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Mad Men 5x03 Reaction (Patreon)

Published:
2025-12-17 23:27:19
Edited:
2026-01-31 23:33:55
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

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Mad Men 5x03

________________________ patreon - https://www.patreon.com/LMreactions twitter - https://twitter.com/LMreaction tv time - lola - skysstillblue, milena - oneofthe100

Comments

Ewan C

January Jones who plays Betty was pregnant at the time so explains her change :)

Ewan C

And I love this ep introduces both Dawn and Ginsberg, some of my faves :)

Darrach

I can’t believe “Darkest before the Dawn” broke Lola the hardest I’ve seen since Pine Barrens

Jen H.

I wonder if she thought they were talking about Don instead of Dawn? They seemed confused when Harry was joking about the name similarity.

Darrach

I really like the needle drop for this one: “You wait, little girl, on an empty stage For fate to turn the light on. Your life, little girl, is an empty page That men will want to write on” Doubt I’ll hear that song again and not think of Mad Men now, and specifically Betty.

Jamie (edited)

Comment edits

2026-09-19 14:00 When this storyline originally aired, there was this whole fan narrative that the writers were punishing Betty or something. I never understood that sentiment. I agree with LM that all it does is make Betty more empathetic. Some viewers took it as a “haha, that’s what you get” - some viewers should not be allowed to watch television. And yeah as someone mentioned earlier, this storyline started because JJ got pregnant and it was more interesting than writing a fourth kid in. But if we go back to earlier seasons, Betty mentions being overweight as a child and it’s something her mother specifically ridiculed out of her. She hasn’t been able to relax since. I like the idea that she gained weight again in part because she is able to relax with Henry. The amount of weight they made her gain though is kinda nuts, lol. But perhaps the alternative was to not have Betty in the season much. Rot13 - Areibhfyl tevznpvat urnevat gurz gnyx nobhg ubj gurl pna'g npprcg n pnapre/qrngu/onq raqvat sbe Orggl.
2025-12-18 01:53

Scott

Lola laughs at Roger like I do...the man is a GOAT

Taya

Henry stays winning!!! Love him so much. I would marry him in a heartbeat too. Harry & Don's interaction at the office after the concert is so funny but it looks like you guys missed it. "I had a great time this weekend!" "Ok." *walks away* You guys are gonna love Ginsberg. One of my favorite side characters for sure. Whfg fvggvat urer areibhfyl gjvqqyvat zl guhzof yvfgravat gb gung ragver cbfg-rc qvfphffvba... ubb obl, gurl ner ABG tbaan or unccl.

Jacob

Isn't it just a fat suit and prosthetics? I don't think they "made" her gain any weight, just wanted to utilize her pregnancy in the story line.

Mike

Henry needs Betty at a political fundraiser: "Aww, you're sweet." Don needs Betty at dinner with Jimmy & Bobbie Barrett: "Hello, Human Resources?!" (OK, so Henry isn't secretly cheating on Betty with the Junior League of New York, but the contrast is still funny.) In other news, I'm fascinated by the cut from Don worrying to Roger about his kids growing up without a mother... to that really arresting tableau at the Ginsberg apartment. The contrast between Michael's father suggesting they find some prostitutes and solemnly blessing his son is really something. And after that conversation about Harry not being likeable or relatable... Excuse me, he got too high at the concert, accidentally signed the Tradewinds to do a beans commercial, and then ate twenty cheeseburgers on the ride home. What more can he do to win our hearts? Oh, and Jon Hamm directed this episode! Cool!

Jacob

Gotcha

Mike

The scene with the Betty and the doctor is really interesting, because we're naturally inclined to think he is treating her poorly (and he is, his bedside manner is not great) by attributing the weight gain to "housewife stuff". But it actually is that! Obviously there is character psychology stuff going on here too -- Betty has mentioned before that she was overweight (or so said her mother) as a child, and she obviously has body image issues today -- but the way that cancer comes out of nowhere as a "reason" for her weight gain, only for the reveal to be that no, she needs to watch her diet... In a way, it reminds me of Henry's line at the end of S3 about not being in love with the tragedy of their "impossible" relationship. Would Betty have actually taken that step if Henry hadn't insisted? Or would she have treated it as a doomed possibility? I think Betty sees her life as a grand tragedy, and she certainly sees how the sudden spectre of cancer would fit as part of that story. For it to go anticlimax instead really throws that "grand tragedy" framing into relief. Nah, you just need to do some personal improvement instead.

