Matt: thank you for refuting the idea that Don is a sociopath, one of the discussions that I really couldn't agree with on the forum. And also for your information on the characters. When you do your weekly video of each episode, it's very apparent that you are very fond of these characters, and embrace all their good and flawed qualities (gee, just the way people really are). The tendency is to want to pigeonhole the characters as either good or bad, and so far, MadMen has NEVER allowed us to so easily judge them. The writing has been absolutely superb, and the hours spent "analyzing" all our beloved MM characters (we'll probably all qualify for "shrink" status soon) and their motivations, has been wonderfully entertaining. Congratulations, and thanks to the cast, crew, and writers for a great second season. Looking forward to more....

Oh, Matt. Please don't say that Betty and Don are getting a divorce! I love them as a couple, and I believe that they love each other. Can't they work it out? I want to see them make it over the long haul!

Matt: your comment about Don being a shark was the thought I had during the meeting with Putnam, Powell and Lowe. Jon Hamm's body language reminded me of a predator, staring straight at his prey, unblinking, shoulders square, facing his target. Poor Duck, on the other hand, thinking that he is the hunter, not the hunted, is steeling himself for his kill. With the patience of a hunter, Don let's Duck spring the trap with his comments about creative and no mentioning of the client (Cooper's expressions were classic). Like a shark, the first blow is not lethal, it is meant to wound the prey and allow it to slowly weaken by bleeding to death (if this is the type of agency you want . . .). And then the death blow, quick, decisive, lethal, and elegant (I don't have a contract). Duck's slamming of the table was like an animal's final quiver before succumbing to the inevitable.

There are times I have let my imagination run away with the meaning and messages of this show. This scene is just one example of the thoughts this show provokes and I wanted to thank you for it, even if I completely missed the mark!

Hello Mr. Weiner! I've been a devoted Mad Men follower since the pilot episode. I have but one request for season three, if I may be so bold...please keep Don Draper/Dick Whitman behaving a sexy, adulterous bastard! His philandering is a very alluring part of the character's persona. The loud applause during Saturday Night Live's "Don Draper's Guide To Picking Up Women" is evidence that I am not alone in enjoying that aspect of the Don Draper role.

Thank you for hearing me out!

--Visan
A Mad Men Fan

Matt, I agree that Don is not a sociopath but just a very damaged person. I have watched Mad Men since the very first episode and I've always believed Don has a monstrous inferiority complex (which he hides amazingly well) and uses his "power" over women---to have whomever he chooses to have--- to feel even temporarily that he is indeed a worthwhile human being at least in that (sexual) way.
Thanks for the best thing that has ever been on TV.
You have created an army of happily addicted "Maddicts" who hope "Mad Men" stays on forever!

I too thought Don was soulless, but when he looked thoughtfully at the little kids who were brought poolside by their single father, you could see the concern and recognition he had for them. I think he thought both of his own children who were without their father, and of himself, who was unloved. He is definitely a damaged person. Also, thanks, Mr. Weiner, for that great closing shot of that episode, "The Jet Set". We have a rear view of Don sitting on the sofa with his left arm extended along the top vs. the signature shot of the series with his right arm extended. Does this signify Don moving in a different direction? Thank you, thank you, thank you for a magnificent show. I mourn the passing of Season 2. Please don't make us wait too long for Season 3.

Hey Polar Bear: That was great when Don spoke those immortal words, "I don't have a contract". The look on Duck's face was priceless. What a seaon finale. I am just sorry it was the season finale.

I hardly see Don as a sociopath, but then I am old enough to remember working in an office in the late 1960s, when the Don Draper's of the world still had power. I imagine that Don and Betty remain unhappily married, because that's what people did in those days, and their children grew up wealthy and disaffected. In 10 years that little girl will be in high school and no doubt smoking pot. But that was life then, when Peggy had to make a decision between whether she would marry and have children or pursue a career. It's too bad Don can't tell Betty the truth, that lie is what is poisoning their life together. I do think, however, as they were people of means, the Drapers could have obtained an abortion if that's what they both wanted.

@Madwoman1950, like so many scenes in Mad Men, watching a second time does give the viewer some unexpected gems. Of course we are focused on Don and Duck during the scene but the expressions of other actors are great. Cooper's unspoken looks of dissapproval and concern, Roger's look of "Don, please shut the f*ck up, I need this money", the englishman glance downward at the table right after Duck slams it, as if to say, "you've just killed yourself, Duck" and finally, as you point out, Duck's realization that he foolishly walked into an ambush.

