Calm before the MADness

This Season of Mad Men is off to a rocky start. The first episode had me intrigued but was underwhelming while the second episode felt disjointed and the commercial placement was horrid.

Despite all that, the show is still beautiful to watch. I love the costumes and the attention to historic details is amazing, yet if I had just tuned in without seeing Season 1 or 2 I would be wondering what the fuss is all about.

The pace is slower than usual and I can not stand the London firm that has taken over Sterling Cooper. "I did my job, and now you're telling me it was all for nothing because you forgot to check with your boss first?" — Don Draper couldn't have said it any better. Perhaps this is the calm before the proverbial storm of the 60's as the camera flashes to Roger's daughters wedding date and we see that it is the day after John F. Kennedy's assassination.

I really need to brush up on my knowledge of historical facts because for the first time I am watching a TV Drama that intertwines the storyline with real events. I often feel like I am not catching all the details that they are putting out there.

We see the relationship between Betty and Don transform as she no longer bites her tongue when something makes her mad. I couldn't help but laugh when Don asked her to tell him what was wrong then and there instead of 3 seconds after he dosed off. Don't all women do that!? Finally we see Don taking charge of the family when it becomes obvious that Betty's dad is in need of help. I liked seeing Don play the take charge role at home, same as he does in the office. He obviously wants to see Betty happy and this is a small step in the right direction

After Don, my favorite character would have to be Peggy. Peggy is not the typical 1960's woman and this becomes more apparent with each episode. Last season Peggy moved from Secretary to Accounts. Now we see her growing more brazen, taking bits and pieces of people she looks up to and figuring out the type of person she wants to be. This is evident when she mimics Don at work, Ann-Margaret in the mirror and Joan in the bar when she picks up a man and goes home with him. Not one to make the same mistake twice she boldly asks if he has a Trojan. Sex, alcohol and cigarettes all wonderful outlets to pleasure that in the 1960's are blind to consequences. I am eager to see how the changes in the world come to play in future episodes.