By now you’ve probably heard that Matt Weiner has let known the title of Episode 1 of Season 5. It is called A Little Kiss. Now, a kiss may be just a kiss, but now MM fans are wondering who’s giving and who’s receiving this little endearment.
The title could be very deceptive –Will it really be a ‘little’ peck or a serious smootcher that one may try to deny, hence ‘little’? Knowing how episode titles can suggest subtle elements, I have several scenarios:
1) Most obvious kisser – DON. But who could bee the kissee?
a) Megan. Well, they sure enjoyed a lot of lip-lock last season. I’d like to think that it’s Megan, but the intensity of a kiss varies from mood to mood. Could it be that in whatever time has passed, Don’s kisses have evolved from passionate to perfunctory? . Maybe just ‘a little kiss’ before he’s off to work (assuming that Megan has become a stay-at-home wife). I think this is a long shot – I’d give it 50-1
b) Betty. We’ve seen Betty so miserable last season, and how she attempted to flirt with Don one last time. Maybe she secretly longs for one little kiss from him, and maybe he’ll be in a position with Megan that finds him back in Betty’s arms, although I don’t know what would cause that. I’ll give it 2-1.
c) Faye. Boy, was she mad at him at the end of last season ,and I don’t blame her one bit! If there should be trouble in paradise and Don finds himself attracted to Faith again, it would surely give her great satisfaction to prove to Don that he “only likes the beginning of things’ . Odds 3-1
d) Sally. She’s going through a hellish adolescence. She needs a little kiss from her Daddy. Odds 15-1
e) Polly. Such a good doggie. He misses her. Odds 50-1
e) Suzanne. Don gave her brother his card a few years ago, so if something bad happens to him, it may put Don in touch with Suzanne again (I can hear the groans). He may give her a sympathetic kiss. Odds 100-1
f) Peggy. Please God, NO! That would be pure shark jumping at this point. (In the series finale, maaaay-beee) Odds 1,000,000-1 (besides, he gave her a little peck when she congratulated him on his engagement).
Next Candidate: PEGGY
a) Don (see above)
b) Abe. Very likely, but it probably wouldn’t be a plot point, unless Peggy’s kisses to Abe have become perfunctory too. Odds 50-1
c Joyce. I’m sure Joyce wants to kiss Peggy, and although Peggy giggled whenever Joyce has made overtures to her, I don’t think it likely. Yet Peggy is becoming increasingly infuriated with the world of men…maybe she’d be tempted. Odds 50-1
d) Pete. I know there are fans out there who still want to see P & P together again, but Pete has really matured now, is a loving husband and daddy. I think that boat has sailed. Peggy will always have a deep connection with him, but it won’t go past friendship. Odds 100-1
Next Candidate: SALLY
a) Glen — Sally will hate her new home and school, she’ll miss Glen and run away back to Ossining. They’ll share a little kiss. Odds: 50-1
b) A bad boy at school. You know Sally is headed for rebellion. Maybe she’ll snog with a boy in skinny pants and a Beatle Cut. Odds 50-1
c) Polly — Such a good doggie and friend! Odds 2-1
Last Candidate: POLLY
a) Everyone who comes near her — Very likely! Odds, 2-1
b) Chauncey! — Chauncey made his way out of Manhattan in the rain. He and Polly make a bunch of sweet puppies. Odds: 2.000.000 to 1
So Who’s the Kisser, and Who’s the Kissee? Discuss! -Therese xo
Red Herring or real clue, I’m not sure. Nonetheless, a Giant Crab single from 1967:
“It Started with a Little Kiss”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyLQosjnIOI
b/w (backed with) “The Answer is No”
Just who is this character named “Faith”?
Could this actually be Faye Miller, PhD?
Dr. Miller certainly appeared angry when Don phoned her to say he was engaged to Megan.
Thanks for noticing the typo! Oops — I fixed it.
When I ran across the name “Faye” the first thing that passed thru my mind was “Judas kiss”. Because, hoo boy, has she got the goods!
didn’t think of that-good!
Of course, I’m hoping for the little kiss to be between Don and Polly.
Not likely to happen, but what if Rachel Menken Katz reappeared, Don and Rachel swap spit as Tilden Katz watches them from the Republic of Dresses (where Tilden is the assistant manager).
Since the first episode is a long, 2 hour episode, my guess is that there were be more than one kiss. The kisses will occur in a variety of contexts.
