Mad Men: "The Benefactor" and "Three Sundays"

[skywaterblue]

I watched "The Benefactor" before "Three Sundays" because I've been too busy to watch it.

A ton of really great lines and moments in "The Benefactor". Betty Draper is becoming so fascinating, such a classically cold tease. If "My People Are Nordic" isn't a classic line for the ages, then I don't know things. There were a couple of other quotable lines in there; no surprise because it turns out that Rick Cleveland worked on the script.

I also adored the whole situation with the comedian, and then Don finger power fucks her in the powder room hall? YES. Excellent. I can't decide if I desperately love the power relations or am desperately not into her character. The scene with the hailstorm was truly an impressive bit of background work by the scenery crew.

Don firing his secretary and then Joan stepping into the role bodes well for humor value. Don's continuing obsession with art films is also interesting, but other than continuing from previous episodes I'm not sure what that contributed to the episode itself.

Harry Crane getting a raise was great -- loved that Salvatore got a lot of background time, and poor Peggy switching off the television episode as quickly as possible.

"Three Sundays"

Don's children are such dumb little monkeys. (Irony, I hate using that phrase, but there we go.) Of the trio, Paul Kinsey is so my favorite; he's probably the only one I'd hang out with in real life. The conversation between Betty and Don is so sad -- especially since Betty's quite the stereotypical shrew in this one, but she does eventually get the truth out of him and feels bad so, okay. (I liked it better when she apparently didn't give a shit what her kids did.)

This show is rapidly starting to fail the Frank Miller Test. Mr. Sterling sure knows his way around the menu.

Peggy's sister is annoying. The Priest trying to shag Peggy is pretty hilarious, however, and I ship it in its wrongness. To make the symbols better, the egg should have been RED. RED DAMMIT. Mad Men, for that you failed at symbolism.

I love Don storming out of his office and telling the truth from on high, but it's pretty typical that they don't get the account -- you could have seen that coming from a mile off for a thousand different reasons. (Not the least because Don eventually has to have a blow out with Duck.)

Comments

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

The Don and Bobbi thing was so hot yet mildly disturbing at the same time. Hmm.

Priest/Peggy makes me LOL.

"My people are Nordic" is now up there with "I like to offer a bouquet of thoughts" for me.

Thank god we got some Roger/Joan next week, woot.

[skywaterblue.livejournal.com]

You know, first I was whiny because they were spending so much time on the trio, now I get whiny when we have to spend time with Don and Betty.