July 26, 2010
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‘Mad Men’ season premier review: Everything old is new
The new season of “Mad Men” premiered last night and I was very disappointed. I seriously felt like I was watching some mid-season show about a bunch of people I don’t know.
Last season left of with the newly-formed Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. They were running their ad agency out of a hotel room. Don (Jon Hamm) and Betty (January Jones) were talking divorce. And other characters were doing their things. Then Season 4 happens. The new agency is thriving in a full office. Don and Betty are divorced. Betty is remarried. And half the characters who were doing their own thing aren’t even around now. I mean where the hell is Ken Cosgrove (Aaron Staton)? And who is that new guy working with Peggy (Elisabeth Moss)? It’s all very frustrating.
There were some things that remain the same, thankfully. I mean Don is still an a-hole. Sterling and Cooper still act like Don ruins everything. Peggy is still a wimp. Little Sally Draper is still a lisping bad seed. And Betty Draper is still one of the worst mothers on television. So I guess there’s still hope for this new season of “Mad Men.”
The show has never been heavily plot driven, so there wasn’t a lot going on last night. Don had a date with a new woman (played aptly by “True Blood” Season 3’s Anna Camp). Betty clashed with her new husband’s family. Peggy’s love interest is still around, but “she’s wearing the pants” (my only period reference, I promise). Don pays a prostitute to slap him. Don screws up an interview and makes the company look bad. He throws some clients out. He calls for a new interview to make the company look better.
It’s not the show that has made me mad. I’m just upset they jumped so far ahead. And didn’t explain anything. I don’t even know what year it is now. I’m guessing from the decor and fashion, it’s late 1965 (just before 1966). But maybe I’m wrong. Who knows. I just thought it was a poor season premier.
I’m sure within two weeks I will be back on board with this normally-amazing show. But for now, I’m mad. A mad man. Sorry, I had to do it.
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July 26th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I agree with you. So disappointing. I actually thought that I had missed an episode because so much had transpired since last season. I kept trying to fill in and piece together all of the missing parts. There was just too much left out. At least Don’s character remained true. I thought that Peggy Olson and Pete Campbell characters were played way over the top. The whole “John and Marsha” thing that Peggy and her assistant were doing was stupid. Didn’t feel right. I expected so much more from this highly anticipated episode. Oh well. . .there’s always next week.
July 26th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
they said many times that it was thanksgiving 1964.
July 26th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Donna, I guess I missed those MANY references because my head was spinning from all the differences in the show.
Maven — indeed. Here’s to hoping next week brings us back on board.
July 26th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
I was disappointed also. It left too many holes in the plot. Knowing “Mad Men”, they will clear things up in flash backs, but too many flash backs makes me dizzy!!!
August 3rd, 2010 at 1:11 am
@Madvertising Maven: ‘John and Marsha’ was a soap opera parody recording from the period by Stan Freberg, a famous advertising creative director – A real life Mad Man.
Also in a show with only 13 episodes per season they can’t really afford to pick up exactly where they left off. That’s not where the story is. Now they are a fledgling operation in the Time-Life building, which, depending on Lucky Strike, they may or may not be able to afford. Too many holes? Brilliant writing with not a single hole in it.
August 16th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Yes I’m REALLY disappointed with this 4th season also! After 4 episodes I still don’t like it. It hasn’t drawn me in, there is no personal story I really care to see more. Now it is ALL about the ‘day in the life of an AD agency’ and nothing more. And I HATE the new office, ugly, ugly, ugly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I applied for a real estate job about 15 years ago and I felt I stepped back in time to a 1960’s office, it was more like the first office set not this UGLY thing!!!!!!!!!, now.
And where is Joan’s husband?, Roger’s new wife?
Roger’s just married daughter? She must have a baby by now, where are THESE people??????????
And Betty and her new husband?? And the new baby??? Should be about 2-3 now! Yes I’m disappointed, it really doesn’t seem like the same show. I really don’t like it so far.