Just because you see something disappointing coming, doesn't make it any less of a let down when it does. I could tell coming into tonight's Results show that Donny's fans were more than likely going to beat out Mya, the by FAR best dancer of the season.
Also, sadly, there was some negative reactions from some voters to Mya, especially towards the end. This seemed to stem from her having the most dancing experience coming into the competition; some didn't think she connected enough with the audience or even her partner; and some even claimed she had a superior attitude and called her a bitch, which is just not true at all! If anything, I think these final two reasons were just invented so people could validate their own negative feelings for someone who had never done anything wrong other than be better than anyone else.
The judges and the show tried to make it look fair by giving Donny the final victory and thus tying him in points with Mya. This then left the show's winner purely in the hands of the voters, and made Mya and Donny look even, which they really aren't. So, I will call a slight "Shenanigans" on the show for setting it up that much, but really, they knew Donny would win either way, they just needed to make it look better than it actually is. On that note, lucky thing Dmitry didn't do a better job of the freestyle performance, then Mya would have been the by far highest scoring contestant, but probably still lose.
I will give a resounding "BOOOOOOOO" to the fans in the studio. Their "support" for Donny and Kelly was offensive when compared to the relative silence Maya received. She put just as much into this competition as they did people, and she deserves at least some of the support you didn't give her when voting!
ABC also deserves a "BOOOOOOO" because the show was preempted until after football in some places in the west, but they didn't keep the voting open later to accommodate this. And they never mentioned this on tonight's show. Thanks ABC, nice way of pretending like nothing's wrong when you really screwed up.
To be fair, Donny did do a very good job with his final dance, but the Argentine tango is so much easier for the man. All you need to focus on is good posture and keeping a straight face while a beautiful woman leaps into your arms and wraps her legs around you.
So... Donny won. The consummate performer and beloved entertainer won over even more fans and proved, again, that popularity trumps talent. I am both let down and strangely numb to this outcome, since I saw it coming, but still hoped Mya would pull it off. That just goes to show where hope gets you.
Final Thought: Whitney Houston's beautiful voice is GONE! Her tone was way too low, she was short of breath, her range has largely left her, and at points she lost the beat and seemed to speak more than sing. While I admit that it would be all but impossible for someone to keep the incredible operatic range she had when she started twenty years ago, I think we all know what added to her vocal demise. (Say "No" to drugs, kids. Now take your Ritalin and shut up.)
I found it somewhat painful to see the woman whose cover of "I Will Always Love You" is still stirring digress into this faded shadow of her former self with less than half of her once unbelievable talent. And yet the audience still gave her a standing ovation and acted as if she were still the moving pop singer that she had once been.
Thanks for crapping on my childhood memories there, Whitney. You made a night I only somewhat enjoyed even worse.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
DWTS Finale: I'm Worried
Let me start this all by saying that I've never been a fan of the freestyle dance. Given total creative freedom and no clear cut guidelines, this performance rests mostly on the couple's ability to predict and live up to the judges' and audience's expectations of this expression of the celebrity's personality, as we have all determined it to be, based mostly on what we have seen on the show. So, it really comes down to how well they perform, based on what we think they're like.
That being said, Dmitry really dropped the ball this week. Not only does Hairspray not fit Mya at all (and you could tell, based on her initial reaction to Dmitry's idea), but it didn't do much to show Mya's biggest strength, namely that she's by far the best dancer of the three. Seriously, Dmitry, how could you not listen to your partner in a performance that's meant to best reveal her artistic expression? And how could you even think Hairspray would be a good idea? Nothing about the story of the lead is anything like Mya.
And everyone knew that the freestyle would be the dance Donny was probably going to get a perfect on; since this is what he's been doing successfully for his beloved fans (who vote for this show in large numbers) for several decades now.
As for Kelly, well... it's Kelly. She lasted into the finals through her popularity while more talented dancers kept losing. Her use of the song, "I Will Survive" for the freestyle seemed almost rudely ironic, as she again expressed that she has "survived" when, talent-wise, she already should have gone home. She didn't look good this week, despite all her confidence that she had a legitimate chance at winning the competition. And her freestyle was something of a nightmare, as she and partner Louis screwed up a lift and then ended horribly. The judges' scores of three 8's was entirely too generous, in my opinion.
The addition of the Mega-Mix in this season's finale was a good change, I thought. However, part of what makes it great is to separate the couples from best dancer to the worst, which would have been more important last year, when all three finalists were nearly perfect at the end. This year, there was Mya the dancer and Donny the performer with the large fanbase, and then there's Kelly. Keep in mind, I do think Donny did a great job with the Mega-Mix, and I'm sure it was a very close call as to who would take first, him or Mya. It probably came down to nothing more than Donny's poor posture at some points.
Going into the finals, I had the thought that Mya would need to be near perfect to beat Donny and his voters, or even to outlast Kelly's fans, some of whom have really turned on Mya. Apparently, since Mya had so much dancing ability coming into the competition, some people don't see that as being fair when compared to someone like Kelly who has none. That only helps Kelly's beloved underdog status, and makes her fans really hate Mya, who has done nothing but be the great dancer that she is.
The point difference between Mya and Kelly is significant, but is it enough? For that matter, will her slight point lead over Donny and her possible higher score tomorrow be enough to beat out his fans?
I am genuinely concerned that this could all come down to Dmitry's poor decision to ignore his partner's thoughts when it came to their freestyle performance.
That being said, Dmitry really dropped the ball this week. Not only does Hairspray not fit Mya at all (and you could tell, based on her initial reaction to Dmitry's idea), but it didn't do much to show Mya's biggest strength, namely that she's by far the best dancer of the three. Seriously, Dmitry, how could you not listen to your partner in a performance that's meant to best reveal her artistic expression? And how could you even think Hairspray would be a good idea? Nothing about the story of the lead is anything like Mya.
And everyone knew that the freestyle would be the dance Donny was probably going to get a perfect on; since this is what he's been doing successfully for his beloved fans (who vote for this show in large numbers) for several decades now.
As for Kelly, well... it's Kelly. She lasted into the finals through her popularity while more talented dancers kept losing. Her use of the song, "I Will Survive" for the freestyle seemed almost rudely ironic, as she again expressed that she has "survived" when, talent-wise, she already should have gone home. She didn't look good this week, despite all her confidence that she had a legitimate chance at winning the competition. And her freestyle was something of a nightmare, as she and partner Louis screwed up a lift and then ended horribly. The judges' scores of three 8's was entirely too generous, in my opinion.
The addition of the Mega-Mix in this season's finale was a good change, I thought. However, part of what makes it great is to separate the couples from best dancer to the worst, which would have been more important last year, when all three finalists were nearly perfect at the end. This year, there was Mya the dancer and Donny the performer with the large fanbase, and then there's Kelly. Keep in mind, I do think Donny did a great job with the Mega-Mix, and I'm sure it was a very close call as to who would take first, him or Mya. It probably came down to nothing more than Donny's poor posture at some points.
