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More Bridges...
Ok gang...
One of the reasons I love this board is that it reminds me of college, when you stayed during winter break or summer break and there were less people around; yet you had the better time because of it.
I'm glad we had our more than 2c when it came to the 2 minutes issue and apparently we got our way (even though we really probably had nothing to do with it but at least they heard us) with a 2 minute overage to compensate like i wanted. Fine with me.
So I want to head back to what makes us best, our observations and critique. Let's get back to what we do best. So like you, probably disappointed that we don't begin until Aug 16, I'm putting the episodes back in. And here's my thing:
I posted up months ago about the concept of "blowing up bridges". That never left me, I think it's big, subtle, as oxymoronic as that is. We had a good long discussion on that.
But there's a subtle 3rd reference.
Now check this out. I'm re-watching when Don and Bobbie wreck in the car. Before they wreck, she pulls the same thing about bridges, yet she says it in a positive way, happy, "I love bridges".
But Don had said it twice basically negatively in prior episodes.
But Bobbie says..(and she passes Don the bottle in the car) "I don't know if it's the drop or just getting to see something disappearing behind you"
Ok now it's one thing hearing that from Don because it just makes sense.
But hearing Don's thoughts from another character is another.
So that's where I come in, originally curious if because I'm generally 20 yrs yngr the average poster, if blowing up bridges was a general slang from back in the day;
or if it's 3 times in two years of this show, writer's invention that they're trying hard to subtley push on us, blowing up bridges, to get us to think symbolically....
Make sense ?
Hey, Greg.
I was a child in the 60s (born in 53), but I don't remember "blowing up bridges" ever being a common expression. I think its use in MM is, as you say, something the writers use as a metaphor. Also, a common phobia is a fear of crossing bridges; I think that somehow ties in with MM's bridge metaphor for moving/not moving on with one's life. If you're afraid to cross a bridge, you're basically captive where you are; life passes you by. Betty's afraid to cross that bridge of leaving Don, for example; a lot of the other characters are afraid, as well. Neither Bobbie nor Don are afraid to cross or even burn bridges behind themselves. Also, the physical sensation of the "drop", as Bobbie mentions, is a rush.
In one of the recent interviews someone posted, one of the actors mentioned that they never change the MM dialogue as written. Apparently every word is charged with meaning, so the bridge reference must be important.
Greg,
"Don't burn your bridges behind you," was a common cautionary statement when I was a child. I heard it a lot, especially from my grandparents who considered me a rather headstrong child who didn't consider the consequences of her acts. This predated the 1960s by many years. I suspect "blowing up bridges" entered the vernacular after World War II.
.....Great thread and observations.....
Your keen observation is now stuck in my head and I'll be digging deeper to find if you have struck upon something that we should be exploring or it was just random conversation...
Don burns bridges like a WW11 comando, yet he maintains a tight networking system at the same time..ie Anna... The guy is a walking enigma but who do we know who could do it with more style?? Can I get an amen!!
Hi Greg,
Glad to re-visit this, as I think you're right in that it may be on-going symbolism (as opposed to being "water under the bridge"). (Forgive me that - I couldn't resist)!
Your thread started me thinking about all the metaphors that employ bridge imagery: "cross that bridge when we get to it;" "bridge the gap;" "a bridge to nowhere;" "A Bridge Too Far," etc.
Suzette (June 11 8:46 AM) made the points I thought of too (i.e. "burn" vs "blow up").
Quite insightful that you pointed out Bobbie's reference to bridges. I totally missed that. But I do remember (not verbatim) some of their conversation in the restaurant right before the car escapade. She was very verbally challenging: "I love negotiating; everything is a negotiation...Tell me something you enjoy...it can be anything...."
I think Don doesn't care to negotiate; he prefers his terms exclusively, no discussion.
In that vein, I think that his views on bridges are perhaps diametrically opposed to hers: she loves them, maybe she likes the excietment/thrill of the drop; she likes looking back, seeing them disappear. Whereas Don doesn't like looking back. Perhaps he sees bridges as something to escape across and then "blow up" behind him, so that what he's escaped from doesn't catch up with him.
(And "amen" Nana)!
....I think it's safe to say that there are no accidents where "Matticulous" Matt Weiner is concerned.
..."Matticulous." :) Clever!