Downton Abbey returns to PBS for it's 4th season this Sunday, Jan. 5th. If you follow my twitter feed you know PBS was kind enough to send me an advance copy, so I have had the opportunity to see the entire season with the exception of the Christmas special. I can tell you this season is a humdinger! After several seasons some shows get a little tired but Downton has managed to come up with some truly surprising plot twists and I loved it and am dying to get my hands on the Christmas special, which has been promised some time in January. Though it won't air until late February. Sorry.
Will Lady Edith ever be lucky in love??
How will Lady Mary deal with widowhood?
I won't reveal any spoilers but as I mentioned on my podcast, Agents of Zeitgeist, before the holidays if you want to be up on some of the back story to the season you may want to bone up on the Teapot Dome Scandal of the early 1920s.
I've also heard that season 5 is already in the works, so rest assured we'll have plenty more adventures with the whole Downton gang. I still have my fingers crossed that they all have to move to America to live with Shirley Maclaine's character. It would be SO good.
Here's a sneak peak at some of the goings on this season. Spoiler free of course! But you do get a look at some of the new characters introduced this season.
Mad Men Episode 12 Season 4 is ironically titled Blowing Smoke. I say Ironically, because Don blows smoke by writing a full page ad in the New York Times saying he hated representing tobacco for Lucky Strike and SCDP will never represent tobacco again. He changed the conversation, and it worked. It was really Peggy's idea, but of course Don didn't say thank you. I am loving Sally's therapist. Not only is she great with Sally but she is excellent at soft shoeing Betty into mental health. Hopefully, she'll make some headway. Not that you can tell from this episode. I loved the little scenes between Glen and Sally. I know many viewers think he's creepy, but I don't get that. He really cares for Sally. The two of them in a vacant lot, reminded me of my childhood doing the same. It also points out how these two kids are searching for something where there is only a derelict house. Pretty straight forward. Poor Midge! I was surprised to see her, but even more surprised to see she's a heroine addict who is looking for old lovers to bankroll her. I had hoped when she told Don to walk home through the park, he had just given her all his money, that he would bump into Sal. But it was just a tease. Finally, I love the on going saga of Don and Pete. Boy meets boy, boy hates boy, boy tries to ruin boy, boy hates boy less, boy needs boy, boy respects boy, boy spots boy $50,000. Then possibly boy finds out boy got girl knocked up and boy hates boy again, but that's probably next season.
Great lines from this show: Bert-"get my shoes" Ken-"I'm getting married. It's going to be Barefoot in the Park" If you haven't seen Barefoot in the Park, starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, get it now! That's an order.
Here's the trailer
Next week is the season finale. I can't wait to see it, but I also don't want to because that will mean it's over till next year :(
Mad Men Episode 11 Season 4 The Chinese Wall Wow, Roger is getting what he did to Mona last season. He was faithful and loyal to Lucky Strike for 25 years and they're dumping him. Not only Lucky Strike, but it looks like Joan is cutting him off too. At least Jane still dotes on him. Did anyone else think Sterling's Gold was a bit thin? I'm just waiting for Don to say "I always depend on the kindness of strangers" Ok maybe their not all stranges, but the girls really take care of this guy. Megan seriously went above and beyond for him this episode. Do you think Joan gave her the same talk she gave Peggy? (Am I the only one who think Megan is a dead ringer for Gene Tierney). I can't believe Faye risked her practice to get him a meeting with Heinz. He better be good to her. Megan made it sound like she was fine with nothing coming out of their laisson, hope she holds to that. So happy for Peggy. Abe is totally hot and adorable. Hopefully she finally got that going around she was promised by Duck. I love that Abe pretended to be a delivery boy, so he could visit her at the office. Finally, Danny comes across once more with "Last Hired Last Fired". No One even says anything they all just share a knowing look and move on. It not as good as "Don't cry over fish in the sea" but I loved it.
Supporting cast sighting- Richard Beymer from Twin Peaks as Ken's soon to be father in law. I think we'll see more of him.
Two more episodes, sports fans. How will we make it to next summer?
Mad Men episode 10, Hands and Knees was all about the men. Last week we saw the pressures of being a woman in 1965. Choosing between family and work, taking care of just about every soul that crosses your path, and doing it all in heals and a girdle. This week we see the strain on the men, which for Don and Lane brings them to their hands and knees. Poor Lane is still his father's whipping boy. He's been having such a good time with his freedom in New York, but one good smack over the head with daddy's cane and he's headed back to London to get his family back together. Roger's desperation to get new clients, after Lucky Strike gave him notice. The upside on this news is that we might get Sal back, if Lee is no longer a client. I don't know what to say about Joan's pregnancy. Honestly, I'm not entirely sure she went through with the abortion. Roger was pretty clear he wanted no part of the baby, but may be open to a relationship with Joan. Of course Don, Is still running from who he really is. I didn't think we'd revisit his identity issues now that it had been settled with Betty. I think Faye will keep after him to resolve it, which may be what sends her out of his life, or what binds them together. Though the way he was ogling his secretary at the end of the episode makes me think Faye's days could be numbered. Finally, Pete is all kinds of over his partners. If it weren't for Trudy and his baby he would be out of there. But as it is he knows he needs Don to keep the agency afloat and is willing to do whatever necessary to stop him from running away, even if it means eating a huge piece of undeserved humble pie. I can't wait to see how Pete unloads on Roger when he finds out Lucky Strike is gone.
