Eeeeeeeee Mad Men squee

[gwyn]

I just finished watching the first season of Mad Men. mlyn and I tried to get through the last four eps last night, but tiredness won out. Sorry Jo and Christy -- I couldn't wait weeks more to see the end. I was too tense.

At first I didn't want to watch the series. Everything I heard about it sounded so much like In the Company of Men, the deeply upsetting movie by Neil LaBute from quite a few years ago and one of the main reasons I can never elevate Aaron Eckhart to BSO status, because I can never stop thinking of him from that squirm inducing cruelty fest. Also, having grown up, my little feminist self, in the time immediately after Mad Men is set in, I wasn't interested in reliving the sexism and general boorishness of the time. But M'lyn's enthusiasm and explanations relieved my fears and I was hooked by the first episodes completely.


So, here I find yet another obscure fandom that's off the beaten path and so not the cup of tea of the general fannish populace. Sigh. Why do I do this to myself? But I really loved it, and even loved hating the detestable characters, especially Vincent Kartheiser's Pete. Man, I didn't think it was possible for me to hate him anymore than I did when he was Connor on Angel, but I did! It almost seemed like he was born to play Pete, all unctious smugness and childish cruelty. He's so awful!

But I loved it when he went toe to toe with Don in the 12th episode, trying to blackmail him. I thought, wow, you so really don't know who you're dealing with. Don is such a great character or juxtapositions. He's so suave and smooth and cool, and then he's so fragile and fucked up and woobieish. Such a woobie! And that last shot! Augh! Betty has me alternating between "poor fucked up girl" and "shut up you whiny nutball" so half the time I find myself getting annoyed with Don for ignoring her and cheating on her, and the other half feeling as if, were I married to her, I'd never want to come home either. She's in such a terrible place, someone who, in our own time, would have alternatives for dealing with her problems (and boy does she have them), and yet you kind of get exasperated with her to the point of losing sympathy. And unfortunately, of course, Don and Rachael were just smokin' hot together, and I wished so much for some kind of wonderful resolution to that affair, but there can't be. Not in that world anyway.

And Peggy, you freak, you are a complete alien and yet you are also really wonderful. I love you, even though you were horribly mean to that poor voiceover girl. When Peggy shot off that line to Pete about "maybe I should lie on your couch" so he could feel that way again, I howled. She had such great, odd lines, and I really wonder what she'll do in regards to the baby. Obviously she'll give it to adoption, but I wonder how she'll go back to work. She can't tell anyone she's been in the hospital, but I wonder how she'll get around that considering she was just promoted. I loved seeing her succeed in the man's world, the least savvy and comfortable person in that building.

I've spent half the time fearing the worst for people, always wondering who's going to have something terrible revealed or get found out or what have you. It's nearly soap operatic in that way of everyone have something to hide, and the twists and turns of people trying to figure out ways to keep going around all that. But so tightly written and such deft, fine character moments. John Hamm totally deserved his Golden Globe for best actor in a drama series. While The Wire, to me, has the best writing and performing, Mad Men comes in a close second this year (and OMG, the insane attention to detail, almost everything I remembered from childhood, and the incredible wardrobe and sets). I am furiously looking for a vid song now. What a fantastic show and fantastic characters to vid for.

Comments

[mlyn.livejournal.com]

The date's not right (and considering this show, the mere thought of using an anachronistic song for a vid is blasphemy), but The Beatles' "Help" is pretty much perfect. I want to do something jazzy, though, even bebop or bassa nova.

Also, it's Jon Hamm with no H in the first name. :)

I'm so glad you finished it and liked it! And goddamn them for making us wait until July!!

[namastenancy.livejournal.com]

I am sure that we are not the only people who got hooked on Mad Men; I remember everybody on my list being totally absorbed by it. I resisted watching as I came of age during that time and the sexism and horrible attitudes are still too fresh in my mind. But the show really got a grip on me and now, I find myself wondering what is going to happen next. Fabulous writing, fantastic acting - funny and tragic, sweet and sour all at the same time. The whole thing with Peggy had me completely fooled. I did not believe that she was pregnant - although there was a lot of speculation as to what was going on - and when she had the baby, I was gobsmacked. If the second season is half as good as the first, we are in for a real treat.

[umbo.livejournal.com]

I'm watching it! I missed it during its original run, but I've been watching the repeat of the first season--I think I watched episode 7 last night. It kind of freaks me out that my mother watches it, too, because my parents got married in '58 and my oldest sister was born in '59--so they were more like Pete and his wife's age, although my dad was still in grad school at first, and I don't think my dad would have ever cheated on her, but the sexism, the smoking, the drinking, absolutely.

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

I’m watching “Mad Men” too – but I’m only up to episode 6 because I’m watching the reruns on AMC, so I have to skip most of what you have behind the cut :P Agree about VK, though – he’s just so smarmy and awful. It’s still confusing me that I can find every single character on this show sort of repulsive, and yet be totally compelled to watch and find out what happens next! :P

It doesn't hurt that everything LOOKS so gorgeous.

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks for showing up, hon. A shop babe like you should have been familiar with us before now. Since you’re here, get me some coffee, would ya babe?

Jay

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Actually it's getting great play across fandom; it's just that no one's talking about it much. I think once first season is available on DVD and second season starts airing, you'll hear a lot more.

I already have a vid song. :D