Mike

Another ten-bell quote unfortunately lost to crosstalk: "You know, your book really does have a voice." "That's what they said about Mein Kampf." Vs V unq n avpxry sbe rirel gvzr Znq Zra tnir Orggl fhecevfr pnapre, V'q unir gjb avpxryf. Juvpu vfa'g n ybg, ohg vg'f jrveq gung vg unccrarq gjvpr. (V npghnyyl guvax gur unaqyvat bs Orggl'f raqvat vf ernyyl ornhgvshy. Ohg lrnu, gurve pbairefngvba urer vf ernyyl shaal, pbafvqrevat.)

ruseka

Lmao. I like how you omitted Harry’s lusting after teenage girls, not taking any food home, and then his weird little monologue about how much he wished he got to fuck around before getting married (understandable, but come on, we know he’s still fucking around). I’m surprised by how fast & much they turned on Harry - but he’s a worthy enough target.

Kev
>>197039536

They don't need to know this. If the writers wanted the story to just be a cover-up for January Jones being pregnant that had no concern for the story or characters then they would've put a disclaimer at the beginning of the episode that says "Pretend that Betty isn't pregnant" or something. Obviously Betty gaining weight is meant to work in story, so I don't see how external circumstances "explains her change" or why we need to tell them this.

Kev

Seconds before Ginsberg showed up I remembered that the actor is in some sitcom people like so they might recognize him, but I didn't expect it to give his character such a head start in them liking him lol

Kev

I love how fortune telling is used in this episode, the woman says a generic uplifting thing that's meant to make people feel good but it happens to be the worst thing Betty could hear at that moment So in this episode Betty has a dream amidst her fears around dying, and in S3 she has a dream amidst her fears of giving birth. It's interesting to me that we get such abstract and bizarre scenes for Betty, whose exterior is so traditional and mundane. While other characters may talk openly about their feelings, Betty is much more internalized, so these dreams give us a peek into her subconscious.

Nina

I've never seen Lola crack up as hard over anything than "Darkest before the Dawn", I'm gonna get you canceled!

Kev (edited)

Comment edits

2026-09-19 14:00 This storyline with Betty is also set up so well because we hear multiple times about how she used to be fat as a kid and her parents scolded and shamed her into being skinny again, and how she is afraid of Sally gaining weight. She also says in one of the first few episodes of the show that she wants to die while she's still pretty, so that might explain why she was so frustrated to find out she wasn't actually dying; while of course it was laying heavy on her, I imagine she thought part of it "made sense" (as she says in S1), and that way she wouldn't have to live with being fat.
2025-12-18 05:02

JBK405

I also saw Ben Feldman first on "Superstore", so it is WILD to see him here on this show now. There's actually some fascinating parallels between Michael Ginsberg and his role on "Superstore", but they're very different characters. Remember in the first episode when Roger asked if they ever hired any Jews, and Don said "not on my watch"? And now we're here. With Dawn as well! I don't want to give Henry's mother any praise -- because she was truly awful to Betty here -- but it does seem like she has at least realized that Henry does honestly care for Betty. The last time we saw her, she said that Henry was only interested in Betty for sex, and he didn't need to marry her to get it. Now she's accepting that Betty is really a part of Henry's life, and it's not just a fling or something shallow. When it comes to Roger's depression and feeling of powerlessness, I have some minor sympathy, but not much since he has the power to change it. If he wanted to, he could DO HIS JOB. Go out and make connections with prospective new clients, or do research on market trends, or converse with the copywriters to understand their current campaigns, etc. Nobody is blocking him. Not even Pete. But instead of doing that, he's just playing power games in office politics and trying to piggyback on Pete's work. So he's not somebody who has tragically been sidelined by the world moving beyond him, he's somebody who is CHOOSING to stand still while everybody else keeps walking forward. If he tried and failed I would have more understanding, but he has never tried at all. As a bit of locale reminder, Asbury Park (Where Harry says the Rolling Stones are going next) was featured frequently in "The Sopranos". Several sequences were shot there, and it was referenced several times in stories about Tony's childhood.

