Mad Men: “Field Trip”

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May 012014
 

Tweet From beginning to end “Field Trip” is filled with painfully awkward moments for just about everyone, including the viewer. Resentment, humiliation, and disappointment seep into everyone’s interactions. Perhaps a more appropriate title for this episode is “Guilt Trip.” Betty’s turns Bobby’s sharing of a sandwich with a needy classmate into a point of disappointment for both her and Bobby. Don’s mission of mercy to save Megan from herself in Hollywood only adds to Megan’s sense that the marriage is over. Don finally steps up to [read more]

Mad Men: “Man With A Plan”

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May 152013
 

Tweet Article first published as Mad Men: “Man With A Plan” on Blogcritics. “Man With A Plan” picks up on the fast paced action of “For Immediate Release” by bringing the benefits and drawbacks of an agency merger into sharp focus. As I discussed in last week’s article, once the euphoria of winning Chevy and doubling the size of the agency fades, the harsh business realities of dealing with clients, managing egos, defining roles and trimming staff hit hard and fast. This episode is rich with sharp character [read more]

Don Draper’s Award Winning Lost Weekend

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Sep 062010
 

Tweet Article first published as Don Draper’s Award Winning Lost Weekend on Blogcritics. Whose idea is it anyway? Don loses it. Peggy bares all. After a rocky start, the first few months of 1965 progressed pretty well on the business front for the folks at SCDP. Pete Campbell scored a six million dollar face saving account in Vicks, the agency was able to hold on to Ponds and Don used his guile and skill to turn Roger’s embarrassing display of bad taste into a shot [read more]