In other news, great to see Betty sticking up for Don, or maybe just for herself. Whatever the reason she saved Don's Bacon. Loved how she told Henry about the agent coming, because she didn't want any secrets, but omitted the part where she lied to them. Opps.
Loved the orchestration of The Beatles song at the end. I don't know all the lyrics but the chorus is "listen ohh ahh ohh Do you want to know a secret, ooh aah ooh, do you promise not to tell, ahh ahhahh" You could see where they thought it was a good match.
Here's the entire song.
I checked the scene from next week and looks like we'll be getting more Abe. Yeah!
The Beautiful Girls, Mad Men's episode 9 of season 4 was full of things we've been waiting to see. Ms. Blankenship's demise not withstanding. Roger and Joan together again, if only for a stolen moment was a glimpse of hope. Even if everything in their world has gotten old and seedy. Now when they go out to their old places, the clientele is geriatric and they get mugged walking home. Don and Dr. Fay seem to be heading toward those wedding bells. Their budding relationship seems more modern than any yet depicted on the show. If for no other reason than Fay telling Don that she loves children but doesn't want any. She nothing if not clear about her boundries. It was great to see Sally so much this episode. The whole scene with the french toast was hysterical. Of course Don likes french toast with rum instead of syrup. She is so ready to grow up, she can't wait. I know a lot of people were hoping we'd see Abe again. I think he will be the one that pulls Peggy into feminism, whether he realizes it or not. I loved what Peggy said about not being able to do the things "negroes" couldn't as a women. How oblivious Abe was to the statement. The whole episode was really very female centric. Like Joyce, Peggy's friend, says women are the pot that hold the vegatable soup/men. Women warm them, hold them, and contain them, or something along those lines. The final scene with Peggy, Joan, and Fay in the elevator was a great shot. These three very different women all taking care of men in their own way to their own degree. Where would these men be without them? Whose supporting these women?
One odd visual tonight was the 666 address you could see, on another building, through the reception window, when Sally is brought to the office by the train lady. In fact there were a few references to satan tonight. Perhaps the address is geographically accurate, but still interesting. I have no theory what it could mean, except maybe all the Mad Men True Blood cast exchange has reached a new level.
Mad Men Episode 8 The Summer Man, boy am I happy to see you. It's June 1965 and Don is taking control of his life. The show opens with him literally getting back in the swim of things at the New York Athletic Club. Then we go directly to Don talking about smelling corn, a symbol of plenty. I can only hope that the long dark haul that was the first half of this season is over!!! I think Don's "60's radicalization" has begun. Don't get me wrong I don't think he'll be showing up in a paisley shirt any time. He has however begun to look inward. Writing a diary is a sure sign of that. I think he's finally stopped believing who others tell him he is(ie. a whore child), and stopped trying to be who he thinks he should be(a philandering schmuck). Don/Dick is going to try just being himself. He doesn't have to bang every girl anymore and if he wants to go to his son's birthday party he can go. Betty is regretting (just a little) marrying the perfect Henry Francis. I think she's gotten tired of the big strong man telling her what to do all the time. Don's imperfections are looking less like failings, now that she sees she has some of her own. Henry is definitely dealing with the fact that Betty is not Grace Kelly. I'm guessing they won't be paying Don rent much longer. He's feeling the squeeze and getting Don's boxes out of the garage is only going to go so far. At the office feminist issues continue. A woman's only choices are meaningless secretary or humorless bitch or of course sit there and take it. After Joey's umpteenth disrespectful exchange with Joan, Joan loses it and basically tells him, Rizzo(whose stolen Mrs. Blankenships cataract surgery googles), and some third banana she'll be happy when they are all drafted and die in Viet Nam. Then Peggy fires him, love it, especially her "Don doesn't know who you are". In office decor news, love Harry's office with the autographed Jed Clampett picture from The Beverly Hill Billies. The americanisation of Lane Pryce continues with his office decor of a Mets Pennant, Chrysler building, and the statue of liberty. He may be forcing it a bit. We finally got our date with Don and Dr. Fay. I loved Don listening in to her break up call. She said exactly who she was, a women who gives a man a key to her home, but tells him to pick up after himself, and possibly above all she DOES NOT COOK! I thought Don was going to melt when she said her father was affiliated with the mob.
