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Mad Men, Season 6, Episode 2 (Patreon)

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2024-03-08 14:10:10
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2026-06
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The Doorway, Part 2: Sorry, guys. We had a file corruption issue on this recording. I cut out the beginning, and it seems to have solved the issue. Sorry for the delay!

Comments

Weird Magic

Linda Cardellini's characters name is Sylvia - her husband called her "Syl" in a throwaway, easily miss able comment. So happy Joe thinks of her for Scooby Doo as that is where my mind goes too. However she's had a great career so far - Freaks and Geeks, Legally Blonde, Scooby-Doo, Brokeback Mountain, 126 episodes of ER, Avengers, Green Book and lately was a co-lead with Christina Applegate in Dead to Me on Netflix. She's my personal favorite of Don's "women", not sure if it's because of her storyline or because of her, probably both ;) Originally airing on April 7, 2013, 'The Doorway, Part 2' is Episode 2 of Season 6 of Mad Men. It is the 67th episode overall and has an IMDB rating of 7.7, placing it as the #12 ranked episode of this season and #63 out of all the episodes shown so far. Kevin is correct about there being "only" 25 episodes left - but remember that's the equivalent of 10 full length feature films - that is a lot of storyline real estate to go thru yet!

Actuarial Lurker

So now you see the payoff of the silent opening, Dante's Inferno, and CPR opening making us think he might be dead- and the Hawaii ad that reminds the client of the late 1950s version of "A Star Is Born" where James Mason's character walks into the ocean and drowns himself. So Season 6 is being signaled as the real spiral

Actuarial Lurker

And of course he is now sleeping with the wife of his immediate downstairs neighbor..Don and Megan live in the penthouse of the building and the Doctor is one floor below in the "junior penthouse". So Don has already descended into "shitting where he eats". Reminds of Pete and the German au pair- where the neighbor implies "all men cheat just don't do it in the same building bro!"

Actuarial Lurker

Now I can complete the Mozart metaphor form my comment last week and not spoil anything....in the movie Amadeus we see that Mozart doesn't react when his overbearing father dies but a few weeks later in real life when his pet starling dies he writes an elaborate piece with bird song and THEN makes Don Giovanni with the evil character that looks like his father at the masquerade ball. Here we saw Roger not react to his mother's death but then fall apart at the death of his shoe shine guy who bequests hs shine box to him. Analysts at the time the show was on air linked the scene in part 1 where he tells his analyst about the meaninglessness of life and his use of the analogy of opening and closing doors (and the title of this episode IS the Doorway) and the death of an era. The shoeshine boy instantly takes us back to either the 1930s depression era or even the flashbacks of Godfather II with young Vito in the tenement slums of NYC. Roger seeing the death of the shoeshine guy drills home that HE is the next generation waiting to die and that he himself is an epitome of the old US culture that IS DEAD and being replaced by the 60s culture. Don's ad with the man who disappears at the beach presumably to his death just rams that idea home to the audience...

Actuarial Lurker

Nice call back with the slideshow of the trip to Hawaii and the Carousel Ad that ends Season 1

Actuarial Lurker

So is Betty's over concern with a girl that isn't her daughter and trying to interact with the hippie kids squatting in the empty building an evolved version of her confiding with Glen in the supermarket parking lot...she still can't connect with adults but she has now "graduated" to a slightly older group looking for something

Actuarial Lurker

Don is plastered at the wake...so he is definitely day drinking to an extreme. So Kevin was spot on last week about functioning versus non-functioning alcoholics...Don vomiting at the wake is a call back to Roger vomiting after Don and Roger ate the oysters and martinis and climbed up the stairs so that Roger could puke in front of the Nixon team. Don HAS become Roger...and the fact that Pete and Kenny had to take him back to his high end condo

Actuarial Lurker

Classic line from Mona: I realized you didn't divorce ME because I was the one getting old but because YOU Roger were getting old...that is why Don is cheating on Megan again...its what wrong with Don not with her

Actuarial Lurker

You can't get more Roger is old than him having water from the River Jordan

Actuarial Lurker

Hippie reading ID: Betty Francis- hair...bottled. Betty's response- dyes hair Black. Henry's response: dad joke..."Elizabeth Taylor what did you do with my wife?" Bobby" "You're ugly"...brutal when sequenced together.