Going into the finals, I had the thought that Mya would need to be near perfect to beat Donny and his voters, or even to outlast Kelly's fans, some of whom have really turned on Mya. Apparently, since Mya had so much dancing ability coming into the competition, some people don't see that as being fair when compared to someone like Kelly who has none. That only helps Kelly's beloved underdog status, and makes her fans really hate Mya, who has done nothing but be the great dancer that she is.
The point difference between Mya and Kelly is significant, but is it enough? For that matter, will her slight point lead over Donny and her possible higher score tomorrow be enough to beat out his fans?
I am genuinely concerned that this could all come down to Dmitry's poor decision to ignore his partner's thoughts when it came to their freestyle performance.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
John Woo Does Braveheart
Included with the HD package I have is the channel HDNet Movies, which once a month shows smaller or lesser known films that only come out in a VERY limited release. This has allowed me to see good films (The Girlfriend Experience, Burning Plain) and not so good films (The Mutant Chronicles). Last night, I got to see the Chinese language film, Red Cliff.
Red Cliff is an epic, Braveheart scale historical war film directed by John Woo, King of the Hong Kong action film scene of the nineties. And the film looks like an epic, Braveheart scale historical war film directed by John Woo.
The story revolves around the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history, when the Emperor's Prime Minister Cao Cao had basically taken over, and decided to conquer the two kingdoms to the south and west, ruled by Lord Sun Quan and Lord Liu Bei. Cao Cao attacks them with a vastly superior force, driving the Lords to the fortress at Red Cliff, and the large, final battle.
The main characters (and thus heroes) of the film are not actually the Lords, but Sun Quan's Viceroy Zhou Yu and Liu Bei's strategist Zhun Liang, who meet Cao Cao's staggeringly massive forces with clever strategies, formations, and plans. What's odd about these two being who we follow most in the film, is what happens in the large battles.
Despite how many thousands of soldiers are fighting, and no matter what the formation or strategy is, Sun Quan's and Liu Bei's generals always find a way mid-battle to take on and take out dozens of soldiers and showcase what big badasses they are. In the middle of a war film where our leads are praised as and prove to be brilliant strategists, these scenes seem out of place, and contradictionary to the rest of the film. It's intelligence that is supposed to matter most, not brute strength.
Also, these fight scenes look and seem like Dynasty Warriors: The Film, with one General killing soldier after soldier who's armed only with a little pike, slowing down only when the other side's general needs to be killed (yes, I know the Dynasty Warriors video games take place in ancient Japan, not China, before anyone corrects me), and they just seem too unbelievable in the reality of this film.
Speaking of the massive fight scenes, Woo tries way too hard at times to make them cool. He adds overdramatic, unnecessary zoom-ins and close-ups, the quick cuts and edits can sometimes make the action hard to follow, and the soldiers of the opposing sides can often be indiscernible mid-battle, making it difficult to know who to root for.
This last issue is intentional, and Woo's been doing it for years. In the bloody, brutal gunfighting sequences of Hard Boiled and The Killer, you only really know who the "good guys" are in the end because they're the ones with Chow Yun Fat. This is supposed to show the oneness of humanity, and that we're all brothers, and violence is never good, which Woo suggests in both of these films and Red Cliff. Here's the problem (and I've had for years with Woo films): how can you argue against glorifying violence, when you're glorifying it in the same film? In Red Cliff, Woo even has Zhou Yu argue for the greatness of lasting peace, while implying that this can only be achieved through bloody, costly war.
Two more, niggling complaints: the ultimate action scene, like a Harry Potter novel, takes up about the final fourth of the film, and just feels way too long before it finally stops; and the CGI used to portray the shockingly large number of soldiers in these armies does not always blend as seamless as it should, so the film looks too digital at points.
Despite all these faults, I really did like this movie. Woo does a good job with most of the epic war scenes, the characters are likable and well-played, and the film brilliantly manages to focus on both a war taking up hundreds of thousands of lives and the three men at the center of it all. And it's fun in the way films like this can be, when you find you're enjoying yourself, despite (or maybe because of) how serious the characters are taking the situation.
So, go look for Red Cliff directed by John Woo, or I'll go all tortoise formation on you (if you see the film, you'll understand why that doesn't really make sense).
Red Cliff is an epic, Braveheart scale historical war film directed by John Woo, King of the Hong Kong action film scene of the nineties. And the film looks like an epic, Braveheart scale historical war film directed by John Woo.
The story revolves around the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history, when the Emperor's Prime Minister Cao Cao had basically taken over, and decided to conquer the two kingdoms to the south and west, ruled by Lord Sun Quan and Lord Liu Bei. Cao Cao attacks them with a vastly superior force, driving the Lords to the fortress at Red Cliff, and the large, final battle.
The main characters (and thus heroes) of the film are not actually the Lords, but Sun Quan's Viceroy Zhou Yu and Liu Bei's strategist Zhun Liang, who meet Cao Cao's staggeringly massive forces with clever strategies, formations, and plans. What's odd about these two being who we follow most in the film, is what happens in the large battles.
Despite how many thousands of soldiers are fighting, and no matter what the formation or strategy is, Sun Quan's and Liu Bei's generals always find a way mid-battle to take on and take out dozens of soldiers and showcase what big badasses they are. In the middle of a war film where our leads are praised as and prove to be brilliant strategists, these scenes seem out of place, and contradictionary to the rest of the film. It's intelligence that is supposed to matter most, not brute strength.
Also, these fight scenes look and seem like Dynasty Warriors: The Film, with one General killing soldier after soldier who's armed only with a little pike, slowing down only when the other side's general needs to be killed (yes, I know the Dynasty Warriors video games take place in ancient Japan, not China, before anyone corrects me), and they just seem too unbelievable in the reality of this film.
Speaking of the massive fight scenes, Woo tries way too hard at times to make them cool. He adds overdramatic, unnecessary zoom-ins and close-ups, the quick cuts and edits can sometimes make the action hard to follow, and the soldiers of the opposing sides can often be indiscernible mid-battle, making it difficult to know who to root for.
This last issue is intentional, and Woo's been doing it for years. In the bloody, brutal gunfighting sequences of Hard Boiled and The Killer, you only really know who the "good guys" are in the end because they're the ones with Chow Yun Fat. This is supposed to show the oneness of humanity, and that we're all brothers, and violence is never good, which Woo suggests in both of these films and Red Cliff. Here's the problem (and I've had for years with Woo films): how can you argue against glorifying violence, when you're glorifying it in the same film? In Red Cliff, Woo even has Zhou Yu argue for the greatness of lasting peace, while implying that this can only be achieved through bloody, costly war.
