Hi Thirteen!

Ditto!!!

I just had a silly thought...
I started matching The Beatles with the new SC Fab Four.

Roger=John
Don=Paul
Bert=George
Lane=Ringo

OK, I'm losing it, time to go!

I love It! I was getting tired of PPL sticking their noses in SC. That was a great coup by the team. Very satisfying when Pryce got the sack, and just told the guy to have a nice day.

In the new office, Roger was still doing nothing, as usual, reading the paper while everyone worked around him. Gee, Peggy wouldn’t even get him a cup of coffee (best line in the episode: Peggy – “No”)

Don's finally figured out how to be the man he should be, instead of the man he thinks he needs to be to get what he wants. He's actually figuring out need from want; he wants the perfect family in Ossening, but that isn't where he fits in or really wants to be. He loves his children, but not enough to live a phony suburban life in a cookie cutter existence. It doesn't fulfill him, it isn't familiar and safe feeling. And his wife isn't the warm, familiar woman he needs her to be; she's a product of this environment, born and bred to it and he'll never fit in. And so he's gone elsewhere to find his comfort and emotional hook ups; Betty, for all her beauty and surface appeal, doesn't know him or really even want to know him. He's never understood money! How could she be attached to someone like that.

I love it that Henry Francis won't let her take Don's money; he knows what Betty wants and if she gets it from a man other than him, Henry will lose control of Betty. Mark my words: She's gonna regret the day she turned down Don's money and cast her lot with Henry. He's gonna own her body and soul, and if she thinks life with Don was tough, wait until she finds out the fire she's jumped into from the frying pan this time. And this time, she's taking her kids along for the ride. It won't be pretty..

So far she's only taking baby Gene along for the ride. Upcoming: major acting up by Bobby and Sally. Henry isn't and never will be Daddy.

Oh Yes, Thirteen I agree!!!!! Just a bit down that the season has finished. I liked the message of the "Cooperative" thing. We never make it anywhere on our own. Loved the "speaking up and laying it on the table" by all involved.

Want this show to go on forever. Sad to see another season end. Love Don. Hate Betty. She is a miserable woman and an immature spoiled brat who has never demonstrated joy or happiness in any way, shape or form - not even with her own children. If I could write her future with Henry, it would be even less fulfilling than her past. She will be discovered to be the icy, dependent, petulant child who hasn't a clue on what it means to be in an adult relationship, with shared intimacy and level playing field.
She is incapable of doing ANYTHING on her own (other than ride horses) and needs a man to protect and advise her every step of the way. If this is what Henry wants, then he wins. Poor sap. Best line of show by Don to Betty - you built yourself a life raft. I, for one, hope it sinks.

Madmenfan -
who hasn't a clue on what it means to be in an adult relationship, with shared intimacy and level playing field.

Not a fan of Betty's but she certainly never had a chance to develop one with Don who was hiding both his dirt-poor upbringing and stealing another man's identity.

I suspect that Don, who having Betty on a Madonna pedestal, never wanted her to see the disreputable aspect of his life before he became DD.

Would she have married him if she'd known the secrets he decided to keep from her? Probably not. So he hid them. Although keeping them in his locked desk drawer might have been the biggest mistake of his life. Up until then, all her unhappiness rested on his having affairs with other women.

If Betty was a different kind of woman, his early life and affairs wouldn't matter as long as she and her kids were living the life she'd been raised to expect. All the money she wanted, maid service, upper middle class home in the suburbs, her own car. Come to think of it, there must be millions of women who'd take that deal as long as divorce was out of the question. Horseback riding, for Pete's sake!

Please, please, please, Don, don't take up with that teacher over the garage! If you do, I might have to jump ship on this show! Can't stand her! And don't sleep with Peggy. I see a glimmer of that possibly happening in the future....though it couldn't be any more shocking than her sleeping with Duck. Almost fell off the couch with that one.

I don't hate Betty. For me, the happy ending would be Don and Betty together again at some point in the future. Wish they could have kept the mood that was there in Rome...smokin' hot...but then, Betty was apparently fueled by Henry Francis' attention and when the reservoir issue didn't go through as expected, she froze up again.Too bad.

Agree that Betty will have a rough ride with Henry Francis. This little love is just too sweet. And she was so easy to lure away from Don, if an opportunistic man was preying for someone like her. Just give her attention and the promise of the glamorous life. Henry Francis will be darker than Don...a beater, white collar criminal who goes to jail (how embarrassing, Betty!), or something quite un-rosy.

I think Don may have cancer at some point. There have been signs...the smoking/cancer references and then the camera pans to Don smoking, oblivious to it all. In the finale it was the brief cough when he awoke on Gene's old bed. Anyone else think so?

Love Joan, love "stand by your man" Trudy, love Roger (and love him and Joan together). And love reading everyone else's comments!