Actuarial Lurker

Don's new affair is Linda Cardellini from Freaks and Geeks, ER, Brokeback Mountain,

Actuarial Lurker

For your post-show recap..remember...There is a Season 7A and 7B...so there are 2 potential route changes

IThe AuthorityI
>>131801224

I think Betty sees a lot of herself in Sandy, and she wants Sandy to pursue her talents at a young age which she herself didn't do. I think mainly it gives her an excuse to go into the city alone which is something she never does. The pilot this season is really about her breaking out of her shell which also fits with her shocking comments to Henry last episode (something she would never say to Don). She is feeling more free and testing the waters. I really don't think the point is her only connecting with children or teenagers.

tom

Thanks for fixing the vid, I was waiting for this one A bit like with S5, I actually thought some stuff would happen in the first episode but I had to wait in this one -- namely the reveal of the affair. The episode does a good job in endearing you to the other couple in the apartments so that the reveal is a gutpunch. I like how they start with a third couple, and the blonde woman is obnoxiously hitting on Don so might subconsciously wonder if something will happen, and then they leave and everyone is immediately having more fun, making the four of them feel closer. Plus, the doctor is very charming and introduced well last episode with the camera scene. The second part of the S6 premiere leans heavily on the death theme as you mentioned, but there's a lot of it in the first part too. Indeed, is it Don spiralling, the aftermath of Lane, the morbidity of the 60s, something else? Even the intro to the show seems to allude to death, and (as Roger reminded me) the first episode of the show touches on it with lucky strike. I really like Don's pitch for the hotel, it's sort of the main image in my mind for S6, just like Megan's party and the colorful commercial set are images that stand out in my mind for S5. So far at least. You're right that this is low, even for Don. The women he goes after just keep being more and more dangerous and disruptive to his life, almost like he's asking to be caught at this point. First in S1 with Midge she's far away in the city, they never see each other outside of that. Then we have Rachel who he sees at work. Then Bobbie who he and his wife talk with. Then his daughter's school teacher! And now this, in her home, while her husband is called away for work and his wife is fast asleep in the same building. The fact that Don doesn't even want to be doing it but can't help himself is a new dynamic. I don't know if that's a good sign of self-awareness or it's a new low that he's just being knowingly and utterly self-destructive at this point. Similarly to in the research for Lucky Strike back in the pilot, does Don have a "death wish?". You pointed it out back when Peggy left the company, but she craves validation and Ted certainly gives it to her. I love how we forget along with Peggy that Stan was still there on the call. This show is also just so skilled at shifting characters' likeability that you forget how annoying Stan was in the beginning. And Roger, too, he's had obnoxious moments not too long ago but his existentiality is put to the forefront so much lately that we can't help but empathize. After this episode I'm leaning even more heavily on the reason Betty was so concerned for Sandy being because of a lack of relationship with her own daughter. Yes Sally is a teenager so some distance is expected but I think Betty also never really bonded with her in the first place because of how she was in Don's marriage, and Sally is now at an age where she has enough agency to push Betty away, making any attempts at connection useless. I think it's an interesting plot, she goes to look for a girl, tries to at least bring the violin then leaves it there, goes home and doesn't tell anyone where she was. All she got out of it was a rip in her coat and other than that it's like nothing happened. Very Mad Men. I still think it was quite brave of Betty to venture somewhere and some place so alien to her, for very selfless reasons. Even if it ended with her arguing with children again, lol. Also a good opportunity for worldbuilding

tom
>>131801224

I mentioned in the previous episode, but yes you could also read her relationship with Sandy as sort of an evolution of with Glen. This time Betty is coming at it from a maternal angle, whereas with Glen she seemed like an awkward babysitter with the maturity of a teenager at most I agree with the second comment though that it's also because of similarities she sees in herself and Betty venturing more into the unknown. However, I think rather than similarities, though, what underlies it all is this feeling of curiosity. Mad Men does this a lot, with these random characters you never see again. It's like if you've ever had a moment of seeing a stranger, and something sticks out about them; you realize they have their own life, and you wonder what led them to where they are. Then they're gone. I think it's because Sandy is slightly older than Betty's daughter, so it intrinsically creates a different dynamic. She's also considered a prodigy colloquially, but isn't good enough to pursue that as her dream. Her mom is dead and she stays with the Francis family a bit, alone, then is gone, like a phantom. The point kind of is that Betty is weirdly invested, and at the end when she leaves the violin she just kind of lets go. And like I mentioned in another comment, besides the rip in the coat it's like Betty was never there in the first place, making her whole experience a phantom itself.

