Quick Monday morning ‘where we are’
We had a season finale party last night–150-odd Basketcases (intended) showed up, partied with us, played Mad Men Jeopardy, and watched the episode together.
Oh and Michael Gladis showed up. It really is cashmere.
Exclusive interviews went up yesterday with Rich Sommer and with Jon Hamm.
Oh, and turns out we were wrong about everything, doesn’t it? There is no guessing on Mad Men. Just get over that.
Deborah Michael and Roberta posing for what presumably is a better picture
November 9th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Thanks for the early-morning photo and thread-starter! Am very eager to read everyone’s reactions – I was shrieking at the television, “They’re gonna get fired – this opens EVERYTHING up!”…the spouse just laughed at me, but we BOTH enjoyed the episode immensely, sad turns and all…worst thing is that we have to wait until August for more……………sigh.
November 9th, 2009 at 9:40 am
“The only thing keeping you from being happy is the belief you are alone”
Don finds out he can’t do it alone, and he doesn’t need to:
He needs Burt
He needs Roger
He needs Peggy
He needs Pete
He needs Lane
Everyone needs Joan
.
.
.
But he doesn’t need Betty.
****
I’m doing the happy dance!! Fantastic ending. If the show never came back on again (Noooooo– I don’t mean that!) I would feel so satisfied just with this ending.
November 9th, 2009 at 9:42 am
It took me a second viewing the understand the meaning of his flashback. Archie thought he could just abandon the cooperative and go it alone, and it killed him.
What a lovely episode!
November 9th, 2009 at 9:46 am
gypsy, you are VERY smart.
November 9th, 2009 at 9:47 am
I need badly to watch it again. You miss a lot watching with a hundred people.
November 9th, 2009 at 10:42 am
I loved the small reference Archie made to having his own silo. Don’s been trapped in his own silo for so long — isolating and compartmentalizing himself and those around him — and therein lay the root of so much of his unhappiness.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Gypsy, I feel exactly the way you do – SO SATISFIED! What an awesome finale. Loved that I laughed and cried.
Yesterday, I said the “Bye, Bye” reference meant the marriage is definitely over, but I wasn’t sure if Birdie would fly to Henry. She not only flew to him, but WITH him.
Thought something was going to happen with Pete’s rifle – and I laughed when he exited the office with it on his shoulder. Glad it wasn’t something more violent.
Don’s May-December (literally) romance with Connie did end. Betty is still lost in hers.
What’s up with Don not staying at home with the kids while Betts “moves” to Reno? They’ve just endured “the speech” and it’s nearly Christmas! Jeez Louise! At least Carla knows they should be on the couch with her. Loved that prop dog Polly made an appearance. Keep the Ovaltine coming, Carla.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:23 am
She may not have told him.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Yeah, kinda hard to believe Don won’t move back home for 6 weeks with the kids. I bet we’ll be left to imagine what happens though, figuring the next season will skip ahead in time.
November 9th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Dahlhalla has a picture with Michael Gladis and a snap of the drink menu.
November 9th, 2009 at 10:39 am
I’m sorry, this post is a lot of random thoughts about the episode.
I just LOVED that Don is able to say “I was wrong”. I know so many people who would rather die than say it. He said it to Peggy, he told Pete that he needs his skills. He and Roger talked over some things. The only person he didn’t say it to was Betty.
Peggy had made it clear to Don before the departure from SC that they needed someone in the Art Department, so I am hopeful Sal will be back. I loved Roger calling Joan – perfect! And then Harry calling to find out where they were, funny, it’s so Harry. I’ll really miss Ken if he’s not back next year. He kind of skates through life, it seems like. He doesn’t appear to put a lot of effort into his work, but I love his positive attitude. I’m more of a Pete, but I wish I were a Kenny. Interesting how Paul opened Peggy’s door to see if she was the chosen one. I’m glad Pryce is getting this opportunity – he was so poorly treated by the London overlords, serves them right! They wouldn’t have been able to have done it without him.
I really want to sit down and watch the whole season straight through now and see it all fit together.