Alex Bernier

This wasn't really a spoiler, but i still waited til the correct episodes. Don's silver and red 1965 Cadillac just sold for about $15,000 a few weeks ago. It's in pretty good shape and the person who bought it is apparently bringing it back to America from the personhe bought it from in England to have it properly restored. I wish i would have known about it before it was sold. I would have paid $20k for that car lol https://youtu.be/ySHShJb3OEY?si=M2keWFiSXPdeX6cu

Mike

@ruseka details, details...

Kev

Last comment from me, but I love how 5 seasons in their feelings for the characters are constantly developing and growing. If you think about Don, Pete, Betty, Peggy, Joan and Roger, I feel like they have all been their favorite character at one point, and it's still cycling. It isn't surprising for the show, especially because Season 5 might be Mad Men's most popular season, but I have been watching their Andor reactions and they mentioned something like "TV shows should end after S4, it does not need to go on to have 7 seasons" and I was like oh...

on crip ...

you already know im gonna feminist killjoy (by Sara Ahmed) but how can i ignore the stark contrast btwn how Ginsberg gets introduced vs. how Dawn is introduced? We skip her interview process, we get no hints of her personality, her longest scene is her enduring Harry while he talks at her :C In contrast, Ginsberg, in the same episode, was given such rich characterization. Multiple scenes where he was the center of the story. I can tell you, he's a bit odd, but in a fun, interesting way. He lacks a social life, he lives with his dad (who we can assume he takes care of), he's highly adept at masking, extremely talented, determined, and honest to a fault

Sebastian

Putting in rot13 since it kind of implies where they're going with Dawn's character. V jvyy nqzvg Qnja'f pnfgvat srryf n ovg yvxr ubj fur'f uverq. Gur fubj trgf pevgvpvmrq sbe orvat gbb juvgr, fb gurl trg bar oynpx punenpgre jub'f avpr naq cyrnfnag ohg irel vabssrafvir naq abg cnegvphyneyl vagrerfgvat. Ceboyrz fbyirq.

Ewan C

It's just fun behind the scenes trivia, take it easy... Shows how tough January was to continue on and how good the writers were to incorporate it in a fascinating way.

Erik D

To borrow a neologism from the kids, it isn't that deep.

Biberius Caldius Mero

If you watch the full reaction, you can see that Lola laughs a little at Ginsberg's comment (around 18:30). I checked because I too was a little disappointed.

Mike

Jryy, arkg rcvfbqr vf n Qnja rcvfbqr. Naq vg'f abg yvxr Tvaforet vf gur svefg juvgr pbcljevgre gung FPQC unf uverq. Bhe vagebqhpgvba gb Wbrl ynfg frnfba jnf whfg nf haprerzbavbhf.

tilden katz

Mad Men is a super feminist show. Everyone has their point of view, and all points should be welcome. My contention is that the men are written as such horrible people, that its justifiable that Milena and Lola speak poorly of Don about 98% of the time. But, yet they say they love the character. HOW? WHY? And, it doesn't change. Harry (100% a sleaze) Roger (100% thoughtless) Pete (100% whining weeny) Don (100% TOXIC man). The guys are all cartoonishly insufferable, ( thank God for Henry Francis) and the women characters are absolute saints in comparison to them. I half expected Mad Men to do a cartoon episode and have Homer Simpson, and Peter Griffin from Family Guy stand in and represent a couple guys. By Season 6, I gave up. I stopped watching, but then came back because MM is the best written show Ive ever seen. The dialogue is TO DIE FOR. The acting of Hamm, Moss, Flattery is expert. And the attention to detail in the sets, and costumes is absolutely incredible. It is lazy to write characters (the men) that never change. That are always bad people. It's kind of soul-crushing to watch a relentless, non-stop attack on one gender. I think this show despises men altogether. MM is my favorite show. But, I do not love it. I admire its quality.

tilden katz

The next 4 episodes are as good a 4 episode run in Mad Men, and in TV history. Four episodes that will all be rated 15 out of 10.

