OMG where do I even begin with this week’s episode — which was directed by John Slattery, btw?!?! As anyone who watched knows, Mad Men went freaking HAM last night. Let’s just get right to it…
-I’ve had a theory about the ultimate fate of Pete Campbell since watching the season premiere twice a few weeks ago. I’d like to finally share it with you, as I’m now feeling way more confident about it: remember in episode one when Pete was whining incessantly about his office not having a window? It was emphasized so much in that episode that it led me to think that Matt Weiner was setting us up for something — and, taking into consideration that there’s an animated falling man in the opening credits (largely presumed to be Don Draper), I began to think that Pete would ultimately meet with an untimely demise via the windows he so desperately coveted (I’ve since noticed that a handful of others on the web have had similar thoughts). Initially, I thought that this would involve some sort of tragic accident — like when a man has his foot chopped to shreds by a John Deere mower in an office — but then as the tension between Pete and Roger started to escalate I began to think that a drunk Roger would somehow manage to push Pete out of a window late at night when no one else was around. But after watching last night’s episode — in which we see Pete begin to slowly circle some sort of mental health toilet bowl — I’m convinced that Pete Campbell will commit suicide by leaping from his office window, and probably soon.
Additionally, there have been a couple of references to suicide in scenes with Pete this season that I recall — I believe a rider on the train with Pete in episode one said something about suicide, and Don said something last night about life in the suburbs being enough to drive a man to suicide. It just seems to me that some clues have been dropped and Pete’s sudden emotional spiral — exacerbated by cheating on his wife with a hooker, getting cock-blocked by a teenager named “Handsome” in a driver’s ed class, being unintentionally emasculated by Don in his home in front of his wife, and getting his ass kicked by Lane at work in front of his co-workers — has me believing this will happen and happen soon. (“I have nothing, Don.”)
But then again, this could all be an elaborate misdirection on Weiner’s part. (UPDATE: Someone else thinks it’ll be Roger.)
-I’m not sure where the ballsy, aggressive Trudie Campbell of last night came from, but I like her.
-Don’s dinner jacket from last night belongs in some sort of MOD style museum. And to think that it’s one that Megan made him change in to because one of his solid-colored work jackets was too conservative, presumably.
-Most. Awkward. Dinner. Party. Ever. (And sorry Pete…Don’s place is much nicer.)
-”I’m not gonna bore you with compliments.” — Roger Sterling handing me my new favorite opening line on a silver platter. Sterling was on f*cking fire last night.
-Oh, and of course Roger knows where there’s a high-end whorehouse in the neighborhood. Of course he does.
-I can’t be the only one who thought Pete was going to violently beat the crap out of that hooker, right?
-Don Draper is now the epitome of morality and virtue — the moral compass of SCDP. Oh how things have changed.
-”Because he was caught with chewing gum on his pubis.” — Lane Pryce. I almost coughed up a lung on that line. (Last night’s episode was written by Weiner and Frank Pierson, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Dog Day Afternoon, btw.)
-“You’re a grimy little pimp.” — Lane Pryce
-When Lane proposed fighting Pete I was struck by how none of the other men in the office did anything to stop it. Don just closed the curtains and they stood back and let it all happen. It’s as if they’d all been dying to see Pete get his ass whipped or something.
-To the victors go the spoils, as they say. In such, Lane got to make out with Joan. Maybe a threesome with the flirty girlfriend of that guy who lost his wallet is coming?
-I was taken aback when Roger told Ken that he’s “a fellow unappreciated author.” I wondered if this meant that Roger has an unpublished novel under his bed or something, but then I remembered that Roger wrote a book back in season three (I think) that you can actually buy.
-Once again: “I have nothing, Don.” PETE CAMPBELL IS GOING TO COMMIT SUICIDE BY JUMPING OUT OF A TIME-LIFE BUILDING WINDOW, PEOPLE!
-No Betty Draper! AGAIN!!!
-Finally, the GIF would below sums up this past weekend on the internet pretty well, but would do so even better if it somehow included Pete crying to Don in the elevator or getting punched in the face by Lane. Just tossing that out there.
Thoughts? Best Pete Campbell-got-his-ass-kicked-so-bad joke gets a Mad Men season one or four DVD set.
(GIFs via Gifulmination and Best Roof Talk Ever)
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I’m thinking it’s that gun that Pete’s had for several seasons now. He’s either gonna kill himself or go on a rampage. High rise office windows don’t generally open. The sad thing about Pete is that he has no idea what an ass he is.
Pretty sure Don bet on Pete to win by knockout because he thought Layne was too arrogant and talked too much.
Yeah if Roger left or died I totally wouldn’t watch the show anymore. His collection of one liners is immense.
I was watching the fight scene and was waiting for Roger to say something like I got 100 on Lane. Then after the fight he says “I don’t know about you two, but I had Lane” was hilarious.
Other random observations:
The image of Roger and Don dressed elegantly save for lobster bibs, complete with a picture of a lobster on them, was priceless.
They referenced Ken and Peggy’s “pact” and I don’t think that was an accident. I bet one or both of them get an opportunity to leave the firm. Peggy seems pretty dissatisfied and Ken probably is now too after being outed for his writing.
I liked the overall direction by Slattery, but the silly transition effects were jarring.
My fantasy football team this fall will be “Chewing Gum on the Pubis.”
Lane: One word, and I’ll hit you again.
Pete: I’m telling Don.
Lane: Go. Tell him. But first you will get to the Jaguar guys, and you will fall on your knees in front of them and tell them how very sorry you are, and that you are at their service and all your prayers are with them. Do you understand?