Two more, niggling complaints: the ultimate action scene, like a Harry Potter novel, takes up about the final fourth of the film, and just feels way too long before it finally stops; and the CGI used to portray the shockingly large number of soldiers in these armies does not always blend as seamless as it should, so the film looks too digital at points.
Despite all these faults, I really did like this movie. Woo does a good job with most of the epic war scenes, the characters are likable and well-played, and the film brilliantly manages to focus on both a war taking up hundreds of thousands of lives and the three men at the center of it all. And it's fun in the way films like this can be, when you find you're enjoying yourself, despite (or maybe because of) how serious the characters are taking the situation.
So, go look for Red Cliff directed by John Woo, or I'll go all tortoise formation on you (if you see the film, you'll understand why that doesn't really make sense).
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
DWTS: Early Overview
Last season on Dancing with the Stars, we had Melissa Rycroft, Gilles Marini, and Shawn Johnson as the final three. Each of these three were all but perfect in the end, and were separated by the slightest of margins in the judges' scores. Melissa (a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader) had natural dancing talent coming in, Gilles clearly had had some prior experience on the dance floor, and Shawn was driven in the final weeks to continously get better, leading to her overall victory.
This season, we have Mya as the far and away best dancer (and her scores have finally caught up, now that she's learned how to please Len Goodman). Then there's Donny, Mr. Popularity with some of this show's biggest demographics (and one helluva performer), and Kelly, the reality-star-who-could that has beaten out much better dancers to survive this long.
While I did say which two it would come down to weeks ago (Mya's dancing ability vs Donny's popularity), I'm still bothered both by how obviously the show is a popularity contest this season, and how much less the talent is this season as opposed to last season. Granted, I have witnessed a genuine and very commendable progression in both Donny's and Kelly's dancing abilities (and it has been great to see Kelly putting so much into the competition), but in the end, they're still not as good as Mya.
Now I like Kelly and root for her in an underdog/ Rudy kind of way, and even I have to admit that Donny is a great performer, but Mya just blows them away in every category. Well, possibly every category but one: the number of fans.
Donny, of course, had the largest fanbase coming into the competition, and has managed to win over even more people throughout the season. Kelly, due to occasional drama, her noticeable drive to win, and her aforementioned underdog status, has gained more fans than she ever had in her career before the show (such as it was).
Meanwhile Maya has simply been consistently good, and has now advanced to great. But will it be enough? Will the finals prove that superior talent is enough win over the judges and voters, or that simple popularity is all that really matters?
I'll have to wait for next week to decide how much I've liked or hated this season.
This season, we have Mya as the far and away best dancer (and her scores have finally caught up, now that she's learned how to please Len Goodman). Then there's Donny, Mr. Popularity with some of this show's biggest demographics (and one helluva performer), and Kelly, the reality-star-who-could that has beaten out much better dancers to survive this long.
While I did say which two it would come down to weeks ago (Mya's dancing ability vs Donny's popularity), I'm still bothered both by how obviously the show is a popularity contest this season, and how much less the talent is this season as opposed to last season. Granted, I have witnessed a genuine and very commendable progression in both Donny's and Kelly's dancing abilities (and it has been great to see Kelly putting so much into the competition), but in the end, they're still not as good as Mya.
Now I like Kelly and root for her in an underdog/ Rudy kind of way, and even I have to admit that Donny is a great performer, but Mya just blows them away in every category. Well, possibly every category but one: the number of fans.
Donny, of course, had the largest fanbase coming into the competition, and has managed to win over even more people throughout the season. Kelly, due to occasional drama, her noticeable drive to win, and her aforementioned underdog status, has gained more fans than she ever had in her career before the show (such as it was).
Meanwhile Maya has simply been consistently good, and has now advanced to great. But will it be enough? Will the finals prove that superior talent is enough win over the judges and voters, or that simple popularity is all that really matters?
I'll have to wait for next week to decide how much I've liked or hated this season.
DWTS: Well, That was Kinda Crap
I did call this exact thing happening in a previous post. Granted, I called it an upset and mentioned it only as a possibility, but I knew that there was a chance Kelly's popularity could outstrip Joanna's superior dancing ability. However, now that it's happened, I have a problem with it.
Joanna has grace, she has musicality, she has sex appeal coming out of her pores, and this week, she finally showed a genuine emotions. Hell, she almost cried backstage after her second performance! And, honestly, she has grown on me and seemed increasingly nicer throughout the season.
But, in the end, Kelly's beloved (and apaprently growing) fanbase was able to pull her into the final three. Now don't get me wrong, I like Kelly. She has really dedicated herself to this competition and become a much better dancer as a result. She's been much less of a drama queen on this show as she was on the reality show, The Osbournes, and I will admit to rooting for her as the determined underdog. But she just isn't anywhere near as good a dancer as Joanna.
In all, this season... well, I'll get into that in another post. For now, I'll just say good-bye Joanna! I miss your beautiful blond body already. Oh, wait, you're in Playboy right now. Nevermind.
Joanna has grace, she has musicality, she has sex appeal coming out of her pores, and this week, she finally showed a genuine emotions. Hell, she almost cried backstage after her second performance! And, honestly, she has grown on me and seemed increasingly nicer throughout the season.
But, in the end, Kelly's beloved (and apaprently growing) fanbase was able to pull her into the final three. Now don't get me wrong, I like Kelly. She has really dedicated herself to this competition and become a much better dancer as a result. She's been much less of a drama queen on this show as she was on the reality show, The Osbournes, and I will admit to rooting for her as the determined underdog. But she just isn't anywhere near as good a dancer as Joanna.
In all, this season... well, I'll get into that in another post. For now, I'll just say good-bye Joanna! I miss your beautiful blond body already. Oh, wait, you're in Playboy right now. Nevermind.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Humanity Insists on Disappointing Me
Last week, NASA found water on the moon. Not the trace amounts they had noticed before, but gallons of water. This is revolutionary! This single discovery could advance science, and have unforeseen effects on humanity's ability to travel outside of our atmosphere.
But what did NASA scientists have to waste their time on last week, instead of devoting further study to something that could have a monumental impact on our entire planet? Assuaging the fears of people who firmly believe that the world is going to end on December 21, 2012.
As part of the promotion for the recently released fictional (repeat FICTIONAL) film 2012, websites were set up touting the theory that the world's demise was predicted by the Mayans to occur on December 21, 2012. These sites joined others already in existence, making similar claims.
Here's the problem. The Mayans did not (repeat NOT) predict the end of the world. Nowhere on the Mayan calendar does it ever mention anything resembling a worldwide apocalypse; and the idea that it does arrived in the 1960s (centuries after the Mayans' demise) through a horrible mistranslation perpetrated by someone who clearly didn't know any better.
