The hosts discussion Episode 13 – The 4th Season Finale! – of “Mad Men,” titled “Tomorrowland.” In this episode, Don takes a trip to California with some shocking results, we find out whether or not Joan went through with her planned abortion, Carla the Nanny joins Sal and Paul in the deadpool and Peggy lands a new account all on her own.

Hosts

Lon Harris
Jaime Fox
Jacob Burch

Introduction

Welcome to another episode of “This Week in Mad Men,” the show that never says “Congratulations” to the bride.

Discussion

DON’S TRIP

- Don notes how good Megan is with the kids: “You said you didn’t have any experience, and you’re like Maria von Trapp.”
– Why did Don invite her along? Did he know what he was planning?
- Introducing the kids to the Real Draper’s family: Tells Sally that Dick is “his nickname”
- Sally knocks over the milkshake and Don is ready to go nuts; Megan reacts like a human. The kids are stunned. Is this Matt Weiner pointing out that the show has been all inside Don and Betty’s world, and there is another way to live?
- Don, a man who never had a real mother, wants that for his children and for himself
- Note as well that it was MEGAN who comforted Sally at the SCDP office…foreshadowing!

DISNEYLAND

- Is the Disneyland reference an allusion to Jean Baudrillard and his views on the “hyperreal”

Baudrillard on Disneyland: “It’s meant to be an infantile world, in order to make us believe that the adults are elsewhere, in the “real” world, and to conceal the fact that real childishness is everywhere, particularly among those adults who go there to act the child in order to foster illusion of their real childishness.”

- Meaning…Disneyland is a fantasy view of real life, but one that implies that it simulates REALITY that exist outside of the Disneyland gates. In the same way, SCDP present a view of life that is fictional, but supposed to make people think it’s based in reality. (Products make you happy or sexy…These incredibly slick, sexy people are who they appear to be on the surface…) But it’s all fake, like Disneyland’s depiction of Americana.

- “Tomorrowland” reference: Don is looking forward towards an imagined future, not one based on his own reality. As Matt Weiner said: “Why don’t you be the person you want to be, and not worry about dealing with the person you are?”

- Note that most of the time, Don and his kids are planning on being in Fantasyland. Dumbo, Mr. Toad, etc. Then Megan suggests they also go to Tomorrowland so Bobby can ride the rockets.

DON AND MEGAN

- “Go over the plan…for Disneyland…” Don as a middle-aged dork.
- The music on the balcony gets all jazzy and LA noir-y…Like “Chinatown”
- “You’re always trying to be better”; She’s maternal, understanding, all the things Betty and Faye weren’t.
- “I feel like myself when I’m with you. The way I always wanted to feel.”
- He lies to her about the ring (“been in my family”) and then takes it back (“someone close to me.”)

DON AND FAYE

- Straight talk with Faye. “You don’t have to do it alone.”
- “Trying to be a person like the rest of us.” Wow, she’s cutting him. This is pretty insightful. She’s probably closer with him than any other woman we’ve seen to this point.
- Faye and Megan represent opposite versions of DON…She’s outspoken, insightful, tough, a professional. Megan is gentle, accommodating, motherly.
- Faye predicted at the beginning of the season that Don would remarry in a year. She saw this coming.
- She tells Don “you only like the beginnings of things.” So true…

AMERICAN CANCER

- They believe smoking can be thwarted with “the right campaign.” So naive.
- “They don’t know it yet but they don’t want to die.” Pure Draper.
- Sterling: “Did you get Cancer?”
- Teens rebel by smoking, and Don wants to hit them there and encourage them to instead rebel against aging/death. Is this mirroring Sally’s rebellion against Betty? Don’s own rebellion in marrying his secretary? Lane’s attempt (and failure) to rebel against his father?

BETTY

- Glen to Betty: “Just cause you’re sad doesn’t mean everyone has to be.”
- Betty fires Carla and then doesn’t let her say goodbye to the kids. Because she’s jealous of Sally and Glen! Monster!
- Don has to take care of the kids with no Carla. Is that why Betty fired her?
- She’s ENTITLED to a fresh start. Even the kids’ nanny is really about HER and what she wants.
- Henry: “No one’s ever on your side, Betty.” Is he finally losing patience with her?
- “Things aren’t perfect.” She expects things to be perfect.
- She turns cold again when hearing about the engagement. “Is it your secretary? I know she watched the kids while you were in California.”
- They leave the house, with nothing left but a liquor bottle on the counter.
- Betty represents an INABILITY to change…but she’s being forced to. (Leaving the house, Don remarrying).

TOPAZ PANTYHOSE

- Harry mentions an ABC meeting, then badly hitting on Carolyn Jones…Again, he has no real role to play here.
- Peggy is the new Don. He had no part of the Topaz deal. She’s running it on her own, even backing Ken off.
- Ken gives her the victory. “You did it!” Then Don is super-happy for her, too!
- Is Peggy jealous of Megan? Or mad because Don trumped her good news. Or is she genuinely upset by men hooking up with their secretaries?

JOAN

- Joan promoted: Director of Agency Operations
- Joan is keeping Roger’s baby, saying it’s her husband’s. Wow. What do we think of this decision? Is it out of character for Joan?
- “I learned a long time ago not to get my satisfaction from this job.” “That’s bullshit.”

CLOSING SONG: I GOT YOU BABE

- Reference to “Groundhog Day”? Things in a constant, unchanging state? We can’t escape our true nature?

- Considered a signature song of the early hippie counter-culture.
- Written by an older husband (Sonny Bono) for his younger wife! (11 years separate Sonny from Cher)
- Sonny and Cher both have “stage names”
- Don, of course, is awake, restless. Still not content.

QUICK HITS

- No new business in 10 weeks! Ouch!
- Ken says “Cynthia is my life. My actual life.” He’s the only one in that room who has an actual life. (Roger? Bored by his wife. Don? No life. Pete? He’s on his way there.)
- “It’s Glen. Are you decent?”
- They mention “the holiday weekend,” but what holiday? Columbus Day? Labor Day?
- Pete: “You don’t say ‘Congratulations’ to the bride. You say ‘Best Wishes’.” Oh, Pete…

THE IDA AWARDS

Next week, on the last episode of “This Week in Mad Men” for this season, we’ll be holding our first-ever Ida Blankenship Memorial Award ceremony. The panelists will make their choices in the following categories:

- Favorite Overall Episode
- Favorite Mad Men Moment or Scene
- Favorite Quote or Quotes
- Favorite Character
- Least Favorite Character

We want hardcore TWiMM fans to participate as well! If you want to call in to our show LIVE next week, e-mail Lon: lon@thisweekin.com. We’ll pick a few of the chat room regulars to join us on the air!

Contest!

We’re giving away a copy of Dyna Moe’s awesome book, “Mad Men: The Illustrated World” next week on the show! For your chance to win, tweet us with hashtag #TWiMM and tell us your favorite quote from this season of “Mad Men.” We’ll pick one winner and send them the book for free!

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