tom
>>131803136

Betty dyeing her hair is almost a fever dream to me, I forgot it happened and especially didn't think it happened this episode. edit -- She also resembles Henry's mother more, which they already leaned into a bit with the weight gain.

tom

Oh, also I really like Mona. Very underrated. Graceful, cool and wise. The only bad moment I can think of is her blaming Don for Roger's affair back in S1 but Roger apparently literally said "He encouraged me to do it". What a scumbag, lol. And yet we like him so much this episode! Speaking of Roger's family, I disagree with his own analysis of the situation. I don't think Mona was buttering him up, I think she just wants Roger to spend time with his daughter but unfortunately all Margaret knows by now is a transactional relationship. Knowing Roger and how he probably was as a father, can you blame her? Joan absolutely made the right decision in S5 by refusing to accept his money to raise her son.

Actuarial Lurker
>>131801224

Agree that Betty sees Sandy as her old self pre-Don, the young model with a bright future in NYC and is trying to give life to someone else

Robert Bauman

We all knew it was probably gonna happen eventually with Don cheating, but it's so brazen and reckless this time. Also, while his affairs during his marriage to Betty were by no means excusable, their marriage was never in a great place (at least that we've seen on the show). Him stepping out on Megan makes it seem like this is basically a compulsive behavior for him. Regardless, it's a ticking time bomb that seems like it'll blow up the second chance at marriage he lucked into with a great person. It's in line with who Don is but it's still like...come on man, really?

Robert Bauman

Don blowing a big pitch also seems noteworthy. He has had hiccups here and there but he always seems to right the ship professionally, even when his personal life is a mess. That's always been a constant for him during the show. We'll see if it continues

Robert Bauman

Interesting to see Sally as a full blown teenager. It gives some context as to how much time the show has covered when you think back to the early seasons when she was just a little kid (in Season 1 Don builds a doll house for her, so it's been a while). I've always found her character compelling, and without spoiling, she plays a bigger role in the final two seasons.

Henrique Jambu

I was wondering if you guys had seen Linda Cardellini in the first episode! She's honestly the only of Don's mistresses that I find likeable. btw hated Kenny's scene, Bob Benson is such a nice guy!

Youtalkingtome
>>131799848

Yeah her career has been wonderful. Scooby Doo will always be the movie I associate her with. I must have watched it a hundred times as a kid

Youtalkingtome
>>131800730

God that's brilliant. I would love to just interview the writers of this show and ask them about the writers room and how they come up with these metaphors. It's really genius

Youtalkingtome
>>131801224

I really like that they are giving her something to do. She was basically non existent for like 3 seasons. I'm glad that her character seems to be having some kind of arc

Youtalkingtome
>>131801304

We've finally reached that point, we thought that was one of the coolest moments. Don was the man. He out drank Roger to prove a point. It's sad to watch him devolve

Youtalkingtome
>>131807257

It was an amazing Betty moment. I really do like her character. We love to hate her but really we are starving for some kind of an arc from her. I really hope that this season and the next give it to her. Spot on with how the cheating gets closer and closer to home. It's nuts

Youtalkingtome
>>131808534

It's always transactional with Roger. It's all he knows too. I'm sure as a kid he was exposed to the same sort of treatment. You could have a whole spin off show about young Roger and I bet it would be as compelling. A really broken person. Mona is really cool. Post divorce she's just been awesome every time we see her

Youtalkingtome
>>131841046

I'm glad that she does. A noteworthy episode in season 5, where she attends the party with adults. I feel like that was her being inaugurated as the next generation of miserable wealthy people lol

