Shark Bytes

I think the best is yet to come on "Mad Men." However, the ongoing story lines need to move faster, with a resolved story line each episode. Also, information is conveyed a little too subtly--such as Betty's "I have a little girl...and a boy" and her comments about how little boys lie. Mostly, I just want to say to the writers: "Faster! Faster!"

Are some of you watching the same show I am? I think this season is even better - it's starting to flesh out the characters and making them seem more human. I love that Don actually stood up for Mohawk. We're also getting to know Peggy and her family better. This is far and away the best thing to happen to TV since 6 Feet Under.

As someone who was a teenager during the years depicted I certainly can relate. There is only one thing I could complain about and that is that when I started working in an office in 1965, no women were allowed smoke at their desks. We had to go to the lunch room for that. The men could smoke anywhere they wanted.

The intriguing part of this show is that what we expect doesn't happen, instead we are treated with many surprises and let downs for the characters. I could feel the squirms of the people in the conference room, lined up, waiting for American Airlines, already knowing all was lost. The Mowhawk exec's comments to Don about fooling him were profound. I worked on Wall Street in the early 70's and everyone smoked and drank at lunch, sometimes even at breakfast. This was how the women were treated, I know, I was there, but I still find it fascinating, because it is so different now. I have to admit, the men were more fun back then, now they have to be so careful what they say and how they even look in the direction of a woman.
Anyway, there may be some "drags" in the story line, but the opening music just draws me in every time. Far surpasses anything on TV right now.

I think Mad Men 2nd season left some pretty huge ends hanging from last season. The entire story of Don Draper's identity change, his brother's suicide (sorry for the spoils guys) and the potential fallout for his family and work (remember Pete's attempt at blackmail) all just seem to fade away. Hey, my brother committed suicide is SO last season. yawn. As a viewer I don't buy it. Unfortunately the writers haven't substituted something as compelling as that entire storyline. What a pity. Watching Don come home and his wife take shots at him is period-true, I'll grant you, but where does the storyline draw its energy from? Don Draper doesn't have anything to hide anymore. Same deal with Peggy and Pete - they were smoking last season, now it's fizzled. And Roger and Joan - they were potentially great together. Ahh, I guess it would have been too much the same to keep them together and Roger certainly couldn't leave Mona, since successful executives didn't do that. But I saw a glimmer in Mona's eye in 'Three Sundays', when Margaret's fiance offered to do something Margaret called sweet. Chances are, Roger never did anything like that for Mona and Mona feels she's missing out. I'll give MadMen till the end of season 2 to straighten out, but I want my drama back!!

Em

Let me rephrase my observation on MAD MEN and why there's some confusion in my case as to if, or if not, it jumped. The show's look is dazzling. The insights to the time is better than the History Channel because it's plucked straight from my memory, but... I think it's lacking in story and characterization. Some subplots are really boring and even the good plots are pretty weak or rather looks like it'll need an entire season to unfold.

I think it jumped but I'm not sure. I know that sounds vague, but the show is really dull and they touch on characters but nothing is happening. I think Draper's wife is beautiful and I think like most mother's at the time she is a taskmaster so they got that right. There are glimpses of a good show and plot line trying to come out but it's like they shove it back down. I forwarded through the whole catholic priest and the woman from the office thing because it was boring and I no longer care about the character one iota.

Again the scenery and the mood of that time is right on the nose, but it's not working for me. So I don't know if it jumped the shark or I've jumped the shark in my own tastes Anyone else feel the same?

This show is still the best scripted drama on TV. The writers know exactly what to leave in and what to leave out-like the fact that Sal now has a "beard" wife (as I'm sure lots of gay men did back then). A lesser show would've made a big deal of it. Or Don's reaction after Pete learns his father has died. It would've been so easy to have a scene where the two rivals bond, but they didn't because Don Draper isn't capable of getting too close to anyone. I admit the first three episodes of this season have been a little slow, and maybe focused a little too much on the Drapers' home life. But this is still great TV. I have faith that the pacing will pick-up, as it did last season.

The show definitely reminds me of the early days of 'Dallas'. There was not any political correctness in that show. Successful businessman marries beauty queen, but it isn't enough. He sleeps around while she sits at home trying to make his world a pretty postcard while deep down she is completely miserable. As he jumps from one affair to another, she finds comfort in the bottle.

If Betty becomes an alcoholic, it'll def be JR and Sue Ellen Ewing all over again. Not necessarily a bad thing - the two of them were facinating for over a decade. But 'Dallas' did it better than anybody.

Gotta love the Don Draper cootch grab last show.

Maybe it was hyped too much, but season 2 is definitely lacking. It's all about Draper and his wife so far; everyone else is just handing around in the background.

3 episodes in and I'm not digging it anymore. I enjoyed most of last season and liked the character of Don Draper. This season isn't doing it for me. It's boring and something is missing in the characterization formula that made last season cool. The scenery is still good and it has it's nostagia moments, but aside from that I can see the shark circling if the jump wasn't made already. The reason I'm unsure is I'm waiting for something of substance to happen other than glimmers. It could be downhill from here or something could pull it up. I guess I'll watch another episode or two to see if they can work it out.

From Sue: This show has done more to show why feminists fought hard to get equal rights for women. I love this show. Gloria Steinem should be thrilled that younger audiences will get a chance to see what their mothers and grandmothers put up with. I know not all workplaces were like this but some were. People did smoke and drink all the time. In the early 80's we would go to lunch and drink and then go back to work. Unheard of today. One could smoke most places. The characters are complex and interesting. I am finishing up season 1 and recording season 2 and I can't wait to see the progression.

Watching Oscar winning "Apollo 13" 10minutes
Watching commerical for "Mad Men"
Watching movie..10 min. Watching same commercial.."Mad Men"
Return to movie with ad for "Mad Men" in lower left hand corner with AMC logo present in right hand. Distracted for 5-8 minutes....10 minute mark hits, movie turns to commericial, its for ....you guessed it..."MAD MEN"! AMC sucks! Im going to by the movies from now on and watch them in peace. I hope "Mad Men" comes to a streching halt soon. And yes, i did watch hoping it would be as good as the over the top advertising promised. Its wasnt. Dont tell us how great you are or how accurate the sets and clothing are, show us and let us make up OUR minds.

You can only fall back on cool retro set design and pop culture winks for so long.
This show has so much promise...why cant the writers keep the storyline and character development moving at a watchable pace? I catch myself looking at the clock and wondering if it's over yet.
At the end of last season I sensed the show was starting to drag. Now, after seeing the season two premiere, I'm convinced this show has lost it's way and has become TV's sleepiest hour.

If the young copy-writing duo they hired in the first episode of season two turns out to be a gay couple, then the show has become too predictable, and has therefore Jumped the Shark.