Mad Men

[Chux]

Also, last night's episode was a fantastic period drama.

[Drewbacca]

I called it as soon as Don talked to him.

The developments with Layne were pretty obvious. How it was handled with such earnesty is why this show is heralded.

The closing with the kid driving was touching. Don, even though selfish in building his business, is mostly a good guy. Hes come a long way. Even his newfound ambition stemmed from the fact Layne woke him up to - people hes responsible for are poor and unhappy.

[sleeve]

So does this all mean that Joan's husband is going to win a stake of the business in the divorce?

I can explain why Mad Men is so good this season in two words: Breaking Bad.

Season 4 really wasn't that great. In between season 4 and 5 we got two seasons of amazing television in Breaking Bad, and that really encouraged Weiner and company to up their game. I don't think there's ever been a comparable period in the history of television where there's been two episodic dramas of such high quality on the same network. And I think it makes both shows better than they would have been otherwise.

[Chux]

So does this all mean that Joan's husband is going to win a stake of the business in the divorce?

If he isn't KIA, yeah.

[sleeve]

He'll get shot in the ass, get sent home, claim a massive cash settlement from SCDP, and become a hippie/protestor/rapist. Maybe join the Manson family.

[Frogacuda]

I called it as soon as Don talked to him.

Same, saw it coming but that didn't mean I wasn't still riveted.

I really don't get all the praise for this season. It's way too "television", which is fine for most shows - but Mad Men has always been about the subtlety

It's totally true, but I dunno... I still kind of like it.

[Chux]

Same, saw it coming but that didn't mean I wasn't still riveted.

Oh yeah, me and Steph were going back and forth on how he was going to off himself. This whole season as soon as something happens to somebody I go "OH SHIT HE/SHE'S GOING OVER THE BALCONY!" I wish I would have had the payoff with this one, but a good hanging will do.

[sleeve]

I really don't get all the praise for this season. It's way too "television", which is fine for most shows - but Mad Men has always been about the subtlety

WTF are you talking about?

I don't see how anyone can watch this season and call it not just the best of all five, but one of the best TV seasons ever.

It'll need to settle a few years before we know for sure. But it's hard to dispute this season's greatness.

[sleeve]

I'm still hoping we get to see Pete kill himself. I know we've met our suicide quotient for this season but still...

...maybe in the final season we can see open up his veins in a bathtub, Frank Pentangeli-style. 70+ years old, forgotten, fat, unloved.

[dave is ok]

. I don't think there's ever been a comparable period in the history of television where there's been two episodic dramas of such high quality on the same network. And I think it makes both shows better than they would have been otherwise.