we are 4 seasons later, and he's saying goodnight to an element of his past. He's saying goodbye to one of our first experiences as the MM viewer; Midge. He's making us say goodbye to her and the past as well.
To me that was the underlying element of his newspaper/cigarette gambit. Don says goodbye to tobacco. Structurally speaking, the newspaper act ties in with the idea of erasing the past; erasing the pilot episode. The pilot episode began with Midge and tobacco. Twice, he's actively said goodbye to strong elements from the pilot episode; Midge and tobacco. Don is erasing the past in more ways than one, beginning with erasing Midge. Then tobacco. Don is erasing the pilot episode for us the viewer.
And earlier now this season he made the first step of leaving the idea of running from his identity issue. He told in his drunken state, off camera, his real name to the waitress who magically appeared. He confessed to Faye, he wants out of running from his past. So here now this episode to add to that he kills elements of the pilot episode. He's killing our beginning of him. Is he killing the pilot episode for us the viewer as part of his escaping his past?
Which all now weaves now into Don making effort. He could have run from the company given Don runs very well from things. But he did what he did regarding the newspaper trying to save the company. He made an effort toward those around him. The idea of emotional effort for people is new in Don.
He made an effort to Peggy in not only keeping her around but asking what she thought of people.
And of great importance, he made an effort toward Pete in fronting Pete's money.
To me, Don learned this through Allison. And he learned it through Peggy schooling him in an earlier late night episode on the power of thank you and appreciation; and his lack thereof.
Since then, Don changed a little. He has been more homely toward Faye since he lost his home with Betty. He accepted no strings attached last week with Megan but was attentive after the sex, unlike telling Allison, yeah whatever you want to write about you I'll sign it. Faye and Megan both like him because of this attentiveness from him they have had.
And now he's attentive toward the company, just in his Don-uncoventional way.
Things are changing, which is supposed to be one of the underlying themes I'm assuming metaphorically of the decade but here yeah regarding Don as well. Peggy says something to Don about changing identity. Also, Don tears the pages out of his journal and starts over.
Peggy continues her identity search. She continues her own tug of war of old guard vs new guard. Last week it looked like she chose new guard. This week however she is more interested in spending time after work with Faye rather than with the new alleged hip crowd. Peggy is still an hourglass that keeps flipping before the sand runs out on either side.
Midge tries to cling to Don through sad sex, the way Don was a lil earlier this season, clinging to sad sex. Mirroring. Also mirroring, Midge's guy apparently pimps Midge like Pete and Trudy way back when.
One of the many things MM is about, is crossroads. And here is Don. What does he choose? To run, or stay?
Don chose in his own Don way of expressing the unspoken power of thank you, in working for the future of the company. He chose his alleged newfound appreciation of thank you to make sure Pete was taken care of. He's rather attentive to Faye in a relationship-type way. And he called Peggy in personally. He gave Peggy personal assurance. He gave Peggy personal trust and inclusion as his Don version of thank you in a way she'll understand.
He gave Pete the reassurance in guy terms, money and a silent respect. On the other side, he gave Peggy reassurance in the girl terms of including her and asking her to speak what she feels.
He learned this through Allison.
He got this through Peggy yelling at him.
Don since then has begun to move forward when he learned one thing the hard way; listen to them, pay attention and more importantly...
Reciprocate.
I like the idea of a new beginning by erasing the past - but maybe that's because I've moved around so many times - it always feels like a new beginning.
I heard an interview with Matthew Weiner who said that "every season is its own story", so that left me wondering about the end of this season's story - and where the show will go next year.
If you're planning to watch the series finale, join us over at www.FanTalk.TV for a live discussion with other fans as the show airs. (It's free.) There is also an embeddable widget that will enable you to host live chat on your blog if you like.
Il semble que vous soyez un expert dans ce domaine, vos remarques sont tres interessantes, merci.
- Daniel
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