This is the Don Draper we love - quickly analyzing the situation, patiently waiting for the opportunity to strike and using his words like a samurai sword to quickly dispatch an unworthy opponent. "Duck, would you excuse us".

I keep reflecting on why the show is such a draw for me apart from it's exceptional quality. I've concluded that a big factor is that I am the age of Don and Betty Drapper's kids. I think the show seems like a visit to a time only partially remembered and less understood. It's also the show's foundational and confident modernity. The streamlined decor and skinny ties anticipate only an ultra modern Jetsonesque world that never happened--post-modern people now find that sort of thing too cold and narrow.

I love Don's complexity and ambiguity--neither hero, villain or anti-hero. Like how he keeps Peggy's secret and promotes her but has treated his wife -- in keeping with the period -- like a child. Also, he doesn't seem aligned with any political ideologies to support, like contemporary people. IE he promotes Peggy because it seems like a good idea-not because he's a feminist.

Kudos to cast and crew --I can't wait until Series 3!

Thank you Matt Weiner for communicating with us Mad Men maniacs! I love the writing and symbolism in the show. One request, please keep Betty and Don together I am so invested in these two I am almost exhausted! That last episode was so powerful I was riveted in every scene with those two.

Keep up the good work and we all can't wait for season 3.

Polar Bear: Like so many of us who love this show, I watch episodes over and over when I am able to do just as you said: Watch the expressions on other characters in the scene. As you said, Roger looks positively ill at the thought that the deal may fall through if Don walks out on SC. I am feeling sad and lost tonight without my show. I find myself coming back to the website for a "fix". Something else has been bothering me about Roger: Do you think that he would have ultimately left Mona for Joan if Joan had not become engaged? Do you think he believed Joan will always be there for him, and when he realized she was out of his picture, he decided to go for the younger woman anyway, and Jane was in the right place at the right time? Or, did Jane sweep him off of his feet?

I finally got to watch the finale last night. Loved the nod to the idea of "when I was a child I thought like a child..." that seemed to be a major theme throughout the entire season.

Excellent writing, Mr. Weiner! Your ... novel ... approach to television is much appreciated. And to all others who labor to create this quality show, thank you, take a much deserved break, but then hurry back to work so that we, the audience, can enjoy your world some more. :-)

Madwoman1950: I understand your need for a fix. I advise you rent/buy Season 1. You can watch each episode again three different ways - 1 w/o commentary; 2 w/ commentary from one or more actors; and 3 w/ commentary from the director or other key production staff. 13 episodes X 3 viewings = 39 Sundays or just in time for Season 3.

RE: Roger - Your question, if I may paraphrase, is, "what is motivating his actions?" I think his marriage to Mona has been dead for quite some time. How else to explain his long term affair with Joan, and the random pickups (the twins). But, the motivation for Roger isn't sex, as easy and obvious as that sounds.

Go back to the episode where he meets the young Mrs. Groton's fishsticks (the very young girl who pretends the bald executive is her husband). Roger watched longingly at their interaction and believed they were in love. Upon finding out that she was a prostitute, he immediately sets up a "date" with her. He tells her he hasn't done this since he was in the Navy and she informs him that "the prices have changed but the menu remains the same". He leans over to kiss her and she backs away reminding him about the menu and the prices. For prostitutes of that time, nearly everything was negotiable except kissing. As odd as this sounds, kissing was considered too intimate to be shared with a "John". In addition, there was a practical reason to avoid kissing - it was the quickest way to get sick by catching a cold/flu. Roger offers to pay her double her usual rate plus a generous cab fare allowance as long as he gets what he wants (remember she says, "isn't that perfect"). After completing their transaction, he insists on taking her to Lutece, the great French restaurant in NYC at the time. His evening with her is the complete opposite of the usual courtship sequence - give money, have sex, go out to dinner. What Roger is looking for is young love. The love he thought he saw this woman had with Mr. Fishsticks. Something that he is willing to pay for, even if it is just an the illusion. For whatever reason, he could not have this with Joan. At 31, he may consider her over the hill because she is jaded. For Jane, its the innocence of youth that attracts him - her belief that true love exists. Now, for all we know, Jane could be playing Roger. Matter of fact, I think she may have a bachelors in psychology. She could be pushing all of Roger's buttons because she understands his motivations better than he does.