Despite this, the idea that the Mayans accurately foresaw our doom in little over three years has persisted, helped by a large viral campaign for the film and plenty of crackpots. This campaign included internet sites that feature "scientific" articles defending theories and bringing forward "evidence" of the world's end, and even a site where one could join a lottery that promises one the chance of surviving the oncoming cataclysm.
Sadly, there are lot of people who believe all of this nonsense. Enough people, that NASA scientists finally had to start publicly responding to the worried letters and even threats they've received in recent weeks (one person even wrote NASA to inform them that he planned to take both his own and HIS CHILDREN'S lives before 2012 to save them from whatever he thinks is coming). So, NASA has started addressing each of the various paranoid fears for the world's end, while also assuring the general public that they are not part of a massive government cover-up.
To sum up, NASA, after finding something that could have an impact for years to come, has had to waste time, money, and effort to assure STUPID people (my sister says the correct word is gullible, but I'm sticking with STUPID) that they will not be forced to survive some geothermal, magnetic, dark matter, cosmic energy-caused crisis in three years.
Oh, and the film made over 60 million. Really people, how dumb can you get?
But what did NASA scientists have to waste their time on last week, instead of devoting further study to something that could have a monumental impact on our entire planet? Assuaging the fears of people who firmly believe that the world is going to end on December 21, 2012.
As part of the promotion for the recently released fictional (repeat FICTIONAL) film 2012, websites were set up touting the theory that the world's demise was predicted by the Mayans to occur on December 21, 2012. These sites joined others already in existence, making similar claims.
Here's the problem. The Mayans did not (repeat NOT) predict the end of the world. Nowhere on the Mayan calendar does it ever mention anything resembling a worldwide apocalypse; and the idea that it does arrived in the 1960s (centuries after the Mayans' demise) through a horrible mistranslation perpetrated by someone who clearly didn't know any better.
Despite this, the idea that the Mayans accurately foresaw our doom in little over three years has persisted, helped by a large viral campaign for the film and plenty of crackpots. This campaign included internet sites that feature "scientific" articles defending theories and bringing forward "evidence" of the world's end, and even a site where one could join a lottery that promises one the chance of surviving the oncoming cataclysm.
Sadly, there are lot of people who believe all of this nonsense. Enough people, that NASA scientists finally had to start publicly responding to the worried letters and even threats they've received in recent weeks (one person even wrote NASA to inform them that he planned to take both his own and HIS CHILDREN'S lives before 2012 to save them from whatever he thinks is coming). So, NASA has started addressing each of the various paranoid fears for the world's end, while also assuring the general public that they are not part of a massive government cover-up.
To sum up, NASA, after finding something that could have an impact for years to come, has had to waste time, money, and effort to assure STUPID people (my sister says the correct word is gullible, but I'm sticking with STUPID) that they will not be forced to survive some geothermal, magnetic, dark matter, cosmic energy-caused crisis in three years.
Oh, and the film made over 60 million. Really people, how dumb can you get?
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Mad Men: In or Out?
I meant to post this a few days ago, but then I got distracted by my annoyance toward Serena Williams and celebrating Aaron Carter's departure from Dancing with the Stars (so many bitches, so little time).
Anyway, as for who joined the new Sterling, Cooper, Pryce, and Draper, the choices seem obvious. Don needed Sterling and Cooper for the money, and they all needed Pryce to actually pull it off. Don took Peggy because he has more of an emotional attachment to her than any of the other writers, and she is a better worker and better writer than anyone else he had. Also, he might still feel that he has more control over her than the other writers. They nabbed Pete because they needed his accounts to get more money to fund their new office, and Roger got Joan back to actually run the office (once they get an office). And then Cooper strong-armed Harry Crane into being head of media because they needed someone to lead the future of advertising and he is apparently easily bossed around.
So that's the new team. What about who they didn't let into the new clubhouse?
Kinsey's work has dropped, and it's been a while since he came up with anything good that Peggy didn't make better. It would be nice if they brought back Salvatore, but it doesn't seem likely. But what about Ken Cosgrove? He was over Pete, had worked there longer, and presumably had just as much money in his loyal accounts if not more (Pete even tried to steal at least one of Ken's). Pete did have the advantage of already lining up accounts to follow him as he bailed, but based on how Roger and Don reacted at the bar after they spoke to Pete, I don't think they knew he was leaving until they spoke to him.
So, why not Cosgrove? I've always really liked the guy. He's funny, doesn't take himself too seriously, and has so much more of a light-hearted attitude than Pete could ever pull off. Did they know Pete was bailing, and already lining up his clients? Or did Don and Roger just assume that Pete would be driven more than Cosgrove? Maybe they just assumed Cosgrove, being a not so serious, everything's a joke person, wouldn't risk his career by following them. But then, wouldn't he be more certain to follow? If he doesn't take his job that seriously, wouldn't he be that much more willing to drop everything and try something new and exciting?
The only answer I keep coming back to is that Roger and Don did know about Pete's planned absconding and took the opportunity to have the clients he was already stealing come to their new office (or hotel room).
Anyway, great episode. And I really did love the reactions of everyone left behind at the soon to be former Sterling Cooper.
Anyway, as for who joined the new Sterling, Cooper, Pryce, and Draper, the choices seem obvious. Don needed Sterling and Cooper for the money, and they all needed Pryce to actually pull it off. Don took Peggy because he has more of an emotional attachment to her than any of the other writers, and she is a better worker and better writer than anyone else he had. Also, he might still feel that he has more control over her than the other writers. They nabbed Pete because they needed his accounts to get more money to fund their new office, and Roger got Joan back to actually run the office (once they get an office). And then Cooper strong-armed Harry Crane into being head of media because they needed someone to lead the future of advertising and he is apparently easily bossed around.
So that's the new team. What about who they didn't let into the new clubhouse?
Kinsey's work has dropped, and it's been a while since he came up with anything good that Peggy didn't make better. It would be nice if they brought back Salvatore, but it doesn't seem likely. But what about Ken Cosgrove? He was over Pete, had worked there longer, and presumably had just as much money in his loyal accounts if not more (Pete even tried to steal at least one of Ken's). Pete did have the advantage of already lining up accounts to follow him as he bailed, but based on how Roger and Don reacted at the bar after they spoke to Pete, I don't think they knew he was leaving until they spoke to him.
So, why not Cosgrove? I've always really liked the guy. He's funny, doesn't take himself too seriously, and has so much more of a light-hearted attitude than Pete could ever pull off. Did they know Pete was bailing, and already lining up his clients? Or did Don and Roger just assume that Pete would be driven more than Cosgrove? Maybe they just assumed Cosgrove, being a not so serious, everything's a joke person, wouldn't risk his career by following them. But then, wouldn't he be more certain to follow? If he doesn't take his job that seriously, wouldn't he be that much more willing to drop everything and try something new and exciting?
The only answer I keep coming back to is that Roger and Don did know about Pete's planned absconding and took the opportunity to have the clients he was already stealing come to their new office (or hotel room).
