I recognize that it's not rational to hate Betty and Henry Francis so, seeing as how Don was unquestionably a bad husband who cheated on Betty with any skirt that came his way--but man do I hate Henry Francis and man did I enjoy Betty's new mother-in-law ragging on her. Maybe it's b/c Betty is such an awful, awful mother.
At the end of last season, you see Don slap Betty around, call her a whore, and tell her she'll lose everything in the divorce. But then some stuff happens - Don realizes that he's losing everything to him (his family, his firm in the buyout) and has to swallow his pride and tell people like Peggy and Pete that they matter to him and he needs them. He isn't a changed man, but he learns some things.
In Season 4's first episode, I think we see Betty's motherhood more for what it is: she's a detached, unhappy person who can't show any affection to her kids at all. Don, meanwhile, becomes something of a sympathetic figure since he had his greek-tragedy-ish hubris and downfall.
I love how that article in Ad World totally nailed Don to a t. He is a cypher. He's whoever he needs to be. His arrogance at the end during his interview with the Wall Street Journal was just as manufactured and false as his humility in the original interview.
Here's betting that Don's spot-on about Betty Francis' new marriage being "temporary". Henry is not tied to her by the children the way Don was and once the novelty of nailing a hot blonde wears off (as the pilot indicated it might already have, although Henry got recharged after that confrontation with Don), he'll notice that she's basically a cold person, as you say.
Call me old fashioned, but I like to have at least one character to root for or at least one to not despise. That show does nothing for me. I disliked it at first, sort of liked it a little later, but then realized I definitely didn't like it. A bunch of awful people being awful. The actual work side of the show--developing and pitching copy as well as jockeying for power--is somewhat interesting. But there isn't enough of that. And good lord they get heavy-handed with the 'things were so different back then!'
People will argue that the show is gritty and real, and maybe I should just watch DVDs of TGIF. But the show isn't the least bit realisitic either. Have you ever been surrounded by a group of people that were all terrible and there wasn't a single one worth caring about? I would say that I'm surrounded by mostly good people most of the time, with a few real [expletive].
What I'm trying to say is I don't like Mad men very much. I watched 2 and a half seasons. Maybe I'm doing it wrong or I'm a puritanical holier-than-thou snob, but that is a boring show about awful people.
I recognize that it's not rational to hate Betty and Henry Francis so, seeing as how Don was unquestionably a bad husband who cheated on Betty with any skirt that came his way--but man do I hate Henry Francis and man did I enjoy Betty's new mother-in-law ragging on her. Maybe it's b/c Betty is such an awful, awful mother.
At the end of last season, you see Don slap Betty around, call her a whore, and tell her she'll lose everything in the divorce. But then some stuff happens - Don realizes that he's losing everything to him (his family, his firm in the buyout) and has to swallow his pride and tell people like Peggy and Pete that they matter to him and he needs them. He isn't a changed man, but he learns some things.
In Season 4's first episode, I think we see Betty's motherhood more for what it is: she's a detached, unhappy person who can't show any affection to her kids at all. Don, meanwhile, becomes something of a sympathetic figure since he had his greek-tragedy-ish hubris and downfall.
Good analysis Zeus. Watching "Mad Men" with my wife - she gets a kick out of my distaste for bad parent, ice-cold beyatch Betty, in spite of her incredible hotness and all the indignities served upon her by Don. Mrs. Freed also enjoys my disgust with Henry Francis. I can't wait until he inevitably gets exposed as a shady character (I mean c'mon they have to -he's a politician) and Betty goes all ice-princess towards him.
This show is very much a soap opera. But I like it.
I think there are sympathetic characters. Peggy has some flaws, but she's nearly my favorite character/story on the show. She can come off as [expletive], but I think most of the time she's throwing a few elbows and asserting herself. No problems with Joan. Sterling's an ass, but pretty likeable. And I do have some sympathy for Don, despite everything.