Actuarial Lurker
>>131846208

As a writer Kenny is intuitive and also an observer- we see how he writes a story under a new pseudonym at the end of the episode where Don fixes the mis-set water feeds at Pete's dinner party, has the first story about the robot who kills his work masters by removing rivets in a sky bridge- gets ratted out by Pete to Roger about his moonlighting (since Pete realizes Kenny is talking about HIM) and THEN Kenny writes the new story at the end about a miserable guy in the suburbs who doesn't even realize he is pathetic and miserable. So one must ask does Kenny see something in Bob that others don't because of hs ability to step back and observe as a writer what the other self-absorbed characters on this show don't since they are just focused on their careers? Food for thought...since Kenny is the one who didn't want Dow as a client since it would interfere with his marriage and is down to Earth enough to be married to the daughter of a senior Dow executive and still live in the neighborhood that Archie Bunker lives in All in the Family and not take family money like Pete does from his wife's dad... he also tells Roger he sees what it takes to be partner after Joan sleeps with the 300lb Jaguar dealership guy and wants no part of that...so I would trust Kenny to not be a prick but maybe to be onto something....

Chris
>>131840782

Makes an interesting constrast with Peggy, who finds a solution to a tough problem and creates a better ad.

Chris
>>131840782

Forcing the writers to work on New Year’s Eve is something Don would do. I appreciate Ted Chaough’s management style and would hope it makes Peggy a better Copy Chief. Peggy’s story is my favorite part of the first episode (although my favorite line is Stan’s “Of course! That’s what makes it so great!” when Don asks if the ad makes him think of suicide)

CB

Love your reactions guys. However I must say, I don't know what's happening, but your volume is so low that I'm struggling to hear you and my TV at the same time. I have to turn my TV down so low that I can barely hear it in order to hear your commentary along with it. Previously I could switch you guys over to YouTube and watch your commentary on YouTube which had a little louder volume but no longer can I do that for some reason over the last few weeks. Am I the only one who's having volume issues?

tom
>>131897143

It's not an issue for me in practice, but I definitely have to put my system volume at 100% and then turn down the episode volume as low as possible. I suppose that could be the cause

Chris
>>131897143

Not an issue for me but I usually watch the show with subtitles on and the volume down

tom
>>131846208

I'm only realizing this now but I think the Joan thing is more simple and straightforward than we're analyzing it as -- wasn't Kenny at the meeting with Pete where the Jaguar guy suggested it? At that point it's just him putting 2 and 2 together once the firm announced Joan as partner

heheheheheh

It is lovely to see how nice and supportive Henry is towards Betty, such a contrast to Don. When she asks "Did you eat?" and he did, took care of himself, no worries. Don could also make food for himself, but back then Betty would have felt extremely guilty for not being at home to make dinner. Also, another interesting contrast: we have the scene in the squat house, vagrant, cold, empty, dirty, poor. And then the scene right after that is one of luxury, with Margaret sitting in an antique old hall, old New York money luxury. I grew up with a distant father who only showed up once a month to bring child support, so the transactional relationship of Margaret and Roger felt very relatable, and very sad.

Youtalkingtome
>>132215764

I hope we get to see more of Margaret. We've barely seen her the entire run of the show. Plus her wedding was one of the best episodes in my opinion. I didn't think I would grow to like Henry as much as I have. I like him as a person more than I like Don

tom

I find it interesting that your initial assumption after seeing the affair is "That explains why Don's friends with the guy". I don't remember if it's ever said but I always assumed that they met as couple-friends first, as neighbors, and eventually Don couldn't help himself

Youtalkingtome
>>132243073

That's more likely. He just has sociopathic tendencies, it's really hard to know why he does what he does.

Stephanie Bedworth

I know I'm a little late to the party on this but I did want to chime in on Don's affairs. He seems to be similar to a lot of people I've seen. It's like he's walking around with a big hole inside him and he's constantly needing something to fill it and women do that for him, for a time. I remember a scene with him and I think Pete where Don said something about if he'd married Megan first, then he wouldn't have done the things he did, but we see now that that isn't true. None of the things he did had anything to do with Betty, or now, Megan. Eventually every single woman he's with is going to fail to give him the constant validation he needs. No normal person can keep up with something like that, indefinitely. Not like they do in the beginning. Remember when he broke up with Faye, she told him that he only likes the beginnings of things, and I think that's very true.

Youtalkingtome
>>132376877

He does and it's hard to have empathy for someone like that. I get that he has been hurting his whole life. He is in pain and all he does is bring pain to the people around him too