November 9th, 2009 at 10:57 am
@ 10–I made that picture happen!
November 9th, 2009 at 11:12 am
What a great episode. I had to watch it twice. I was blown away by everything in it.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Extremely satisfying episode. The funny thing is, Weiner with all his “I have complete creative control!” and “I’m an iconoclast!” and “there’s no tension if there’s no stakes” gave us an “and all the main characters you love come back to the roost and we start fresh next season” kind of endings. And I, for one, am so happy he did.
Deep sixing Paul, Ken, Kurt & Smitty, possibly Sal & Betty – well, they aren’t really “stakes” if you ask me, other than Sal, and he’s been gone for a while. Make damn sure no one likes Betty and marginalize the others, no biggee, but you still get hipster cred for offing characters. I will miss them (especially Paul & Sal), but I can live without them (and they could still come back).
It’s still a tv show and it’s not Mad Men without Joan and Peggy and Pete and Roger. TV is not real life and aren’t we glad?
November 9th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Liked how Bert Cooper rose to the occasion last night. Telling Don he’d have to to get his hands dirty by appealing to Sterling directly. Using the “retire and die” argument with Sterling himself. Threatening Harry Crane into joining the new firm.
My only reservation — well, only reservation beyond the Peggy scenes (which is often the case) — is that I hope Henry Francis’s no settlement advice isn’t used as a plot device for Betty to eventually run back to Don or for them to reconcile. Sorry, folks. But this relationship is … OVAHHHH. Way too much damage at this point. Plus, I never bought there was much chemistry between Don and Bets in the first place other than looking like the figurines atop the cake.
Who would have ever thought that the best romantic relationship by the end of season 3 would be Pete and Trudy’s? Even more impressivley, Weiner and company pulled it off.
November 9th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
YES, how hard did Trudy ROCK IT!?
“Honey, can I talk to you for a second please?” The subsequent smiles Don and Roger exchanged made up one of my favorite moments in the series.
Can I ask what your reservations behind the Peggy scenes were? I was absolutely pumping my fist for her during the entirety of this episode. That Don saw her as an extension of himself (a HUGELY vulnerable thing to say) completely explains his anger toward her — he holds her to the same almost-impossible standard he holds himself, which says so much about the potential he sees in her — but he also had to recognize that she’s her own person. OH and I loved, “Peggy can you get me some coffee?”
“No.”
Truly, women are gonna have a lot more power this time around!
And what primal all the way up to spiritual satisfaction to see Laine Pryce, heretofore complimented for unquestioningly “doing as you’re told,” getting thunderously “FIRED for INSUBORDINATION!” and pleased as punch about it.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Roberta, I love that photo of you and Deb with Michael – you look all glowing and shiny bright!
November 9th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Thank you so much for doing the party, Deb and Roberta and thanks to all the Basketwriters and Basketcases for coming out last night!
I am mostly a lurker on here but I live too close to stay home and I am SO GLAD I went in for the finale party! (I am the girl who won the calendar in the raffle).
Iy was just too thrilling to watch the finale sitting 10 feet from Michael Gladis (who was so wonderful and kind to chat with me for a moment and take apic too!)
Thanks, Basket of Kisses for a wonderful evening. Next summer is truly too far away!
November 9th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Roberta (12),
I’m not surprised. Dahlhalla is more over the moon about you sisters than ever.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
@ 3 gypsy howel-I had never thought of that before, but it’s brilliant.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
…and I made the drink menu happen. I am so happy I thought to request that!
November 9th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
SarahM — please take my criticisms of Peggy with a big grain of salt. I’ve never been a huge fan of the character; or maybe more specifically, the screen time and deference the characters is given. But I’m all for grrrrrrrrrrrl power and see why she is so valuable to Don.
Loved that Trudy from the other room moment too — and Sterling saying goodbye to her before she reappeared — and then her showing up with sandwiches and “a cake!” at the end. There were also numerous dandies from Roger last night, though one of my faves was when Don and Cooper walked in on him after he had been speaking with Jane.
