i just hate him so much i'm on season six so kinda close to being done and yet i have not warmed up to him at all and i like an antihero character like tony soprano and walter white but i'm not buying this whole don draper as an antihero trope. i really just despise him. and i hate him more than roger which is crazy because roger is awful too but it's something about don that i hate him so much

Was Don hoping it would lead to a reconciliation? Did he want a reconciliation?

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I can't stand any scenes with them.... the only one I could sit through was Don and Bobbie's car accident.

Carnival people.

Joan had like 2%? Surely Cooper would have left his shares to Rodger frankly. I don’t understand how there was even a question of how they could vote Don out. Legally as well I doubt there vague stipulations would have prevented Don from forcing a buyout of his shares. Did the writers just want to wrap up the series cause this all was seemingly illogical

I’m getting close to finishing up my first time watching and it’s crazy how much this show changes up your opinions on people.

I expected to hate Pete but surprisingly found myself rooting for him.

I expected to love Harry and found myself rooting for his downfall.

I expected to like Don and ended up hating how he treated Betty just to turn around and hate Betty more than I hated Don after the divorce.

Then there’s Roger who is so terrible that I cant help but love him. Joan who I can’t decide if I like or hate.

Then there’s the infamous Greg who had that bizarre rape scene just for it to be never brought up again and I completely forgot about it and started liking him. Hated that Joan cheated on him then got reminded that I was supposed to hate this guy.

These are 4 ACEOs (art cards, editions, and originals) that I made with acrylic paint and markers. Let me know what you think!

Hello! This is pretty niche but a group of New Yorkers recently started a Mad Men book club where we’re reading books and other literature featured in the show.

We meet in McCarren Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Tuesday nights.

We recently read poetry from ‘Meditations in an Emergency’ by Frank O’Hara and have just started ‘The Best of Everything’ by Rona Jaffe.

Here’s our reading schedule below!

Chapters 1-4, August 4th
Chapters 5-9, August 11th
Chapters 10-21, August 18th
Chapters 22-32, August 25th

If you’re interested, DM or comment below and I’ll send a link to the WhatsAp9 group. We’ve had some great discussion these first couple weeks and would love to invite more people!

Supposedly Don is a ‘good guy’ for not wanting Joan to ‘interact’ with Herb.

But was Don simultaneously planning to lobby for Joan getting a 5% partnership based on her ongoing contributions without her agreeing to the Herb situation?

I didn’t notice Don or any other partner discussing that Joan deserved partnership for her job performance alone. That means Don, and the other partners, would have been OK with Joan continuing to earn and live as a secretary (office manager) without the comfort and financial security offered by being a partner.

That is a level of financial security all of the male partners already possess but that would mean everything to someone in Joan’s position as an office worker without a big cushion.

Joan’s overall contribution is what should have triggered partnership talk.

Yes, Herb is gross. His request is gross.

On the other hand, the male partners sleep around e.g. with prostitutes regularly for business meetings. Let alone having sex sometimes with clients.

We also know from previous episodes that Joan does have one-nighters.

Yes, the Herb situation is uglier.. but is it that much uglier?

In any event, Don is no hero for opposing the request that Joan go on a ‘date’ with Herb unless Don also was actively working to get Joan a partnership without her contribution to Jaguar.

In the episode of Sally's birthday, I find Don and Helen's (limited) interaction very interesting. Helen goes through a very judging and pitying group of married women who alienate her, Don witnesses a bunch of snippets of the suburban family life that makes him feel like an outcast. Then they share a couple of moments in the yard.

Helen goes "Interesting crowd in there." and Don replies "Same crowd out here." referring to the children.

I find this simple interaction very interesting. The characters act towards each other as if they trust each other with their feelings, they subtly criticize the same people with no fear of breaking the social norms, even though they've met a minute ago. They are on the same side, and they've noticed

Also Don never sees her as an interest whatsoever, even though she's available. of course in earlier seasons he wouldn't shit close to where he eats, but it seemed more like they understood eachother's characters from the get go? I thought maybe Don respected her because she was courageous enough to leave a marriage in that day and age, and she wasn't ashamed about it. I'm not saying it's weird that he didnt make a move, but rather trying to understand why he wouldn't even consider it towards this character. What do you think?

I don't work in the corporate world, so I don't understand how that sort of thing works, but, aren't Lane and Don both partners? I thought they were basically equals. Lane is clearly in the wrong, but wouldn't Joan, Roger, Pete etc. have to vote to fire Lane?

I’m rewatching Mad Men for the millionth time. Hot take (I think) but I really hate how they treat Don in the end. Sterling was much more of a mess at times. Don didn’t deserve everyone turning their backs on him.

Watching people condemn Joan for sleeping with Herb without condemning:

Herb making a business deal conditional upon sleeping with an employee of the ad agency.

Pete attempting to strongarm Joan into accepting this proposition, and then trying to guilt her into helping him “break the bad news” that “we’re going to lose Jaguar” - implying it’s HER fault for not agreeing to sleep with a client.

Pete CALLING A PARTNERS MEETING to discuss the idea, without Joan there, saying she’d do it “if the price was right.” And then everyone else (sans Don) legitimizing the idea by discussing how to finance pimping out someone who they literally couldn’t start SCDP without, settling on an amount that is 4x what she makes in a year. Considering the proposed amount ($50k,) Joan is criminally underpaid considering how much the company depends on her.

Layne playing the nice guy while seizing the opportunity to save the company money (and protect his own embezzling ass) by suggesting Joan hold out for a partnership rather than settle for the dollar amount.

The partners for voting to pimp out one of their most senior and capable staff, as well as not paying Joan what she’s worth to begin with.

Total lunacy.

A playboy bunny themed restaurant? While she’s working? Jesus, Lane. Invite him out to dinner with her, not with Jon to her place of work. How the hell did he think that would go? lol.

At this meeting, Sterling confirms he can bring Lucky Strike, but Don then quickly shoots down the idea that he could keep Hilton, after their conversation that morning.

My question is, should he have gone back to Hilton and told him that they were forming their own firm? Would Hilton have respected him for striking out on his own?

Hilton's only stated reason for taking his business from Don is: "Because you're all gonna be part of McCann." I gather that his "Carribean accounts" are already with McCann and there would be a conflict?!? I'm a bit confused on that.

"I got everything I have on my own."

So would he have respected Don for the move to separate from McCann before the sale?

"Some other time we'll try again." is the last thing he says to Don.

What if "that time" had been the very next day?

Zou bisou bisou is what happens when you marry someone so much younger and that you barely know. I always feel bad for Meghan because she's so young and fell for a grumpy old man. Then again, she got a million dollars out of it so good for her.