Taya

I don't even know what to say to this. I'm at a loss

tilden katz

Neither do I. Its true what I wrote, however unpleasant.

Mike

Don't talk about upcoming episodes.

tilden katz

Just said they were great. I would never reveal a spoiler.

Kev
>>197148065

What? You are giving them an unnecessary parameter. They shouldn't be going into individual episodes going "I know this one will be good" or "I know this one will be less good"

tilden katz

There were several comments talking about how The Suitcase was the episode that would be memorable, before they saw it. Im not going to say anything in expectation going forward.

on crip ...

lol did u really pay money to troll

on crip ...

wdym 😭😭😭 this observation is as deep as a water drop

Edgar Pena

how is this your favorite show yet you don't like or understand the entire premise of it?

Jacob

Don't let one person dissuade you Jamie, I found your comments in this discussion very interesting! And non detrimental to LM's post discussion in any way. Even though my initial comment was questioning an aspect of your first post. From Kev's Pov, patreon commenters mentioning Livia Soprano actors death wasn't a necessary tidbit to learn after the fact because the writers didn't headline it from the start. When I think most of us can agree that's a natural non-spoiler, and very important talking point post episode.

Kara

I've never seen so many wrong statements in succession in a comment here, I'm genuinely impressed.

Kara

You didn't get any love on this comment but I half agree. Zl ovttrfg pevgvpvfz (V qba'g unir znal) bs Znq Zra vf gung vg qbrfa'g pubbfr gb gnpxyr enpr qverpgyl va grezf bs punenpgref rabhtu. V'z abg fnlvat "vg fubhyq" be gung gurfr (zbfgyl juvgr) jevgref jbhyq unir orra tbbq ng vg, ohg vg qbrf srry zvffvat. Qnja vf bhe bayl CBI Oynpx punenpgre VVEP (jr sbyybj ure bhgfvqr gur bssvpr/ubzr ng yrnfg bapr, hayvxr Fuveyrl yngre, hayvxr Pneyn). V guvax vs gur fubj jrer jevggra gbqnl vg jbhyq or jbefr va znal jnlf ohg gurl jbhyq 100% vapyhqr n Oynpx punenpgre sebz gur whzc: Gur Tvyqrq Ntr qvq gung npghnyyl (jvgu zvkrq erfhygf va F1, ohg V ernyyl yvxr jurer gurl gbbx ure punenpgre yngre). Lbh pna vzntvar n irefvba bs gur fubj juvpu vf rknpgyl gur fnzr rkprcg Crttl orsevraqf n Oynpx pbcljevgre ng n "Oynpx svez" guebhtu n jbex guvat, naq jr trg gb frr qverpgyl guebhtu guvf crefba'f rlrf, be fbzrguvat fvzvyne. Be gur fubj jbhyq unir znqr Pneyn n CBI punenpgre (ABG fnlvat guvf vf n TBBQ vqrn, whfg fnlvat gurer'f ab fubg gurl jbhyqa'g unir qbar vg).

Kara

It's such a common thing IRL too. I can't think of another time a show explored "person gains weight as they age" without it being Secret Pregnancy (which they did lolllll).

tilden katz

Glad you liked it. Matt Weiner, "Mad Men is a feminist show."

on crip ...

Yes, that's been my general criticism too. Though more particularly, the manner in which patriarchy is addressed, or arguably not addressed. Especially since MM was notable for its attention to the smallest details. I have rarely felt (if ever) like "yeah, they're really capturing the essence of 1960s patriarchal oppression"

Double H

It's almost like it's based on reality

Mack

I understand Roger has been handed his position and doesn’t contribute like the others but there’s a lot of nuance missed sometimes by LM when they continue to characterize him as useless. Roger makes the clients feel comfortable and at home. He makes them feel special and is always a good hang for them. That matters in a business that is built by interpersonal relationships. Its why he kept Lucky Strikes for as long as he did despite Lee Garner Jr being an asshole. I think its shown subtly I think in the last episode when clients were asking to see him.