Betty I just don't think the writers know what to do with. She's immature, petty, mean. There's not much evidence of what Don ever saw in her, and what this new guy sees. Why did either want to marry her? And for some reason we're still following her this season. She's a victim in many ways, but that doesn't get explored to my satisfaction. It seems like Don has the better moments with the kids, which doesn't seem realistic of fair to me.
I liked in the Ad Age interview that you're initially sort of on Don's side, disliking this writer and his silly questions. Then at the end, you see that the guy lost a foot in Korea. You don't know the circumstances of that, but it reminds you that the big shot being interviewed was a big wuss in Korea, and cheated his way out of it and into his current life. So the balance of respect, if not power, in the conversation leans over to the other guy.
ghostrunner wrote:
Betty I just don't think the writers know what to do with. She's immature, petty, mean. There's not much evidence of what Don ever saw in her, and what this new guy sees. Why did either want to marry her? And for some reason we're still following her this season. She's a victim in many ways, but that doesn't get explored to my satisfaction.
Just from my reaction to Betty -the writer's do a good job with the character -by managing to make me dislike this damn pretty lady.
The show is pretty clear that Don and now this Henry douche want Betty as the quintessential Trophy Wife. There are a bevy of hot women on the show - but none of them more blond and barbie than her.
The Ad Age reporter made the Dorian Gray reference to Don "somewhere there's a portrait in an attic of an aging man."
It made me wonder when/if do they age these characters and which one will be first allowed to show wrinkles, beer gut etc.
Last edited by Freed Roger on July 26 10, 9:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
Freed Roger wrote:
Just from my reaction to Betty -the writer's do a good job with the character -making us dislike this damn pretty lady -making her an ice princess and mommy dearest, as a result of Don, and her spoiled upbringing. Betty's dad character was brought in for this -exposed her inability to be a caring person.
The show is pretty clear that Don and now this Henry douche want Betty as the quintessential Trophy Wife. There are a bevy of hot women on the show - but none of them more blond and barbie than her.
Fair enough but the ice queen/trophy wife thing isn't the least bit interesting. Nobody is those things 24/7. The only time they let you see something human was her somewhat creepy relationship with the boy a couple seasons ago. That scene from season 1 with her and the gun also sticks in my head. It generated some interest in her character, and it seemed like there was some potential there. I know some people don't find her much of an actress, but I really think it's the material 80% of the time. Most of the characters are well done, so I think she just gets short shrift as the love interest of the main character.
I can see the trophy wife thing with Don, but this Henry guy just married into 3 kids, and the relationship was played up as if they had some genuine attraction. It just doesn't ring true to me.
Freed Roger wrote:
Just from my reaction to Betty -the writer's do a good job with the character -making us dislike this damn pretty lady -making her an ice princess and mommy dearest, as a result of Don, and her spoiled upbringing. Betty's dad character was brought in for this -exposed her inability to be a caring person.
The show is pretty clear that Don and now this Henry douche want Betty as the quintessential Trophy Wife. There are a bevy of hot women on the show - but none of them more blond and barbie than her.
I can see the trophy wife thing with Don, but this Henry guy just married into 3 kids, and the relationship was played up as if they had some genuine attraction. It just doesn't ring true to me.
I agree, their depiction of Betty is tad overkill however they did show her take a stab at being a good mom a few times trying to endear the daughter to the new baby. Of course it didn't work.
My guess is Henry wants her as arm-candy for his political career.
I have no problem believing the Betty/Henry Francis relationship. First, Betty is smoking hot. Second, Henry Francis obviously got a charge out of seducing another man's wife--see this episode, where he's not particularly interested in nookie after T-giving dinner but he IS all hot to trot after the convo with Don.
Henry's mom has Betty's number.
And where was Pete Cambell's hot wife Trudy last night?
Trudy is busy being a "Community" college student on Thursday nights on NBC. Hopefully we won't go completely without her this season but she probably won't be as big a presence.
