Mad Men

[Asa]

Mad Men discussion thread.

Let's discuss all things Mad Men: episodes, memes, jokes, writing, clues, call-backs, connecting the dots, symbolism, sets, costumes, MBTI, nuanced characters, morally gray characters, the human condition, 1960s American life, entertainment...

Thread is pax - why would we fight about a TV show? We all agree Chauncey was wronged, right?

Please try to remember to hide spoilers.
Whenever possible, list the episode so people will know whether to click on a spoiler. For example S2E4.

 

[Asa]

Jon Hamm and January Jones goofing off on the set of S3E2.


I'll start with Bye Bye Birdie because it's an easy way to remind people how the writing on Mad Men works.


The Patio (later renamed Diet Pepsi IRL) commercial featuring Bye Bye Birdie.

Spoiler: S3E2

Bye Bye Birdie referenced the use of the musical/movie in advertising and popular culture. Windex famously borrowed a song from BBB for a jingle. "Spray Sunshine All Over The Place." Other companies tried the same with less success. "We Love You, Conrad" entered popular culture, replacing the name Conrad with whatever other word people needed. Sterling Cooper chose the wrong song, though, because "Bye Bye Birdie" sounds shrill. The only thing that made the song tolerable was Ann Margaret who was the It girl at the time.

But wait, there's more.

Spoiler: S3E13

Bye Bye Birdie is a HUGE clue that Betty (sometimes calls Birdie) and Don are over. They finalize their divorce in S3 E13.

Bye Bye Birdie may be an early clue to the last season.

Spoiler: S7E13

Many fans believe this song also signals Betty's fate at the end of the series. We find out Betty has terminal cancer in S7E13. Considering Weiner lays clues about season seven all the way through the series, including in the intro with Don falling, it’s possible.
Betty's demise at the end of the series, especially as she attempts to change her life by going back to school, symbolizes the end, the “death,” of the iconic American housewife role and the changing times for American women. Betty was...many things... but she was the perfect housewife. She dies in 1970 – a decade that brought huge changes for women.

Another layer: Badass Betty.

Spoiler: S1E9

In S1, E9, Betty shoots the pigeons after her neighbor threatens to kill their dog. This threat scares the children and causes Sally to have nightmares. Those birdies went bye, bye, too. It could be another clue about Betty's demise. This was our first real glimpse of Betty outside of the cage-like confines of the perfect housewife image, and it shows her killing innocent birds - the creature that symbolizes her.

 

[Asa]

Fashion in Mad Men: What Pucci meant then and what it means in the show.

Spoiler: These dresses are a major hint.

Pucci's bold patterns represented independence for modern women. If Don Draper's wife wears Pucci, it means his marriage is ending.