Either way, it'll make for an intersting season 3.

Ohh Polarbear you are so riteon about watching each episode with a different focus. My 1st viewing is always for the overall, like reading an outline. 2nd viewing is for closer review of set decoration and costuming... 3'rd time around I'm watching for those glimpses between characters which tells us wayy more than the written script...
As a coming of age child of the 60's this early part of the decade was a bit lost on me, other than loving the magic of the 'Camelot' epoch. But one genuine memory was of the Cuban Missle Crisis and the fright for a young teen was visceral if only because it was a 1st time brush w/ a world larger than I was prepared to experience. I projected a lot of that memory into Betty. She was a young wife and mother but her sheltered and protected existance was not unlike a much younger girl.

@Nana Benz, there is discussion "Cuban Missle Crisis" if you haven't already checked it out.

Given the historical precedent last night, I feel like we are getting our second chance at Camelot. If you saw Mr. Obama's victory speak last night, I am sure you had a feeling of deja vu. If you are interested, please check out www.jfklibrary.org Kennedy's speaches are available both in text and audio. Check out JFK's inaugural speach in Jan. 1961. Its the "ask not . . ." speach and the tone and setting of expectations that is so timely with our what is happening today.

PAST IS PROLOGUE

P.S. Theodore Stevenson, Kennedy's speach writer is also an advisor to Mr. Obama. The parallels are amazing. I look forward to Mr. Weiner's interpretations of our current events and the parallels to be revealed in Season 3.

Polar Bear you are very insightful. I especially liked your shark analogy. How did you come up with that? I am hoping that Mr. Weiner doesn't go into the you know what about Kennedy. To me that was the end of that innocent era. Even though those people were not really innocent. So Matt please don't go there.

Poor Joan with her chauvanistic husband. 'Where did you learn how to do that'. I can remember my Mom waiting on my Dad hand and foot. Even to have her come into the room and change the t.v.channel for him. No remotes back then. I predict Joan would become very fat down the road and her husband would run off with his nurse. A better storyline would have Joan getting the divorce. She gets her job back at the ad agency and just imagine the sexist comments from the other guys now.

I kinda agree that Don and Betty wouldn't divorce. I can only remember one couple in my parents circle who did and that was only discussed in hushed tones. Like it was so shocking. No Don in my opinion is not a sociopath. I just hope MW has this terrific cast in a long contract. Wouldn't want to lose any of them.

Well this has been fun reading everyone's comments now since the season is over. Question for MW: do you read all the comments? Because I've posted some others ideas on elsewhere?

@Chelsea, the shark/hunter comparison is from my experience in the world of the alpha males. In the early 60's, certain professions attracted this type of male - astronauts/test pilots, organized crime, professional athletes, entertainers/actors (think the Rat Pack), and, of course, advertising executives. Its clear that there is a lot of testosterone in the executive offices of Sterling Cooper. The interaction between Don and Duck reminded me of aerial combat - make a mistake, and you're dead; like an over eager rookie, Duck aggressively dove in for the kill, overshot the target, and suddenly left his rear in the gunsights of his opponent Don. There is no way he survives this latest stunt.

You don't have to worry about the Kennedy assassination. Matt Weiner stated in another interview that he has no interest in exploring this event in history - its been overdone and there is nothing more he can add. I think Season 3 will pickup in 1964 with the New York World's Fair.

Me and my brother were my Dad's remote. How did you get out of that duty?

Well Polar Bear I must confess many times my Mom would send me or another sister to the room where my Dad was and change the channel for him/her. Crazy thing was we didn't thing anything of it. Those alpha males had a good thing going. One thing that did make me and my sisters mad was this: We only had one t.v. set as most families did at that time. On Saturday or was it Sunday, we wanted to watch American Bandstand. We only got to see about a half hour of it because Dad came in and just changed the channel to football game. :-(

Thanks for letting me know MW won't dwell on the Kennedy assassination.

On another blog many people were discussing the Draper's early American furniture and how they didn't think it fit them. I think MW addressed that with the new car. But I would like to add that in their early days, they like most young couples didn't have much money. Remember when they didn't evan have an air conditioner? They probably received their furniture from Betty's parents. Like on the Soprano's show they had a home make over in later seasons. I predict that MW will have a new interior for them next season. It will be more like the Dick Van Dyke's home. What do some other people think?

