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: “A Day’s Work”

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Apr 242014
 

Tweet In this season’s Mad Men premiere, it is clear that unrest, uncertainty. and uneasiness are simmering at SC&P, and in the lonely lives of Don and Peggy. In “A Day’s Work”, frustrations boil over, old rivalries are stoked and new flash points of controversy ignite. Valentines Day 1969 is far from being a happy celebration of affection and admiration. A bouquet of roses sets off a day of stress and humiliation for Peggy, another unannounced visit to the office by Sally brings Don closer to facing [read more]

‘Mad Men Season 7: Time Zones

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Apr 172014
 

Tweet Last season’s finale closed out 1968 with just about everyone on Mad Men dealing with circumstances beyond their control and standing on the doorstep of change. On his way out the door to take his forced leave of absence, Don bumped into Duck Phillips with Lou Avery, his replacement. Ouch! Pete and Ted were headed out to set up SC&P West and Megan was also packed and ready to go. Peggy was stepping into more responsibility and Joan was stepping up her game. This season’s premiere [read more]

Mad Men: Season 6 Finale -“In Care Of”

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Jul 012013
 

Tweet “In Care Of” is a powerful yet depressing episode that delivers closure for some, and opens doors to new possibilities for others. Ted breaks Peggy’s heart, Pete’s mother gets lost at sea, and Bob Benson brings Pete’s stint on Chevy to a crashing halt. Don is a one-man wrecking crew and his actions lead to just about everyone being touched by disappointment, loss, or coming to grips with their demons. Fresh on the heels of loosing Sally, Don is content to let Megan slip away to [read more]

Mad Men: “Favors” & Unintended Consquences

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Jun 132013
 

Tweet True to its title, “Favors” revolves around key characters requesting, providing, or receiving personal favors. The Vietnam War is the catalyst for the chain of “favors” between Don, Sylvia and their kids, Sally and Mitchell, at the epicenter. These expected and unexpected favors interconnect and triangulate agency business, personal relationships, and family ties.Sally is the victim of the collateral damage brought on by Don’s impulsive, self-destructive “comforting” of Sylvia. Sally’s already tenuous relationship with her father is severely strained, and she holds the key that can [read more]

Mad Men: “A Tale Of Two Cities” (And More)

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Jun 062013
 

Tweet A “Tale of Two Cities” focuses much of the action around agency business with the turmoil of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago as a backdrop. The episode unfolds as a fast-paced mix of disruption, conflict and compromise. Jim Cutler challenges the partners to seriously discuss a name change.  Don, Roger and Harry travel to Los Angeles to drum up new business and, once again, it turns into a traumatic trip for Don and things go awry at the agency. Ted goes off to Detroit to [read more]

Mad Men: “The Better Half”

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May 312013
 

Tweet “The Better Half” is an episode of connections, reconnections and disconnections that deftly intertwines business and personal lives. There is an ever present blaring of sirens that punctuate changes and choices that set the stage for new and radically altered relationships. Without the benefit of Dr. Hecht’s vitamin serum, it’s back to reality at the office. The agency is still trying to solidify its identity (and name) and the partners are grappling with carving out their roles and responsibilities. Don and Ted are doing [read more]

Mad Men: “The Crash”

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May 222013
 

Tweet Article first published as TV Review: Mad Men – “The Crash” on Blogcritics. “The Crash” takes SCDPCGC on an “energy serum” induced “trip” that is bizarre and largely disconnected from reality. The catalysts for all the bizarre behaviors are the increasingly difficult demands that Chevy is placing on the agency and the death of Frank Gleason. While these are real issues, just about everything else that happens at the agency is surreal and weird. The only people who escaped the insanity are Peggy, Ted and Pete, but it would [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]

Mad Men: “For Immediate Release”

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May 092013
 

Tweet Article first published as Mad Men: “For Immediate Release” on Blogcritics. Mad Men has reawakened its advertising mojo. The focus of this week’s episode is on the “business” of advertising and how it compels the characters to be who they are. Everything develops brilliantly from that point of view. “For Immediate Release” is a powerful episode with exciting, unexpected, impulsive happenings that set the stage for tantalizingly compelling scenarios for the remainder of Season 6. From an advertising agency perspective this episode has it all. Account resignations and firings, [read more]

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