Pete: You can’t..
Lane: (Hits him again) Do you understand?
All Pete ever wanted was to become Don Draper, or at the very least gain his approval.
He wants to be a partner, bigger office, have kids, suburbs, so when he does what he believes to be the most Draper-esque thing imaginable and gets a look of scorn… I am surprised he didn’t ask “Why don’t you love me, daddy?” in that taxi.
was really hoping that watching the preview for next week, we’d see trudy in the kitchen w/ her arms crossed, disgusted look on her face. pete is crying in the corner. an open pickle jar rests on the counter. “from now on, in this house, you sit when you pee,” trudy says morosely.
“nerd! nerd! nerd! i mean.. yes! yes! yes!” – michael cole
ok, so maybe im all over uproxx tonight..
I’m beginning to think Pete is the likely window jumper. Remember, when he got his new office the camera showed him in the famous silhouette pose—the Drapering pose. It seems like they’ve been setting him up to be seen as the guy in the credits. Then again, it could just be misdirection.
The UK winning the World Cup and, a British man boxing and winning? Man, Weiner really over did it with the period accuracy this episode.
As for my Pete Campbell jokery attempt;
So he wanted to be a king, eh? Good to see that even in Manhattan, Winter is coming.
Pete was really dropping his left, that hurt him in later rounds.
I always had a feeling that Pete would end up getting fisted, just figured it would have been after he was fired and “needed the cash”….
Pete fell harder than Don fingerbanged that whore.
Or, for the kids, Pete fell harder than Trudy’s chicken.
Will also say that it’s nice to see that Pete’s as good at fighting as he is around the house.
Lane Pryce made The Marquess of Queensbury proud.
“This is medieval…
Quite sobering to find out Bert Cooper speaks for you.
Roger: what happend to your friend? cuz the last words i wanna hear out of his date’s mouth is ‘next’.
“Pete was timing his punches to land his nose on Lane’s fist”
Did anyone else think the party was going to be a key party? Trudy was so insistent Don be there and they were so giddy when he got there.
I am pretty sure when he fixed that sink you could drown a toddler in each of the women’s panties. Not that you would.
*Sploosh* but yeah that scene was like a wet t-shirt contest for women.
I’m glad Pete got beat up by a dandy Brit. Why? Because fuck Pete.
It was interesting to see how Don got completely owned by women last night (his wife and Trudie) and seemed fine with it. Quite a reversal from earlier seasons.
So basically, Don got pussy-whipped and Pete got whopped because he is a pussy
“If only your husband could close like this.”
Brie killed it as Trudy last night.
I think if Roger Sterling died, I’d like the show about half as much. Not that he is the main reason I watch, it’s just that he’s become that character that never disappoints me. Also I can’t stand Pete or Better Draper and that would mean more time for both.
I can safely say I’d quit watching and pretend the series ended with his death if Roger died.
Although it was probably a bit obvious, the way Don winced when he recalled the last name of the UT shooter really called back to last week…carried the thought of fear of being a sociopath. I’m interested in seeing where this may go.
I have the feeling that megan draper is barren due to her reactions to the baby, and when her first reaction to when don says “let’s make a baby” is we can’t…
…he hooks up with Trudie Campbell, providing the triggering mechanism a now-cuckolded by Don Draper Pete needs to carry out his suicidal thoughts.
God, Draper and Trudy would make some sort of super attractive human being.
The more I look at that top GIF the more I think Pete takes punches like a true coxswain.
So I guess Pete is 1-1-0 on closed curtain office poundings. Ask Peggy.
He and Peggy gave as well as they got. I’d argue that was a tie!
It was awesome to see some complexity in Ken Cosgrove. When Lane took off his jacket I repeatedly yelled at the TV, “PLEASE let this happen” and it did!
…I also saw fiction and reality merge in the fight between two effeminate TV characters, played by men who clearly have no idea how to fistfight in real life. As cool as the fight was as a concept, it was pretty laughably executed. Not really complaining, it just seems funny to me.
Agreed. I dig Ken.
Pete went down quicker than a 60′s hooker (chewing gum)
Early leader.
What was the winning joke?
That would be you! I’ve actually been meaning to email you for your address. Will do so later today.
Thanks a lot! Keep up the good work!
It’s probably just me but the way Pete welcomed Don and Cosgrove into his house was pretty creepy. He had a “Do you like Huey Lewis and The News?” vibe going on if ya know what I mean
It was definitely not just you. Everything about the dinner was incredibly uncomfortable.
I could be mistaken, but wasn’t he doodling a noose during the partner’s meeting?
Pretty sure that was Don.
yep. it was don. mad men is so wonderfully dark.
This has to do with last week’s (not last night) episode but it’s pretty great:
[www.slate.com]
Thanks for the share. Very interesting.
Oh snap that’s nuts. Had not seen that.
They haven’t touched on it again since the premiere but PETE IS ALSO LOSING HIS HAIR. This will probably be the final straw.
He’s getting fat too.
The Lane Pryce/Pete Campbell fight was better than anything TNA has done in the last 3 years.
I was so happy when LP went 20′s-style boxing position. Just knew he was gonna score the knockout.
And BTW… I would not mind at all more Allison Brie…
Down goes Campbell! Down goes Campbell!!
No mention of “My wife likes fur, doesn’t mean I am going to grow a tail.”?(or something similar to that line that Sterling said)
Dude, I’m only human. I can’t jot down everything. That’s also part of the reason for having discussion posts. It takes a hive mind to properly digest this show.
Keep with the back sass, and by the time I lift my arms it will be too late to run.