Things are looking up all over and we got to see Francine.
Mad Men Episode 7 Season 4 The Suitcase felt so connected to the first episode of the show for Don and Peggy. Many things that started there came back around. After Peggy's show of strength last week, this week we have her crying in the bathroom. Something I think she promised herself she would never do, in the first episode. The other thing was Don taking Peggy's hand. In the first episode Peggy tried to hold Don's hand and he pushed her away. Now they care about each other and know one another for who they are. I think this episode underlines how much Don and Peggy have in common. Both of them feel like no one really understands them, neither of them feels they can be themselves, they both watched their fathers die, and of course they both have a secret. I don't think we'll see them become a couple. Though they have slept together now. Even if it was fully dressed on the couch in Don's office. They may become one anothers closest friend, and confidant. Maybe Peggy can get Don off the sauce. I loved the scene when Don says that The only person (Anna) who really knew him had died and Peggy said that wasn't true. Also Don consoling Peggy on her break up with mark, saying "as Danny would say Don't cry over fish in the sea". But maybe the best thing in the episode was a shot of Don and Peggy on bar stools, in a bar listening to the Liston Ali fight. It's just their backs and everyone else in the bar is on their feet yelling at Liston "get up, get up!" they are both so still it felt to me like it was directed at them. Don't just lay their Don and Peggy get up and be yourselves. The episode was full of information too. For example, we now know Dr Lyle Evans is the doctor who cut off Cooper's balls and who Cooper may or may not have had killed. I can't believe that Mrs Blankenship and Roger had a fling back in the day. I feel like Roger's book could be a series of it's own. It was sad to see what a disaster Duck has become. Hopefully the fact that someone that messed up could get Don to literally say uncle, will wake Don up to how far down the rabbit hole he is. Pretty much everything in Don's life is screaming at him to get it together. Maybe next week...
Mad Men's Episode 6, Waldorf Stories was an interesting display of ambition. Beginning with Roger's wife's cousin trying to get a job. At first we think he is the most pathetic thing ever. That is until we see how Don got in the door. Apparently, the brilliant Don Draper badgered Roger and when that didn't work got him blind drunk. So drunk in fact, Roger doesn't even remember hiring him. I'm not even sure he ever did hire him. Something about Don's smile as the elevator doors closed at the end of this episode. I'm starting to wonder if Don has ever earned anything in his life. I suppose to have risen to the top of Sterling Cooper so quickly he must have been good, or maybe he just stole. On a happier note Peggy was amazing this episode, winning one for the feminists. Don told her she had to find a way to work with her new, more experienced, and chauvinistic partner. The new partner keeps harassing her about being a prude. So when they get locked in a hotel room for the weekend, to complete a project, she calls his bluff. When the partner won't stop talking about his nudist tendencies and flipping through a Playboy, she suggests they work nude. It's brilliant! He can't hide his arousal and ends up having to give in and get dressed. Poor Pete, looks like Ken Cosgrove will be joining SCDP. Pete tried to make a power play up front, to make sure Ken would know his place, but as soon as everyone sees Ken they're all talking to him with their backs to Pete. Pete has been doing so well this season, and by that I mean he hasn't raped anyone, I hope this doesn't send him in the wrong direction. In Don's drunken haze he ends up using one of Roger's wife's cousin's tag lines with a client. Don tries to just buy the tag line from him but he wants a job not a check. Don has to hire him to hide his own mistake. Just like Roger had to hire him. I had hoped we had seen an end to Don's drinking but this episode had Don losing a whole weekend, waking up with a mystery waitress when Betty calls to find out why he's two hours late to pick up the kids. He really is a terrible father. I think I must be an enabler, cause now I'm sure he'll be better next week. Maybe this will be the binge that makes him get it together??? I hope. We'll see next week.
Mad Men Season 4 starts in just one week. As hard as it was to wait all this time, I found something more painful. I got an advance copy of the first episode a week ago and I can't talk about it. Truly, I wouldn't want to spoil it for all of you anyway.
What I will say is this, Matt Weiner does not disappoint. The first episode answers a lot of our questions from season three. Everything is familiar but different. Roger Sterling's quips are hilariously inappropriate, the clients aren't happy, office camaraderie is in full swing and Don's got girls stashed all over town. Many of the characters seem to have intensified certain aspects of their personality, some for the better and some for the worse.
I think we'll have lots of twists and turns this season, some of which seem to be foreshadowed in the season opener. I have a bunch of theories but those will have to wait until after this episode airs.
Could I be any vaguer. It's like I said Sunday July 25th can not come soon enough. I'm dying to talk details.
