Comments on: Don and Dick are getting swirly for the first time http://www.lippsisters.com/2008/10/24/don-and-dick-are-getting-swirly-for-the-first-time/ Intelligent media, including Mad Men, Downton Abbey, The Walking Dead, Hell on Wheels & more. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:31:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Deborah Lipp http://www.lippsisters.com/2008/10/24/don-and-dick-are-getting-swirly-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1/#comment-18043 Deborah Lipp Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:09:56 +0000 http://www.lippsisters.com/?p=1769#comment-18043 Oh, and Roberta is the genius here, with Bobby opening Don up and all. Oh, and Roberta is the genius here, with Bobby opening Don up and all.

]]> By: Deborah Lipp http://www.lippsisters.com/2008/10/24/don-and-dick-are-getting-swirly-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1/#comment-18042 Deborah Lipp Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:59:50 +0000 http://www.lippsisters.com/?p=1769#comment-18042 Jim, if the car was 2 years old in 1962, it certainly can't be a flashback to the 50s! And he could be using a cannibalized wreck for his 1960 parts. Jim, if the car was 2 years old in 1962, it certainly can't be a flashback to the 50s!

And he could be using a cannibalized wreck for his 1960 parts.

]]> By: Deborah Lipp http://www.lippsisters.com/2008/10/24/don-and-dick-are-getting-swirly-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1/#comment-18041 Deborah Lipp Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:58:36 +0000 http://www.lippsisters.com/?p=1769#comment-18041 sommgirl, we have a number of navigation tools. On the right is a calendar; clicking a date brings you to the posts on that date, so October 19 should work. You can also simply search (search box is also on the right) for the episode title ("The Mountain King") in this case. Or, you can click the "Previous Entries" link at the bottom of the main page (not inside a post) if you think it's just one page back. sommgirl, we have a number of navigation tools. On the right is a calendar; clicking a date brings you to the posts on that date, so October 19 should work. You can also simply search (search box is also on the right) for the episode title ("The Mountain King") in this case. Or, you can click the "Previous Entries" link at the bottom of the main page (not inside a post) if you think it's just one page back.

]]> By: d davies denver http://www.lippsisters.com/2008/10/24/don-and-dick-are-getting-swirly-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1/#comment-18040 d davies denver Sat, 25 Oct 2008 17:17:35 +0000 http://www.lippsisters.com/?p=1769#comment-18040 Cool topic Roberta and great comments. Don was good at denying and suppressing Dick in 1960, but is clearly having trouble in 1962 – and now he maybe embracing the Dick Whitman side. (I like the word swirly – gonna have to use that at work!) I guess I see the Don Draper “software” as not very robust. It’s beginning to break down on him. This has been accelerated by things like Adam’s death, Bobbie’s comments and especially the new titanium version of Betty. The Don Draper persona is getting flimsy – a veneer really. It held up for about ten minutes in California. I loved the B-case discussions about mirrors this season. Don is having a hard time around mirrors – they force him to confront the growing identity issue. Bobbie is verbally holding up a mirror with her comments about Don’s reputation. In both that scene and the famous shaving scene his reaction is visceral. (Not to get too Halloween but maybe he is disappearing like a vampire or something) So, if the Don persona is broken – where does he go? Back 100% to Dick W. and fixing cars? Merge the Don and Dick parts and head back to NY? (Michelle has a great observation about the cars and the possibility making something beautiful out of different parts) I don’t know the answer but the journey will be fun to watch. However it gets resolved, Anne B is right -- the kids are the key. The kids are the grounding element and not just Bobby and Sally but Dick/Don somehow repairing his broken father-child relationship. Deborah noted that Don opening up a bit to Bobby about his father was very significant. I think little Bobby still gets the line of the season: “We have to get you a new Daddy.” B. Cooper is on to something with the mysterious car scene. It is ambiguous. I started pretty convinced it was a flashback but you all have convinced me that it is in real time. There is definitely something father-son about that scene. The scene may be in real time, but Don/Dick definitely goes back to some other place. He looks just like a little kid staring in wonderment at the cars and wanting to see them race. Anna basically paraphrases John Donne when she tells Don that he is not alone – that he is part of the world and he needs to participate in life. In order to do that he first needs to figure out who he is. Cool topic Roberta and great comments.

Don was good at denying and suppressing Dick in 1960, but is clearly having trouble in 1962 – and now he maybe embracing the Dick Whitman side. (I like the word swirly – gonna have to use that at work!)

I guess I see the Don Draper “software” as not very robust. It’s beginning to break down on him. This has been accelerated by things like Adam’s death, Bobbie’s comments and especially the new titanium version of Betty. The Don Draper persona is getting flimsy – a veneer really. It held up for about ten minutes in California.

I loved the B-case discussions about mirrors this season. Don is having a hard time around mirrors – they force him to confront the growing identity issue. Bobbie is verbally holding up a mirror with her comments about Don’s reputation. In both that scene and the famous shaving scene his reaction is visceral. (Not to get too Halloween but maybe he is disappearing like a vampire or something)

So, if the Don persona is broken – where does he go? Back 100% to Dick W. and fixing cars? Merge the Don and Dick parts and head back to NY? (Michelle has a great observation about the cars and the possibility making something beautiful out of different parts) I don’t know the answer but the journey will be fun to watch.

However it gets resolved, Anne B is right — the kids are the key. The kids are the grounding element and not just Bobby and Sally but Dick/Don somehow repairing his broken father-child relationship. Deborah noted that Don opening up a bit to Bobby about his father was very significant. I think little Bobby still gets the line of the season: “We have to get you a new Daddy.”