Hi Ritt1:
I don't mean to be dismissive of Don's bad behavior and shortcomings at all - of course, Betty was given many reasons to be fed up with him and she had every right to want out - my point is that she was raised to be a dependent non-achiever (her dad admitted as much and hoped for a 2nd chance with Sally) and she remains this petulant woman/child who requires another man (Daddy, Don, Henry) for her to take any action whatsoever. She was never happy - always frustrated with Don and/or her life. Although much of her character is in keeping with the times - there were other options even in those days, at least to women who could assert themselves and who had the courage of their convictions. She would just have had to accept a lesser lifestyle! But not Betty. Perhaps I find her so distasteful because she is the antithesis of everything I respect in women. Don is the bad boy who has so many redeeming qualities, he can get away with a lot!
madmanfan

Just a note on Henry and Betty. Betty is looking for a father. She needs to be the pampered baby. Henry is apparently looking for a pretty little girl to take care of like another daughter. That's why the so far platonic relationship. So maybe they are perfect together....

Betty could never be warm or affectionate to her children because she is still a child herself. Don has shown more love and affection to those kids in his brief time with them than Betty could muster as an all day stay at home mom. She is an ice queen. Hope Henry takes good care of her because when he develops some old age disease, he can count on Betty to be there for him! (not)

First, apologies for misspelling Pryce's name. Oh, for an Edit feature! Please, AMC, you've got a year till next MadMen, get us an edit feature!

Next:

@60's Child: you're gonna laugh but I did the same match up and got the same! Bert's love of the east and mellowness pegs him as George, and Pryce, always beating the drum and keeping the tempo makes him Ringo. Roger likes to shake things up like John, and Don, well, he's the cute one ;-D

@Beverly: Spot on observations! I never thought Don would give up that big dream of his to be a certain type of man in a certain type of life--but he did. He was finally honest and admitted that this wasn't him, and it wasn't what he really wanted. And it was all thanks to that contract. Before he's been able to run away from the truth. This time he had to face it. He had to be honest with everyone, including himself, and it set him free.

The truth shall set you free. It certainly did that for so many of our characters this episode.

More in next post....

A few more responses...

@Ritt1: Yes, indeed, Sally at least is going to be a mother's nightmare through her adolescence. Defying mom and step-dad, taking up with boys from the wrong side of the tracks just to drive her mother nuts. Betty really should re-think whether she wants the kids. ;-D

@Madmenfan: I'm with Ritt1. I'm not a Betty fan, but she was never given a chance to develop. Henry Francis said, "I'm not playing games." Don always did play games. I think she can grow with HF because he wants her to be an adult, his partner in life, and he never lies to her. Don wanted her to be an advertising image. And he wanted her to live a lie with him. Even before she found out what was in the drawer, she felt trapped in the marriage.

When we're feeling trapped and unhappy and not allowed to be ourselves, we don't treat others right either. As Don treated his co-workers badly, so Betty has been taking out her anger on her children. So I don't think we can quite judge or predict what she'd do or become now that she's free and in control of her life. Maybe with HF she'll be more of an adult and a better mom.

@spilseven> Don isn't going to take up with Peggy. I didn't see that at all in his talk with her. I saw in Don's talk with her someone who was recognizing and acknowledging his apprentice, his heir, his legacy. She's family, not wife or even girlfriend--or a nervous poodle for that matter. He was showing her respect, not romantic interest, and that's the way they both want it to be, I think.

In regards to Don and Betty: Like a kid who wants their parents to get back together, you seem to be hoping for a dark side to Henry Francis. But there's no evidence of this, and MadMen is not a soap opera--nor is it the Parent Trap. Sally isn't going to trick HF into showing that he's a mean and horrible guy, and thus get Betty to realize marriage to him is a mistake and she's meant to be with Don.

People get divorced, and it can be the best thing for them. And new spouses, like Henry Francis, can be good guys who are also the best things for them. I think that's what you'll see. It may not be the fairytale end you want, the romantic comedy where the would-be-divorcees realize they should stay together--but that's life.

I believe that's Pryce, not Price. And I think Bert would make a better Ringo, and Lane a better George. George was the most musically skilled of the Beatles and Lane has the most business savvy; both are quiet about it to the point of being unnoticed.

I believe that's Pryce, not Price. And I think Bert would make a better Ringo, and Lane a better George. George was the most musically skilled of the Beatles and Lane has the most business savvy; both are quiet about it to the point of being unnoticed.

How gratifying it was last evening to sit and watch Don's evolution and epiphany. On one hand, he is a total cad and on the other, he has an uncanny ability to illicit empathy. Upfront, don't like Betty while acknowledging how great January is in the role. Being a man of color, there are clearly aspects of this fantastic show I am viewing of show through a different set of eyes than the majority of posters here. I was highly offended by Betty's comment regarding it possibly being the inappropriate time to integrate. The interaction between the maid and Betty when she meets Henry Francis is priceless. As many fans here await the arrival of The Beatles, I wonder if and how The Motown Sound will play into the series. (The Supremes endorsed several products including Coca-Cola, Arrid Deordant, etc.) And, of course, when will Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce finally become integrated? It was delicious watching the employees left behind after the mutiny. Will they try and get on board at the new agency or are those characters now going? I now see how Sal will be brought back in. Rumblings of how the burgeoning gay liberation movement will be enticing to see how that is folded in. They so perfectly captured the sentiment around the President's assasination. Though I was still very young, I have never forgotten. In some strange way I would like to see Peggy and Pete together as some wonderful "great love of all time", but, that would probably be fatal for both. I don't care for Henry Francis either and someone identifying the possibility of he being even worse for Betty is fun to contemplate. But by keeping them in the series, doesn't it open the series up to being too soap-opera-ish? How sweet it was to see Joan right back in your element, where she shines, thrives and thrills.....really like her, like most viewers do.