Anyway, great episode. And I really did love the reactions of everyone left behind at the soon to be former Sterling Cooper.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Serena Williams: Are You Kidding Me?!!
Last Saturday, the Italian Fed Cup team beat the Americans 3-0 to clinch their second ever title, with Flavia Penetta beating the young Melanie Oudin 7-5, 6-2 in the deciding match. The Italians won the title through their brilliant play which came from love of their team, country, and team work. Three concepts which Serena Williams does not even know how to spell.
The younger of the Williams sisters, current world number one, and recent winner of the year-end WTA Championships, had agreed to play against the Italians and lead the team which neither she nor her sister had been a part of in quite some time. Instead, claiming "exhaustion" after defeating her sister in the WTA tournament, Serena backed out at the last minute, leaving the just-now 18 Oudin to shoulder both the responsibility of lead and the blame in the loss (which she personally decided to take in interviews).
And Serena was exhausted. So exhausted that she was forced to sign copies of her autobiography in London and appear on the Jonathon Ross show, England's equivalent to David Letterman. Indeed, she's still so exhausted that she's appearing on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart tonight, and will be a guest on The Joy Behar show at some point this week.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!! Are these the actions of someone who has an ounce of team spirit or takes a moment to think of anyone other than herself? Is this really the kind of sports star people look up to now? Is this who children aspire to be? Someone who is so obviously self-absorbed that she'd gladly take whatever opportunity that benefits herself and to hell with anyone else? Someone who is so arrogant and deluded that she can actually go on The David Letterman Show and say with a straight face that she always gives "200%" in every match when anyone who's ever watched her outside of Wimbledon and the US Open knows damn well she doesn't?
Now, lightening up your schedule or even not putting as much into tournaments outside of the majors in the interest of your career's longevity is understandable in women's tennis (hell, they play about eight or nine months out of the year total). But blowing off your country's Fed Cup team in the Championships to plug your book literally makes me want to vomit, preferably all over Serena and whatever outfit she's selling in stores now instead of playing tennis.
None of this is meant to imply that the Italians didn't deserve their victory. Not only did they consistently outplay the Americans, but two of the Italians skipped the lower-tier year end WTA tournament to play in the Cup Champioships. Had team leader Flavia Penetta (already the highest ranked Italian woman since they started the modern ranking system) played in this tournament, she could have ended the season ranked in the top ten, which would have meant more money and an easier time at tournaments. Instead, she decided to think of someone else and focus on her country and her teammates. What a novel concept, eh Serena?
And I'm not alone in my Serena bashing, this time. Sandra Harwitt, a tennis blogger for ESPN.com lays blame on Serena for forcing the still-inexperienced (despite what she wants to think) Oudin on becoming team leader, both on court and off. And Oudin, when asked if she could understand someone skipping on representing the US, had this to say, "I wanted to come here. I wanted to play for my country. Other people... choose different things. Some people... didn't want to play as badly as I did."
Now, I'm not going to watch Serena's interviews on either the Daily Show or Joy Behar Show unless I hear that one of them asked, implied, or at least hinted at what I really want to know. "You bailed out on your country, teammates, and sport to raise sales of a book that, to an outsider, just sounds like more stroking of your already inflated ego. Mind answering WHY?"
The younger of the Williams sisters, current world number one, and recent winner of the year-end WTA Championships, had agreed to play against the Italians and lead the team which neither she nor her sister had been a part of in quite some time. Instead, claiming "exhaustion" after defeating her sister in the WTA tournament, Serena backed out at the last minute, leaving the just-now 18 Oudin to shoulder both the responsibility of lead and the blame in the loss (which she personally decided to take in interviews).
And Serena was exhausted. So exhausted that she was forced to sign copies of her autobiography in London and appear on the Jonathon Ross show, England's equivalent to David Letterman. Indeed, she's still so exhausted that she's appearing on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart tonight, and will be a guest on The Joy Behar show at some point this week.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!! Are these the actions of someone who has an ounce of team spirit or takes a moment to think of anyone other than herself? Is this really the kind of sports star people look up to now? Is this who children aspire to be? Someone who is so obviously self-absorbed that she'd gladly take whatever opportunity that benefits herself and to hell with anyone else? Someone who is so arrogant and deluded that she can actually go on The David Letterman Show and say with a straight face that she always gives "200%" in every match when anyone who's ever watched her outside of Wimbledon and the US Open knows damn well she doesn't?
Now, lightening up your schedule or even not putting as much into tournaments outside of the majors in the interest of your career's longevity is understandable in women's tennis (hell, they play about eight or nine months out of the year total). But blowing off your country's Fed Cup team in the Championships to plug your book literally makes me want to vomit, preferably all over Serena and whatever outfit she's selling in stores now instead of playing tennis.
None of this is meant to imply that the Italians didn't deserve their victory. Not only did they consistently outplay the Americans, but two of the Italians skipped the lower-tier year end WTA tournament to play in the Cup Champioships. Had team leader Flavia Penetta (already the highest ranked Italian woman since they started the modern ranking system) played in this tournament, she could have ended the season ranked in the top ten, which would have meant more money and an easier time at tournaments. Instead, she decided to think of someone else and focus on her country and her teammates. What a novel concept, eh Serena?
And I'm not alone in my Serena bashing, this time. Sandra Harwitt, a tennis blogger for ESPN.com lays blame on Serena for forcing the still-inexperienced (despite what she wants to think) Oudin on becoming team leader, both on court and off. And Oudin, when asked if she could understand someone skipping on representing the US, had this to say, "I wanted to come here. I wanted to play for my country. Other people... choose different things. Some people... didn't want to play as badly as I did."
Now, I'm not going to watch Serena's interviews on either the Daily Show or Joy Behar Show unless I hear that one of them asked, implied, or at least hinted at what I really want to know. "You bailed out on your country, teammates, and sport to raise sales of a book that, to an outsider, just sounds like more stroking of your already inflated ego. Mind answering WHY?"
DWTS: Fingers Crossed
Even before last night's show, the two dancers in biggest danger of leaving this week were Kelly and Aaron. Kelly because she's easily the worst dancer left, and Aaron because she's (sorry, "he's"... Freudian slip) the least popular celebrity. After last night's performances, that hasn't changed, nor has last night made me rethink my pick for final three: Joanna, Mya, and Donny, with it all coming down to either Donny and his massive fanbase or Mya and her new-found fans.
As for this week, Aaron (as we all saw last week when he had great scores but had to win in a dance-off), is still not getting any of the fan's votes. I will admit that he has become a much better dancer and he has gotten better at hiding the raging, emotional drama queen inside of him; but he still looked like he was about to burst into tears last week when the judges announced that he had won! You just survived another week despite how few people like you, and you look worse than the guy who lost! Seriously, man, grow some balls!