Hi Polar Bear: A long time between posts for me, but I appreciate your very insightful and complete overview on the finale. I do own Season One which I now have proudly displayed on top of my television like a security blanket so that I know it is there any time I need it. I had a crazy thought that just maybe there would be a miracle and somehow Season Two would be ready for sale for the Christmas shopping season, but I know that is crazy talk. They would probably wait until sometime shortly before Season Three starts to offer Season Two on DVD. Anyway, I had almost forgotten about Mrs. Fish Sticks and I did know about the taboo on kissing for ladies of the evening; considered too intimate for a 'john'. In thinking it over, I too have a feeling that Jane is playing Roger for the money and status of the older man. Jane was in the right place at the right time. You are correct, of course, that Joan was probably already too 'old' and too wise for Roger. As a woman, my heart breaks for Joan. Here she is stuck with a real pig and stuck in her 'role' of "office manager" as she watches Peggy climb the ladder of success. When I watched the finale for the third or fourth time, I did catch those priceless expressions on the other characters around the conference table when Don announced his "no contract" bombshell, and especially as you pointed out, when Duck slammed his fist on the table. What a jackass. Thanks, Polar Bear, see you next time on the blog.

Dear Matt Weiner,

I was born in 1963 and very much enjoy and appreciate your show. I keep wondering about literary references. There is Ayn Rand, but what about others? I keep thinking of Homer's Odyssey:

- Ulysses is a liar with a silver tongue- so is Don
- Ulysses' comrades admire him as a hero but some hate him and rebel against him (like Don and the guys at Sterling Cooper)
- Bert Cooper sort of seems like Jove
- Ulysses is searching for "home" and meets up with a lot of women along the way (Circe, Calypso, Nausicca, Athena) even while wishing he could be with Penelope (like Don)

And there's more! I didn't think this is too far fetched since there a couple of Greek references in the show (like the Wheel episode's use of the word "nostalgia" and Peggy using Greek in her presentation for that exercise contraption). It seems one of the writers must know Greek.

Also, has anyone read The Fifth Business by Robertson Davies. There is a character in that novel that is similar to Don who escapes from a small provinical town (pre WW1) and loveless religious parents to become a famous magician. Names changes, hobos, trains, discovery of identity are just a few of the themes I thought could be influences.

Anyways, I like to know these things and wondered if anybody thought of this. If not, "WHO CARES!", I really admire the show.

Regards,

Betty

Don is not a sociopath. His behavior is very, very typical for men in the ad business in the 50's and 60's. Actually, a lot of men still behave this way today.

On another blog many people were discussing the Draper's early American furniture and how they didn't think it fit them. I think MW addressed that with the new car. But I would like to add that in their early days, they like most young couples didn't have much money. Remember when they didn't evan have an air conditioner? They probably received their furniture from Betty's parents. Like on the Soprano's show they had a home make over in later seasons. I predict that MW will have a new interior for them next season. It will be more like the Dick Van Dyke's home. What do some other people think?
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Don is not a sociopath. His behavior is very, very typical for men in the ad business in the 50's and 60's. Actually, a lot of men still behave this way today.

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An interview with 'Mad Men' creator Matthew Weiner (pictured here with Jon Hamm) doesn't always follow the classic question-and-answer format.

Invariably, it ends up being more of a conversation, with the interviewer bringing up points about individual episodes or storylines and letting the Emmy-winning producer and writer just go through all of his thoughts about the characters he's created. He talks about them like they're members of his own family, and in a way, they are, as he's likely lived with Don Draper and company in his head almost as long as he's lived with his wife and kids.

I had been trying to pin down an interview with Charles Ginault since before the fourth season of the show began, and we finally were able to sit down and discuss the season earlier this week. Ginault watch company (www.ginault.com), based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, keeps a comprehensive collections of vintage and new Rolex timepieces to preserve the legacy of Swiss haute horlogerie. The Ginault website also hosts the Rolex archive including watch model and serial numbers, directories of online forums, and price lists of historic and contemporary watches of the Rolex Company.What follows is a long, but pretty extensive, overview of season four, and while Weiner doesn't give any details about this Sunday's season finale, he does hope that "people will see the finale and understand the journey that they went on for the season."