MAD MEN on AMC - Season 6

first person who has ever really wanted him and pursued him tbh
― 1 P.3. Eternal (roxymuzak)

we're all dorothy campbell now

the most recent time got him separated from his wife about five eps ago.

yeah that girl literally threw herself at him

or else she just REALLY liked "Hair"

if anything, I think Pete's shown a consistent willingness to ignore or desert people who show him love in favor of his own self-interest

tbh ive always liked pete in spite of his bad actions -- feel like his candor w peggy in this ep was a nice reminder that this dude is basically just FLAWED MAN WALKING through all the seasons, not a villain, per se.

he's the longtime regular who feels most like a type to me, like his primary role on the show is to be an indicator of a particular kind of old wasp. even when he raped the au pair it felt more like, this is just what guys like him feel entitled to rather than a particular personal failing (and how the au pair's boss responded reinforced that).

roger is obv from that same world but his big personality helps him break out of type, gives him some verve.

I forgot about the au pair

I've maintained for a while now that the whole appeal of this show isn't really plot so much as allowing these really rich and interesting characters to inhabit the screen. It's really pleasurable in that way. Perhaps that's its debt to the sopranos.

Hence the central irony of don being such a flat character in some ways? But I dunno. Whenever any "depth" is added to his character it only serves to make him that much more of some american archetype.

Pete's a total shit. Massive insecurity time bomb waiting to go off.

tho sometimes I wonder if the strangeness of don's past, particularly in how increasingly distant it feels in time and history, is part of the point.

don's trying really hard to be an american archetype!

True. I guess the irony for me is that (intentionally or not) his past is so archetypical too! phony on both sides.

the rural son of a prostitute Horatio Alger self-made slick con man advertising genius philanderer.

reminds me that this show often puts me in mind of Nathaniel West.

I said this upthread but after this episode Pete looks more than ever like a Haldeman aide – and just the sort whom H.R. would recruit.

'80s Don Draper ‏@80sDonDraper 45m

Memory is a fragile thing. It can’t be bound. It has to be trapped... and kept.

Haldeman would never recruit a Kennedy supporter

Sure he would. Dick loved recruiting Dems.

"A Kennedy voter! Working for me!"

don's character is the only thing that often doesn't make sense to me on this show!

I love that Don almost sunk Chevy for a chance to get with Sylvia again.

i think don had convinced himself he was doing it for other reasons, though that came apart quickly when he talked to sylvia

Bob is a mysterious wizard

Mitchell is like 2 years older than my dad. Don't think my dad had those pants ever.

is this in reference to Pete? Because he's been the object of desire multiple times on the show and the most recent time got him separated from his wife about five eps ago.
― i didn't even give much of a fuck that you were mod (forksclovetofu), Tuesday, June 11, 2013 11:44 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

really? the instance you named there is the only time i could think of, and it seemed like she was flirting with him but he still was the...idk, pursuer, enactor. she seems stiff and afraid and unsure of why she's there when they hook up. i can't remember anyone else desiring him but tbh i remember like 5% of what happens on this damn show so that means nothing

sally otm with "....ok" - really the only possible response to don's through-the-door excuse-making

xp Rory Gilmore was quite active wasn't she? I can't quite remember?

Bob's affection for Pete may have disappointed me but I think his short shorts are acting on me the way the Clown College billboard acted on Homer.

do you think bob is really wild about pete or just like, i want to hook up with someone and hey this guy seems pretty gay

i think don had convinced himself he was doing it for other reasons, though that came apart quickly when he talked to sylvia

i think he probably was doing it out of guilt towards arnold too, which is kinda twisted. "i'll do you this favour that allows me to resume sleeping with your wife."

agreed. i think his relationship with arnold is what was guiding that, at least in the beginning. obv he hopped on sylvia as soon as poss tho

He really really likes Arnold is the sad thing.

yeah he kind of looks up to him actually

The only other actual friend he's had is Anna, thinking about it. Maybe Roger counts, I dunno.

Roger totally counts these days.

Roger is like the dude you happily go on massive drinking binges with but would never in a million years actually talk to about your life.

Peggy sort of counts, or should count but for everything that gets in the way.

trick question: don has no friends

he really doesn't

I could imagine Roger talking about life for sure, it's just Don would never do so.

Roger, by nature, would be pontificating wistfully after a load of drinks.

Haha Roger does virtually nothing *but* talk about his life.

I'd say Roger would talk to Don about Don's life - basically imo Don's lack of friends is all due to his own secrecy and refusal/inability to engage deeply with anyone in an honest way.

That's implying a rather narrow definition of 'friend'. Can just be someone you hang out with and have a laugh with you know.

how have i started to like roger this much

he's fuckin hilarious!

otm. i think theyve shown us less of his bad side as we've gone on, maybe, and more of the good (to make us sad when he commits suicide next season)

Roger Sterling s a much better realized example of a person who's an advertisement of himself, which Draper fails at being, alas. We should all be so lucky.

The man can juggle.

^^

lol @ don having to brace himself in the elevator due to experiencing his first emotion

"tuesday morning's great"