B. Cooper is on to something with the mysterious car scene. It is ambiguous. I started pretty convinced it was a flashback but you all have convinced me that it is in real time. There is definitely something father-son about that scene. The scene may be in real time, but Don/Dick definitely goes back to some other place. He looks just like a little kid staring in wonderment at the cars and wanting to see them race.

Anna basically paraphrases John Donne when she tells Don that he is not alone – that he is part of the world and he needs to participate in life. In order to do that he first needs to figure out who he is.

]]> By: Roberta Lipp http://www.lippsisters.com/2008/10/24/don-and-dick-are-getting-swirly-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1/#comment-18039 Roberta Lipp Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:27:27 +0000 http://www.lippsisters.com/?p=1769#comment-18039 Jim, I'm having a hard time finding the year of that song. But you're bumming me out. Why they gotta fuck that up? Jim, I'm having a hard time finding the year of that song. But you're bumming me out. Why they gotta fuck that up?

]]> By: Michelle http://www.lippsisters.com/2008/10/24/don-and-dick-are-getting-swirly-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1/#comment-18038 Michelle Sat, 25 Oct 2008 11:30:38 +0000 http://www.lippsisters.com/?p=1769#comment-18038 Agreed. The hot rodder scene was ambiguous and I gave it much thought. Here's my take: It was not a flash back. It's 1962 and Don is chilling in San Pedro, living at Anna's and making himself useful (the chair repair scene LOL) shopping for groceries. He's in no hurry to return to NY & SC as is suggested by his inquiry about work (political events of late October 1962 will no doubt provide an external impetus to get him back East). In addition to mirroring memories of Archie working on his car in Hobo Code, the hot rodders show him that something uniquely beautiful can be crafted from disparate parts of what would otherwise be old junk. Hummm. much food for thought in that scene for our confused hero. Agreed. The hot rodder scene was ambiguous and I gave it much thought. Here's my take:
It was not a flash back. It's 1962 and Don is chilling in San Pedro, living at Anna's and making himself useful (the chair repair scene LOL) shopping for groceries. He's in no hurry to return to NY & SC as is suggested by his inquiry about work (political events of late October 1962 will no doubt provide an external impetus to get him back East).
In addition to mirroring memories of Archie working on his car in Hobo Code, the hot rodders show him that something uniquely beautiful can be crafted from disparate parts of what would otherwise be old junk. Hummm. much food for thought in that scene for our confused hero.

]]> By: B.Cooper http://www.lippsisters.com/2008/10/24/don-and-dick-are-getting-swirly-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1/#comment-18033 B.Cooper Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:21:11 +0000 http://www.lippsisters.com/?p=1769#comment-18033 I don't know how people can tell the years on all those old cars. I was born in 1973 and can's spot a Dodge Dart from a Chevette. I don’t know how people can tell the years on all those old cars. I was born in 1973 and can’s spot a Dodge Dart from a Chevette.

]]> By: Patti http://www.lippsisters.com/2008/10/24/don-and-dick-are-getting-swirly-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1/#comment-18032 Patti Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:04:23 +0000 http://www.lippsisters.com/?p=1769#comment-18032 I'm trying to decide about the car scene and I think it can't be a flashback, although I sort of want it to be. The reason is that I saw a 1955 Chevy parked on the street in the background. Sally was born in the spring of 1954, right? Unless it's an error, it has to be 1962. What do you think? Did you see the chevy too? I’m trying to decide about the car scene and I think it can’t be a flashback, although I sort of want it to be. The reason is that I saw a 1955 Chevy parked on the street in the background. Sally was born in the spring of 1954, right?

Unless it’s an error, it has to be 1962.

What do you think? Did you see the chevy too?

]]> By: Jim http://www.lippsisters.com/2008/10/24/don-and-dick-are-getting-swirly-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1/#comment-18037 Jim Fri, 24 Oct 2008 22:15:58 +0000 http://www.lippsisters.com/?p=1769#comment-18037 one way or another - this scene poses problems. When asked about the car, Don is told it is a 60 nailhead engine, 39 lasalle transmission, and a 40 banjo rear end. Don's reply was 2 Fords and a Buick. Only problem is, what we have here is a Buick, a a Ford, and a Lasalle (GM). I also don't find it very likely that the struggling artist used the engine from a 2 year old car for his rat rod. My money is on flashback. Now for the big one... The song playing on the radio is The Sevilles "Treat You Right" Which was released in 1963/1964 Uh-Oh... one way or another – this scene poses problems. When asked about the car, Don is told it is a 60 nailhead engine, 39 lasalle transmission, and a 40 banjo rear end. Don's reply was 2 Fords and a Buick. Only problem is, what we have here is a Buick, a a Ford, and a Lasalle (GM). I also don't find it very likely that the struggling artist used the engine from a 2 year old car for his rat rod. My money is on flashback. Now for the big one… The song playing on the radio is The Sevilles "Treat You Right" Which was released in 1963/1964 Uh-Oh…

]]> By: Nomie http://www.lippsisters.com/2008/10/24/don-and-dick-are-getting-swirly-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1/#comment-18026 Nomie Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:40:57 +0000 http://www.lippsisters.com/?p=1769#comment-18026 Brenda @4: <i>Likewise, if he were continuing the facade he kept up for Betty, there would be no need for self-examination.</i> Oh my god, yes. This. Exactly this. sommgirl @9, I can't believe they would have botoxed him - that seems unnecessary. There may have been some heavy-duty makeup work, though. I'll have to go back and watch. Brenda @4:

Likewise, if he were continuing the facade he kept up for Betty, there would be no need for self-examination.

Oh my god, yes. This. Exactly this.

sommgirl @9, I can’t believe they would have botoxed him – that seems unnecessary. There may have been some heavy-duty makeup work, though. I’ll have to go back and watch.

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