Kelly, on the other hand, has gotten more and more popular as the show has progressed, winning over the older fan-base who might not recall her famous father, much less the attempted popstar Kelly. Kelly actually could sneak in as the not as talented but very popular finalist and beat out Joanna. First, of course, she would have to survive tonight, but I don't think that will be a problem.
Looking ahead to my picks for final three, Joanna has had a huge turn-around by toning down the bitchiness and coming across as much more gentle and likable, even backstage when the focus is not on her. Her partner Derek has helped with that a lot. His natural jokiness and complete lack of ability to take himself or anything else too seriously have perfectly balanced out Joanna's colder attitudes. Mya meanwhile, has toned down the performance part of her routines and stressed the dancing, and finally won over Len, her last obstacle to potentially winning the whole thing. Then there's Donny, the single most popular person going into the competition, and since his dancing abilities have gotten better throughout the season, he has won over even more fans, which could make him the first man to win in quite a few seasons.
So, here's hoping we're done with Aaron tonight! And win or lose, I'm sure we'll see some tears.
As for this week, Aaron (as we all saw last week when he had great scores but had to win in a dance-off), is still not getting any of the fan's votes. I will admit that he has become a much better dancer and he has gotten better at hiding the raging, emotional drama queen inside of him; but he still looked like he was about to burst into tears last week when the judges announced that he had won! You just survived another week despite how few people like you, and you look worse than the guy who lost! Seriously, man, grow some balls!
Kelly, on the other hand, has gotten more and more popular as the show has progressed, winning over the older fan-base who might not recall her famous father, much less the attempted popstar Kelly. Kelly actually could sneak in as the not as talented but very popular finalist and beat out Joanna. First, of course, she would have to survive tonight, but I don't think that will be a problem.
Looking ahead to my picks for final three, Joanna has had a huge turn-around by toning down the bitchiness and coming across as much more gentle and likable, even backstage when the focus is not on her. Her partner Derek has helped with that a lot. His natural jokiness and complete lack of ability to take himself or anything else too seriously have perfectly balanced out Joanna's colder attitudes. Mya meanwhile, has toned down the performance part of her routines and stressed the dancing, and finally won over Len, her last obstacle to potentially winning the whole thing. Then there's Donny, the single most popular person going into the competition, and since his dancing abilities have gotten better throughout the season, he has won over even more fans, which could make him the first man to win in quite a few seasons.
So, here's hoping we're done with Aaron tonight! And win or lose, I'm sure we'll see some tears.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Mad Men Finale
I REALLY liked this episode. It was a complete departure from the series' usual tone. While we've gotten used to the show being a slow, quiet, dramatic build-up towards a climax that is itself slow and quiet, this show had action, speed, and a sense of urgency. And it was funny! The show has always had enough of a sense of humor to keep it from being an over-the-top melodrama, but they really gave this finale a light-hearted tone, and it worked!
Jon Hamm was brilliant. The way he handled a new direction for Don Draper, one where Don has been humbled enough to stop fighting his wife's departure and move on to dealing with what comes next; and I loved Hamm's scene with Peggy. Draper finally had to face up to how he had treated Betty, Peggy, Roger, and well, everyone really. This episode was when Don finally realized he needed other people and he couldn't just treat them all however he liked, do whatever he wanted, and assume it would all end well for him.
Consistent with the quicker tone and action of the finale, Cooper and Roger finally did something, which was nice to see. Hell, other than show up for the odd meeting and give his random two cents, this was the first time I'd ever seen Cooper really working at all. And it took Don to get him, Roger, and Pryce off their lazy, executive asses to actively fight against the cold hearted businessmen that had done their best to buy their submission along with their ad agency.
Not to say that Draper, Sterling, Cooper, and Pryce will be any less greedy or shallow, but at least they're not in the habit of buying and selling people the way their new bosses have been. They're just a little too "It's not personal, it's just business" while dealing with people's livelihoods.
Sometimes shows hit a Reset button as a way to get various characters back together under circumstances at least similar to the way they had previously been, but I don't think that's what this was. The whole tone of the episode, the speed, the way the characters had to interact differently than before. This seems like more of a change in direction for the show; the building of something new as opposed to simply continuing what was already there.
This seems to be a shift in focus and direction for the show, but I'm loving it.
Jon Hamm was brilliant. The way he handled a new direction for Don Draper, one where Don has been humbled enough to stop fighting his wife's departure and move on to dealing with what comes next; and I loved Hamm's scene with Peggy. Draper finally had to face up to how he had treated Betty, Peggy, Roger, and well, everyone really. This episode was when Don finally realized he needed other people and he couldn't just treat them all however he liked, do whatever he wanted, and assume it would all end well for him.
Consistent with the quicker tone and action of the finale, Cooper and Roger finally did something, which was nice to see. Hell, other than show up for the odd meeting and give his random two cents, this was the first time I'd ever seen Cooper really working at all. And it took Don to get him, Roger, and Pryce off their lazy, executive asses to actively fight against the cold hearted businessmen that had done their best to buy their submission along with their ad agency.
Not to say that Draper, Sterling, Cooper, and Pryce will be any less greedy or shallow, but at least they're not in the habit of buying and selling people the way their new bosses have been. They're just a little too "It's not personal, it's just business" while dealing with people's livelihoods.
Sometimes shows hit a Reset button as a way to get various characters back together under circumstances at least similar to the way they had previously been, but I don't think that's what this was. The whole tone of the episode, the speed, the way the characters had to interact differently than before. This seems like more of a change in direction for the show; the building of something new as opposed to simply continuing what was already there.
This seems to be a shift in focus and direction for the show, but I'm loving it.
Note to Readers... All Five of You
After you post a comment, make sure that it actually went up. For some reason, it doesn't always work on the first attempt; so just pan down after hitting Post Comment to make sure it posted. If it didn't, it should still be in the comment box, so just hit Post again. It always works for me on the first or second attempt.
I'll e-mail Blogger to see what's up, just watch out in the meantime.
I'll e-mail Blogger to see what's up, just watch out in the meantime.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
This Season's Sci-Fi
Fringe: After only slightly watching the show last season, I've really liked it so far this year. They decided to focus the show more, instead of just having the "monster of the week" format with an over-riding plot tying it all together. Starting with Olivia's meeting with Spock (or Leonard Nemoy, or whatever the hell his name is on the show... look, he'll always be Spock to everyone no matter what he does), they're now building up to an oncoming invasion by the beings from another universe. So, in lieu of "The Pattern" of last season, we now have a straight line pointing towards a big battle or war or whatever comes next. I think this has helped the show a lot, and they're handling the relationship between Olivia and Pacey (sorry, Peter) better than most shows. And Walter is just always fun to watch.
