I became a “Sopranos” fan about three or four years after the show first aired. I thought it was great. I went back to rent the first four seasons to catch up and thought they were great too. I would write reviews of each show for fun and follow certain blogs. One theme of the blogs was how the show “changed” and it was no longer as good. I did not understand what they were talking about. I figured they were over thinking the show.
Welcome to my first reaction to Season 3 of “Mad Men.” I was surprised they skipped seven or eight months in time. The opening flashback scene of Don Draper’s childhood was linked to Betty’s pregnancy, but seemed perfunctory. They have a big firing scene about the head of accounts who had never been on the show before. He must have been hired after “Duck Phillips” was fired. But this made no sense, because it means the Brits would have already approved it and been involved. Pete Campbell’s wife undergoes a personality transplant and is suddenly a power person. The usually sharp eyed Betty misses the meaning of the Stewardess’s pin her daughter finds, as Draper pretends it is a gift.
The absurdity of a hotel fire forcing an evacuation, thus leading to Sal being caught (but Sal is uncertain he is caught) with the bellboy, as Draper climbs down the fire escape with the Stewardess, seemed clownish. Draper’s forced approval seeking from Sal on the plane for his “London Fog” ad idea is out of character. Perhaps he was playing mind games with Sal about knowing he is gay, but that too seemed out of character. Campbell’s reaction to being named “co-head” of accounts with Ken Cosgrove seemed over wrought and unrealistically paranoid. Cosgrove also had a mini-power personality transplant. Joan is the same, and her confidence is probably heightened by knowing she will be leaving shortly after marriage. Olsen has definitely advanced up the food chain as she is assigned to most major accounts. Her personality is more “outwardly” confident, which makes sense.
The presence of the Brits is annoying, but is realistic given the Firm was sold. The most continuous aspect of the show is when Sterling, Cooper, Draper and Campbell casually gather in Draper’s office toward the end of the show. Cooper expresses what they all are feeling–they can’t stand the Brits, just as the Brits can’t stand the Americans. It is hard to believe one of the story lines won’t be somehow taking back control, even if the British firm is still in charge.
Overall, it felt forced. Of course, the “post game” wrap up by the cast and Wiener let us know the characters are merely reacting to the discomfort of change. Nothing is static. It was as if they were telling the audience, “we know this was not what you expected, but hang in there”. The fact is, they did not even have to tell me that. It did make me think they were conscious of the effect they were having on a likely skeptical audience, which was somewhat comforting. Yet, even as I was disappointed when watching, I still had no intention of blowing off the show. Complaints aside, I’m still “all in” for Season 3.
Oh yeah, what about political correctness and politics in general? Still not forced down our throats. But the season has just begun.
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