I’m going to guess that there will be THREE plot-worthy kisses of different kinds and in very different contexts. (Chances of me being accurate are slim, but I decided to be bold and commit to a number).
To be plotworthy, I think they will need to be kisses that are unusual or significant (though there could be a montage of kisses at the beginning, like we had different views of women getting dressed in Maidenform). A passionate kiss between Don and Megan hardly seems noteworthy at this point (unless we get more story that makes it significant). As mentioned above–a cold peck could be significant.
Some ideas for possible plotworthy kisses:
1. Sally has issues witnessing Don and Megan kiss one another. Sally seems to have adjusted to Betty and Henry kissing. But Sally did try to be “the little woman” for Don when she ran away, and she may experience more jealousy about Don kissing Megan and Don marrying Megan. Yes, Megan is nice, but jealousy can be a strange beast.
2. Megan kissing any of Don’s kids. As the fiance/possible stepmom there may be pressure for her to “be just like a fantansy mom.” This may include attempts by Megan, the kids, or by Don to “force love” and symbols of love. The toddler may not care, and Bobby may or may not care. Sally could possibly have a huge problem being expected to kiss or receive kisses from Megan.
3. Betty having issues with ANY of “her” kids kissing Megan. “I’m their mother, she is not their mother!!!”
4. Primary characters cheating on a spouse/partner. (Pete or Trudy kisses someone other than each other; Joan or Greg kissing someone other than each other; Jane or Roger kissing someone other than each other; Henry or Betty kissing someone other than each other).
5. Peggy kissing someone other than Abe (Stan, Ken, Pete, Lane, someone who works at a competing ad agency). Abe kissing anyone other than Peggy –and then expecting her to be cool with it because he’s not the kind of guy that commits, settles down, or is exclusive. Is Stan still crushing over Peggy?
6. Some sort of ad campaign for breath freshener, lipstick, or something related to kisses. Perhaps there are a lot of kissing models and models kissing around the office. Most kisses would not be plotworthy, but hidden between the irrelevant ones would be a significant one (Pete, Harry, or Ken getting carried away with a model and getting into trouble with significant other).
7. Megan’s (possible) French Canadian custom of greeting family and friends from home by kissing on the cheeks. There could be a male friend that Don doesn’t like her kissing. Or the Draper family may be caught of gaurd by the new in-laws kissing everyone on the cheeks.
8. Possibly a New Year’s Eve party or a Valentine’s Day kissing booth for charity. Some kisses would be just for play, accidental, and not significant–but not all. There may be serious sparks between people that haven’t been wanting to acknowledge attraction.
9. Sally kissing a boy. It could be secret, or maybe Don and Betty fight about it. My gut assumption is that Don woulb be less worried about it. BUT–sometimes dads get weird when it comes to their little girls growing up. Don may be more indulgent of Sally when she acts like his little girl, but he may be very upset if a horny boy brings out the pappa bear protective feelings in him.
The interesting thing about Don–so far–is that we haven’t really seen him go back to anyone he has had a rift with. He went back over and over to Anna, but we have no evidence of them being romantically involved and there didn’t seem to be any rift. He occassionally saw multiple women at the same time, but the women were not aware of this and there was no rift.
We have not seen him get back together with someone he has broken with (Rachel, Midge, Bobbi, Suzanne, Allison, Faye, etc.) I think there is some truth that Don “only likes the beginning of things.” Don does not seem to have developed conflict resolution skills, and once there is a problem, he leaves and moves on.
That doesn’t mean he could never kiss an old fling. That would be plotworthy. But I think it is more likely to see Don kissing someone brand new that he has never kissed before. It is less likely that he will go back to someone.
Wow! All great possibilities, Lady K! I suspect that whoever are at the center of this osculation will be a surprise. I do think there’s a high possibility of Sally kissing a boy.
Roger (kisser); Lee Garner Jr. (kissee). Stirling strikes one for the team. Odds 1-10;
Bobby (kisser ); every other Bobby (kissee/offee). Odds 3-1
Maybe SCDP will get the Hershey’s Kisses account.
I like the idea of a Hershey Kiss account and how ‘a little kiss’ for Hershey could symbolize a ‘little kiss’ we’re not expecting, this is definitely the style of MM.
Connie and Ida
Chauncey and Polly get it on.
It may not be just “A Little Kiss”. If past is prologue then the title becomes a broad theme for the season.