Flash Forward: This show has definitely lived up to its own insane hype. Following in the footsteps of Battlestar Galactica, the creators decided to feature an unbelievable, sci-fi premise, but then make the characters and situations completely believable. The actors have a lot to do with this, and the way they realistically handle knowing their own future is brilliant. This week, the show had its first major death when Al, one of the F.B.I. agents working to discover the truth behind the flash forwards, jumped off a roof to prevent himself from accidentally killing a woman he hadn't met yet. This is a big moment for the show, which up till now had been focused on bringing about the future everyone saw. Now, the show is giving us the possibility that the characters can change the future, its just a matter of how.
V: I was really looking forward to this show. And then I watched it. Well, I watched about fifteen minutes of it, which was long enough to tell that the characters were obvious, cliche, and horribly over-done; the acting wasn't good; and there was nothing likable about the leads. I now know why ABC limited the half-season order to a six episode mini-series. I'm only curious why they put this waste of airtime on at all.
Heroes: I still really like this show, to hell with what the ratings say. My one recurring issue is that the show keeps repeating itself in that it can't let any one character get too powerful. Ever since the first season, when Hiro lost his powers and then into the second when Peter had his mind wiped and then lost everything only to get some of it again and Sylar keeps getting weakened somehow and... Well, you see my point, and I'm just really sick of that. Let someone be a bad-ass! That would be a unique twist for the show at this point, and might bring back some viewers!
Supernatural: I am loving this show! Like Joss Whedon on Buffy and Angel, the creators have structured each season around one "big/bad" or one big issue, all the while building up to this season, which all involved swear is the final season. This means that even while having a "monster of the week," they're moving toward something specific. They've also been great at meta-fictional and self-aware humor, like when they had Paris Hilton guest star as a god who took the form of Paris Hilton to gain her fan's love, and then kill her. Or this week's episode, when the heroes, Sam and Dean, were trapped by a Trickster in numerous television parodies, including Grey's Anatomy (where they mocked that show's use of a ghost), a perfect C.S.I. send-up. a cheesy sitcom, and even a commercial for genital herpes medication. At this rate, the show is heading to one great finale!
Flash Forward: This show has definitely lived up to its own insane hype. Following in the footsteps of Battlestar Galactica, the creators decided to feature an unbelievable, sci-fi premise, but then make the characters and situations completely believable. The actors have a lot to do with this, and the way they realistically handle knowing their own future is brilliant. This week, the show had its first major death when Al, one of the F.B.I. agents working to discover the truth behind the flash forwards, jumped off a roof to prevent himself from accidentally killing a woman he hadn't met yet. This is a big moment for the show, which up till now had been focused on bringing about the future everyone saw. Now, the show is giving us the possibility that the characters can change the future, its just a matter of how.
V: I was really looking forward to this show. And then I watched it. Well, I watched about fifteen minutes of it, which was long enough to tell that the characters were obvious, cliche, and horribly over-done; the acting wasn't good; and there was nothing likable about the leads. I now know why ABC limited the half-season order to a six episode mini-series. I'm only curious why they put this waste of airtime on at all.
Heroes: I still really like this show, to hell with what the ratings say. My one recurring issue is that the show keeps repeating itself in that it can't let any one character get too powerful. Ever since the first season, when Hiro lost his powers and then into the second when Peter had his mind wiped and then lost everything only to get some of it again and Sylar keeps getting weakened somehow and... Well, you see my point, and I'm just really sick of that. Let someone be a bad-ass! That would be a unique twist for the show at this point, and might bring back some viewers!
Supernatural: I am loving this show! Like Joss Whedon on Buffy and Angel, the creators have structured each season around one "big/bad" or one big issue, all the while building up to this season, which all involved swear is the final season. This means that even while having a "monster of the week," they're moving toward something specific. They've also been great at meta-fictional and self-aware humor, like when they had Paris Hilton guest star as a god who took the form of Paris Hilton to gain her fan's love, and then kill her. Or this week's episode, when the heroes, Sam and Dean, were trapped by a Trickster in numerous television parodies, including Grey's Anatomy (where they mocked that show's use of a ghost), a perfect C.S.I. send-up. a cheesy sitcom, and even a commercial for genital herpes medication. At this rate, the show is heading to one great finale!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Mad Men Randoms
That other post had gotten kind of long, so I decided to leave out some other short thoughts I had for a separate post.
First of all, I do not like Peggy with Duck. For one thing, I never liked Duck, he always seemed like a smarmy little prick to me. For another, this whole thing with Peggy seeking out the comforts of an older man bugs me. I liked it better when she was like "one of the guys" and she just picked up some young college guy who thought she was a secretary then ditched him in the middle of the night. Though I did think it was funny when Peggy's roommate assumed that Duck was married. Because an older married man sleeping with a younger woman is standard for that world, a single older man dating a younger woman apparently seems strange.
I liked that part at the end, when Peggy decided to work through her mourning by actually working. She really is the hardest, most devoted worker at Sterling, Price, and Cooper.
How the hell is Salvatore "gone"? Where did he go? Was he fired for not letting that asshole molest him in the editing room? Did he move on to another job? While this is kind of par for the course with the show and how they deal with some people leaving, they usually provide us with more than one casual, throw-away line.
Finally, that whiny bitch Pete Campbell might have something valid to complain about this time. He just approaches dealing with his clients differently than Cosgrove, favoring their opinions of how their money's being spent as opposed to convincing them to like how their money's being spent. So, Cosgrove is the new boss, and Pete gets a new title for his door. Wonder if he'll even bother staying now, especially if the place gets sold?
Oh, that reminds me, was buying, cutting up, and/or re-selling businesses that common in the 60s? I know it is now, but I don't really know that much about business practices of the time.
First of all, I do not like Peggy with Duck. For one thing, I never liked Duck, he always seemed like a smarmy little prick to me. For another, this whole thing with Peggy seeking out the comforts of an older man bugs me. I liked it better when she was like "one of the guys" and she just picked up some young college guy who thought she was a secretary then ditched him in the middle of the night. Though I did think it was funny when Peggy's roommate assumed that Duck was married. Because an older married man sleeping with a younger woman is standard for that world, a single older man dating a younger woman apparently seems strange.
I liked that part at the end, when Peggy decided to work through her mourning by actually working. She really is the hardest, most devoted worker at Sterling, Price, and Cooper.
How the hell is Salvatore "gone"? Where did he go? Was he fired for not letting that asshole molest him in the editing room? Did he move on to another job? While this is kind of par for the course with the show and how they deal with some people leaving, they usually provide us with more than one casual, throw-away line.
Finally, that whiny bitch Pete Campbell might have something valid to complain about this time. He just approaches dealing with his clients differently than Cosgrove, favoring their opinions of how their money's being spent as opposed to convincing them to like how their money's being spent. So, Cosgrove is the new boss, and Pete gets a new title for his door. Wonder if he'll even bother staying now, especially if the place gets sold?
