You’ll be satisfied.
I want to be very careful here; spoiler-free matters at the Basket. I write a weekly movie review on my personal site; I feel there are things you can say that are somewhat revealing without spoiling a film. Some of the things I would say in a movie review are things you already know: Don Draper is an ad man, Betty is his wife. And some are things I might reveal that I really believe are okay to reveal, but I think Matt would be unhappy. And I don’t want Matt to be unhappy.
The time period? Don does not have sideburns. More than one day has passed. Between two days and 5 years, then. The tone? Funnier, I think. Mad Men has always been funny (Mozart!) but I laughed more than I normally do. There’s a brightness to the colors, the characters seem, somehow, used to themselves. I jotted down a quote that reveals nothing (truly) but that I was asked to keep to myself, and what it says to me, quite deeply, is that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I think that’s our theme.
Pete, ah, Pete. He is living that particular truism. He keeps being Pete. I had an intense emotional reaction to him in the season opener, as certainly I’ve done before. He is a man of highs and lows, our Pete, and so ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same,’ feels like a rollercoaster for him.
For everyone, I think. A rollercoaster of self-discovery and refusal to know oneself, all at the same time. I don’t know who will change and who will not. I see possibilities dangling for everyone.
I am so ready to be blown away by this season. I think every episode will be better than the one before. I can’t know that, having only seen one, but I’ve got twenty dollars on the table that says I’m right.
22 Responses to “What we can tell you about Season 3”
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So excited to hear there's lots of Pete being Pete. I haven't loved a character this much since Baltar. For many of the same reasons.
So…Pete is involved in the "shocking" incident/situation/whatever that was mentioned in the previous post about the season opener?
Can't blame me for trying…
Pete is probably doing something horrid again but I can't help but like and root for him and his redemption. Fat chance, I know. 🙂
Oh, god, Pete. LOL. But I love him. I think it's safe to say we'll probably see some great stuff from Vincent Kartheiser this season.
Everyone keeps using that term "blown away." EVERYONE.
Is someone going to get shot?? Is Mona going to go postal on Roger??
Seems like half the country has now seen the first episode – it's pretty amazing that they are all being "good!!"
According to the AMC Mad Men Blog, Pete and Trudy have adopted a redhead with big brown eyes named Chauncey. Talk about Pete bein' Pete.
Ahh, danglin' a hunka meat before the wolf, y'are.
Y'know, the pilot was pretty damned funny. I watch it from time to time with friends who are allowing me to turn them on to this show. I am always surprised by how many times I laugh.
Now I want to watch every episode just with a comedy gauge. Like listening to all the Beatles albums just for the harmonies. And then again just for the bass lines…
…..Or maybe Pete will finally shoot that chip-n-dip.
Anyone else sort of hoping Pete shoots his mom? Not to kill her or anything, just in the knee or hand as a little warning to stop being such a see you next Tuesday.
For me the humor of the show is the best kind – in that it gets funnier the more you watch it. John Slattery's lines become more hysterical each time I hear them. (love when he says goodnight to Pete and calls him Paul). I just watched an episode with Ken being shot down by Jane. Jane asks him who he is… and he says."Ken. (pause) Cosgrove. (pause) accounts." It just cracks me up.
Great humor that always expands the characters story – never humor just for the sake of it. Freddy's zipper music was funny – but it also was in line with his character and advanced the story as well.
…..The pilot was very humourous. Lots of otherwise-unparented zingers, which I attributed to the actors still kind of unearthing the characters' voices and motives.
Agreed the one-liners are jewels. Many levels of enjoyment.
Bullitt and "Bert," ah, you so funneh…..
Oh goodness. Reading this post makes me that much more excited for the 16th. Seriously, I'm counting down the days. I can hardly stand it!!!
I'm getting thirstier for a tall glass of Mad Men! Wish you could tell us just where the opening scene is!
Therese, Matt has already stated in an interview that the episode opens on Don's bare feet, and I can confirm that, and I even have an essay all written about it, waiting for the episode to air.
The anticipation has now turned to something words cannot describe!
His feet…that's very Tarantino…LOL
Didn't Hitchcock say something about when ever the camera focuses on someone's feet it signals something nefarious? Will that be in Deborah's essay?
Thanks Deb! Hmmm…Don's Bare Feet. Bare, no socks. I bet even his feet are sexy! Now where would buttoned up Don have bare feet? In a bath, in a shower, on a beach, by a pool, in bed with Betty or Midge or Rachel or Joy or….Sal????? (I truly doubt that last one). Or maybe just at home, I know after a long day I just want to shed my shoes.
Now you're just driving me crazy! Looking forward to you essay! Thanks again! 10 days, 10 days,10 days…
Thought of one more place, (and I really have no idea!) and this seems more likely— In a Sauna! Probably with Roger and Bert…or maybe Sal.
I can't even read this blog much anymore, it gets me too overexcited and anxious…
But I'm glad to hear about Pete! By far my favorite character.
Full disclosure: I haven't seen the season 3 pilot yet. So I wish I could say to Pete, "I know you're seriously old money New York, but come with me to this crazy artist's happening tonight. His name is Andy Warhol and he knows Edie Sedgwich of the Massachusetts Segwicks. It'll be fun, I promise.