Mad Men is surely the best series on television bringing competition to HBO line up. On another topic, can someone enlighten me ? Who does "Pryce" stand for in the new agency, Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Pryce ?
I will miss the show on Sunday nights.

Lane Pryce.... the Brit.

Yes, Thirteen! You said it well. It was a transitional season that pulled it all together in the end. I caught their energy as they planned for the future.

Yes, Thirteen ! I thought I already commented, but can't find it. It was a transitional season that brought it all together in the end...very satisfying to watch. I especially loved how none of the executives knew anything about the business part of their business.

Sizzie -
Lane Pryce is the one who knows about the business part of their business - A/P, A/R, Billing and General Accounting. With the prior accounting records for their clients, he can follow the process already established.

Creative - Don & Peggy
Accounts - Roger & Pete
Media - Harry Crane
Finance/Accounting - Lane Pryce
General Admin - Bert Cooper & Joan Harris

I honestly don't understand why Don is upset over Betty leaving ... he sleeps with anyone ... now the teacher can have him

I also raise a toast to Sterling/Cooper/Draper/Pryce!

A great ending to my favorite show on tv! I hate that we have to wait until August 2010 for more MM.
It was great to see Don "wake up" and forge ahead with his career. He is so in his element. I just wish Don and Betty could have waited until AFTER Christmas to break the news to the kids. I could be wrong...but if Betty is on a plane to Reno already ...will she miss Christmas with Sally and Bobby? Thank God for Carla. Not a pretty homefront for now.

Good point Virgina!
If she spends six weeks in Reno, then yes indeed she misses Christmas with her two young children. Just goes to show you where her priorities lie. Poor Baby Gene gets to spend his very first Christmas in Reno with his cold fish mother and a stranger. She does not care.
Surely Carla will want to be with her own family for the holidays, so actually the kids and Don are lucky that they have each other. They are better off without her. In fact, maybe they will get really lucky and she will ditch Henry and stay in Reno - get a job as a showgirl - then she can put her degree in anthropology to good use "digging up" a new sugar daddy!

well folks i loved the ending or rather the beginning of the new agency. it's well staffed all those folk play well together, even pete & peggy. as for betty leaving to get the divorce, i do not...i say again, do not blame her. i can see her rush to get it over with so she can move on. actually having had my mom up and leave a state and take us kids w/her to end a very bad marriage. yes i was upset at the time but i grew to understand what it must have been like each day that man came home. (no he was not thankfully my dad)...my question is so Carla had to stay w/kids for that month+ 24/7 , frak! what about her life?!! well i'll pretend she got her brother to do some duty too. as for mr Francis he could turn out to be just as wily as don, (remember he's in politics—that's area is notorious for snakes & wolves in sheep's clothing). it would be nice to have seen who betty was before don. was she this independent model living w/roomate and on her own? who knows.

oh and remember Lucky Strike went w/roger so he's gonna have to do some real smooozing to bring in Sal for an art director ...be we shall see :)

I'm relieved Don and Betty are moving on. It's been torturous watching their fractured, empty, married life together. Separately, they can each grow/thrive as individuals on their own distinct,disparate & destined paths. It'll be really interesting watching Don (our classical hero -flawed & complicated) find his true self, surrounded by is new "family". I'm hoping they bring Joy back. I thought they were perfect together- both bigger than the life around them!

I'm a new convert to MM (have watched all 3 seasons back to back in an epic marathon) and while this topic is probably out of date, I just had to comment after reading all the negative Betty feedback.....

I can definitely see why it's easy to dismiss Bets as a whinging, spoiled brat but I can't help but relate to her in some weird sense female solidarity.

While we get to see everything Don does in a day (and are thus attached to him, less shut off from him and generally more willing to excuse or ignore his terrible behavior), you have to think about how things look from Bets' perspective -

- She spends all day alone in his huge house or with his children while he cheats and lies (right to her face, constantly)... if he ever actually says anything to her at all.
- She hosts / attends his parties while he makes a fool of her or at the very least, ignores her.
- She knows almost nothing about him (the Don Draper version, let alone the Dick Whitman version) but he scalds her like a child if she ever asks...

Remember that, while she's very blonde and pretty - Bets is educated. She speaks Italian, she was an Anthropology major and she comes from a good family. She knows, deep down, what's going on in her house and yet she's completely disconnected from it and, until now, powerless to change it. I don't know about you, but if I was that isolated in a marriage (or just in life) I'd react pretty similarly to her, I think.

Anyway... can't wait for season 4. I really hope they bring Sal back and we get to see more of Joan.

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