Oh, that reminds me, was buying, cutting up, and/or re-selling businesses that common in the 60s? I know it is now, but I don't really know that much about business practices of the time.
Mad Men and Monogamy
WOW!! Last night's episode had two of the most shocking lines I have ever heard on Mad Men! First was Betty's lover proposing (even though they haven't really done much yet, and, oh yeah, she's married!), then we heard Betty say she feels no love for Don! That was unbelievable! But, more on that later. For now, I'll focus on Roger Sterling.
Dear God, his daughter was a spoiled little bitch! She just kept whining because "everything's not exactly the way I want it to be and boo-hoo-hoo." And she actually called her father while arguing with her mother! I mean when the hell is she gonna grow up, if not right before she gets married? But, she recovered from everything, seemed to genuinely enjoy herself at her wedding, and she was nice. That was good to see, someone we've only ever seen as a spoiled, self-absorbed little girl smiling and having fun despite her wedding being overshadowed and her attendance being vanquished by national tragedy.
Speaking of turn-arounds, boy has Roger been back and forth lately. Last week, he turned down the girl who broke his heart, then looked sad as he spoke to Joan for the first time in a while. In all, last week he seemed happy with his young wife Jane while still looking back at the fish that got away. Then this week, he yells his head off at Jane for not doing exactly what he wants her to do (because God forbid a woman try to get along with her spoiled step-daughter), gets snippy when she refuses to see the woman who despises her, and drunk dials Joan, whom he apparently feels is the only person he can really open up to.
Though Roger did manage to be funny, charming, and likable at his daughter's wedding, despite how much he hated her attitude at the episode's beginning. Although, this probably goes along with Roger (a) preferring to laugh at everything and (b) I think he comes from old money, and if there's one thing they do right, it's ignore everything going on in the world and all the issues they have with everyone in their lives to put on a happy face and throw and good party for the public. Appearances always being so much more important than reality.
On that note, we move on to Don. Last week, he was finally forced to confront Betty completely exposed as himself. Jon Hamm was brilliant in this episode, as you actually saw the Don persona vanish, and he finally had to look at Betty as the man he really is, not as the man he created to leave his old life behind. That revelation seems to have changed him into a kinder, gentler man who actually stays at home and helps raise his children, instead of running around with his latest young thing.
Throwing a monkey wrench into Don's plan of at least attempting to be a better man is Betty's still-lingering negative feelings towards... well, towards everything Don has done in the past now aided by an attraction to an older man (younger woman seeks out older man following death of her father... hmmm, interesting). Still, how can her newly discovered lack of affection for Don play out? Both Betty and Don have always struck me as being of the opinion that once married, always married, certainly if there are kids involved. So can the possibility of another marriage be something for Betty to turn to, or would she stay where she is, or possibly choose neither? There wouldn't have been that many options for a woman in her position at that time, so another man might help make up her mind, but could she really deal with the havoc that would probably cause her family? And why does Betty keep doing things like this during times of crisis? She had sex with that guy she met in a bar during the Cuban missile crisis, and now she says she doesn't love Don any more after Kennedy gets shot. Maybe she should stop making big decisions while watching a lot of news on television.
What about Don in all of this? What's he to do, since he's exhausted the only things he knows to do to keep Betty and his illusion of a happy family going? And why do I pity and even like a guy who's done so much to deserve what's happening to him?
One last thing, what the hell's wrong with this guy, proposing to married woman he hasn't actually even had an affair with? Just because you're attracted to the younger married woman who you think needs saving from whatever doesn't mean you go all the way with it before you've gone all the way with her. What's he thinking, and how does he see this ending? Kind of hard to ride in on your white horse and save the damsel in distress when you look a lot like an older version of the knight she's leaving, genius.
Dear God, his daughter was a spoiled little bitch! She just kept whining because "everything's not exactly the way I want it to be and boo-hoo-hoo." And she actually called her father while arguing with her mother! I mean when the hell is she gonna grow up, if not right before she gets married? But, she recovered from everything, seemed to genuinely enjoy herself at her wedding, and she was nice. That was good to see, someone we've only ever seen as a spoiled, self-absorbed little girl smiling and having fun despite her wedding being overshadowed and her attendance being vanquished by national tragedy.
Speaking of turn-arounds, boy has Roger been back and forth lately. Last week, he turned down the girl who broke his heart, then looked sad as he spoke to Joan for the first time in a while. In all, last week he seemed happy with his young wife Jane while still looking back at the fish that got away. Then this week, he yells his head off at Jane for not doing exactly what he wants her to do (because God forbid a woman try to get along with her spoiled step-daughter), gets snippy when she refuses to see the woman who despises her, and drunk dials Joan, whom he apparently feels is the only person he can really open up to.
Though Roger did manage to be funny, charming, and likable at his daughter's wedding, despite how much he hated her attitude at the episode's beginning. Although, this probably goes along with Roger (a) preferring to laugh at everything and (b) I think he comes from old money, and if there's one thing they do right, it's ignore everything going on in the world and all the issues they have with everyone in their lives to put on a happy face and throw and good party for the public. Appearances always being so much more important than reality.
On that note, we move on to Don. Last week, he was finally forced to confront Betty completely exposed as himself. Jon Hamm was brilliant in this episode, as you actually saw the Don persona vanish, and he finally had to look at Betty as the man he really is, not as the man he created to leave his old life behind. That revelation seems to have changed him into a kinder, gentler man who actually stays at home and helps raise his children, instead of running around with his latest young thing.
Throwing a monkey wrench into Don's plan of at least attempting to be a better man is Betty's still-lingering negative feelings towards... well, towards everything Don has done in the past now aided by an attraction to an older man (younger woman seeks out older man following death of her father... hmmm, interesting). Still, how can her newly discovered lack of affection for Don play out? Both Betty and Don have always struck me as being of the opinion that once married, always married, certainly if there are kids involved. So can the possibility of another marriage be something for Betty to turn to, or would she stay where she is, or possibly choose neither? There wouldn't have been that many options for a woman in her position at that time, so another man might help make up her mind, but could she really deal with the havoc that would probably cause her family? And why does Betty keep doing things like this during times of crisis? She had sex with that guy she met in a bar during the Cuban missile crisis, and now she says she doesn't love Don any more after Kennedy gets shot. Maybe she should stop making big decisions while watching a lot of news on television.
What about Don in all of this? What's he to do, since he's exhausted the only things he knows to do to keep Betty and his illusion of a happy family going? And why do I pity and even like a guy who's done so much to deserve what's happening to him?
One last thing, what the hell's wrong with this guy, proposing to married woman he hasn't actually even had an affair with? Just because you're attracted to the younger married woman who you think needs saving from whatever doesn't mean you go all the way with it before you've gone all the way with her. What's he thinking, and how does he see this ending? Kind of hard to ride in on your white horse and save the damsel in distress when you look a lot like an older version of the knight she's leaving, genius.
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