My thought is that the title refers to appearances which can be deceiving. All looks great on the surface, but underneath everything is simmering. If the thematic hints from MW are to be believed, then we know that much of the season involves characters realizing that they have to look out for themselves. The appearance may be of one big happy SCDP family, but the reality may be fractured alliances and characters going in their own direction.
Looking forward to 3/25 !
Maybe it will be like “Shut the Door, Have a Seat” where it’s a repeated motif: Don defending a brush of the lips on some woman other than Megan; backgound music such as the Connie Stevens number (“A Little Kiss Is A Kiss Is A Kiss”) from the early 60s – or Jackie Gleason’s “A Little Love, A Little Kiss”; a faint brush with death or disaster for a character?; too much to hope for an appearance by Sal and a pal?; Joan giving her baby a little kiss; Roger straying again.; a new work of art in Bert’s office (assuming he has one now.)
Floretta, I like it.
Didn’t Bert take his shoes and quit at the end of last season?
He sure did, but you never know when you’ll see the last of a character.
It is 1966 and Bert has quit to become an astronaut in order to join Ida.
Some long odds going on in this discussion.
Shortest odds – Draper and someone new (who won’t get in the credits until they roll at the end).
It’s very likely that surgeon Greg will return, intact or otherwise, from his one-year VietNam tour. A twist might be that he’s *likes* the army – after testing the civilian waters before his commitment is up.
(I wonder, was there a surgeon-stigma for those in Greg’s circumstance?)
Anyway, Joan and Greg could share “a little kiss”.
I suspect I’m in a minority to hold out hope for a thaw – a warming – of Sally-Betty relations. They could have a little kiss. I also hold out hope that Henry will help to train Betty to pull in her maternal horns vis a vis Sally – which would be deserving of a big kiss.
I am not holding my breath, but I would like there to be improved relations between Betty and Sally.
Polly and Chauncey! That would be a true stroke of genius xD
Pauncey — I ship it.
My best guess would be Don and someone. I do not think it would be an un-introduced character.
Polly and Chauncey, BWAHAHAHAHA!
It could also refer to someone wanting to “kiss and make up” after an argument, and the other person still being mad enough that a “little kiss” is all they’re going to get.
But here’s another shot in the dark: Don and Megan’s mom, who probably is not that much older than Don. Kinda like The Graduate in reverse?
That would be interesting!
What a great movie (The Graduate). I live with three teenagers. No too long ago, the 17 and 18-yr-olds actually delayed their Saturday Night plans to watch the first hour (which I think is the best part).
This weekend my 15yr-old and I watched the whole thing. He and his friends are surprisingly sophisticated movie critics – snobs in the best way.
I gave the parents of one of those friends S1 of Mad Men – when the raves came in, I gave them the remaining three seasons.
My 15 year old has burned through all 52 episodes – and can;t wait for MArch 25th. He has now got his friends all watching Mad Men – and talking about it
(heh heh)
My first thought was the term ‘kissed off’
Given Megan’s heritage, it could be a French thing, yes? It’s been a long time since I studied French, but I believe that a little kiss, “un petit bisou,” can refer to the small kiss on each cheek that folks of French extraction exchange as a greeting, and that the words themselves can be used to send greetings in a letter, sort of like “Kisses from your Aunt Joan!”
Ah, I missed that Lady K already mentioned that possibility above . . .
Lois and Guy on the golf course, of course.
heh(snort!)
I can’t wait to see if any of these predictions are close to the truth! I bet at least one of us will say “I told you so!”
Could it be a reference to a lyric in the song, Purple Haze? Jimi Hendrix released it in 1967 and it’s about being in love or the effects of a form of LSD.
Purple haze all in my brain
Lately things just don’t seem the same
Actin’ funny, but I don’t know why
‘Scuse me while I kiss the sky
I haven’t heard anything about when season 5 is picking up in the storyline, so I’m not sure where Joan is going to be in her pregnancy. For some reason I think it may in part be related to that storyline. Nothing concrete to back that up, just a hunch.
When I first heard “a little kiss” it sounded to me like the end of “it was just a little kiss,” potentially a sheepish apology for inappropriate behavior. I’m going to go with Don and Betty being caught in a weak moment and I see it being viewed by Megan, Sally and possibly Henry. It could go something like this: Don’s at Betty’s house dropping off the kids while Megan waits in the car. They have a discussion about what went on with the kids that weekend, share a laugh, the moment becomes tender and the kiss just happens. Megan could come to the door to see what’s keeping him, Sally could view it from the stairs, Henry could just be arriving home . . .
