Even though Mad Men Season 5 wrapped up . . . oh, about 5
weeks ago, I still have some thoughts/questions/predictions that I want to
post. So here goes.
The season ended with Don sitting by himself in a bar when a
young lady approaches him and attempts to pick him up for her friend by asking
if he’s alone. After a moment’s pause
Don cracks a smile and laughs to himself.
And what does that look that Don gives mean? Is he laughing at the situation? It’s a loaded question, right? Clearly he’s alone at the moment, but he’s
with Megan now and seemingly happy. But
does her desire to act, which is taking her from Don (at least in part), mean
that he’s alone again (at least in his mind)?
Is he doomed to go back to his old ways?
What do you think his answer was?
And with that scene, we wrap up a season where almost every
character questioned whether the proverbial grass was greener on the other side. Don already thought he was moving on to a
more perfect life by ending his marriage to Betty and entering a happier one
with Megan. But just how he once thought
his relationship with Betty was perfect, we see cracks in the his new marriage,
and it seems Don might be looking to the other side of the fence again. We also saw this theme with Roger ending his
marriage to Jane after getting some clarification on the relationship during
his LSD trip, with Peggy as she decides it’s time for her to move on to a new
firm, and of course with Pete who continues to be discontent with his marriage,
his house in the suburbs, and really just his life in general. Only time will tell if any of these
characters can find happiness, or if they’re destined to be unhappy no matter
how much they have.
In many ways Season 5 was more experimental than previous
seasons, but Mad Men remained one of the best shows on television. It continues to live up to and exceed
expectations and always leaves me wanting more. So I guess what I'm saying is that is was worth the wait. Really how many shows have this many high quality seasons? It really puts the pressure on Season
6. And speaking of . . .
I have no idea when Season 6 is going to premiere, but
hopefully we don’t have to wait 18 months again. My guess is either they’ll start it in March
again or we may get an earlier premiere date. November even? We can only hope. Some other questions about next season:
1) How much time will pass in Mad Men world and in what year
will we return? As always, I hope they
don’t jump too far ahead, but since the show is supposed to stay in the 60’s they can’t go too far, having just ended in mid-1967. My guess is that the premiere will be set in
late 1967 or early 1968.
2) What events will play a part in the new season? Vietnam is still going on, the Civil Rights
movement will continue to gain steam (MLK was assassinated in 1968), and of
course the 1968 presidential election could be a factor, especially since the
firm represented Richard Nixon in his first go around. If we get more Civil Rights action maybe Dawn’s
character will get more to do. I felt
she was a bit wasted this season.
3) How much Peggy will we see next season? Will the show continue to focus on SCDP (and
incidentally will the “P” get dropped now?) or will we drop in on Peggy at her new firm as well? I’m hoping we continue
to see Peggy’s development because for me she’s as good a character as Don.
4) What will come of Don’s pitch to the Dow Chemical
guys? Will this be the big new client
that will push the firm back into the big time?
5) Will Megan’s acting career take off? And what will this mean for her relationship
with Don? And if the acting gig doesn’t work out,
will she just become Betty 2.0?
6) How is Pete’s new apartment in the city going to work out
for him? Does this make him happy or
will he just find something else to complain about? Is this the beginning of the end for his
marriage? And with Pete having an apartment
in the city and Don possibly back to his old ways, does this mean these two will
be out carousing together, painting the town red?
7) What familiar face from the past will turn up in Season 6 (a la Paul Kinsey from Season 5)? Sal? Faye?
8) And most importantly, it’s the late 60’s, so which Mad
Men character will be the first to grow a mustache?
Bring on Season 6!
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