“She’s obsessed. The first time the girl’s been interested in a book depository in her life.”
November 9th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Last night I loved Roger in a way I never thought possible. We finally saw him HONEST. “All my life I’ve been acting like I run a business, but I inherited it.”
I think we can all agree that his mammoth sense of entitlement, his fathomless immaturity, and his extreme inability to see anything beyond himself reached an all-time high in My Old Kentucky Home. Gradually we’ve seen him get back some humanity, so that there’s something real behind the charm he manages (when he wants to.)
I’ve always been attracted to Roger and Don’s dynamic, when they got along, and last night their friendship went to new depths in a really interesting way. One of my favorite snippets was:
“I value my relationship with you.”
“Now you do.”
“Now I do.”
Just because it came suddenly and it a time of crisis doesn’t mean it’s insincere. And the (stunning!) interview that Roberta conducted with JH brought up the fact that his anger with Roger had everything to do with that loss of control — which Don has back. They’re working partners again, but with a more solid relationship AND much stronger grasp of the fact that they are NOT perfect, that the world is changing, that they NEED the talents of other people around him, and that Roger’s gonna get his own damn coffee.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
So unbelievably envious of all you Northern Basketcases that got to hang out with Mr Kinsey, himself. Down here in the dear old South I’ve been having rough times so very sketchy internet for the past few weeks. However, had to say *something* about last night’s episode.
So much fun(God I just ADORED Trudy last night and Peggy is my hero) and it really helped me to get over my gloominess at being unemployed. I know this sounds quite cheesy, but at least for me, it was what I needed(and probably what this country needs). Last night’s episode demonstrated that what we need is a good old case of risk to get things going again. I’m still struggling but last night’s episode(along with lots of reflective reading and my parents) has really pushed me to stop being such a wet rag and make things happen for myself. Even if there seems to be no hope. You have to at least try, as Don says.
I have some thoughts on my changing feelings over Don this season but it will have to wait until later. Since there is no more MM for a while(*sigh*) I’m sure we’ll still be gabbing about this episode by the time I get full internet access again.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
#3 Gypsy – Exactly what is was thinking while in a.m. traffic.
#14 Donny – Spot on as much as we’ve enjoyed these secondary characters they are not crucial. Maybe this is why Ken’s story was not so developed. It worries me about Sal, we’ve not seen him since he left were as Joan kept popping up. Sadly Allison was great with Don.
The core of the show is really The New Sterling Cooper Draper & Pryce, and Trudy. My thoughts about the season was that everyone was at the end of their tether and it was everyone for themselves. Last night’s brisk culmination has left me with a huge sense of hope for this NOW real team. They have all invested and have a great many things to gain. Even Cooper has a new found sense of goal & excitement about this adventure.
I am happily excited for S4 rather than worried for S3.
MANY THANKS TO DEB & ROBERTA!!! You have done a wonderful job with the Basket and wish you all the best during the slow season (not that I won’t be checking in everyday). I’ve now made a promise to myself that the series Finale (5?) I will fly back to NYC to meet all of you.
November 9th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
So much fun to meet other fans & share in the finale cheering.
Thank you to Roberta & Deborah for taking care of us all.
-bernard
November 9th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
i have been right the last two weeks in guessing the major plot twists. this marks the first and second time i’ve ever done this, that i recall. lol a friend who watches only when the cd’s come out (hates commercials) asked me to confirm what t.v. guide said about last night. i refused and told her that matthew w. liked to plant red herrings. basically, i think she’d be disappointed to know the ending, tho i guess she does already, b4 watching the entire season. i had some concerns early in the season about season III. they’ve all been put to bed.
November 10th, 2009 at 12:46 am
Roberta—yes THANK YOU for taking me to him!!! You have no idea how happy I was. I’m just glad I didn’t cry on the cashmere.
January 1st, 2010 at 3:50 pm
[...] night to watch the show with Rich Sommer. We threw our second annual season finale party, which was an enormous success. Two of our writers flew out from the west coast to attend, and Michael Gladis paid us a surprise [...]