I believe it will be a literal kiss and the ramifications of it will play out throughout the season.
That’s a good one, Laura.
I believe all Don/Betty kisses to date have been preparatory or perfunctory (some malaprop-potential there).
This one would be neither.
Love that theory.
Oooh, I just thought of another possibility: Roger and the baby. Greg would certainly look at Roger (and Joan) all fish-eyed if he saw that!
Good one!
In keeping with tradition all 4 season openers have been more Don-centric than normal and set the stage for the season very succinctly. Don HAS to be the kisser, right? A hunch says DD is the kissee. MW has said his theme for S5 is looking out for no.1. So, who would benefit the most from kissing Don, and advancing their agenda? Beloved Pegs?
Wonder what the last shot of the season Matt came into his writing process with? This is of no significance, but the geek in me can’t resist: So far odd numbered seasons Don’s been alone in the final shot. Stairs in The Wheel, and walking into Vill apt in Shut the Door. Even numbered in the shot with his sweetie and looking…. puzzled, scared? Betts in the kitchen in Meditations, with Megan as he gives The Look in Tomorrowland.
The hell with March 25. Why can’t June 10 get here already so I can say that I anticipated correctly the final shot and work backwards and feel that I ALONE, knew what MW was thinking all along. Ha! Alas, like Col. Klink, I know nothing. I need help. 44 days…………………..
Working backwards:
It was Sgt. Schultz said “I know nothhink…. nothhink!”
The surest thing in art (OK, TeeVee) is that Mad Men will leave us wrung out and satisfied. Season 4 finished so strong that I imagine S5 will as well. As for the final shot – you have ID’ed a strong trend. It will be Draper, alone or otherwise.
If Peggy kisses Don – it will be a sisterly peck. Way too much risk with a full blown liplock.
And OK – Don will get/give/share a kiss, but will not be alone in that respect.
Ooooooffff, Sgt. Schultz!!!!! Thanks for correcting me Jahn. I should’ve written; correctly anticipated. Ugh.
What if there is no kiss, and it is an ad that the creatives argue should be sealed with a kiss or not? The contesting views could be provided by Peggy and new copywriter Megan’s Draper. This kiss, as has been written before here, should propel or ignite the theme for the season. Should be a hell of a smooch!
Why do I find it strange that on IMDB Ms. Pare does not have an MM credit on her resume for 2012? Can the producer of a film/show request that a credit remain ‘uncredited’ until the work is premiered (?) to the public? Can that be written on a performer’s contract? Going nuts here. ……….43 days.
I thought Megan had an art background. When she said she wanted to do what Peggy did, I thought she meant work in advertising, not necessarily as a copywriter. Wouldn’t it make more sense for her to be working on the visual side of creative? Also, after Joey was fired, they’re going to need someone who can do the visuals.
I thought along those lines, too, RetroGirl. When things pick up again, Megan might be working under Stan, who complained once that he was being stretched pretty thin. Stan would slowly go nuts trying to keep things on a professional level with the boss’s hot new wife!
She did tell Don she wanted to do what he, or Miss Olsen, does, though, and she majored in literature. But she’s dabbled in writing and painting, and a little bit of acting. (But she doesn’t want to be an actress.)
Whether she’d be good at any of that, and whether Don even wants to let her try, we’ll see.
With or without Abe in the picture, Peggy will shut down any further advances from Stan – his crush will go unrequited. I will be interested to see whether the writers make Stan suffer in that respect or the new way you suggest (or both).
I suspect that SCDP will be on firm financial footing when we return – that bit of drama having been wrung out. So, there will be plenty of art work and plenty of artists – they could even bring back our favorite art guy!!
it would be AMAZING if the kiss had something to do with Sal! I also wonder about Tom B’s point re: Megan and Stan. I’ve posted in the past about my firm belief that Don’s going to experience some unprecedented jealousy this season — Megan just might be the one doing the kissing.
Also, having just watched the PERFECT finale of Season 4, I’m really reminded how much Sally seems to love Megan, as indicated by the hug she gave her before Megan and Don got engaged. I think they’ll have a really solid relationship, and perhaps, as Lady K suggested, this will unnerve Betty.