Diary of a Mad Men Virgin – Will I ever like Betty Draper?

As the song says, “you take the good/you take the bad/you take them both/and there you have/the facts of life.” I am beginning to like Mad Men, but not all parts of it. I can’t make Betty (and Glenn) go away, as much as I would like to. As the show as a whole continues to grow on me, Betty is a reminder that while critically acclaimed, Mad Men is far from perfect.

“Six Month Leave” Season Two, Episode Nine

Poor Freddy. Though I’m solidly in the “it’s his own damn fault” camp, you still can’t help from being sorry for the guy. This is the life that he’s lived forever, and no one ever told him it was wrong. Now, living that way has cost him his livelihood. It’s a damn shame.

Peggy is a good enough person to be legitimately unhappy about the way that she was promoted. When she walked in Pete’s office and went off, you couldn’t help but root for her. Well, at least I couldn’t help but root for her, because Pete has continued his douchey was unchecked for far too long.

I’m curious of Duck will ever get called out on his hypocrisy. He’s been fired for general drunkenness himself, and only got this job because he was sober. Now that he’s drinking in secret again, it is only a matter of time before he steps in it himself. Plus, remember the dog!!

Roger leaving Mona seemed to come out of nowhere, no? I guess that is the M.O. of Mad Men though … If you don’t decipher the hints, nods, and subtext exactly right, you’re missing out on quite a bit. There’s a nice bit of subtext, though, when you compare Joan to Marilyn Monroe, and Jane to whatever took Monroe’s place as America’s resident sex symbol.

Betty did something in this episode, but I try not to dedicate any energy into figuring out what the hell is in that head of hers, because, basically, I think it’s just air.

“Inheritance” Episode Ten

You’d have to admit, I’ve come a long way with Mad Men, especially considering the (fake) bias I had against the show before I started. Obviously, at this point, the only aspect of the show I’ll likely never warm to is Betty Draper. I keep going back to what Bob said, that she’s nothing but a petulant child. It’s no wonder creepy Glenn thinks he has a chance. They’re on the same maturity level.

Not liking Betty doesn’t mean that I don’t feel for her situation with her father (In fact, when Betty’s story isn’t about Betty is the only time I can get interested). Between dressing down Betty over Don and the whole “feeling her up” thing, the old man certainly isn’t himself … no child should have to go through that.

I almost want to jump right into the next episode to see what kind of shenanigans that Don and Pete get in to while they are in the Golden State. After what he’s gone through recently, Don is primed for a little fun in the sun.

I’m not exactly sure what Kinsey did to Joan to make her so completely hate him, but you had to love the satisfaction she took in knocking him down a peg or two in front of the whole office. Then, she had celebratory cake. Who doesn’t love celebratory cake?

Take a look at previous entries in my Mad Men Virgin Diary.

Clacked by Ivey West
on Sep 01, 2011 @ 10:00 EST5EDT